In an old saklia (hut) there lived a poor man. He had three sons. Together they went to the mountains and brought down wood for the prince.

One day the old man caught a cold and took to bed. Feeling that he would rise no more, he called his sons, had them sit before him and said, ‘It has come time for us to part. Don’t grieve because of me. Live amicably. And each of you remember: It’s easy to be bad, difficult to be good. And on my tomb put a big salt stone. Oh and do not forget to visit the tomb.’

Then the father died. The sons buried him with honours, got a block of salt, squared it and put it on the tomb. Every day one of the three visited their father’s tomb. Before long the brothers began to notice, that the block of salt, day by day, became ever less and less.

The eldest son suggested, ‘We must stand over father’s grave at night. Evidently, somebody relishes our salt.’ The two other brothers agreed.
The oldest brother stood guard first. He went to the grave, measured out the height of the salt block with a piece of string and tied a knot to mark the height. Then he spread out an old cloak, lay down and waited. He waited and waited, but when it grew dark he grew so tired that he fell asleep. This happened three nights in a row. On the fourth day, before returning home, the oldest brother reached for the string attached to the salt and noticed that the height of the lump of salt had dropped.

The middle brother was the next to stand guard over the salt. He went to the tomb, used a string to measure the block’s height, and tied a knot to mark it. Then he spread an old cloak out, lay down and waited. He waited and waited, and then night came. He tried hard not to fall asleep. But at midnight, he succumbed and fell fast asleep. This happened three nights in a row. On the fourth day, before going home, the middle brother, reached for the string, attached to the salt and noticed that the salt had become less.

Finally it was the little brother’s turn, the youngest of the brothers. He went to the tomb, but he didn’t measure the block out with a piece of string, instead he took a bow and chose his strongest arrow, then he laid an old cloak on the ground, sat upon it and waited. He waited and waited. Midnight had come and gone and still no one had appeared. The little brother continued to sit, with bow and arrow in his hands. Finally just when dawn broke he saw a black cloud coming from the mountain and descending onto the grave.

The little brother cried out, ‘Hey, black cloud! Whether a spirit, or a man, or a beast, stop!’

But the black cloud descended further and further to the ground. The little brother pulled back the string of his bow and fired an arrow. It shot right into the middle of the cloud. Suddenly the cloud turned into a black horse.

‘So this is who’s been coming to taste our salt! Obviously magical horses love to lick it no less than a normal horse,’ The little brother said to himself.

He rushed to the black horse and jumped on him. The horse immediately soared, and circled the sky seven times from end to end. It then returned to the earth, shook its mane, and snorted, and well pleased, said in a human voice, ‘Now then, there is nothing on me, not even a grain of sand.’

Except for me, a horseman!’ The little brother replied.

The black horse, upon rethe little brotherzing that its rider was not fearful, knew he would have to submit. ‘Now, you are my master and I am your faithful horse. Dismount; pluck some hair from my mane and my hide. When you are in need of me, rub the hair in your hands, and I will come, no matter how far away I may be,’ the black horse said.

The little brother got off the horse and tore out some hair from the horse’s mane. Then the black horse galloped away.

On the second night, The little brother sat once more on his cloak to guard the tomb. When dawn was breaking he saw a white cloud coming from the mountain.

The little brother cried out, ‘Hey, white cloud! Whether a spirit, or a man, or a beast, stop!’

The white cloud descended to the ground. The little brother pulled back the string of his bow and fired an arrow right into the middle of the cloud. Suddenly the cloud turned into a white horse. ‘This horse also wanted salt,’ thought The little brother. Without losing a moment, he rushed to the white horse and jumped on its back. The magical horse immediately soared, and circled the sky twenty-seven times from end to end. Then the horse returned to the earth, shook it’s mane, and snorted. Well pleased, it said in a human voice, ‘Now then, there is nothing on me, not even a grain of sand.’

‘Except for me, a horseman!’ The little brother replied.

The white horse, rethe little brotherzing that the rider was not timid or fearful, knew he would have to submit. ‘You are my master now and I am your faithful horse. Dismount; pluck some hair from my mane and my hide. When you are in need of me, rub the hair in your hands, and I will come, no matter how far away,’ the white horse said.

The little brother got off the horse and tore out some hair from the horse’s mane. Then the white horse galloped off. The little brother put the white hair away with the hair from the black horse.

On the third night, The little brother again sat down on his cloak to guard the tomb. When dawn was breaking he saw a red cloud coming from the mountain.

The little brother shouted, ‘Hey, red cloud! Whether you’re a spirit, a man, or a beast, stop!

