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Burnt City
Burnt City
Burnt City
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Burnt City The Wind Traveler
Turns around, looks at me, and nods. jugs, staring at the branches on the roof and
“You’re alone?”, I ask. the cold light entering the tavern. From time
He nods again. to time someone would say a few words and
“Is that Oshida?” I use its old name instead someone else would nod. As soon as Golnar
of Khajeh Mountain. His eyes sparkle. “Here asked where I was coming from and I replied
was filled with water one day, was it not? “Arata”, everyone turned and looked at me.
Do you think the water will ever come back?”, There was a light in their eyes as if they were
I continue. waiting for me to pour down gold, silver,
He smiles, goes towards the dry swamp and lapis lazuli on their stony benches. They
and makes a gesture for me to follow. He sits must have thought I knew all kinds of arts,
on top of the boat and I sit on the ground and that whatever they had heard of Aratian
facing him. He smiles again, then gazes far crafts had personified in me all at once.
into the distance, and just like the serene But I only knew ‘games’. My craft is to build
sound of a breeze among straws, he begins. games. I had no doubt it would entertain
them greatly. So far, within a month, they had
already mastered five games, each with 60
pieces.
Perhaps now was the time to ask; ask
them whether here, in Rigsan, at the upper
Now a bunch of people gathered around Hirmand, where the inhabitants drink the
the tavern playing dice and making noise. same water that we drink in Arata, have there
I walked beneath the shadow of the tangled been any similar mysterious deaths or not?
straw roof, pointing out their mistakes and In Arata, most believe that these deaths
acting as a referee between them. Golnar, are the consequences of our tampering with
the tavern owner’s chubby wife, quickly filled the creations of Gods. We extracted iron
small jugs of beer and placed them on a clay from stone, color from soil and beverages
tray to get delivered to the tables by one of her from herbs. We even hammered the Gods’
numerous aids. Men drank up the jugs and molten iron into all manners of deadly weap-
kept quarreling. The first time I came here, it ons. Perhaps this new misery could be the
was not like this. People were sitting on stone result of our own provocations.
benches by themselves and drinking their Here, in Rigsan, at the upper Hirmand,
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they have none of those industries. They do the half ajar door.
not even have any willows, maples, or poplars “So, you are the Aratian Man,” he finally
as in the Aratian lands. Nevertheless, at least said after an intense stare.
as far as I know, and since I have been here, Every quarter of the watering hole fell
they have no unusual deaths either. This is into silence as soon as he spoke. Everyone
exactly why I had to come such a long way. turned around and stood up one by one as
I was not the only one assigned with this soon as they recognized him, half bowing. I
task. Another young man was sent to Farah, respectfully bowed my head, too.
another to Kabul, the other to Tarak and one “Faramarz,” I said calmly.
to Ghazni, someone else to Kandahar and “They say you know things; that you have
one to Lashgargah; and I, to Rigsan. They told brought us crafts of Arata. Why are you
me that I must go as far as the tall walls here?”, he asked.
surrounding the universe to find answers. “Me? I’m a game maker. Of all that you
How should I ask? For instance, some have heard, I just know the games.”
night I should ask Golnar “how do people die A man cried out of a corner: “and he said
around here?”, or shall I brag that the way they have built eyes for a blind woman in
we die in Arata is much more advanced, too? Arata.”
Perhaps, it is wiser to ask what they do with “A thousand years ago! And not eyes to
their dead? see, only for aesthetics,” I corrected him.
I was busy with such thoughts when that Another man said: “with capillaries of
soldier pushed aside the straw strands hung gold, who cares if it sees or not…”
at the door and entered. He had no helmet or “And an animated goat, jumping,” said
armor, only a long wooden spear to let one someone else.
know that he was a soldier; most likely, a low- “Not really jumping…”, I interrupted.
rank soldier who was not even allowed to ride “Paintings, not one but many, on clayware
horses yet. I had seen no one riding horses that will make the goat gradually ascend as
here yet. There were many horses in their you turn the bowl.”
plains, so they must know how to ride, but I “What of people who put carpets even at
had seen no one riding just yet. the bottom of their graves.”
The soldier stood in the narrow passage- “Of those who bury the dead fully
way, illuminated by the light seeping through clothed.”
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“Of the masters of furnaces who turn tall and not vast, not even made of stone and
stone to iron, and then hammer it…” brick. It was a surface made of dry clay and
“Sheets of iron, thinner than a leaf.” a surrounding garden with pomegranate and
“Of gold and lapis lazuli!” grape shrubs. Thick walls of clay supported
“Of the straw matt!” a low ceiling which cast a shadow where the
“Don’t you build your ceilings of the same governor sat. He was holding onto a long
straw and mat as we do?”, I replied. wooden stick. A middle-aged man who sat on
Someone said: “fabrics of a thousand his knees closely behind him was permanently
colors.” ready for his command. The others were all
“With twelve types of textures,” called out sitting below the porch, on the ground. The
someone else. soldier and I stood in the sun. Others entered
Have I told them all those things about through the garden one by one, moved along
Arata? I could not remember. I must have the walls, bowed, and sat around the corners.
been in a drunken rant, boasting about my After a while, the governor took a sip from a
homeland, to have said those things, most of bowl and said, “proceed,” with a hard-to-hear
which do not exist here. voice. He then threw the rest of the water on
“Pick up your belongings, if you have the ground. A yellow scorpion exited a crack
any,” said the soldier. “You shall come to the on the muddy porch and ran to the surface
governor’s palace with me. Tell him what you that had become wet by the governor’s action.
have told these people.” He hit the scorpion with the broad head of
“I… I do not remember what I have told his stick and the poor creature collapsed
them,” I cried in a shaky voice. “I have only instantly. Everyone was frowning at me.
seen or heard of all those things myself, not I finally came to my words. I told them how
that I know the craft…” we have separated houses, professions, graves,
“Do not fear. You will not be responsible memorials, and markets; and how each has
for building them. You merely explain what a designated place in the city. I shared with
you have seen. Come and see what we have, them how Hirmand and Farahroud’s water
too. The palace has better beer than Golnar’s gather in floodplains and irrigate the Aratian
and the bedchambers are much more com- lands; how we have made creeks and water
fortable.” canals delivering the water to each and every
The governor’s palace was a porch, not house. I bragged about the fact that maple,
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poplar and willow trees are at every corner, kingdom of Elam, and of course, the high-
and how, unlike here, Arata is green. lands, too.” I had a proud smile on my face
The governor raised his stick. I fell in and said “I myself have an Elamite coin, a
silence. The man sitting behind him bent over reward from the Elamite merchants for the
and the governor whispered something in his games that I have made.”
ear. The man asked: “does the floodwater not The man said: “it has been years since we
wash out your city’s walls?” had a visitor from Arata. You now frequent
“Arata is high. Higher than twenty men Elam, instead?”
in comparison to surrounding grounds. We “And Punjab. When there was more water
take out the wastewater with clay pipes to the in Hirman and Frahroud, we visited Rigsan
fields, to water the trees and farms,” I replied. more often but now it is dry here, and we go
Everyone, sitting and standing around me, to Punjab more regularly. We have built a vast
was snickering. Then there was a buzz. The city in Punjab, a city worthy of the Aratian
man said: “maple, poplar and willow bear no people. It is developing every day and many of
fruit, what do you eat?” us have immigrated there,” I added.
“Melon and grapes... We have wheat fields. “Harpa?”, he said.
Barleycorn, and hemp…”, I replied. “Harpa,” I replied.
“What about winters?”, the man asked. “I have seen the earthenware there. It is of
“We store them. We also have goats and your kind’s,” the governor announced calmly.
gazelles to hunt; pheasants, ducks, and geese. He contemplated for a while and I fell silent
We catch fish by hooks in the river and by too. The other attendee’s whispers were taking
nets in the Hamun, which is just like a sea,” over again when the governor interrupted.
I continued to answer. “Show him!”, he said to the man sitting
The whispering chatter filled the garden behind him in his deep voice.
again. The middle-aged man bent forward The man nodded to the soldier beside me
for a while and the governor whispered some- and called him the “general!”
thing lengthy in his ear. He then said aloud: The general, whom I thought was a low-
“you eat fish of the sea? They say these jewels ranked soldier, rested his hand on my shoulder.
are coming from Arata. Are they?” “Onwards!”
“We send gems and jewels to Badakhshan I could not believe that they had con-
and Nimrouz, to Babylon and even to the structed all those mills, canals, and dykes.
