The ox the size of a mountain roared in surprise and fell on its back. You laughing so loudly now reminded me of this. (Both laugh merrily) BORTE: If you will not give up on your plans to move West, I will go with you. GENGHIS KHAN: No. You will remain in Karakorym as the keeper of our hearth. BORTE: No, if I do not go with you, I will go to the Karatau mountains, where I was born and raised. One of my grandchildren, Sain, is four-years-old, and Batu is two-years-old. I will show them the homeland of my ancestors, Zhideli-Baysyn. I will take care of their upbringing. If you meet me there, then do not be surprised. Borte, without haste, steps out proudly. GENGHIS KHAN: (Shaking his head) Like a ridiculous branch on a pine tree, it grows across itself, and that’s all it does.
* * *
The twelve-winged yurt, set up not far from the Khan’s palace and at a distance from some of the nearby grazing lambs, is full of girls today. These are teenagers from fourteen to fifteen-years-old, captured from the forest peoples. These captive girls are intended for the brute Korshi, who asked the Khan, ‘if my dream comes true and you become the ruler of all Mongolia, then, having chosen me as Noyan, will you give permission to marry thirty beauties?’ They have been cut off from their parents and loved ones. Some are sobbing quietly, others crying loudly. All are in tears. Approaching each of them is Borte, stroking their heads and consoling them as best she can. BORTE: What tribe are you from? GIRL: Oirat. BORTE: Well, what about you? GIRL: Buryat. BORTE Are you also a Buryat? GIRL: No, I’m from the Torgouts. BORTE: And where are you from? GIRL: I am from Khongirad. BORTE: Khongirad? How did you end up among the forest peoples? GIRL: Father and mother came to the Oirat. As soon as they began the matchmaking rituals, they were ambushed by your soldiers and I was taken prisoner. BORTE: Are your parents safe and sound? GIRL: When they strapped me to the saddle and drove away, my parents, clinging to the horse’s rump, ran after me, crying. BORTE: Are you with a white hem or a red one? GIRL: Sorry, I did not get that. BORTE: I’m asking if you
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