The red cloud came closer to the ground. The little brother pulled back the string of the bow and shot an arrow that soared right into the middle of the cloud. All of a sudden it turned into a horse of chestnut color. ‘And you got into the habit of licking salt!’ The little brother exclaimed. He jumped onto the horse’s back and with both hands clutched its mane. The horse soared upwards and circled the sky eighty-three times from end to end. Then he dropped to the ground, shook his mane, snorted and being well-pleased, said in a human voice: ‘Now then, there is nothing on me, not even a grain of sand.’

‘Except for me, a horseman!’ The little brother replied.

The red horse, rethe little brotherzing that this rider was not timid, knew he would have to submit. ‘Now, you are my master and I am your faithful horse. Dismount; pluck some hair from my mane and my hide. When you are in need of me, rub it in your hands, and I will come, no matter how far away I may be,’ the red horse said.

The little brother got off the horse and tore some hair from its mane. Then the red horse galloped off. The little brother hid the red hair away in the same place as he had put the hair from the white and black horse. Then he went home.

He said nothing to his brothers, except that no one else would touch the salt at their father’s grave again.
Now, while The little brother had been guarding his father’s tomb, a rumour had come to their village that the prince of those parts was planning to marry off his three daughters. Everyone was welcome to try and woo them, but only he would have a daughter of the prince, who won in a competition
with other Dzhigits (horsemen).

The two older brothers decided to go and try their luck. They saddled their horses and departed. They did not take The little brother with them. ‘It’s impossible for all three of us on just two horses, everyone will laugh at us. And we don’t have a third horse. And anyway there is nothing for you to do there, you cannot compete with the best horsemen!’ they had said.

The little brother said nothing and did not protest. When the brothers were far from home, he got out the black hair and rubbed it in his hands. Immediately the black horse appeared before him.

‘I am ready to serve you, The little brother. Where will thou go?’

‘To the prince’s castle,’ The little brother uttered. ‘Only just ride on the road, there’s no need to fly across the sky.’

The black horse rushed down a narrow mountain road. They soon caught up to and left behind The little brother’s older brothers. The brothers respectfully answered to the greetings of the unfamiliar rider, and watched him as he rode away. The middle brother remarked afterwards, ‘that rider looked awfully similar to our brother The little brother!’

The little brother galloped onwards. The black horse fought against the wind, when its hooves struck the stones sparks flew. And on sharp turns The little brother had to hold on to the bit for dear life as the horse bit down on it with impatience.

And so they reached the lands of the prince. As they approached the castle, The little brother expected to see a crowd of Dzhigits. But the courtyard was empty, except for the old prince, sitting in a chair at the entrance to the castle with the sun warming his old bones. Next to him were two warrior guards with swords. The little brother greeted the prince and asked, ‘Where are the other horsemen? Or have I come too early?’

‘You’re late, horseman,’ said the prince, with a sly smile as he studied the little brother. ‘Your rivals have long been on their way: two days have passed, two nights have passed, and now, the third day is at its end.

‘Shining Prince, in which direction did they ride? Tell me with a quick glance, and I will catch up.’

The Prince shrugged his shoulders, but to answer said, ‘There is at the foot of Mount Kazbek (Bashlam) a spring. Next to it there is a large pear tree that grows, and under the tree there is a jar. In the jar there is the ring of my eldest daughter. Whoever shall be the first to ride there, take the ring and bring it back, will be the suitor of my eldest.’

The little brother spurred his magical steed. The black horse raced to that part, where for the third day the rivals had only just traveled. Now, the black horse did not take the road but flew through the air, chasing the wind. After only one hour, The little brother had caught up with all the Dzhigits. He quickly overtook them, arrived at Kazbek, found the spring with the pear tree and under the pear tree, saw the pitcher with the ring. He took the ring and turned back to the prince’s castle.

The sun was still high, when The little brother returned to the prince’s castle with the ring in his hand. The prince was surprised, but kept his word.

‘You are worthy of my eldest daughter. But I will only hold a wedding for all three daughters at once. Go home and wait. When all my daughters have suitors, I will announce it and then you may come.’

The little brother’s older brothers, who had only just arrived, saw a rider on a black horse give the old prince the ring, but did not recognize the little brother.

‘We missed the eldest daughter,’ said the middle brother. ‘We’d beter get up earlier tomorrow. Perhaps the middle daughter will get one of us.’ And so they turned their horses around and headed for home.

When they arrived they found The little brother already home, busy making repairs to the roof of their hut, as if he had never left. Upon seeing his brothers he asked, ‘Whose horse came first today? Who will be groom to the prince’s eldest daughter?’

‘Why do you want to know? You’re still young! But in truth, he was like you, but what a horse he had. A horse you’d never seen before in your life!’

At dawn the brothers again saddled their horses. And again they did not take the little brother. Just as they left the village, The little brother took out the white hair and rubbed it in his hands. Suddenly the white horse appeared before him and said, ‘Ready to serve you, The little brother. Where shall you order me to take you?’