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We had dug waterways to irrigate plains too, lands between them. There were tens of wells
but we were downstream, and Rigsan in the in each farm, and thousands in all of Rigsan.
headwaters. Pirouz, the general, knew so They called them Abkash. They drained the
much about all these things. river, the plains, and the sea’s moisture from
When he woke me up in the morning, I beneath the surface and dragging it to the
first heard his voice and then saw the inter- fields of Rigsan. Was this the reason why
twined straws on the ceiling through which the water was declining in Hirmand? And
the morning breeze passed to meet my face. we naively thought the upper lands were left
First, I was confused as to where I was. They waterless and dry!
had selected a cool bed chamber for me, I wanted to go back and let everyone know
which was used during warm weather. Here, about these wells, but this was not what I had
they do not use the mat to sleep on, instead, come for. I first had to identify the cause of
they lay on dry clay or even slabs of stone. all those deaths. Although I was tired and
Their sleeping platforms are elevated, most the sun was scorching hot, I asked Pirouz to
likely out of fear of scorpions. I woke up and accompany me higher.
sat on the bed. Pirouz was standing, holding “Do not hurry, Aratian man,” he said.
a jug and a loaf of bread. “We will start the “Tomorrow?”, I asked.
observations today. Of course, we would eat “Rest for tomorrow. Contemplate deeply.
breakfast and leave promptly. Then you just You will need a couple of days to understand
watch and talk. Say whatever you think.” what you have witnessed today. After seven
After we saw the waterways, it was time to days, we will return and see more.”
see the farms. I observed with my own eyes Half asleep at dawn, I wondered what
what none of us in Arata could even think of: they do with these exposed, uncoated ceilings
a big well with an opening the size of a man. when it rains? And if it never rains… There
I looked inside and saw the sun reflected on must be no rain here. I have seen their water-
the waters in its depths. Pirouz asked for a ways, streams, and abkash, but what about
torch and the nearby farmers brought us a the winter? Where do they find water in winter
mighty flame to inspect inside the well. The if there was no rain at all? It did not take long
water, in contrast with our canals, was run- to find the answer. The answer to this and
ning like a stormy sea. It looked like the river many more questions.
was moving from well to well, traversing the When Pirouz returned, we headed to the
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mountains again. We climbed through the “This is the first dam; but not the last,”
depth of valleys and strayed to hillsides look- Pirouz announced.
ing for prey or a spring from time to time. “How many of them?”, I asked.
We took a short repose beneath the shadow “How many branches does the Hirmand
of some shrubs before climbing on the edge have?”, he replied before bursting into a
of the plateau to scout the vista and inspect prideful laughter. I kept drinking avidly as I
the path. The sweat drops weighed heavy was still very thirsty. Why did he not let me
on our brows under the burning sun, so we drink a drop of water in the lower valley?
stopped every now and then to catch a breath. I gazed around in confusion for a while before
Finally, we ended up in a valley where ran a gathering my composure again. I soon noticed
little stream. I reached down to have a sip, that the water entering the lower valley was
but Pirouz stopped me quickly. We continued coming from a gateway that gave birth to
to follow the stream higher and higher. The a small creek. That stream, which Pirouz
valley’s walls grew taller around us and the did not let me drink from, was fed exactly
passageway became increasingly narrow. As through this hole. I was very inquisitive and
the sound of the rushing stream grew louder, wanted to know how they had built the mas-
Pirouz climbed a cliff and I, still confused sive dam and its intricate outlet gate. I had
as to why we had to take such a long journey only taken a few steps forward to inspect the
without a horse, followed him. Suddenly, there structure, when Pirouz put his hand on my
was a vast sea in front of me. Water! Trapped shoulder. “The sun has turned yellow. You do
water, behind a colossal wall made of brick not want to spend the night in an unfamiliar
and stone. mountain, do you? Leave it for tomorrow.”
“You can drink this water!”, Pirouz We visited the site the day after that and
exclaimed calmly. reached the dam’s wall again, yet Pirouz,
There was a sea of water, and it was sweet, similar to last time, did not let me inspect
meaning it was not a pre-existing sea. So, the outlet gate. The dam’s water went to sur-
was this the secret to lowering water levels in rounding fields and plains through pipes and
the ancient Hirmand springs? How unfair! irrigation streams, even by cart and special-
Exactly where the stream’s path was narrow ized donkey carriages who transfered big
in a deep valley, they had built mighty walls, vessels and jugs of water to Rigsan. Pirouz
imprisoning the water, the life. later explained to me that their main source
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of water in the winter was this dam. But why earlier had turned to red charcoal. Pirouz
did they not take the same water running was Snoring. I could hear the sound of frogs,
downstream to Rigsan? Was it not much eas- which I have never heard in Rigsan or even
ier and simpler to do so? The dam’s single imagined to hear there in my dreams. I qui-
gateway, the same outlet that I saw, was where etly stood up. I had barely made my third
the water entered the valley before going step, when Pirouz asked where I was going. I
through a hidden route, and then reaching got nervous and joked about having to relieve
Rigsan and all other downstream cities below. myself. I took a few more steps before hearing
Each time I attempted to inspect the outlet a ruffle among the bushes. I did not pause.
gate and its hidden path, Pirouz found an Moving forward, I heard a body move in the
excuse to distract me. He called me to eat, or shrubs once again. It must have been an
to drink wine, or complain about the scorching animal, the size of a man. I had seen many
heat and insist on returning. creatures on route to the dam, so I assumed
“Pirouz, it is cool here. There is water. it was a leopard cub or even a small bear
There is the shelter of mountains. Why not taking shelter. But why was it not attacking
stay the night? This way we do not have to me then? I continued on my path and neared
return tomorrow,” I suggested on one of our the wall. I heard steps behind me and then
journeys to the dam. the loud noise of metal impacting a stone as
“Let’s stay! As long as you want,” he replied. if a soldier had hit his spear on the ground.
I roamed around freely for a while, but How had Pirouz followed me so silently? I
every time I looked back, Pirouz was watching was scared. I returned to the fire but Pirouz
over me in distal. It was as if he was cautious was asleep. That is when I realized we were
for me not to drink the water from the lower not alone. I crawled back to my spot and pre-
stream, or observe the dam too much. I sug- tended to be asleep.
gested sleeping at the same place at night, so The next day, I saw a path a little farther
we could have the narrow stream close by and up than where we were sleeping. Multiple
also stay sheltered by the dam’s walls, but he carts were carrying stones, yellowish stones,
refused. We slept on top of the dam. Some- toward the higher parts of the dam. I asked
where far from the outlet gate and the hidden Pirouz about the stones and what they were.
route. But how could I sleep? “Imagine these as our Azur stone. Our
It was late at night and the fire we had lit silver and gold. Jewels and gems, although a
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stinky gem. Each city survives on a precious from the cliff sides with difficulty and saw the
stone and this is ours,” he replied. cart’s sinister load piled up like a hill beside
By the second night I knew the dam, wall, a large water mill. The flowing stream turned
gateway and sandy shores around the man- its wheels and softened the yellow rubbles,
made lake were all guarded throughout the only to empty the final product into the
evening. Of course, Pirouz had never men- stinky reservoir. So, this was why Pirouz did
tioned that earlier. The third night, just before not let me drink the water downstream. That
the sunset, I found a path close to the road was why they did not simply transfer the
upon which the stone-carrying carts traveled. stream’s water to Rigsan, and used carts and
The path took me to a large crack in the dam’s donkeys to fill up at the dam instead. This
colossal wall where the carts’ road ended. A was the water feeding Hirmand! This was the
terrible smell was seeping through the hole water of Arata!
as if a fresh graveyard was being exhumed. Now I knew that each moment that I
I climbed the cliffs overlooking the opening waste, each minute that I reach Arata later
and dragged myself up and into the crevice. than sunrise, an Aratian child would go by
Inside the crack looked like a massive man- the water and drink this yellow poison that
made passageway. I saw torches on the wall the Rigsans have saturated the river with.
and their reflection on the large spring, as Perhaps a woman would take a jug to the
if a lake. The water was right before me and river and fill it with this water, take it home
looked disturbingly green. I wanted to drink and her children would die from the mys-
and taste the water but its repulsive scent dis- terious disease. Perhaps a farm will be fed
couraged me. The water getaway at the dam with this unholy water and turn out food for
entered this hole through the rocks and gath- hundreds of Aratians. There was no time to
ered here. I picked up one of the torches waste. I had to leave. I knew no way but the
and proceeded to inspect the walls. I looked one I came from, but that path would go past
all around to no avail. Nothing of particular Pirouz and the guards, the valley, Rigsan,
significant was there. I then looked at the the governor’s palace, Golnar’s tavern and
ceiling, and there it was: a calculated opening Hirmand. Each moment was filled with dangers
through which a soft and sifted flour, yellow- and I had to risk it all. Even if there was some
ish, poured from the ceiling into the water. I other way, it was too late for me to find it.
dropped the torch and dragged myself higher I came down to Pakoob since the valley
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of Payab was too far from the dam, but there that it was enough to set guards on the only
was no way out in that region. I knew no way way back to Rigsan and no unlucky bastard
but to return. I had to go inside the dam’s like me could flee!
outlet gates but that whole area was littered I sat down and began to re-think my plan.
with soldiers. I had to go to the other side of I needed more time. I had to search more. I
the wall and there was no way to do so except had to know more. Thus, I turned all the way
circumventing the massive artificial lake. I back and slipped back into my improvised
stepped on the edge of the wall. This wall was bed by the fire. I was hoping to find a way in
clearly visible from all the surrounding areas, daylight and leave at night. In the meantime,
but not on that night. It was a particularly I had nothing else to do but observe the stars.
