Chapter I *****************************page 3

Chapter I


The plain seemed prettier at dawn and after the night's rain. The flowers looked more alive and the sweet grass soaked in dew were almost touching the belly of Nabi's horse. From the horizon a caravan going towards northern Iran until Aras River is visible. Strutting behind them with the water supply contained in large bottles enclosed in leather bags is Nabi with his dear Afshari horse.

Nabi, a proud young man with a loaded 5-bullet Russian gun over his shoulder is breathing in nature's freshness. His thoughts are circling with this year's bountiful harvest, hopefully better than last years' and of the fat bellied sheep grazing. He saw a number of shepherds and their herds along the way. They knew and greeted him with enthusiasm. Waving back at them answering their greetings he continued on his way. He… Nabi is known for bravery among the tribes of the region.

All of a sudden, his sharp eyes caught a sight of a ram rushing among the flowerbeds, a short distance from him. Galloping, he went after it and aimed, in a few minutes his bullet directly hit its aim. "How come this ram was away from its herd?" he thought, "unless something or someone is behind it… " Fast as a lightning, a stranger on horseback appeared and claimed the hunt. Resisting the rider's claim, Nabi realised that his hat bore a hole from her pistol. Startled, he immediately handed over the prey and said that it is not worth fighting for or even the bloodshed. The unknown rider came near and Nabi immediately became fascinated by her tantalising eyes. She is a vision wearing a very beautiful native costume on top of her horse and a skilful marksman.

Nabi came back and joined his caravan and rode toward the river, knotting the horse's bridle on its Ghoppose , bent down on his two
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Aras in Azary is ARAZ.
Ghuch is a kind of sheep, which is not easily found. In Azary language it is "Ara mani" meaning look for me, it is usually seen when something is chasing it. It is a common mistake that it is Armenian ram but it is not.
Ghoppose is a part of a horse's saddle in front, a form of a knob.