The little brother said that he intended to compete with those Dzhigits, who today were to ask for the hand of the prince’s second daughter. ‘Let’s go to the prince’s castle,’ he ordered his horse. ‘But just take the road, don’t fly through the sky.’

The white horse darted down a narrow mountain road. He quickly caught up to and left behind The little brother’s older brothers. The brothers respectfully answered to the greetings of the unfamiliar rider, and watched him as he rode away. The middle brother remarked afterwards, ‘that rider looked awfully similar to our brother The little brother!’

The younger brother galloped forward. The white horse fought against the wind, when its hooves struck the stones sparks flew. And on sharp turns The little brother had to hold on to the bit for dear life as the horse bit down on it with impatience.

The prince’s courtyard was full of people. Dzhigits had come in large numbers, by the thousands. Each wanted to marry the prince’s young and beautiful middle daughter.

The prince declared, ‘The groom will be only that horseman, who on his horse is fastest of all to climb up that nearby mountain and bring me a feather from an eagle’s nest.’

The horsemen drew back in shame. The mountain was steep, nowhere was there a tree or a bush, not even a ledge; nowhere for a horse to trod. And the nest was on the top of the mountain, hidden behind the clouds.

The little brother also doubted whether it were possible to climb such a mountain. But the white horse reassured him, ‘I’ll break ahead of the crowd and in a flash scale the mountain. Only you grip my mane all the tighter, whip me till my side burns, and whoop louder than sixty-three Dzhigits.’

The little brother grabbed hold of the mane and pressed his legs tight against the horse. Once the sign was made, the white horse broke from the crowd. The little brother whipped the horse, until its side burned. He whooped as loudly as sixty-three Dzhigits. The horse ran up a steep rock wall. If he trod on his forelegs, a trail appeared before them, if he trod on his hind legs, he cut out a wide road.

In a flash the horse delivered his rider to the top of the mountain, where the eagle’s nest was. The little brother took the feather from the eagle’s nest, then raced back down the mountain and handed it to the prince.

The prince was surprised, but kept his word. ‘You are worthy of my second daughter. But I will hold the wedding only for all three daughters at once. Go home and wait. When all three daughters have
suitors, I will announce it and then you may come.

The elder brothers watched as the rider on the white horse give the prince the eagle’s feather, but they did not have time to see that it was the The little brother.

‘We missed the middle daughter too,’ one said to the other. ‘We must rise even earlier tomorrow. Perhaps the youngest daughter will get one of us.’ Then they rode back to their village.

The little brother was already at home and pretended never to have left. He met them with a question, ‘Which horseman won today and is engaged to the prince’s second daughter?’

The older brothers gave him yesterday’s answer, ‘Why do you want to know? You’re still young. In truth though, he was like you, but sitting on a horse that you have never seen before in your life.’

On the third day the brothers were up before sunrise. The little brother was stil sleeping. They saddled their horses and rode out of the village. As soon as the brothers were away, The little brother rubbed the red hair from the red horse, and immediately it appeared before him.

‘I am ready to serve you, The little brother. Where shall you order me to go?’

The little brother said he wanted to measure forces with those Dzhigits, who were to come today for the prince’s youngest daughter. ‘To the prince’s castle, go. But only take me by road, there is no need to fly through the sky,’ the horseman said to the chestnut horse.

They set out for the castle. The little brother overtook his older brothers, who respectfully answered the greetings of the unfamiliar rider, and watched him as he rode away. The middle brother remarked afterwards, ‘that rider looked awfully similar to our brother The little brother!’

The little brother galloped on. The red horse fought against the wind, when its hooves struck the stones sparks flew. And on sharp turns The little brother had to hold on to the bit for dear life as the horse bit down on it with impatience.

When he arrived at the prince’s castle, it was still early. But in the yard there was already a crowd of horsemen. Many had come from distant lands and spent the night there. Then The little brother’s older brothers arrived but in all the commotion they did not notice their younger brother.

Finally, the prince came out of the castle. He went to the Dzhigits and silently surveyed them. ‘I will declare the groom of my youngest daughter,’ he shouted so everyone could hear, ‘to be he, who at full gallop can get a ram from a well at a depth of sixty-three cubits.’

The opponents were embarrassed and drew back. The crowd stirred, murmuring, ‘How can anyone manage to enter a narrow well and on a horse? No, it seems that the prince has decided not to marry off his youngest daughter. It would have been better to have mentioned this straight away. Why bother to require such difficult business of the Dzhigits?

The little brother also expressed some doubt, but his red horse reassured him, ‘Ah, it’s nothing, I’ve seen worse. Do not feel sorry for my sides, hit me with the whip, and whoop in such a way so that not only people, but the trees will be knocked to the ground. And hold on with all your might.’

