Travelers

“Freeze!  Who are you?”

Jamil and Farouk were leading the way and without trying to figure out where the voice was coming from, they immediately went two steps sideways and hit the ground. Their warrior instincts kicked in and they quickly opened the security button on their rifles.

There was a horse running behind them. The same voice called again from the hiding place.  “Stop! Freeze! We are going to start shooting.”

Jamil looked back and noticed Halit was running away at full throttle. He positioned himself so he was protected in case someone shot him in his back.

Bekir Sami and Selahaddin also got down from their horses and lay on the ground and readied their rifles.

Shaban was coming from the back of the group and he was saying, “He almost got us!”

The people who were hiding asked, “Who are you? Tell us who you are. We have already encircled you.” He had a Circassian accent.

Jamil calculated the situation quickly. The place was not good for ambush since they were in the middle of the maple trees. It was easy for a group of soldiers to spread out in the wood. Jamil and his friends could even encircle the others who were trying to ambush them. He smiled at the thought that Halit so easily ran away yet these men were saying that they had circled them. He coughed and cleared his throat and asked, “Who are you?”

There was no answer to that. Bekir Sami and Selahaddin came closer, still on the ground. Another voice asked, “Who are you?”

“We are travellers, who are you?”

“Where are you coming from? And what is your final destination? How many people are travelling with you? Why did your friend run away?”

Jamil could see that these men were not thugs and were not willing to fight just by the way they were speaking. He teased them, “He went to the village to get some help.”

“Who are you?” the man asked again.

“I told you, we are travellers.”

“Where are you from?”

“From Kumkuyucak.”

“Where are you going to?”

“To Akhisar.”

They could hear the men talking. The wind was carrying their whispers.

“Were there any visitors in Kumkuyucak?”

“Who are you asking about?”

“The 17th Army Commander Bekir Sami?”

“Why do you need him?”

They must have been talking amongst themselves because they took their time to answer.

“We need to talk to him!”

“Why?”

“I have come from Manisa. I need to report to the Commander.”

Bekir Sami asked, “Is that you, Rasim?”

“Yes, Sir! Are you the Commander?”

“Yes.  Rasim, please approach without your weapon.”

“Understood!  I am coming. No guns.”

They saw someone jumping to the road from the hill; the man put his hands in the air. They heard his footsteps. He didn’t notice Jamil and Farouk who were still lying on the ground. He saluted the Commander who was standing. “I am sorry to inform you, Commander that Manisa fell!”

“Guns?”

“I am sorry we couldn’t carry them out of the city.”

“Troops?”

“The troops retreated to Manisa.  About sixty infantry men and four division of Mitrailleuse with fifty artillery men are carrying Mausers. ”

“Who is with you now?”

“Ethem the Circassian with his friends and…”

“Tell them to approach.”

“Yes, Sir!”

Rasim introduced Ethem to the Commander.

Ethem didn’t talk to the Commander much. He hugged Jamil because Jamil was a friend of Ethem’s older brothers, Rashid and Tewfik.

Jamil was trying to get a good look at Ethem’s face. He was tall and slim.

Bekir Sami asked, “Do I know you from the Caucasian front?”

“No, Sir.  I don’t think so.”

“That’s right. We didn’t see each other there. However, your brother Rashid talked about you. How is he doing?”

“He is better now, Sir. Rashid and Tewfik send their regards to you. They are trying to gather men. We have a lot of men but we need to find the guns. The men have all different kinds of guns. We need to provide good horses as well. We also need to give money to those who are leaving their families behind to join us. The men have to send money to their families before we leave.”

“How many men do you have with you, right now?”

“Seven. General Rauf ordered us to come right away. That’s why we couldn’t recruit some more soldiers.”

“Who is General Rauf?”

“He is the former Minister of the Navy and the Commander of Hamidiye Battleship.”

“Oh! Where is he now?”

“He is in the Kuschu-bashi Ranch. That is Eshref’s Ranch.”

“He must be in Salihli then. When did he come to the region?”

Artillery Captain Rasim answered, “He came yesterday, Sir. Lieutenant Shewki was waiting for you at Akhisar to talk to you, and he is here now.”

Shewki took a step forward and saluted the Commander. Bekir Sami asked, “Did you come together from Istanbul?”

Ottoman cruiser Hamidiye

“Yes, Commander. Rauf talked to Muhiddin in Balikesir and Rashad in Akhisar. Upon learning that you left with Halit, he decided to go to Salihli. We are all going there now. You should find the troops retreating from Manisa and bring them to the Salihli-Alashehir line. Rauf will talk to you there. Rauf wanted Captain Jamil to come to the ranch with us, with your permission, Sir.”

Bekir Sami asked Jamil, “Have you met General Rauf before?”

“No, Sir.”

“How does he know that you are here?”

“I think Maksood must have informed him.”

Lieutenant Shewki said, “Yes, that’s right. Maksood has informed us.”

“Good. We should be on our way. Is there anyone traveling on foot with you?

“No, Sir.”

“Do you have any spare horses?”

“No, Sir.”

“Then we might need to borrow your horses when our three men get tired. Let’s go.”

Shaban brought the horses to Bekir Sami and Selahaddin. Ethem had his two men dismount their horses, so that Lieutenant Shewki wouldn’t have to give his horse to Jamil.

They had 35 kilometers to cover. They would meet the troops retreating from Manisa, around Salihli. Ethem and his men would go to the Ranch first. Therefore, they will be separated half way to Salihli. Bekir Sami and his men expected to meet the troops in five hours. Ethem had three men leading the group and he was travelling behind with two horsemen. Lieutenant Shewki approached Jamil and said, “I have news from your family, Sir. They are alright.  I have a letter for you.”

“A letter? How nice! God Bless you!” Jamil hold Neriman’s letter for a long time. It was as if the paper was warm and alive. “God Bless you.” Then Jamil felt embarrassed after saying this twice. He was very happy to receive a letter from Neriman. He wanted to open the envelope. Then he thought he wouldn’t be able to read it there. He didn’t know what to do with the letter.  His joy turned into a deep longing. The thought of not being able to read the letter for hours made him sad.

The Reluctant Warrior

by Kemal Tahir

translated by Elif Mat

Oguz Topoglu