"E.Voiskunsky, I.Lukodyanov. The Crew Of The Mekong (англ.)" - читать интересную книгу автора

gruelling march they fought gallantly.
When Khan Shirgazy saw that he could not take the camp by storm he
decided to resort to guile. To the astonishment of the Russians the
besieging troops vanished during the night. Silence reigned over the desert.
The next day passed in tense expectation. Towards evening a lone
horseman came galloping across the desert towards the camp. Wearing a
richly-embroidered robe and turban, and with his hennaed beard, he was a
colourful sight. When he reached the camp he introduced himself as Ishim
Hodja, envoy of the Khan, and explained courteously that the attack had been
made without the Khan's knowledge. The Khan, he said, had ordered the heads
of the guilty to roll, and now invited the Prince to a council of peace and
friendship.
The latter sent a Tatar named Useinov to tell the Khan that he, Prince
Alexander Bekovich-Cherkassky, was an envoy of the white tsar, bearing
credentials and many gifts, and that it would be to the Khan's great
advantage to receive the Russian mission.
Khan Shirgazy received Useinov and asked him to tell the Prince that he
would reply after he had consulted with his advisers.
He did consult with his advisers. They said it had been a mistake to
withdraw from Lake Aibugir, for the Prince did not have many men and it was
too early to resort to guile.
Soon the curved blades of the Khiva horsemen again glinted in the sun
in front of the Russian fortifications beside the lake. Slender arrows and
clay bullets glazed with lead again flew towards the camp. Again clouds of
black smoke drifted across the desert as the Russian gunners, veterans of
the war against Sweden, took aim and fired. After beating off the attack
Prince Bekovich-Cherkassky again sent his parliamentarian to the Khan to
demand an explanation of this perfidious conduct.
Khan Shirgazy insisted once again the attack had been made without his
knowledge. Again he declared that those to blame for the attack had already
been caught and punished, some by death and others by a fate worse than
death. The next day Prince Bekovich-Cherkassky himself rode over to the
headquarters of the Khan for a talk.
The Khan received him graciously. He promised to order his men to tear
down the dam on the Amu Darya. He promised to be a younger brother to Peter
the Great. He pledged peace and love and he kissed the tsar's scroll.
The day was clear, with a fierce sun beating down mercilessly. All of a
sudden the motionless air stirred, and a light breeze arose.
Dogs howled and horses neighed. The sheep which the Khan's men had
brought along for a feast huddled together, bleating piteously.
A black smudge appeared on the disc of the sun. It grew rapidly,
spreading across the sun. Darkness fell. Stars came out.
The Khiva men beat on tambourines and drums to drive away the demons
that were trying to swallow the sun.
Khan Shirgazy was alarmed. Could this be a bad omen, just when he was
about to sign a treaty with the white tsar?
An elderly mullah in a green turban stood on tiptoe, his goatee
tickling the hairy ear of tall Khan Shirgazy. He whispered, a crooked finger
pointing to the darkened sun, "Do you see the omen, oh mighty ruler?"
"I do," the Khan growled.