The little brother grabbed the horse’s mane tightly, struck his horse with his whip, and whooped with all his might so that people and trees fell to the ground.

Horse and rider galloped out of the crowd and rode like the wind to the well where the princely servants had dropped the ram. The horse with its forelegs began to dig up the ground, and with his hind legs kicked the dirt to the side. In no time at all they reached the bottom of the well. The little brother grabbed the ram by the horns and then turned to head out of the well. Just when they were at the top, the ram’s horn suddenly broke off, and it fell back to the bottom.

The prince’s youngest daughter was sitting at a window and saw everything. When The little brother dropped the ram she shouted to him, ‘Grab the ram by the wool!’

The little brother took her advice and went back into the well, reached for the wool, grabbed the ram, and rose from the well. He then threw the ram at the prince’s feet.

‘This is who deserves the hand of my most beloved daughter. Now we can prepare for the wedding. It will be in three days. Come then, successful, young man,’ said the prince.

The little brother rode on his chestnut horse, and behind him all the other horsemen followed.

When the brothers returned to their native village, they found The little brother working away in the yard as if nothing had happened. He asked again, as if he had not been anywhere and knew nothing, ‘Who won the contest today? Who was declared the suitor of the youngest daughter?’

‘And what do you want to know for? You’re still young. In truth, he was like you though, but sitting on this horse you had never seen before in your life.’

At this point, the little brother could no longer keep his silence. He got the black hair, the white hair and then the red hair; rubbed them in his hands, and immediately before them appeared all three horses: the black, the white and the red one.

The older brothers gasped with surprise.

‘What do you say now?’ The little brother said to his older brothers.

The brothers turned red and begged The little brother not to take offense at what they had done.

The little brother answered, ‘A little late to rethe little brotherze this now. Father asked us to live together in harmony. You both had forgotten his command and only cared about yourselves, only considered yourselves to be Dzhigits. But I have not forgotten our father’s words: It’s easy to be bad and difficult to be good. I have done as our father commanded us. But we are brothers, and so I’ll deal with you like brothers. Choose a horse, and when we go to the wedding, each of us will choose the girl who appeals most naturally to him and who he himself likes most.’

So they did just that.

Three days later, the prince announced that the wedding would begin. The little brother along with his brothers rode to the prince, one on the black horse, one on the white horse and one on the chestnut horse. The prince glanced at the horses and recognized the suitors. The elder brother chose the prince’s eldest daughter, the middle brother chose the middle daughter and The little brother chose the youngest daughter. She seemed to him the most beautiful and kind-hearted. The little brother had not forgotten how, with her advice, she had helped him get the ram out of the well.

The wedding lasted three days. Then the brothers prepared to go home. Then each brother and his princely wife mounted a horse, with the daughter sitting in front. The prince then gave them gifts and saw them to the road that would take them home.

Then they rode to their village: The little brother in front and on the red horse, the middle brother was behind him riding the white horse, and the eldest a little distance behind the middle brother was on the black horse. And once they were home, they began to live happily.

*The tale was translated from Russian version into English by Troy Morash, a Canadian story writer. Thanks him for shared his translation with us.

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The original version in Chechen language with Latin alphabet:

Qo vaša

Cxhana den qo khant xilla. Vexaš xiyla xan yälça, dena çhogha camgar qetta.
— So qu camgarx vala mega, to a ca luš, — älla, das, šen qö a khant, qayqina šena the a valiyna, cärga veset dina, — So velça, suna, tüxan thulgax day, çurt a dogha, naggaxh thedüyliy, koš the a hitta. Bertaxh a je, dic a ma de, von xila atta du, dika xila xala du šuna.

Ocu camgarx to ca luš, da qelxina, tqha buxavisinçu qaa khanta, šešan den veset qoçušdeš, dena tüxan thulgax dina çurt a döghna, šayn da djaverziyna.

Cxha xan yällaçu xenaxh hara qo khant, šayn den koša the exa völla. İštta horš lelaš, šešan dena döghna tüxan çurt zhimluš xilar xaadella khentašna. Vokqax volçu vašas älla zhimax volçu šina veše:
— Hara vayn den košana vay döghna çurt laxluš du, hara larda deza vay, — älla.

