Carpet for the Dictator (eBook)

A novel of love, honor and revolution

Vahid Mammadli (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2025 | 1. Auflage
230 Seiten
Publishdrive (Verlag)
978-0-00-108787-3 (ISBN)

Infos

Carpet for the Dictator is a sweeping historical novel of love, loyalty, and loss set against the burning tapestry of Azerbaijan's Red Tragedy. When the Bolsheviks seize Baku and the noble families of Qarabagh face ruin, a single act of resistance ignites a century of consequences. Through blood, exile, and forbidden love, the novel reveals how dignity and devotion can endure even under tyranny.

Textauszug

 

 

 

The Red tragedy was already in Baku. The Bolsheviks of Lenin had occupied the old city. The National Government failed and the dark clouds were moving towards Qarabagh. After occupying the capital, the damned Bolsheviks were forwarding the provinces and they were approaching Shoraqanli.

Emiraslan bey Haqverdiyev was in his big house situated in Amanbeyli. He used to stay there in winter and in spring, but in summer season they used to move to their houses in Shusha. Except the charming Amanbeyli situated in the place where the Tartar river joined the Kur, he had a lot of lands, houses and animals in the surrounding regions.

The system was changing in the country, the proletarian administration was establishing its dictatorship. Except some merchants nobody left their lands.

The spreading news was terrible. The red Army put to the sword those who used to put up resistance.

Though Emiraslan bey was watching the process of the events patiently, he was worried. He didn’t know how his six brave sons would protect his beautiful, last-born daughter Shahrizad.

He knew that if the Bolsheviks behaved badly with the women he couldn’t keep his sons from fighting against them.

The beauty of Shahrizad was spoken by all, those who saw her, would sacrifice his life in order to see her again. The brothers protected their sister as the apples of their eyes. Shahrizad was engaged with Talib, the son of Ziya bey, one of the richest beys of Qarabagh. Talib’s father was Shahrizad’s uncle, from father’s side.

At noon Talib bey came to their house and told his opinion.

‘ The Red army dyed Shoraqanli to red color. It is dangerous to stay here. I think Shusha is still safe place. And from other side, we might decide about our next steps afterwards’, he said.

Emiraslan bey gave instructions to his younger brother Ekber bey.

‘ I advise you to stay here. Have eyes on the villagers and servants, maids. We don’t have to leave them all by themselves. After the process weakens a bit we might return.’

Soon they had packed everything needed and the beys approached to the stables where their horses were kept.

Ismayil, the son of the stableman kept the best horse of the herd for Shahrizad. Since that horse was a foal, he had felt that he would be one of the best horses in Qarabagh. He had promised to himself to keep the horse for Shahrizad.

There was reason for it. He loved Shahrizad, he had fallen in love with her. He knew that his love was hopeless, but he couldn’t fight against his heart. Though he knew that the girl was engaged with Talib bey, he couldn’t forget her, thought her all day long.

He felt guilty at the bey whom he served faithfully. He thought that it was a guilt to think about the daughter of his bey, the girl who was engaged with other man.

He grew that horse with love. When the sons of Emiraslan bey saw that horse for the first time they were struck dumb.

‘ Whose horse is this nice horse?’

Ismayil answered them as following.

‘ This horse belongs to Shahrizad.’

The brothers said nothing after they got such an answer, they thought Shahrizad was worthy for all good things.

Shahrizad was born after her six brothers, she used to ride horse like her brothers, she was as brave as her brothers.

The family members of Emiraslan bey including the servants and maids were on the back of the horses. Emiraslan bey was in front, Shahrizad and Talib bey were near them. They were moving forward. Shahrizad seemed more beautiful on the back of the dark black and white spotted Qarabagh horse.

After moving for some time they decided to rest. The servants poured waters into the big cups and gave the beys and women.

Suddenly they heard the sounds of the horses. Everybody turned back to know from where the sounds were heard. They saw the son of the stableman, Ismayil. He was riding towards them, as he approached them he began to speak anxiously.

‘ Bey, the Bolsheviks entered the village. Qudsi, the son of civilian Huseynqulu was among them. They obliged the villagers to stand by the walls and asked them where you had left for. None of villagers answered their questions. Then Qudsi spoke.

‘ Hey, don’t you know me? I am Qudsi.’

My father spat on his face.

‘ Well, if you are Qudsi why did you bring these ignominious Bolsheviks here? If your father was alive his heart would break,’ father told him.

One of them shot at father. Ekber bey sent me to inform you about what had happened.

Emiraslan bey seemed a bit restrained but as if his horse got furious.

‘ Come with us. Let your father sleep in peace. I shall tell Ekber and they will bury your father.

