“I could speak about the praises directed to you, highly respected cadi, many days, but I want to answer your second question. It the accusations of one rich man directed to one poor. The truth is that our ox was fed only with a grass, but we raised him and loved as the family member and therefore it looks better than an ox of Goyko who was given oats and slops. Whether it is fair, highly respected cadi, that all the best may have only the one who is rich? If it is so, then you highly respected cadi, are hundred times richer man than Goyko and many other rich men and never took away either ours, or his ox, and respectably offered us two ducats and fifteen aqca, and we all know that at such high price nobody has paid for one ox yet. In it, highly respected cadi, your justice and honesty is visible”.
Again, the people rustled and again the cadi raised a hand to calm everybody.
“Child, I didn’t find anything bad in you, and for your mind it is not a shame to send you to the sultan. Just now we gathered for competitions of your oxen. I would like that your ox was better, but, apparently, Goyko’s ox is bigger and stronger.
People, you can approach the pasha and stake,” – shouted the cadi, the people got up in a row and began to put money for oxen.
“Look, father, – mine grandfather whispered, – the cadi is on our party, and at the end the pasha will be against us. Now, father, put all money which you have on our Galonya”. Great – grandfather left and returned in half an hour frowned.
“Sonny, all people put on Goyko’s ox, I was unique who put on our Galonya”.
“Perfectly, father, a little more and we will see was I right or not. I know that I am right”.
Oxen were removed. About Goyko’s ox many people have gathered and all without ceasing praise, and about Galonya – only grandfather and great – grandfather.
“Father, embrace Galonya on the one hand, and I will embrace with another,” – told my grandfather. And only they together embraced Galonya as cadi shouted: “People, it has come the time to look whose victory is. Before fight begins, I have to report that all relied on Goyko’s ox and only Mitar put on Galonya. If Goyko’s ox wins, then everyone will receive five aqca and if Galonya wins, then Mitar will receive one ducat and 25 aqca!” The people laughed loudly. The platform was made and oxen went at each other. My grandfather looks Goyko’s ox fool in the face and doesn’t lower a look from it, and then gives a hand and whispers so that only the father heard: “Go forward, Galonya!” And it worked, our Galonya began to attack and Goyko’s ox receded. This ox attacks and another one moves back and eventually started running. People began to laugh. Some – to shout, and the cadi raised a hand again. The people calmed down. And again, grandfather whispered to my great – grandfather: “Father, look what will be now”. The cadi calmed people and began to declare the winner. Here Goyko with the flushed person interfered: “Highly respected cadi, during fight I continuously looked at Gatso. While he gave a hand to the ox, then his ox pulled hard as mad, and mine began to run away”.
“Don’t tell nonsense, Goyko, and recognize defeat. Broke the comedy enough, – told the cadi and turned to crowd.
Suddenly, as “bolt from the blue”, sounded:
“Turkish thief!”
All grew dumb with fear. The cadi slowly turned, in utter disbelief, and Goyko grasped with one hand behind a neck, and another closed a mouth. They met views. One enraged, and another dumbfounded for fear.
“Highly respected cadi, anything… Told nothing,” – Goyko stammered.
“Goyko, you are the biggest liar who exists in this world. Hundred people heard as you offended me and now claim that you didn’t say”.
“Shame, it’s a shame – to kill him!” – was heard from the different parties from crowd.
The cadi raised a hand and told people:
“I know that Goyko has lost an ox today and he is angry because of it, but it doesn’t grant to him the right to offend someone. I have full authority to dispose about his execution, but today I am especially mood and I see that many people have come from all parties and not enough one ox therefore we in exchange for his life will take one more ox and we will kill it, and Goyko – will receive twenty blows below a back for the fact that he has offended me, here on the square on this podium which he has constructed”.
People have begun to welcome enthusiastically. Everything has mixed up. The people have lost the head.
The cadi has given orders to pin up oxen, and Goyko tied waited for punishment performance. My grandfather and great – grandfather have received money and have gone to buy all necessary for a family. Never before, my great – grandfather had so much money. Grandfather has advised him to buy a matress.
“And what’s for, sonny?”
“It is required, father, you will see that it will be required”.
And great – grandfather has bought it. Little by little, while shopped, there has passed lunch time. The people have bought bread and everyone waited when he will be given the promised piece of meat. Before the lunch the cadi has ordered to make Goyko’s punishment. At each blow, made by executioner, Goyko shouted more and stronger, and the crowd laughed more and more loudly. After that, they have begun to distribute meat. When came the turn of grandfather and great – grandfather to take the piece, the pasha has moved to the cadi.
“Highly respected cadi, I would like to offer something…”
At that moment my grandfather has turned and directed his hands to the pasha. Many haven’t noticed it, but my great – grandfather has seen it. Suddenly the pasha has clutched at the head and was bent.
“What has happened to you, pasha? Do you feel bad?” – The cadi has supported him.
“Highly respected cadi, I have a strong headache as if the head is about to break up. I will go and have a rest a little”.
The pasha left and didn’t tell to cadi that wanted.
My grandfather and great – grandfather went away. When they went off far away from people, great – grandfather loudly stated what tormented him:
“Sonny, it seems to me, there was something strange”.
“What, father?”
“When I heard this voice in the monastery I thought that it is the Holy Spirit spoke. I couldn’t calm down for a long time. I blamed myself that I didn’t protect you from the lord, it is my parental duty given me by God. Today, two times, I was convinced that in you there are some forces, sonny, and you will tell me everything now”.
“Father, there’s nothing to tell me to you without…”
“Be silent! – Great – grandfather interrupted him. – I saw with my own eyes as you gave hands to the pasha. He got a headache so he wanted to fall. And again, I heard that voice, as in the monastery today. So, sonny, it can’t be accident. How did you know that our Galonya will win against Goyko’s ox that is bigger and stronger?”
My grandfather was clamped in a corner and began to explain to his father so as far as it was possible.
“Father, you possibly know that in our clan from old times there was an Elect who had Special forces which other people don’t have. Only this I can tell you and I beg you not to ask any more because I can’t open anything more for you under the pain of death. Remember, what you found out, you can’t tell to anybody or at the same moment I will die. But listen, we have two or three days to equip our cave because Pasha will instigate the cadi to send soldiers to kidnap me and to send to Turkey. Everything needs to be prepared, and then you will go to Milenko and will ask him to look after our home and to milk our cattle, and we will return approximately in ten days.
It was done so. All was prepared carefully and great – grandfather went to the third morning to relatives and told everything how it was coordinated. When Milenko saw them off, my grandfather released faithful Garindzhu, and Bubitsa went with them. Through hundred meters, great – grandfather asked him