Cu thexh bart a xilla, xhalxarçu qaa busa vokqax volu vaša vaxana den çurt larda. Den çurtana bilgalo a yina, çurt larda xi’naçu vokqax volçu vešina, qaa a busa nab qetta, den çurt lardeš jaçu zaman çoxh. Den çurt qara yinçu bilgalonal zhimdella kariyna. Šolghaçu roghana yukqhera vaša vaxana den çurt larda. Çürtana thexh bilgalo a yina, oxhavizhna yukqhera vaša a. Cunna a, vuqu vešina sanna, nab qetta. Qoalghaçu diynaxh xhäzhça, xhalxaçul a çurt laxdella kariyna. Thäxxhara a zhimax volu vaša vaxana den çurt larda. Šena mel çhogha nab theghörtiça a, nab ca qötüytuš, çurt lardeš jaš xilla zhimax volu vaša. Büysa yuqhal thex yällaçu xenaxh, stiglara oxha a be’na, cxha järzha boda theghörtina den çürtana.

Boda dikka gera qaççalc, jadda a jiyna, khanta, vist a xilla, älla:
— Hay suna thegherta boda, xho hun yu? Sa du xho ya zhin du xho? Distxila! Boda, humma a ca oluš, qin a gerga ghertaš xilla. Khanta jad a özna, pxa töxna. Thakqa a yuxa ca boluš, khentan den çurta the qetta boda. Khant, qossavella, bodanna the xi’na. Khant šena the xi’ça, bodano vadiyna vorhe a stigalan järçaška väkqina. Cu stiglan järçaškara kerçaš, yuxa lätta bössiça, khora sanna järzha din xilla, djahoitina järzhaçu bodanax. Lätta thexh ira a höttina, lestina, begabella din:
— Hinca-x daciy suna thexh cxha a huma, — älla. Buqha thexh xi’na jaçu khanta älla:
— Qin huma-m dac xhuna thexh, so khant-m vu. järzhaçu gilano zhop della:
— Taxana-txovsa düyna xhan dolaxh bu so, xho ben qin da vocuš. Xho xolçuhöttinçu mürexh, xhayna so ma iššinexh, hara san ċoganan merz bagor axha, so theqoçur bu xhuna.

Khantana ċoganax bäkqina merz a bella, djabaxana järzha gila. Govran ċoganax bäkqina merz šen kisana a billina, šolghaçu busa a den çurt larda oxhaxi’na zhimax volu vaša. Xhalxarçu busa sanna, lerina, qunna nab theghörttinçu xenaxh, stiglara oxhaxhädda khayn ghalart. Gergga qaççalc, jadda a jiyna, khanta älla:
— Suna gerga ma gherta, asa lazor du xho, khayn ghalart.

Qin i socurg a ca xilla, jad özna, pxa töxna khanta. Šena pxa töxça a, šek ca doluš, khentan den çurtana the qetta khayn ghalart. Cunna a, qossavella thexi’na, çurt lardeš jen khant. Xhalaikqina, vorhe a stigala xhala a dälla, cigara kerçaš lätta oxhadössinçu khayçu ghalartax sira din xilla djahöttina.
— Hinca-m maja-moza a xir bacara suna thexh, — älla, lestina, begabella sira din.
— So sanna volu khant ben, qin huma dac xhuna thexh, vir-beqha, — älla, vistxilla khant.

Thakqa khayçu dino, šen ċoganax bäkqina merz a luš, khante älla:
— Hinca xhan dola beli so. Xolçuhoitina, sögara gho ešna, so xhašt ma xillinexh, hara merz bagor axha, so theqoçur bu xhuna.

Khanta, bäkqina merz kisna a böllina, sira din djabaxiytina. Yeana theqäçna qoalgha büysa a. Khant den çurt lardeš jaçu xenaxh, toxara sanna, merza nab theghörtina cunna. Ocu busa theghörtina ghalart a, khanta, thera oxha ca vussuš, karadaliyça, cunax rasxa din xilla. Co a, vuqu šina dino sanna:
— Xhan dola beli so, xho xolçuhöttiça, xhayna gho ešnaçu mettexh, hara merz bagor axh, — älla, ċoganax bäkqina merz bella. İza a, vüš sanna, bälla cxhana aghor djabaxana.

Qo dey, qo büysiy djadälça, šayn zhimax volu vaša volçu vaxana vokqax volu ši vaša, co den çurt muxa lardo xhazha. Šäš yinçu bilgalonal çurt laxdella ca kariyna qarna. Cxhana diynaxh vokqax volçu šina vešina xezna, xäxkiça, din xhalxabällaçunna šen yoj a luš, elo govraš xoxküytu, älla. İ ši’ ciga vaxa keçvelça, ša a vaiytaxhara, älla zhimax volçu vašas.
— Axh cigaxh dan humma a dac, ya xhan cigaxh ghullaxk a dac, — älla, çovxiyna xilla cara zhimax volu vaša.