dark, moonless night. Perhaps, the guards The sky was clear and the stars… stars… The
did not pay much attention to the wall, since sky moving among the stars… I remembered
it was normally too visible at all times. It that my mother used to tell me how our earth
was also a very perilous passage and no fool was also a star moving around the sky just
would have dared to step on it. I wanted to like all other ones. I recall clearly how I con-
bend down to cover myself from the incoming templated her words for a while and was filled
torch light bellow, but it was too difficult and with fear the first time she told me those
risky to crawl through that wall, even on my words. I said: “if it is so, then by the time we
hands and knees. I stretched myself on the reach the edge of the world, we shall fall into
wall like a worm and hugged the two sides of the sky and float and wander in the darkness
the wall with my hands and pulled myself for- until we die?” “No,” she replied, “the earth
ward. I do not know how long it took to cross, has no edge. It’s round! Whatever path you
but I did manage to get to the other end of take, if you go really far in the right direction,
the wall and reached the lower parts of the you will get back to where you started.”
artificial sea’s shoreline. The shore was sandy. That night I contemplated my escape route,
I had to take off my shoes and walk barefoot all while staring at the sky. There seemed to
to avoid the echoing sound of my footsteps be no way out. I had to try a farther path,
among the tall walls. I had only walked down which meant no certainty, longer travel times
a few steps when I heard two soldiers ahead and, of course, the death of more Aratians.
of me. I was a real fool! Not only a clever gen- Having had no other options, I stood up and
eral like Pirouz, but any child could realize walked in the opposing direction of Arata.
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Not much farther, beyond mountains, of water, so I followed them in haste. The sun
there was a desert, vast and endless. No trees, was set when I finally got to a spring. It was
no shrubs, no water, nothing to eat. When vast: an oasis in the middle of the desert. The
Rigsans realized that I was nowhere to be horses had bent down near the lake that was
found, it was not going to be long until they being replenished by the subterranean rivers.
saw my shadow in this flat plane and every- I narrowed my eyes and realized their lips
thing would be lost. And even if they did not were close to the water but not really touching
find me, how would I survive this desert? How it, as if the Gods had built statues of horses
far would the desert continue? Where was the drinking water and put it at the other side of
water? What about the food? the lake. Perhaps it was a message for me. As
Early in the morning, I saw the silhouette soon as I kneeled down to drink, the horses
of mountains far away, so far and so high as rose and all ran away. I felt a light breeze,
if the surrounding mountains that I had come a pleasant one. In an instant, small waves
from were simple flat grounds. I felt that my formed in the middle of the lake. Multiple
destiny had become one with these mountains. rings appeared and grew in size right before
Then I saw the zebras, calm and regal mov- a horse’s head emerged from the surface. The
ing around the desert. Only a skilled hunter, horse took a step forward and its foal soon
which I was not, could hunt a zebra. Hypo- appeared, too. It was as if the lake was only
thetically, even if I was a good hunter, how as deep as the horse’s height. It was not swim-
could I hunt them without a horse? From this ming, merely walking toward me, step by step.
desert to those mountains, I would have to I rose up without drinking any water. I
walk a lifetime without a horse. I kept going. stood tall. The horse paused by the shore. It
The sand was hot. I could not comprehend was a mare. I knew that a mare with her foal
how bare footed Rigsans could put their feet at her side could be a dangerous animal, even
on such hot sand all day long. The sun was for a skilled warrior, so a game-maker like
scorching yellow. I saw horses. Wild horses, me would certainly be better off at a distance,
resting, but I could not ride them, or even so I took a few steps back. The foal came out
reach them in the first place for that matter. of the water too. It was a Saffron-colored lit-
As soon as I got close enough to see them tle horse with short but heavy feet and a long
clearly, they would flee and go further. I fig- mane reaching its ankles. It moved forward. I
ured those horses must be close to a source stepped back. It proceeded and stood beside
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me. I put my hand on his back. He sat at my The breeze and fog, water and wind,
feet. I caressed him. The mare shook her tingled my skin. I held my head low and said
mane and water droplets flew from her long gently: “to get there, if you can, to reach Arata.”
mane into the air and then, just like a serene “If you turn back from where you came
dream, she went back to the lake. The light from, riding the horse of wind, it won’t be
breeze had stopped by then. I stayed there for far,” she replied.
the night. “Empower me, to reach there from where
In the morning, I woke up before dawn. I am going,” I murmured.
The foal was rolling beside me. He stood up, “This way? It is not the power, but time
went to the water, and I followed. I drank that you need, a lot of time,” she responded.
the water and immediately felt lighter. It was “That is what I desire,” I replied.
as if the weight of life was removed from my Something moved in me. I could hear the
shoulders. A step higher than the lake, a white roar of deep waters as if I was hearing the
fog was floating over the water. The light delusions of a waking dream.
breeze was blowing, yet the fog lingered with- “You shall ride the blessed horse of
out motion. I could hear the rippling sounds the wind deity. Here! The endless time, as
of the waves hitting the sandy shore and the much as you desire, as much as you need to
buzz of dragonflies, and the cries of the cica- reach Arata. This way... Any way... Ride the
das. The pond was surrounded on all corners Shabtaz, where you will,” she declared.
by lush green everglades. The breeze became I was still asleep when the sun rose up.
stronger and the fog lighter, floating above Something, a beast, was playing under my
the water as high as a man. Amidst the water chin. I opened my eyes and rolled back to
and breeze was a tent with an open entrance look around. It was the desert. No water, no
at the back and a bench. A woman sat calmly everglade, no willow. Dry and sandy. Was it
on the bench. Dressed in a tight vest that a dream? The same sensation once again, but
made the curves of her bossoms more pro- this time at the back of my neck. I jumped
nounced, parting her hair at the sides, big up.. It was the horse! I recalled Shabtaz.
eyes and lips like blossoms in the breeze, she Shabtaz, the night rider! He bent down beside
said: “how can I refuse the man whom the me. No bridle or lasso to let me ride or go
Vayu deity, the wind, has blessed? Ask some- for a hunt. I did not have anything to lose, so
thing, Aratian man.” I sat on him with a quick jump. I caressed his
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neck, but he did not get up. No matter what I enough time! On the other side of these tall
tried, he did not move at all. I hopped off and mountainous walls were endless green valleys
started walking. He walked beside me. I was with strong, healthy and colorful horses. They
weak and he was strong. I had a horse who had numerous pergolas and their peoples
would not let me ride him. We walked along dressed in colorful outfits. I had never seen
with the Rigsani men in pursuit. At the end these people in the Aratian markets. They
of the desert was my destination. The yellow had occupied the valley as far as eyes could
sun, thirst and exhaustion was devastating see. Horses and herds of sheep: numerous, all
me. I fell. The horse kneeled beside me. I around the pergolas, as if each person had a
leaned on him. He helped me get on my feet. hundred sheep, no, a thousand sheep. It was
He bent his neck further down and I dragged as though people and herds mixed like ants
myself up on his back. Finally! He stood up around their formicary in the valley. There
and started to gallop. was no farm insight. The hustle and bustle of
Shabtaz was as fast as the wind at night these populous valleys reached the farthest
and rode heaven and earth. In a matter of mountains.
minutes, the Rigsanis were a far lost memory. It was day, and Shabtaz was moving
We reached the high mountains before dawn. slowly. We came across thousands of men and
The eternally distant mountains which I, by women with houses and clothes, the likes of
then, knew were not at the end of the world. which I had never seen before. We continued
Was it not because of the warmth of Shabtaz’ down the mountain. Since Shabtaz had rid-
body, the endless ice would have killed me in den all night, ice walls, and sky mountains
no time. Walls of ice and snow at unfathom- were nowhere to be seen. We were ahead of
able scales surrounded us. Towers like spears, the sun and the years.
as high as the sky, made of ice. Rugged plains Tatars did not know Arata. They had
as vast as the sea but in the very skies and no food but milk and edible grass, and gave
made of ice. Our highest mountains looked birth while riding horses. Their tribes had
like small hills compared to these. fought among each other for centuries and
At dawn, I was standing on top of the could not come to a union. A young man
world and the sun was yet somewhere far away. named Temujin, son of Yesugei, raised to the
My mother was right. The earth was round ranks and managed to rule over them by main-
and I was on the right track. Only if I had taining a ruthless, yet competent army. They
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Burnt City The Wind Traveler
were taught to attack, conquer, kill and flee. me how far it was. I accompanied them for a
They were told not to ever stay in one place. day and walked the snow to reach a vast sea
They did not know Arata and when I talked of of ice. They told me it was the last corner
‘Saka’, they talked of ‘Sistan’ and ‘Scythian’, of the Earth. With tired limbs, at the end of
which was in Iran. They said Temujin might the path, at the returning point, I could not
lead the Tatars to the frontiers of Iran, too. believe that the beautiful woman in the oasis
“He will do so,” they said, “because he is had lied to me. I could not believe Shabtaz
Temujin.” The Tatars were always preparing had ridden the wrong direction. I could not
for a new invasion and I, an Aratian man, or believe that there was no way to the sun. I
Sistanian or Iranian, or whatever I was in their stepped on the ice. The locals, fearing an
eyes, had to hurryd out of there. On top of imminent collapse, went back. I moved forward.
the poisoned rivers, I had to tell my Arata, the Beyond ice, in distal, I showed them the trees.
