and shut up,’ he shouted. ‘Okay,’ said Yesirkep, with a sigh. ‘If that’s what people want, I’ll try. There will be light in the evening! ‘Hurrah! What a guy! That’s the boy!’ people be- gan to disperse slowly. When he arrived at the power station, he took apart the innocent generator and the intact motor for show. While he had promised to have light by the evening, Yesirkep was at a loss when he saw the pile of parts. When the roar of the diesel engine sounded in the twilight, Yesirkep was overjoyed. Coming up to the panel, Yesirkep switched on the switch. The electric lights above the village shone. Knowing that they were coming for him, he hur- ried home as soon as the engine started. Taking his wife with him, he got into the car that had been sent for him. Just as importantly he stepped into the courtyard of his victor. He answered the peo- ple’s greetings with importance. He took food from the dastarkhan. Before Kyz-Zhibek started the kuirdak had been eaten. For some reason the master of the house did not show his face. Every now and then Yesirkep glanced towards the door, waiting for the moment when he would come and ask for forgiveness. But that moment did not come. It was about ten minutes before the film started. When all the guests had settled in front of the televi- sion screen and were clamouring for silence, there was a sudden shout from the street. Yesirkep recognised the voice; it was Tashkenbai. ‘Oooh, you wretches! Pay, pay for my sheep! You’ll pay me for it, you freeloaders!’ heard Yesirkep and felt that something unforeseen had happened. Tashkenbai showed up ten minutes before the film started. He was wet and dirty. Unspeakably sur- prised by the unexpected feast in his own house, he asked why there was a celebration, but it was difficult to understand the people’s reason, and Tashkenbai started shouting: ‘Get out! I’ll kill them all! Where’s that blabber- mouth? I’ll show him how to turn out the lights when there’s a wedding.’ The people all jumped on Tashkenbai in droves. ‘Oibai, my brothers, calm your anger. We’re all doing this as friends. Why are you jumping on Ye- sirkep? Yesterday you smoked while sitting on him, isn’t that enough? Tomorrow you’ll get two sheep from us. We only wanted your name. So