Vokqax volu ši vaša šayn dex yisinçu virna xhalxay, thexhay a xi’na, vaxa novqha välla, elo govraš a xaxkiytina, govr xhalxayälla, xhünar töllaçunna, yoj luçu toyne xhazha. Vokqax volu ši vaša djavaxançul thäxha, aravällaçu zhimax volçu vašas, ša xhalxa bäkqina merz, kisnara sxha a bäkqina, bagiyna, cunax hun xülu xhazha. Merz bägna balale, beana sxhaikqina, khanta düxxhara läcna, xhargha sanna bolu järzha din. Dika, lerina keçvella, cu dina a xi’na, elan toyne vaxa djaikqina zhimax volu vaša. Vöduš, xhalxa viraxh djavaxançu šina vešina thäxha qi’ça, cärga salam a luš, carna vovzale, thex’ikqina i šen dinaxh, üš salam djaeca qüuš, ca qüuš. Šina vašas älla xilla, thäxha a xhäzhna:
— Ma vayša çovxiyna, ċaxh vitinçu vayšinnan vešex a, vayšinnax a tera vac i vaxana bere, — älla.

Urx xecna yitça, moxaca çexkalla qhüysuš, yuxaözça, stiglan järçaška xhalaghertaš, vadiyna elan yürta djaqaçiyna järzhaçu dino zhimax volu vaša. Yürta çu ma vüyllinexh, theqäçnaçu tobane, elan toy miçxha du, älla, xättiça, yürtaxoša diyca a diycina, elan ghalin ghope vaxana khant. Kethaxh lättaçu ele salam a della, khanta älla:
— Xäxkiça, govr xhalxayälla xhünar töllaçunna, elo šen yoj lo, älla, xezna voghu so.

Elo khante älla:
— Dinan bere, xho thäxhavisna. Dika doy dolu bereš govraš xaxka baxana qo dey, qo büysiy xan yu.

Thakqa vistxillaçu khanta älla:
— Siylaxh ela, xhuna hun bilgalo yan yeza din xhalxabällaçu khanta? İ bilgalo xhuna theqaço xhozhur vara so.

Elo zhop della:
— Bašloma khel qäçna, oxhadoghuš šiyla šovda du. Cu šovdan yisttexh lättaçu leqaçu qura khel, bilgalonna, yillina san yöjan khudal yu. Ocu khudal çu tesna co pjelgax yullu çhug yu, san yöjan ċe a thexh.
Xhalxa theqäçnaçu bereço cu khudal çüra pjelgax yullu çhug sxhaqaço yeza. Cünga lur yu as sayn yoj.

Elo dan dezarg šega ma-darra diyciça, šen dinan urx sxha a oziyna, khentiyn toba djayaxançu lorax šen gila a berziyna, iza urxana malbina bitina khanta. Dikka neqh binçul thäxha, xhalxa djabaxançu berešna thäxha a qi’na, üš thäxha a bütuš, xhalxavälla, lam çu a qäçna, cigaxh šovdana yistexh bolçu qura ullorçu khudal çüra elan yöjan ċe thexh yolu çhug a yaxhaš, ċexha virzina šina vešin zhimax volu vaša. Elan yöjan çhug a yaxhaš, govraš xaxka baxana bereš ċa qoçu larbeš jaš ela a, cünan toyne guldella adamaš a xilla. Khanta mavogghura elan ghopan kerta thöxula din dexha a ökqüytuš, cünan yoj yolçu kore šen gila tesna. Korax araxhözhuçu yoje ša yeana çhug qössina khanta.

Govraš xaxka baxançu naxal, qünan din xhalxa balarna, qu khante šen yoj a luš, qaa diynaxxhiy, qaa busiy lovzar dina elo. Döalghaçu diynaxh khant-yoj novqha däkqina.

Veana ċa qäçça, ša yaliyna elan yoj nacqharçu ċa çu dja a laçqhiyna, ša xhalxa çoxh visinçu ċa çu a vaxana, parghatvälla jaš xilla khant. Lovzarga vaxana ši vaša a veana ċa qäçna. Šen šina vešega xättina zhimax volçu vašas:
— Xhan yäkqi elan yoj? Xhenan govr xhalxayälla toynexh? — älla. Šina vašas älla:
— Xhox tera vacara iza. Xha’a a yäkqiça a, xhuna hun bala bu cünan? Šolghaçu diynaxh a xezna qaa vešina:
— Laxara xhala xhäzhça, boxh a ca guš, oxhaxhäzhça, bux a ca guš bolçu leqaçu berdax binçu bena çüra leçanan ši khorni yeançu khantana, elo šen yoj lo, — älla.