Iranian frontier, to also prepare to face the They shook their heads in denial and stepped
invading Tatars. I fled once again and hit the farther back. I yelled. They stared at me in
road at nightfall. Shabtaz took me farther silence. I touched Shabtaz’s back for him
north and east. Arata was to our south and to kneel, but he did not. It was as if he had
west. become numb too.
As we proceeded, there were forests of In the lands beyond the ice, the bears and
tall and needle–like trees. These I have never men ate the same thing. Thus, wherever a
seen before either. Such a charming scent! bear went, a man could go too. My naviga-
And then a vast desert, and a sea of snow tional key was to follow the bears. Sometimes
the likes of which do not even materialize in we followed them and sometimes we moved
legends. Here, no matter how hard the sun and they came along. Eventually, we followed
burned, the snow remained. Here, in this fro- a huge black bear and stepped on a new land
zen desert, I met random people walking the which seemed to stretch all the way to the
snowy plains, wearing thick garments made south, to other icy lands on the opposing side
of bear and deer skin. Not horses, but dogs, of the Earth. People in between these frigid
were carrying their cargo. We talked, but they lands walked slowly. I rode with Shabtaz at
knew nothing of my glamourous city. The night, and at dawn, came across thousands of
notorious Arata, did not even ring a bell to new peoples. Somewhere along the new lands,
them, let alone showing me the way or telling people adorned their clothes with eagle feathers
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Burnt City The Wind Traveler
and prayed in elevated temples made to wor- messengers of the world’s end, who only cared
ship the sun. They, too, had never heard of to loot the golden stones of the temple’s halls
Arata. Their language, prayers and celebra- and destroyed the rest. They left nothing of
tions, however, looked rather familiar to me the stories but death and destruction, as did
as an Aratian. Perhaps they also worshiped Temujin to my lands.
our deities, although in a different name, lan- I had no choice but to talk about Arata
guage and rituals. Being there felt like home, with these people. I asked for directions, but
as if they were my ancestors from another they did not know. I decided to also explore
planet and another millennium. Yet again, I their world, maybe the people living in their
did not stay among them for too long. lands had a neighbor who knew of Arata. I
By then, I had come to realize that it was could be like one of them and travel on one
my destiny to witness the fall of civilizations, of their giant ships, but what about Shabtaz?
time and time again. It was painful, of course, They also had horses and took them on ships,
but quite a privilege, since it was not a chance but Shabtaz was a different creature. No one
afforded to anyone living a mortal life. When could tell at first glance, but he was indeed
I was watching the wonders of the temple of a different creature. Much time had to pass
the sun and admiring the capability of its until I could find a quiet place on their ships
creators, somewhere else in this world, these to hide Shabtaz. Stepping on their land, I
very people were considered a primitive civili- rode from village to village in search of Arata.
zation. Others were plotting to conquer their In each valley, plain or county, no one has
land and rushed to cast their weapons. How even heard of my home. Each dawn, the world
would I know? I was thousands of years ahead was becoming more fascinating. People had
of myself, of Arata, only so I could learn that bigger, more glorious and stable houses.
other civilizations were also coming to their Their clothes were vibrant and armies bigger
brutal demise, to ‘see’ that my home was not and more equipped. Wars started and ended.
the only city to meet such a somber fate. People continued to kill each other in more
The residents of the temple of the sun came innovative ways. There was chaos. Then the
to observe the new settlers of their ancient music conquered the halls. The roads devel-
world like furious Gods with fire-breathing oped, and train whistles ruined the birds’ sleep
dragons; Gods who indeed brought the even in the farthest corners of the planet.
apocalypse upon them. Angels of death and Wild birds of steel started flying and, finally,
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Burnt City The Wind Traveler
I found a sign of Egypt, then Elam, and then, to me, yet no gleeful screams and laughter
yes, a sign of Arata. shook the ruins. Houses, as I checked one by
An archeologist, with his head buried in one, were derelict and abandoned. There were
an ancient book, slowly lifted his gaze from no trees, no cows, and no playful childish
the pages and told me that somewhere in a screams in the land once known for its water,
land called Iran, they have found an ancient trees, and livestock. Only a single house was
civilization with such wonders that matched left with some pieces of furniture strewn
what I had described of my home. “It might be around. There were so few that they all fit
the ancient Arata,” he said, “although no one into my frame. In the yard, I stumbled upon
recognizes it with such a name anymore. Go a raised-bed garden prepared to plant vege-
to Iran, look for Sistan, find Zabol and don’t tables, but those had dried out too. Goureh,
mention Arata, ask for the Burnt City.” a dyke once built to prevent the village from
“Burnt?” drowning under the mighty Hamun’s floodwa-
I became the wind and flew to Iran as I ter, had not been hydrated by any water for
heard the archeologist’s last words, “visit the years. I passed all of this only to reach the
museum,” behind my ears. I landed on the corpse of the Hamun at my feet. It has been
shores of Hamun. decades since the people living in the highlands
allowed any water to reach this basin. Only
a heap of bones are left of all those men and
women of the Burnt city. The city itself is now
only a couple of tells and clay walls that are
eroded by the wind and water, bleached by
The old man did not need to say the rest. the scorching rays of the sun throughout the
Not only I could see it in his eyes, but I had ages. A traveler comes once in a while to visit,
seen it myself. In the last village, I found an or to put it more accurately, to take a lesson.
old woman leaning on a wall. When I offered The old man, patient, wandering, walks
my bottle of water, her frail figure tried to away. I look at him.
reach me but was unable to move. Whoever He sits on a hot rock and stares at the
was left in that settlement was as frail as her. horizon. Everything is oversaturated with a
Before coming here, I imagined that as soon red light: the thousand-year wrinkles on his
as I reached the village, children would run face, ruins of the abandoned village and the
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Burnt City The Wind Traveler
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شهر سوخته
58 28
مسافر باد شهر سوخته
27 26
مسافر باد شهر سوخته
خرس .خرس و آدمی غذایشان یکی است .پس جایی پیشتر که رفتیم جنگلهایی از درختانی بلند و
که خرس باشد و برود ،آدمی هم میتواند رفت .کلید قفل سوزنسوزن بود که ندیده بودم و شاخهای نازک هم که
راهمان خرس بزرگی بود که بر یخها رفت و دور شد .راه میچیدی ،بویی خوش داشت که مستت میکرد .بعد بیابانی
افتادم و آمدند .به دنبالش رفتیم و پا بر سرزمینی تازه گسترده ،دریا دریا برف بود که در خواب هم نمیدیدم و
گذاشتیم ،که گویی تا انتهای جنوب ،تا یخهایی دیگر ،آن آفتاب هر چه میسوزاند باز جز برف نبود و نمیماند .و
سوی زمین ،ادامه مییافت ،با کوههایی ،جنگلهایی، برف
ِ در همین بیابانها بود که آدمهایی پراکنده دیدم بر
برفهایی و سرزمینهایی پهناور ،گشوده پیش رویمان. بیابان ،پوستهایی ضخیم از خرس و گوزن به تن کرده،
مردمان آرام آرام میرفتند .من شب را ،هیهایکنان بر اسب نداشتند و بارهایشان را سگها میکشیدند و گوزن و
شبتاز ،تاختم ،تا صبح فردا هزاران هزار راهوجا آنسوتر خرس به نیزههای چوبی میزدند و میخوردند .سخن که
به مردمانی تازه برسم ،جایی در میانهی سرزمینهای گفتیم ،چه سخن گفتنی ،آواهایی نامفهوم برای من،
تازه ،با مردمانی که پرهای عقاب بر خود میبستند ،و آواهایی نامفهوم برای آنان ،آراتا ،شهر باشکوه من،
نیایشگاههایی بلند و پلهپله داشتند ،برای ستایش خورشید. آوازهی جهان ،حتی نامی آشنا هم برایشان نبود ،چه رسد
آنان نیز از آراتا ،حتی نامی نیز نشنیده بودند ،اگرچه که راهی نشانم دهند یا بگویند که از کدام سوم برو ،یا که
سخنشان ،نیایشهایشان و بزمهایشان ،برای من آراتایی چه اندازه زمان بایستی رفت تا به آن شهر پرشکوه
ناآشنا نبود ،پنداری که همان ایزدان ما را بستایند اگرچه اعصار کهن رسید .روز را همراهشان شدم و بر برف
به نام و زبان و آیینی دیگر .پنداری که نیاکان من باشند، رفتیم تا جایی که دریای بیکرانهی یخ بود ،تو گویی مرز
بر زمینی و هزارهای دیگر .ماندنم میان آنان نیز ،آن پایانی زمین ،که اگر چنین چیزی میتوانست بوده باشد ،ما
اندازه که باید نپایید. بر آن ایستاده بودیم .ایستاده بودند .به دست و پای
گویی سرنوشت من آن بود که هر بار به تماشای فرومرده ،بر پایان راه .بر نقطهی بازگشت .باورم نمیشد
پایان تمدنها بنشینم و این نه بختی بود که آدمی در یک که آن زن دروغ گفته باشد .باورم نمیشد که شبتاز به
بار زیستن به زمان کرانمند ،بدان دست یابد .آن گاه که من غلط تاخته باشد .باورم نمیشد که به خورشید ،راهی
به تماشای شگفتیهای معبد بزرگ خورشید و تواناییهای نباشد .پا گذاشتم بر یخ .عقب نشستند .پیشتر رفتم .آن
خارقالعاده سازندگانش ایستاده بودم ،جای دیگری در سوی یخها ،دورادور ،درختها را نشانشان دادم .س ِر
جهان ،اینها دیگر تمدنی بدوی به شمار میآمدند و پرهیز تکان دادند و عقبتر نشستند .فریاد کشیدم .به
مردمانی برای تصرف سرزمینشان نقشه میکشیدند و سکوت نگریستندم .از شبتاز پایین آمدم و نشستم .دست
سالح آماده میکردند .چه میدانستم که هزارها سال از بر پشت شبتاز گذاشتم که بنشیند .ننشست .گویی من نیز،
خویشتن ،از آراتا ،پیش افتادهام ،تنها تا بدانم که ما آخرین فرومرده بودم ،شبتاز نه.
