assured the chief propagandist. ‘They just called from Alma-Ata. They told us to get a crane and workers ready. They said they will install it tomorrow.’ ‘Ugh, finally! Thank God! It’s all over,’ said Zhanaidarov with a deep sigh. ‘Put everything else aside, just take care of the statue.’ A week later the statue of the first leather tanner was officially unveiled and the locals could finally admire the sculpture, which had become famous long before it appeared in the square. Witnesses have claimed, with a chuckle, that the worker on the plinth looks identical to Ashten: that if you placed them side by side you wouldn’t be able to tell one from the other. However, the arrival of his plaster counterpart did not cheer Ashten up. No one needed him now. But evil tongues claim that a bottle of Sary-Agach is still delivered to him every three days, so that he won’t divulge the secret of how he became Ashten the Statue. People think the nickname comes from his resemblance to the statue. He knows the truth, but he won’t tell. Until…

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