to beget
Four kins of Sakha.
I have come to flay
Your thick skin myself,
I am here to punch
Your bloody head
With my fist,
I am ready
Like a drawn bow…’
The demon’s son hiccupped
Like a dying man,
Jumped up,
Slapping his sides.
His yell reached the sky,
He grinned crookedly,
He smiled disgustingly
And licked his neck
With his long tongue
That was like a sulphur fire
And began to howl…
THE SONG OF THE DEMON’S SON
‘Aar-jali! Aar-tatai!
Alaatigar emineh-tuomui!
What strange sounds you are uttering,
You, Aiyy-Khan’s relative?!
A poor boy, hairy child,
You are hardly visible
On the ground.
When you know me,
With my ninety-nine ways of escaping
And eighty-eight ways of cheating,
How could you dare to contradict me?!
If I hit you once,
If I kick you once
You will disappear into the mist.
Who would come and protect you
With his wide breast?
Who do you think
Will be your shield
So that you can oppose me?!
As for me,
I was conceived by my father
Who is the same as other men,
I was born by my mother
Who is the same as other women.
My ageing father is
Arsan Dolai, Logayar Luo Khan,
The forefather of the Ajarai kin,
In a worn-out fur coat,
With few sharp teeth and a tail;
My mother is Ala Buhrai, Aan Jahin,
The foremother of an evil kin,
Born shackled,
With shaking knees
And a sharp nose.
My brother is Ehekh Kharbir,
Three Shadows,
Timir Jigistei,
Born in the age of enmity,
Nestled at the bottom
Of Eluu Cherkechekh.
My elder brother
Is a great warrior,
Alyp-Khara, Aat-Mogoidon,
Born in a disastrous age,
Settled near the entrance
Of Ap-Salbaniki;
My sister is Kuo Chamchai Kyskyidaan Batyr,97
Fiery Uot Kutaalai,
A great udagan,
With an unpredictable temper,
With grasping hands
And sharp nails.
If you want to know,
I am the warrior Uot Uhutaki98
With cold breath
And wicked thoughts;
I was born under the western sky,
I am the spirit of icy Muus Kudulu
The bottomless ocean,
I am here in person
And of my own accord…
Will you not give your girl
As a wife,
To such a great man?!
Get her ready as a bow,
Dress her as a rainbow,
Adorn her as a flower,
Dress her
Like a favourite daughter of God,
Bring her as soon as possible!
Do not try my patience;
I will be angry with you,
Do not delay me,
I will fight you…
No hard feelings
Because you are my brother-in-law,
I am not in a rage yet,
Because you are my relative.
I will get her
Whether you agree or not –
It is all the same to me.’
He grinned ominously…
The first one said:
‘I will not give her to you!
You