تمدنی نیستیم که پایان مییابیم .که «ببینم» ما آخرین
تمدنی نیستیم که پایان مییابیم.
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مسافر باد شهر سوخته
روز شده بود و شبتاز آرام میرفت .باید هم آرام کردم .گردن خم کرد .خودم را باال کشیدم و به کمرگاهش
میرفت با چشماندازی که پیش رو بود .هزار هزار آدم ،با رساندم .سرم را کنار گردنش تکیه دادم .بلند شد .راه افتاد.
لباسها و خانههایی که ندیده بودم ،و به شکلی که ندیده شبتاز ،بادپا بود شبها؛ زمین و زمان را در
بودم :با چشمهایی تنگ شده از آفتاب و برف ،گویی که در مینوردید .ریگسانیها دیگر به خاطرهای دور میمانستند.
صورتشان به تیغی ظریف شکافی ظریفتر باز کرده صبح نشده پای کوههای بلند رسیده بودیم .همان دیوارهای
باشند .از کوه سرازیر شدیم. دو ِر همیشه .که حاال دیگر میدانستم انتهای زمین نبود.
یخسارهایی بیپایان و بیاندازه بلند بود که اگر نبود
گرمای تن شبتاز ،هزارباره مرده بودم .گرداگردم،
گریختم .گویی شبتاز ،شب و دیوارهای یخ و کوههای دیوارهایی از یخ و برف که به خواب هم نمیدیدم.
آسمان را چنان تاخته بود که از خورشید و سالها پیش برجهایی به شکل نیزه اما به بلندای آسمان ،از یخ.
افتاده بودیم .تتارها آراتا را نمیشناختند .جز شیر و علف دشتهای به پهنای دریا اما بر بلندای آسمان و از یخ .من
خوراکی نداشتند و بر اسب بچه میزاییدند .سالها قبیله به بر بام جهان ایستاده بودم و چکاد بلند ما گویی تپهای بود،
قبیله با هم جنگیده بودند و گرد هم نتوانسته بودند آمد ،تا آتشان کوه ما را هم
ِ نیمهراه دامنهی این کوهها ،که همان
در میانشان جوانکی برآمده بود تموچین نام فرزند یسوکا اگر داشتند با این همه یخ فسرده بود حتما .دم طلوع ،بر
که لشکریان را گرسنه و وحشی نگاه میداشت و به یاسا بام جهان ایستاده بودم و خورشید باز هم جایی دورتر بود.
سیاستشان میکرد ،تا بتازند و بگیرند و بسوزند و بکشند راست گفته بود مادرم .زمین گرد بود و من در راه درستی
و بروند و یکجا نمانند .آراتا را نمیشناختند و «سکا» که بودم ،اگر زمان کافی داشتم .آن سوی دیوارهای بلند
گفتم از «سیستان» و «سکستان» گفتند که از ایران است زمین ،آن سوی بام جهان ،دشتهایی بود سبز ،بیکرانه،
و گفتند که این تموچین چه بسا که تتارها را تا مرز ایران با اسبهایی یله ،با آالچیقهایی گرد و انبوه و رنگرنگ،
هم ببرد ،اگر که اوست و تموچین است .آماده یورشی تازه با آدمهایی با لباسهای رنگرنگ ،که این همه آدم را از
میشدند و البته که این چه سخن باشد؟ تتار که من دیدم بسیاریشان در بازار آراتا هم ندیده بودم ،تا چشم کار
همیشه آماده بود به یورش و من ،اگر آراتایی بودم ،یا میکرد ،دشت را پوشانده بودند ،گرداگرد آالچیقها،
سیستانی ،یا ایرانی ،یا هر چه که بودم ،باید میشتافتم ،که پیرامونشان اسبهایی و گلههایی گوسفند ،انبوه ،بگو هر
آن سیستان که من فهمیدم و آراتای من بود ،خود یکی از یک آدم صد گوسفند ،هزار گوسفند ،و آدمها و گلهها
مرزهای ایران بود با تتارهایی که میتاختند و میبایست همچون مورچههایی گرد النه بر دشت ،بی که یک زمین
که آماده میبودیم .گریختم و شب دوباره به راه زدم و کشاورزی به چشم بیاید .هیاهوی دوردستشان تا کوهها
شبتاز مرا به شمالتر و شرقتر میبرد .آراتا در جنوب و میآمد .هزار هزار هزار گوسفند و هزار هزار آدم بر
غرب ما بود. اسب ،یا در قنداق پیچیده به پشت مادر ،که مادر هم بر
اسب.
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مسافر باد شهر سوخته
ب بادها ،راهی نیست». اس ِ آمد .کنار من ایستاد .دست بر پشتش گذاشتم .پیش پایم
زیر لب ،لرزان ،گفتم« :توانی بده ،تا از همین سو که نشست .نوازشش کردم .مادیان سری تکاند و قطرات آب
میروم ،برسم». را از یال بلندش به هوا افشاند و بعد ،همچون خوابی آرام،
گفت« :از این سو؟ توان نه ،زمانت باید .زمان دراز». به درون برکه برگشت .نسیم خوش آرام گرفت .شب را
گفتم« :میخواهم». همانجا ماندم.
چیزی در من اثر میکرد .در گوشم صدای غرق شدن صبح ،آفتاب نزده ،بیدار شدم .کره کنارم غلت زد .بلند
در آبهای عمیق بود .گویی صدا را در هذیانهای خواب و شد .به سوی آب رفت .من هم رفتم .از آب نوشیدم و گویی
بیداری میشنیدم. با ِر هستی را از دوشم برداشته باشند ،چیزی در من سبک
ب نواختهی ایزد بادی؛ اینک،
گفت« :تو سوا ِر اس ِ شد .افق به سفیدی میزد .میانهی آب موجی شکل گرفته
زمان بیکرانه ،هر اندازه که بخواهی ،آنقدر که به آراتا بود اما چیزی از آب بیرون نیامد .یک قدم باالتر از آب مه
برسی ،از همین سو ،از هر سو ،بر همین شبتاز که بر سفید غلیظی بود که خودش را از آب باالتر نگه داشته
آنی». بود .نسیم خوش میوزید و مه باقی بود .صدای ریز فرو
رفتن موجهای کوچک برکه در شنها میآمد .صدای
خوابم برده بود که آفتاب زد .چیزی ،حیوانی ،زیر سنجاقک .صدای زنجره .قورباغهای پرید .صدای آب.
چانهام بازی میکرد .همانطور خوابیده چشم باز کردم، گرداگرد برکه نیزاری انبوه و بلند سبز شده بود .دورتادور
غلتیدم و پیرامونم را نگریستم .بیابان بود .نه آبی ،نه نیزار بیدهای واژگون .نسیم خوشتر شد ،مه کمرنگ شد،
نیزاری ،نه بید واژگونی .خشک و ریگسار .خواب بود؟ و به ق ِد یک قدم باالتر از آب ،بر میانهی آب و نسیم ،تختی
همان نوازش ،این بار پشت گردنم .پریدم .نشستم و بود ،پشتش چادری درش باز ،و درست پیشاروی در بر
برگشتم .اسب بود .یادم آمد .شبتاز .شبتاز .کنارم زانو تخت ،بانویی نشسته بود .با جلیقهای تنگ که سینهها را
زد .افساری نداشتم .کمندی هم نه که سوار بر آن شکاری درشتتر مینمود و با موهایی که از میان به دو سو
کنم .بلند شدم ،به کنار اسب رفتم .دست بر پشتش نهادم و کشیده شده بود و با چشمانی درشت و لبهایی که
به پرشی بر آن نشستم .بلند نشد .با دست به پهلویش زدم. شکوفهای در نسیم را میمانست .با صدایی که گویی سوار
با رانهایم فشارش آوردم .به گردنش دست کشیدم .بلند بر نسیم تا گوش من میرسید گفت« :مردی را که ایز ِد
نشد .راه نمیافتاد .پایین آمدم و پیاده راه افتادم .کنارم راه وای ،باد نیکو ،نواخته ،من چگونه نپذیرم؟ چیزی بخواه
افتاد .من بیجان بودم .اسب ،یله بود .من اسبی داشتم که مر ِد آراتایی».