Ša a vaiytaxhara aša, älça, šešan zhimax volu vaša a ca voüytuš, elan yoj yakqalur yacara-texha vayšinga hinca muqhana a, älla, vokqax volu ši vaša vaxana, šayn vira a xi’na. Buxavisinçu vašas šen kisnara šolgha merz bagiyna. Duqa xan yalale, beana sxhaikqina sira din. Dika duxar the a düyxina, lerina keç a vella, šen dinaxh araikqina zhimax volu vaša. Novqha djavöduš, šen šina vešina thex’ikqina hara. Djadella salam djaeca üš ca qüuš, sxhadella zhop xaza hara ca qüüš, siraçu dino vadiyna, thex’ikqina khant. Šina vašas thäxha a xäzhna, älla:
— Ma vayša ċaxh vitinçu vešex tera vac iza, co elan yoj yokqur yu xhuna.

Šen šed qoçexh, mel dolu adam a guldina, ela jaš, vaxana djaqäçna zhimax volu vaša. Derrige a adam guldella dälça, elo djaqayqiyna:
— Loman berdax bolçu leçanan bena çüra ši khorni yeançu khante šen yoj lo ša, — älla.

Ocu adamašca vaxana, leqaçu loma khel dja a höttina, šen siraçu gile xättina khanta:
— Hinca hun diça, tölur dara vayša? — älla. Sirçu dino šen dega älla:
— Qu lomana go bina duqa adam du, xhünar qhovsa deana, xho humma a voxa ma voxalaxh. Dag the bog hottoš, ši gola thetajae suna, çozh morcuš çözhe šed a toxa. Quztqhe qaammo sanna moxh toxa, xhalxarçu kogašca ghašloyn neqh bokquš, thäxharçu kogašca vordanan neqh bokquš, ocu leçanan bena the qaçor vu asa xho.

Khanta, šen dino šega ma-allara, dag the bog hottoš, gola tajiyna, çözhe šed töxna, quztqhe qaammo sanna moxh-ċogha töxna, sira din thetajiyna. Xhalxarçu kogašca ghašloyn neqh bokquš, thexharçu kogašca vordanan neqh bokquš, loman berdaš xercoš, leçanan bena the qäçna sira gila. Bena ullo qäçnaçu khanta, ele oxha moxh töxna:
— Leça dac benaxh, cünan ši khorni yu, hun de ša! — älla.

Elo i khorneš sxhayalae älla, zhop della. Leçanan ši khorni yan a ye’na, yöjan korax çuqössina khanta. Qaa diynaxxhiy, qaa busiy toy a dina, khante šen yo! a yella, novqha väkqina, ċa xhazhiyna elo. Ša yaliyna elan yoj, toxara, xhalxa yaliyna cünan yiša yolçu, ċa çu dja a laçqhiyna, parghatvälla, oxhaxi’na zhimax volu vaša.

Ċa veançu šina veše xättina buxarçu vašas:
— Elan yoj xhan yäkqina? — älla.
— Siraçu dinaxh veançu bereço yäkqi elan šolgha yoj a, humma a xhox tera a vacara iza, — älla, zhop della šina vašas.
— Sox tera ca xillexh a, šüšinnax tera muqha a xila velara iza, — älla, zhop della zhimax volçu vašas.

Qoalgha yoj, quztqha ärša khorga yolçu ghu çüra ka xhala-bäkqinçunna lo elo, älla, xabar xezna vezharšna. ZHimax volçu vašas ša vaiytaxhara, älça, xhalxa sanna, iza çovxa a vina, vira the a xi’na, šäšši’ novqha välla vokqax volu ši vaša. Ši vaša novqha välla duqa xan yalale, kisnara sxhabäkqina, qoalgha merz a bagiyna khanta. Beana, sxhaikqina khanta qoalgha läcna xilla rasxa din. Dügu nuskal sanna, šen din keçbina, nuskal dalo khant sanna, ša a keçvella, novqha dälla hara ši’. Novqha djavöduš, šen šina vešina thäxhaqi’na, cärga salam della qo. Qünan sapam sxhaeca üš ca qialuš, thex’ikqina zhimax volu vaša. Vaxana elan ghope qäçça, cigaxh kariyna qunna masso a maxkara bäxkina nax. Elo, naxana yukqhe a välla, qayqiyna, quztqha ärša khorgaçu ghuna çüra ka sxhabäkqinçu khante šen yoj lo ša, älla.

Masso a cecvälla visina. Khant šen rasxaçu dinax dagavälla, vayšinga hun dalur dara-teša, älla. Rasxaçu dino khantana zhop della:
— Ša qoa ca beš, arenaš jadoš moxh toxiy, çozh dagoš šed toxa šena. Xhalxarçu kogašca latta oxkuš, thexharçu kogašca latta nacqhar qüysuš, ša ghuna buxa qaçor vu xho. Thakqa ka sxha a ecna, xhalader du vayša.