Emiraslan bey spurred his horse and they continued their way. But the neighing and footsteps of the horses were approaching them.

Red army group consisting of ten of fifteen soldiers surrounded them. Emiraslan bey recognized Qudsi, the son of civilian Huseynqulu, and turned to him.

‘ Well, why have you come? Have you come to thank us?

‘ Bey, we can thank when it is time.

‘ Isn’t the time ? Hasn’t the time reached to thank us?’

Some years ago Emiraslan bey sent his servant’s son to the capital of empire, to Saint-Petersburg to study the profession of road engineering. He hoped that after graduating the institute he would build good roads in his native country. He would never imagine that Qudsi whom he hoped, might join the reds and chase his family.

At that time the Bolshevik commander who was standing near Qudsi pointed his finger at Shahrizad and asked quietly.

‘ Who is that girl?’

The girl’s brothers and her betrothed Talib bey got furious when they heard that question. Though they didn’t hear what the commander of the Bolsheviks told Qudsi, they saw he had pointed his finger at Shahrizad. So, they were so furious that they could do anything.

Before Qudsi could answer to the question of his commander Talib bey took his rifle and shot at them. The red commander fell from his horse. The shooting began. Qudsi shot towards the sky and tried to calm the both sides, the bullets were flying in the air. Emiraslan bey’s voice was heard behind the trees.

‘ Talib, take Shahrizad and go to Shusha.’

Then he turned his face to his younger son Mammadrasul.

‘ Take the women, children, servants and maids to the bank of the Kur. We can stop them ourselves.’

….The shooting sounds were weakening. Qudsi who hid himself behind the tree called Emiraslan bey.

‘ Bey, see, only I am alive, the others died. Look, I put aside my rifle.’

Emiraslan bey ordered his sons.

‘ Stop the shooting.’

Seeing that none of his sons answered him he began to call them by names.

‘ Abbasqulu, Allahyar, Imamyar, Ramazan, Huseyn..

Nobody answered him. Emiraslan bey walked to the behind of the green hill.

At that time Ismayil approached him wiping his tears.

‘ Bey, all of them died during the shooting,’ he sobbed.

Emiraslan bey couldn’t stand on his feet because of the shock, he wanted to take a step, but the bullets shot behind him stopped him on the spot.

One of the wounded Bolsheviks had a chance to target at him. Qudsi ran towards Emiraslan bey, whom Ismayil helped to lie on the back.

‘ Bey, I don’t know why Talib did so. The Red commander asked about Shahrizad. I would never let anybody to say anything to her. And the blood wouldn’t be shed.’

‘ You have already thanked me for sending you to get education. I wonder did I send you to get education for you to behave so?’ Emiraslan bey said and closed his eyes.

‘ Ismayil, ride your horse to the village. Tell Ekber bey to send somebody to take the dead bodies,’ Qudsi said.

Qudsi also wanted to go to the village but he knew well that Ekber bey wouldn’t forgive him for the death of his brother and his sons.

Qudsi didn’t see Mammadrasul among the dead bodies, so he understood that he didn’t die, and he was anxious. Mammadrasul was the most courageous and brave among the sons of Ekber bey. He would revenge for his father and brothers.

***

In Baku, in the room situated on the second floor of the building of Extraordinary commission there was two of them. The chairman Mirjafar Bagirov and the plenipotentiary representative for Qarabagh, Qudsi. Bagirov stared through his spectacled eyes to the eyes of Qudsi. He wanted to emphasize that he was going to tell him important news.

‘ Comrade Hajiyev, Kirov is interested what was the reason of incident happened two days ago. It is ungovernability to murder the revolutioners,’ he told him.

When Qudsi was returning to Baku after the bloody incident he knew that such kind of questions would be asked him many times. The main question would be how he could stay alive.

Emiraslan bey Haqverdiyev had sent him to study, an ordinary son of civilian, that was why he respected him as an kind and generous man. In fact, he had to be grateful to Emiraslan bey for being one of the leaders of the country. During the bloody incident neither Emiraslan bey nor his sons shoot at him.

‘ Comrade Bagirov, the red commanders must be instructed and they have to warn the soldiers that they have to be careful in the theme of women of this nation.’

‘ Qudsi, if I didn’t know you well, now we wouldn’t sit face to face. I shall report to Kirov what is needed. But you must be careful. They say that the person who started the fight ran away.’

Qudsi didn’t have any other way. He loved Shahrizad...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 28.10.2025
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Literatur ► Romane / Erzählungen
• ISBN-10: 0-00-108787-8 / 0001087878
• ISBN-13: 978-0-00-108787-3 / 9780001087873