سواری نمیداد .کنار هم میرفتیم ،و کوههای گرداگرد نسیم و مه ،آب و باد ،پوستم را مورمور میکرد .سر
زمین ،در انتهای بیابان ،مقصدم بود ،با مردانی ریگسانی به زیر انداختم .آرام گفتم« :برسم .توانی ،تا به آراتا
به دنبالم .آفتابزرد ،تشنگی امانم را برید .از پا افتادم. برسم».
اسب کنارم زانو زد .به او تکیه دادم .نیمخیز شد .نگاهش گفت« :همین که آمدهای را اگر برگردی ،سوار بر
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ریگهای تفته پا گذاشتم و نمیدانستم ریگسانیهای بدون اندیشیده و بعد ترسیده بودم .گفته بودم اگر این طور باشد،
پاپوش چگونه آنی پا بر این ریگهای داغ میتوانستند اگر به لبه زمین برسیم ،در آسمان میافتیم و در درهی
گذاشت .آفتابزرد ،اسب دیدم .اسبهایی وحشی ،یله ،اما بلندی که البد آسمان باشد سرگردان و معلق میشویم تا
مگر میشد سواری ازشان گرفت ،یا اصال بهشان رسید، بمیریم .گفته بود نه .زمین لبه ندارد .گرد است .از هر
وقتی که تا در میدان دیدم از قد ِر ذرهای بزرگتر میشدند طرف که بروی ،اگر خیلی بروی ،به اندازه و بهجهت
میگریختند و دور میشدند .بعد اندیشیدم که اسبها حتما ً بروی ،میرسی به جای نخستینت .آسمان را نگریستم.
جایی هستند که علفی باشد و آبی ،و این نشانهای بود که ستارهها را .اندیشیدم .راهی نبود .باید راهی دورتر را
اسبان
ِ ایزدان آراتا پناهم و نگاهبانم و راهنمایم هستند. میآزمودم که به معنای مرگ چند آراتایی دیگر بود ،شاید
پشتیبان آراتا .به دنبال اسبها رفتم.
ِ ایزدان
ِ فرستادگان
ِ نزدیکانم .اما را ِه آمده پر خطر بود .اگر میرفتم شاید اصال
خورشید رفته بود که پای آن چشمه رسیدم .وسیع بود، زنده نمیماندم و این به معنای مرگ آراتاییهای بیشمار
همچون واحهای در بیابان .گویی برکهای که آبشخور از بود .برخاستم؛ خالف جهت آراتا به راه افتادم؛ و سرگردان
زیر داشته باشد و آن سویش اسبها خم شده بودند که آب زمین و زمان شدم.
بنوشند .چشمها را تنگ که کردم دیدم لبهایشان مماس بر
آب بود اما به آب نرسیده .انگار ایزدان تندیسی از
آبخورش اسب ساخته و آنسوی برکه گذاشته باشند، نه خیلی دورتر ،پشت کوهها ،بیابان بود ،وسیع و
پیامی برای من .خم شدم بنوشم ،اما اسبها بلند شدند. بیکرانه ،یکدست ،ریگسار .نه درختی ،نه بتهای ،نه
تندیس نبودند .دور شدند .نسیمی وزید .نسیمی خوش .اما آبی ،نه خوراکی .ریگسانیها تا بفهمند نیستم و اگر
درست از میانهی آب موجی شکل گرفت ،حلقه حلقه، بفهمند که از این سو آمدهام ،دیری نمیکشید که پرهیبم را
بزرگ شد ،و از میان آب سر اسبی بیرون آمد ،حلقههایی ت یکدست و هموار ببینند و همه چیز بر باد در این دش ِ
کوچکتر کنارش ،و از میان آن سر کرهاسبی .اسبها میشد .تازه اگر نمیآمدند ،زنده از این بیابان چگونه می
گامی به پیش برداشتند .گویی کف برکه به قد اسبی بیشتر گذشتم؟ اصال تا کجا میرفت این بیابان؟ آب کجا؟ و
عمق نداشته باشد ،شنا نمیکردند ،قدم از قدم بر خوراک؟ دمدمای صبح ،اول پرهیب کوههایی را دیدم،
میداشتند ،به سوی من .آب ننوشیده ،بلند شدم .ایستادم. بسیار دور ،آنسان دور و آن سان بلند که گویی کوههای
اسب بر لبهی آب ایستاد .مادیان بود .میدانستم که مادیانی پیرامون زمین باشند .گویی سرنوشت مرا به این کوهها
که کره کنارش باشد خطرناک حیوانی است ،حتی اگر گره زده بودند .بعد گورها را دیدم یله و خرامان بر بیابان،
من پیشهور .چندجنگجویی آزموده باشی ،چه رسد به ِ اما شکار گور سوا ِر زبده میخواست که من نبودم و به
قدمی عقب رفتم و فاصله گرفتم .کره از آب بیرون آمد. فرض که بودم ،بدون اسب چگونه میشد شکارشان کنم؟
اسبچهای بود زعفرانی ،با پاهای کوتاه اما درشت ،و از این بیابان تا آن کوهها ،همهی عمر من راه بود ،بدون
یالهایی بلند گرد مچ پاها .پیش آمد .عقبتر رفتم .پیشتر اسب .باز رفتم و به دست و پای مرده ،نیمروز ،بر
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منطقه دیده میشد اما حاال نه تنها شب بود ،که شاید اینجا اشکفت میریخت .پس این بود که پیروز هر بار نگذاشته
روی دیواره که از همه جا میشد دیدش تنها جایی بود که بود از آب پاییندست بند بنوشم .این بود که آب نهر را
نگهبانان ،به سبب زیاده پیدا بودنش ،چندان توجهی به آن سادهساده به ریگسان نمیبردند و به گاری و قاطر آب
نداشتند ،بماند که خطرناک هم بود و هیچ دیوانهای بر آن میبردند .یادم آمد این آبی است که به هیرمند میریزد.
پا نمیگذاشت .خواستم نیمخیز شوم اما حتی چهار دست و یادم آمد این آبی است که به هامون میریزد .یادم آمد این
پا هم دشوار و خطرآفرین بود بر آن دیواره خزیدن. آب آراتاست.
همچون کرمی روی دیواره دراز شدم و با دست دو سوی
دیواره را بغل کردم و خودم را جلو کشیدم .چقدر به درازا حاال دیگر میدانستم هر لحظه که بایستم ،و هر دقیقه
کشید نمیدانم اما به هر جان کندنی بود به انتهای دیواره که دیرتر از زمان برآمدن خورشید به آراتا برسم ،یک
رسیدم و خودم را به پایاب ،پایین کشیدم .زمین پایاب شنی کودک آراتایی به کنار آب خواهد رفت و از زهر زردی که
بود .باید پاپوشهایم را میکندم و پابرهنه و آرام میرفتم ریگسانیها در آب ریختهاند خواهد نوشید و به کام مرگ
تا صدای گامهایم در میان دو دیواره بلند آن نپیچد .ده رازآمیز خواهد رفت .یا زنی کوزهای با خود خواهد برد و
قدمی پایینتر نرفته بودم که صدای نفسهای آدمی را از پر آب خواهد کرد و به خانه خواهد برد و به کودکانش
از سر راهم شنیدم .قدمهایم را بیصداتر کردم و خودم را خواهد نوشاند .یا زمینی زیر کشت ،از زهراب زرد سیراب
به دیواره چسباندم .پرهیب دو مرد تنومند را چند قدم خواهد شد و خوراک زهرآگین صدها آراتایی خواهد شد.
پایینتر در دو سوی دره دیدم .به راستی که احمق بودم! مجال ایستادن نبود .باید میرفتم؛ اما راهی جز همان که
پیدا بود .اصال همینجا را نگهبانی میگماشتند بس بود که آمده بودیم نمیدانستم و آن راه از کنار پیروز و نگهبانان،
بندی سیاهبختی نتواند به سوی ریگسان بگریزد .نه ِ هیچ و از درهی پایاب ،از ریگسار و کیگاه امیر ،از نوشگاه
پیروز که سرداری بود هوشمند هر کودمی هم میفهمید که گلنار و از هیرمندکنار میگذشت .لحظهلحظهاش خطر بود،
کافی است تنها بر سر تنها راه بازگشت نگهبانانی گماشته و باید این خطر را به جان میخریدم و راه دیگری هم اگر
باشد و آن هم نه یکی؛ دوتا! بود دیر میشد.
