The fish once, had accidentally fallen into the net of a fisherman. When it was thrown into the pool in the yard of Tuqay, it had felt like this. Firstly, the warm, sweet water of the pool seemed to the fish a bit strange. Then little by little it was accustomed to the smell, taste of the strange water. Now Yaqut believed that it could be escaped. Because just inside of this mountain river it could smell the pleasant taste of the native water coming from far; it was gigantic water. It was salty sea water and Yaqut wanted to plunge into that gigantic, salty, familiar water. Without doubt, this mountain river inside of which the fish was swimming downwards, at last would join to that gigantic and salty sea. The fish was sure about it. That was why the fish was rushing forward passing near the small fishes, tadpoles and frogs. In this mountain river there wasn’t seen such kind of big, strong fish. Though the sharp, strong “wings” of Yaqut at times were caught by the submarine grasses and the roots of trees, it didn’t want to return. Spreading its wings it was beating off all that was in its way, and swimming confidently forward. From far it could feel the pleasant salty water of the native sea.
It was getting dark But the dog had no wish to stop, to rest for a while. It wanted to find even a trace of its friend. The smell of Tuqay was as if in the nose of the dog. If Tuqay was near these places the dog would easily find its friend. But here there was no trace of Tuqay; there wasn’t any smell of Tuqay.
The dog approached the rocky places at the seashore. The heavy and dreadful waves were howling like rabid dogs and were struck against the huge flat stones. There still was no trace of Tuqay. If Tuqay was in those places, the dog could easily define his place, and would run towards his friend, even it would frighten a bit him too. Because Tuqay and Qayut would make jokes specific only to them.
Once there had happened such an event like now; Tuqay who had to return from the journey to the sea, hadn’t come home. At that time mother was worried like now. When it was getting dark, Qayut couldn’t wait any more, it left the yard and went to search for his friend. That night there was a storm in the sea, and it was raining heavily. But the dog had already felt the smell of its friend; its friend was somewhere in the forest! That time the dog rushed into the forest, the thickness of the trees. Well, it appeared that Qayut wasn’t mistaken; in order to escape from a sudden raining Tuqay had hidden himself in the forest guard’s shack. Seeing his friend at the shack Tuqay was firstly surprised, then he choked with joy and embraced the dog that was wet under the rain. After some time they, the dog and Tuqay returned home together. Upon seeing the “friends” return home safe and sound mother was very glad!
But now….It didn’t feel the smell of Tuqay here. Now the dog had no intention of returning home without Tuqay. But mother was waiting for the
“friends” return home together.
The eagle went round above the mountain river flowing downwards for the last time, then it spread its wings widely and flew towards the open sky.
All remained in the past; the house of Tuqay, mother, Shahla, the fish, the mountain river carrying the fish downwards. However the dear friend of the eagle, the dog was far away. But there was the sea in front. The shores of that sea were rocky places. Once the eagle was met by the bullet of a hunter and was wounded here. In order to escape, it had hidden itself behind these grey rocky places. At that time Tuqay had seen the eagle and sleeked its head kindly, then brought it home and had fed it. The oil put by his mother soon had healed the wings of the bird. But after being recovered, the eagle didn’t leave the yard. The eagle was warmed in its heart, it was accustomed to this hearth, to this home.
Now disappearance of Tuqay all of a sudden had also shaken it, Ayqut, like all. The sorrowful faces of both mother and Shahla were before the eyes of the eagle. No, it couldn’t bear anymore. Three of the “friends” had gone to search for
Tuqay; without doubt, they would learn something about Tuqay. They did how they wanted; they decided to go in the direction that Tuqay had gone. The
“friends” could understand each other without any word. … Tuqay had gone to the sea. But the sea was endless, it had no bounds.
The eagle could feel the smell of the sea from far. Its heart began to beat fast. See, there, at the seashore there were rocky places and just behind those rocks once it was shot at. If the eagle saw its enemy now it would rush towards him and would take vengeance on him; the eagle would either pull out the eyes of its enemy or would tear him into pieces after scratching.
There was nobody in the rocky places. Usually if Ayqut felt a breathing nearby, there was a strange trembling inside of it. As if during those moments
“waves” were passing through its heart. The strangest thing was that each had its own “wave”; the “waves” of the dog, the fish, mother and Shahla. In the stream of these “waves” Tuqay has his own “wave” too. If now Tuqay was at the seashore, around these rocky places, the “waves” inside of it would obviously be felt, would warn it beforehand.
But the “waves” were as if sleeping. The waves of the sea were striking the rock at the seashore.
The eagle perched on the top of one of the rocks.
The sea was singing its eternal song. The cockleshells were listening to the song of the sea.
– Shahla, my daughter, during all the night I begged the sea. I ask the sea to feel sorry me. I told it that with difficulty I brought up my son. Hi, sea, let me hold his wedding, let me see my grandchildren. Maybe the sea can feel what mother’s heart feels, my daughter. I always wished goodness to all. My son Tuqay also always helped everybody, he gave a hand to all who needed. He rescued the fish that fell into the net, he rescued the dog which was mislead by its owner, he recovered the wounded eagle. …See, my son is such a kind boy; mild, kind and gentle. … I think, the sea will hear my voice, my daughter. Because they say that sea also has ears, it is able to hear.
All what was happening seemed to Tuqay as a fearful dream. In the bottom of his heart there was such a belief that all the misfortunes that he had met across with, will soon come to an end; Tuqay will return to the seashore, his home, he will see his “friends”, he will make his mother and Shahla glad seeing his coming. But still all around was lost in darkness. Though the storm had already subsided, fearful drones were heard from far. At times, near Tuqay, just at the end of his boat, dreadful living beings of the sea were jumping up and down.
He had lost direction. It was impossible to move with one paddle. How to say, the boat was sailing without foresight in the direction that was driven out by the waves. He wondered where would he go in this way? How much could he move?
Just all of a sudden he remembered the word of his mother: “My God”: mother usually used to use this word when she was in trouble.
Suddenly on the waves which were falling on him and wanted to wind round his throat like the thick cord of a ship, there fell a piece of light. As if just at the same moment the” knotted cords” began to be untied; the storm was going to come to an end; as if one unseen hand “ironed” the raging waves. The boat began to shake on the waves like a hammock hung from endlessness. That piece of the light shining on the waves which were as dark as tar, “slipped “and fell on the boat, on Tuqay.
“My God!”
Maybe it was the gift of light sent by the God?! Maybe God had come to assist, to rescue him?!
“My God!”
He was astonished; now it wasn’t only he who was calling God; the voice of mother had joined his voice. Tuqay could be able to know easily this voice in the midst of thousands of voices!
“My God!”
Maybe