نشستم .اندیشیدم .راهی نبود .باید بیشتر میاندیشیدم. پاکوب را پایین آمدم ،درهی پایاب تا ساعتها پایینتر
باید بیشتر میکاویدم .باید بیشتر میشناختم .برگشتم و از بند ،آن قدر بلند بود که راهی به درونش نبود و من
کنار آتش در بستر خزیدم .فردا باید بیشتر میگشتم .در راهی جز دره برای بازگشت نمیدانستم .باید به درون
روشنایی روز راهی مییافتم و شبانه میرفتم .اما امشب پایاب میرفتم اما میدانستم این سوی دیواره و بند که راه
راهی جز تماشای ستارگان نداشتم .آسمان صاف بود و درروی آب است ،نگهبانان هستند .باید به آن طرف دیواره
ستارهها ...ستارهها ...گردش آسمان در ستارهها ...یادم میرفتم و این را راهی نبود جز آن که گرداگرد دریاچه
زمین ما هم ستارهای
ِ آمد که مادرم ،از کودکی میگفت این بچرخم و این ،هم زمان زیادی میگرفت و هم خطر بسیار
است که مثل همه ستارهها در آسمان میچرخد .من لختی داشت .پا روی لبهی دیواره گذاشتم .جایی که از تمام
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پرسیدم« :چند تا پیروز؟» نکردهاند ،وقتی باران ببارد چه کار میکنند؟ و اگر باران
گفت« :هیرمند چند سرشاخه دارد؟» و خندید و رفت. نمیبارد ،اگر باران نبارد… اینجا بارانی نمیبارید حتما.
بیوقفه آب مینوشیدم و باز تشنه بودم .چرا پاییندست دیده بودم که نهرها و شاخابها و چاههای آبکش دارند اما
نگذاشته بود قطره آبی بنوشم؟ ساعتی خیره و مبهوت زمستان چه میشد؟ زمستان آب از کجا میآوردند اگر
ایستادم تا به خود آمدم .چشم گرداندم و از دور دیدم از باران نمیبارید .زیاد طول نکشید تا پاسخ این پرسش را
کنار دیواره ،جایی آب به دل کوه میرود پنداری که در بدانم .پاسخ بسیاری پرسشها را.
شکافی؛ انگار دررویی برای آب ساخته بودند و آن اندک پیروز که آمد زدیم به دل کوه .از قعر درهها باال
ت بند که از این دریایی بزرگ به پاییننهر پاییندس ِ میرفتیم و گاهی به دنبال شکار یا چشمهای راه را به
میرسید ،از همین دررو آبشخور مییافت .باید میدیدم آن دامنهها کشیدیم ،گاه زیر سایه درختچهها نفسی خنک
دیوار و آن دررو چطور ساخته شده اما چند گامی پیشتر میکردیم و گاه به خطالراس یا روی یالی میرفتیم تا مسیر
نرفته بودم که دست پیروز بر شانهام نشست« :آفتابزرد و اطراف را ببینیم .زیر آفتاب داغ قطره عرقی بر ابرویمان
شده است .نمیخواهی که شب را در کوهستان غریبه به سنگینی میکرد و میایستادیم و نفسی تازه میکردیم ،همه
سر کنی؟ بگذار فردا». پیاده .دست آخر به میان درهای افتادیم که نهری باریک در
فردا هم دوباره رفتیم و دیواره را دیدم اما باز هم آن روان بود .دست بردم آبی بنوشم اما پیروز دستم را
پیروز نگذاشت دررو را ببینم .آب پشت بند ،با لولهها و گرفت و گفت« :نه!» مسیر نهر را باال و باالتر رفتیم،
جویها به زمینها و دشتهای اطراف میرفت و حتی با دیوارههای دو سو بلند و بلندتر و دره تنگ و تنگتر شد
گاری و قاطر ظرفها و کوزههای بزرگی از آب را و صدای شُرهی آب بزرگ که آمد ،پیروز از دیوارهای باال
میبردند که به ریگسان برسانند و اینطور زمستان هم آب کشید و من که هنوز نمیفهمیدم این همه راه را چرا بی
داشتند .اما چرا همین آب که در نهر پاییندست روان بود اسب میروند دنبالش رفتم ،خنکای غبار آب را بر صورتم
را به ریگسان نمیبردند ،سادهتر و روانتر؟ دررویی که چشیدم و دیدم آنچه به خواب هم نمیدیدم .دریایی گسترده
دیده بودم جایی بود که از کنار دیواره آب در دل کوه و بزرگ پیش رویم بود ،از آب ،اسیر ،پشت بندی از
میرفت ،مسیری را که من نمیدیدم طی میکرد و بعد به خشت و سنگ.
پایین دست میرسید .هر بار که میرفتم تا دررو و مسیر پیروز گفت« :از این آب ،میشود ،بنوش!» دریایی از
پنهانش را ببینم پیروز یا به چاشت مرا میخواند ،یا به آب بود و آن هم آب شیرین ،یعنی نه دریایی که بوده باشد،
نشاط شراب ،یا آفتابزرد را بهانه میآورد و بازگشت را. دریایی که ریگسانیها ساخته بودند .پس راز کاستن آب
گفتم« :پیروز اینجا خنک است .آب هست .پنا ِه کوه سرشاخههای هیرمند کهن این بود :جایی که مسیر نهر در
هست .چرا شب همین جا نمانیم؟ که نخواهیم فردا درهای عمیق ،باریک میشد ،دیواری ساخته بودند بلند و
برگردیم؟» سترگ و آب را ،زندگی را ،به بند کشیده بودند.
گفت« :بمانیم .تا هر چند روز که تو بخواهی». پیروز گفت« :این نخستین بند است؛ اما آخری نه».
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البته که ناشتایی میخوریم و بعد میرویم .بعد تو فقط ببین گفتم« :هاراپا».
و بگو .هر چه اندیشیدی». امیر خود به صدایی بلند و فریادگونه گفت:
بعد از آبراهها که دیدیم ،نوبت مزارع شد و آنچه به «سفالهایشان را دیدهام .سفالهای شماست».
ذهن هیچ یک از ما مردمان آراتا نرسیده بود را آنجا دیدم: بعد آرام شد و مدتی را به فکر ماند و من نیز خاموش
بر سر چاهی بزرگ رفتیم با دهانهای به قد آدمی .درونش ماندم .همهمه بار دیگر آغاز شده بود که امیر آرام به مرد
را که نگاه کردم و در ژرفای آن درخشش خورشید بر آب پشت سرش ،بی آنکه نگاهش کند ،گفت« :نشانش
به چشم میآمد .پیروز گفت مشعلی بیاورند و برزیگران بدهید».
دویدند و دیری نگذشت که مشعلی با آتشی بزرگ در دست مرد به سوی سرباز کنارم سر تکان داد و گفت:
بازگشتند .مشعل را بر دهانه چاه آوردند و ژرفای چاه را «سردار!» و سرداری که میپنداشتم سربازی باشد دست
نگریستم .آب در چاه ،نه همچون ته کاریزهای ما ،که بر شانهام گذاشت و گفت« :برویم».
چون دریایی خروشان ،میرفت .آب ،پنداری همان
رودخانه بود که از زیر به چاهها و در میان زمینشان
کشیده بودند ،در هر مزرعه دهها چاه ،و در کل ریگستان
هزارها .خودشان میگفتند «آبکش» که از زیر زمین ،رود ما هم آبراههها کنده بودیم و آبگیرها ساخته بودیم و
را و دشت را و دریا را از آب خالی میکرد و به مزارع دشتها را به آب رودخانه و دریا سیراب کرده بودیم اما...
ریگسانیها میکشید .پس بدینسان بود که آب در هیرمند و ما در پایین دست رودخانه بودیم و ریگسانیها در
شاید حتی در فراهرود هم کاسته شده بود و ما میپنداشتیم باالدست .باورم نمیشد که این همه آسیاب و آبراه و نهر
سرزمینهای باالدست بی آب مانده و خشکیدهاند .باید و جوی کنده باشند و باورم نمیشد که پیروز ،مردی که
بازمیگشتم و اینها همه را میگفتم اما من برای این آمده میپنداشتم سربازی ساده باشد و به پیشکاری من
بودم .نخست باید سرچشمهی مرگها را بیابم .خسته برگزیدهاند این همه بداند .صبح که بیدارم کرد ،نخست
بودم ،آفتابزرد شده بود ،اما از پیروز خواستم باالتر صدایش را شنیدم و بعد سقف چوبی و برگها و نیهای
برویم .گفت« :شتاب نکن مرد آراتایی». در هم تنیده را باالی سرم دیدم که نسیم خنک صبحگاهی
گفتم« :فردا؟» از میانشان به صورتم میخورد .نخست گیج بودم که کجا
گفت« :فردا را بخواب .خوب بیاندیش .همینها را که آمدهام .خوابگاهی خنک برای من گرمسیرینشین برگزیده
دیدی چند روزی زمان میخواهد تا در جانت بنشیند .پس بودند که سکویی هم برای خوابیدن داشت .اینجا بوریا
از این به هفت روز ،میآییم و بیشتر میبینیم». نمیگستردند برای خواب ،جای خوابشان از ِگل خشکیده و
گاه از سنگ اما بلند بود ،البد از ترس کژدمها .برخاستم و
در خواب و بیداری دم صبح فکر میکردم اینجا ،با این در بستر نشستم .پیروز ،کوزهای و نانی در دست ایستاده
سقفهای شاخ و برگیشان که کاهگلی هم به آن اندود بود .گفت« :تماشاها را ،از همین امروز باید آغاز کنیم.
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مسافر باد شهر سوخته
ایستادهها گرفت .بعد همهمه شد .امیر چوبدستش را بلند باغچهای از درختچههای انار و انگور با دیوارهایی از
کرد و سرش را باال گرفت و ابروهای درهمش از دل گل ،که گوشهایش را با سقفی کوتاه سایه کرده بودند و
تاریکی پیدا شد .مرد دوباره گفت« :سپیدار و افرا و بید، امیر در تاریکنای سایه نشسته بود ،با چوب بلندی در
بار ندارد .چه میخورید؟» دست که سرش پهن بود و یکی پشت سرش دوزانو و
گفتم« :خربزه و انگور هست ،و دشتهای گندم ،جو، نیمخیز گوشبهفرمان ،و دیگران همه پایین صفه بر
شاهدانه»... زمین ،روی خاک نشسته .ما ،من و سرباز ،در آفتاب
مرد گفت« :زمستان؟» ایستاده بودیم و یکی یکی از در باغ و کنار دیوارها
گفتم« :انبار میکنیم .در انبارهای بزرگ .غزال و بز میآمدند و تعظیمی میکردند و گوشهای مینشستند .امیر
هم هست و برای شکار ،قرقاول و مرغابی و غاز .با از کاسهای آب نوشید ،و با صدایی که به زحمت شنیدم،
قالبها از رودخانه و با تورها از هامون که دریاست، گفت« :بگوید ».و باقی کاسه را به زمین پاشید.
ماهی میگیریم». من سرم پایین بود .کژدم زردی را دیدم که از شکافی
باز همهمه شد .مرد مدتی خم بود و امیر در گوشش روی صفه بیرون آمد و به جایی از ایوان که خیس شده
چیزی دراز میگفت .بعد مرد بلند گفت« :ماهی دریا پهن چوبدستش بر ایوان کوبید و بود دوید .امیر با س ِر ِ
میخورید؟ و این گوهرها که میگویند از آراتاست ،از آن کژدم ،ریق و بندهای از هم گسیخته شد .همه با اخم
آراتاست؟» نگاهم میکردند .گفتم .گفتم که در آراتا خانهها و پیشهها و
گفتم« :ما به بدخشان و نیمروز و به بابِل و حتی به گورها و یادمانها و بازارها را جدا کردهایم و هر یک
پادشاهی ایالم ،سرزمین بلند ،سنگ و گوهر میفرستیم». جایی ویژه در شهر دارند .گفتم که آب هیرمند و فراهرود
لبخندی به فخر بر چهره نشاندم و گفتم« :من خودم هم که سیالبی میشود زمینهای آراتا را سیراب میکند و
سکهای ایالمی دارم ،به پاس بازیها که ساختم و به شاخه شاخه آب و نهر کشیدهایم و تا آستانهی خانهها
بازرگانان ایالمیان فروختم». بردهایم و افرا و سپیدار و بید همه جا هست ،و آری ،بر
مرد گفت« :سالهاست از آراتا کمتر اینجا آمدهاید. خالف اینجا ،آراتا سبز است.
پس دیگر به ایالم رفت و آمد میکنید». امیر چوبدستش را بلند کرد .ساکت شدم .مردی که
گفتم« :و به پنجاب .پیشتر که هیرمند و فراهرود را پشت سر امیر نیمخیز بود خم شد و امیر در گوشش چیزی
آب بیشتر بود ،به ریگسان بیشتر میآمدیم و حاال که اینجا گفت .مرد پرسید« :سیالبها ،دیوارهای خانههایتان را
خشکیده به پنجاب رفت و آمدمان بیشتر شده است .ما حاال نمیشوید؟»
شهری کالن و درخور مردمان آراتا در پنجاب هم گفتم« :آراتا بلند است .به قد ۲۰آدم از زمینهای
ساختهایم که روز به روز بزرگتر میشود و بسیاری از اطراف خود بلندتر است .و با لولههای سفال پسابها را
ما به آنجا کوچیدهاند». بیرون میبریم ،به دشتها ،آبشخور درختان و
گفت« :هاراپا؟» مزرعهها ».دورتادورم را پوزخندهای نشستهها و
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مسافر باد شهر سوخته
«از مردمانی که کف گورهایشان هم فرش زد و داخل شد .حتی کالهخود و زره نداشت و تنها از
میاندازند». نیزهی چوبی بلندی که به دست داشت میشد فهمید سرباز
«مرده را با لباس دفن میکنند». است .آن هم سربازی البد دونپایه که حتی هنوز اجازه
«از کورههایی که در آن سنگ را آهن میکنند و سواری بر اسب را نیافته بود .اینجا هنوز هیچ کس را
میکوبند... ندیده بودم که سوار بر اسب باشد .اسب بود .در
«و سالح میسازند». دشتهایشان یله بود پس حتما سواری هم میدانستند؛ اما
«و ورقههایی آهنین ،نازکتر از برگ». ندیده بودم کسی را بر اسب.
«از طال و الجورد». سرباز میان درگاه ایستاده بود و دورتادورش را نور
«از حصیر نی». بیرون گرفته بود .خیره بود به من .بیسخنی ،آرام سر
گفتم« :مگر نه همین سقف خانههایتان همچون ما از تکان میداد و مرا نگاه میکرد .باالخره گفت« :پس ،مرد
همین حصیر و نی است؟» آراتایی تویی».
یکی گفت« :از پارچههای هزار رنگ». به شنیدن صدایش سکوها ساکت شدند .برگشتند و تا
«با دوازده نوع بافت». او را دیدند یکی یکی بلند شدند و ایستادند .به حال
اینها را ،اینها را همه ،من گفته بودم؟ به یاد نداشتم. نیمهتعظیم .من هم به نشانه ادب سر خم کردم.
البد در سرمستی به موطنم بالیده بودم و اینها را، آرام گفتم« :فرامرز».
گوشهای از آنچه در آراتا داشتیم و اینجا نبود ،گفته بودم. «گفتهاند چیزها میدانی و از صنعت آراتا چیزها
یا پیش از من ،جایی ،از کسی شنیده بودند؟ آوردهای .برای چه آمدهای؟»
«باری و توشهای اگر داری بردار .با من به درگاه «من؟ بازیسازم .از آن همه صنعت که شنیدهای
امیر بیا .اینها که به ایشان گفتهای برای امیر هم بگو». همین بازی را میدانم».
«من… من به یاد ندارم .اینها که گفتهام را تنها دیده مردی از گوشهای گفت« :این را هم گفته که در آراتا
و گاه حتی فقط شنیدهام .نه که بدانم»... برای زنی نابینا چشم ساختهاند».
«نترس .مسئولیت ساختنش با تو نخواهد بود .تو فقط گفتم« :هزار سال پیش از این .چشم نه ،که مثالً ببیند؛
بگو .هر چه دیدهای ،و بیا ببین ما چه داریم .کیگاه ،هم برای زیبایی».
نوشیدنیاش از آبجوی گلنار بهتر است و هم خوابگاهش مرد دیگری گفت« :با مویرگهایی از طال .چه باک که
از اینجا بهتر». ببیند یا نه»...
«و از نقاشی بزی که میپرد».
«نه که بپرد»...
درگاه امیر ،ایوانی بود ،نه بلند و نه فراخ ،نه حتی از «نقشهایی ،نه یکی ،بر سفالی که میچرخانی و بز
سنگ و خشت .صفهای از گل خشکیده ،بر کنارهی کم کم باال میرود».
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مسافر باد شهر سوخته
5 4
حاال از آخرین خانههای افتاده و توسری خورده میگذرم و
پا بر شورهزاری میگذارم که زمانی نامش هامون بوده
است .نیزاری تفتیده فقط گاهگاهی در گوشه و کنار به چشم
میخورد .غروب ،افق را و کوه خواجه را ،آنگونه که
امروزها مینامندش ،و قایق وارونهای را که بر بستر
خشک هامون پیش رویم افتاده ،سرخ کرده است .دوربین
سوم
را در میآورم ،اوشیدای دور را بر نقطهی یک ِ
ت کادر میگذارم و قایق را ،بزرگ و نزدیک ،بر باالراس ِ
پ کادر پهن میکنم .پیش از آنکه دکمه یکسوم پایینچ ِ
شاتر را بزنم صدای خشخشی در گوشم و تکانی در میان
نیهای سمت راست تصویر توجهم را به خود جلب میکند.
جلوتر که میروم دیگر مطمئنم که پیرمرد است .پیرمردی
که گفته بودند تنهاست ،نه مستمری میگیرد و نه
امدادیها را راه میدهد؛ و در میان همین نیزارها از هیچ
و با هیچ نیازهایش را تأمین میکند .نه کسی سن و سالش
را میداند و نه کسی خانوادهاش را میشناسد .گویی تا
هامون و نیزارها بوده او همینجا بوده باشد.
نیها را کنار میزند ،در دستش دسته میکند و با
چیزی استخوانیرنگ میبُردشان .سالم که میکنم
میایستد .بر میگردد نگاهم میکند و سر تکان میدهد.
میگویم« :تنهایید».
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شهر سوخته
مسافر باد
Burnt City