Dino šega ma allara, arenaš jadoš moxh töxna, gila or the tesna khanta. Rasxaçu gilo xhalxarçu kogašca latta oxkuš, thexharçärca iza nacqhar qüysuš, kana the qaçiyna khant. Buxa ma qeççinexh, katöxna maja a läcna, ka xhalabadiyna khant voghuš, köman maja a yälla, xecabella yuxa or çu baxana iza. Cu zaman çoxh ghalin korax araxhözhuš jaçu yoja, khantana xilla xarco a gina, moxh töxna:
— Daqhaza ma vala xho, zhima qhonax! Barzo locuçüra, hunda ca locu axha iza? — älla.

Govraca yuxa çu a ikqina, katöxna vortana thera a läcna, ka xhala a bäkqina, lastiyna yoj yolçu korax çuqössina khanta ka. Ciga guldella mel dolçu adamana qaa diynaxh, qaa busiy toy a dina, šen zhimax yolu yoj a yella, ċa vaxa novqha väkqina elo qaa vešex zhimax volu vaša. Ša yaliyna elan qoalgha yoj, šayn yizhariy bolçu dja a laçqhiyna, rasxa din vazha ši din bolçu bozhli çoxh dja a xhulbina, šen vezhariy sxhaqaçale, vaxana oxhaxi’na khant.

Elo qayqiyna xhünar töllaçunna yoj luš xillaçu toynexh a jiyna, ċa veana ši vaša. Buxaxh jaçu šayn zhimax volçu vešega älla šina vašas:
— Ma xhox tera vacara-q, elan yoj qhevsinçoxh, rasxaçu dinaxh quztqha ärša khorgaçu ghuna çüra ka xhalabäkqina zhima khant.

Zhimax volçu vašas älla:
— İ khant sox tera ca xillexh a, co xhünarš tölla yäkqina qo yoj a, cünan xhünarš toliyna järzha, sira, rasxa qo din a asa goytur-m bu šuna, — bozhlara sxhaoziyna qö a gila a, sov ċa çüra arayäkqina xazalla gharayälla yolu elan qö a yoj a šina vešina xhalxa hottiyna zhimax volçu vašas.
— Vay das dina veset dagara dja ca dolu suna: von xila atta du, dika xila xala du bertaxh jelaš, ällera co. Qhastade šayna nuskal a, din a, — älla zhimax volçu vašas cecbövlla lättaçu šen vezharina.

Dügu nuskalš sanna doy keçdina, nevcariy sanna šaii keçbella, poštanna qo din a bözhna, ela volçu vaxana qo vašiy, ceran zudariy, qo yišiy.

Baxana nevcariy a, šen mexkariy a ša volçu qäçça, šen šed qoçexh mel dolu adam a guldina, vorh diynaxh, vorh busiy dokqa lovzar a dina, ša da volçu doxnax ax däxniy šen nevcaršna a, mexkaršna a della, ċa xhovsiyna elo üš.

Bäxkina ċa a qäçna, merzaçu bezamca, ċençu dagca, dokqaçu irsaca baxa xövšina qo vašiy, ceran zudariy, qo yišiy.
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The original version in Chechen language with cyrillic alphabet:

Кхо ваша

Цхьана ден кхо кlант хилла. Вехаш хийла хан яьлча, дена чlогlа цамгар кхетта.
— Со кху цамгарх вала мега, то а ца луш, — аьлла, дас, шен кхоь а кlант, кхайкхина шена тlе а валийна, цаьрга весет дина, — Со велча, суна, туьхан тlулгах дай, чурт а догlа, наггахь тlедуьйлий, кош тlе а хlитта. Бертахь а lе, диц а ма де, вон хила атта ду, дика хила хала ду шуна.

Оцу цамгарх то ца луш, да кхелхина, ткъа бухависинчу кхаа кlанта, шешан ден весет кхочушдеш, дена туьхан тlулгах дина чурт а доьгlна, шайн да дlаверзийна.

Цхьа хан яьллачу хенахь хlара кхо кlант, шайн ден коша тlе эха воьлла. Иштта хlорш лелаш, шешан дена доьгlна туьхан чурт жимлуш хилар хааделла кlенташна. Воккхах волчу вашас аьлла жимах волчу шина веше:
— Хlара вайн ден кошана вай доьгlна чурт лахлуш ду, хlара ларда деза вай, — аьлла.

Цу тlехь барт а хилла, хьалхарчу кхаа буса воккхах волу ваша вахана ден чурт ларда. Ден чуртана билгало а йина, чурт ларда хиъначу воккхах волчу вешина, кхаа а буса наб кхетта, ден чурт лардеш lачу заман чохь. Ден чурт кхара йинчу билгалонал жимделла карийна. Шолгlачу рогlана юккъера ваша вахана ден чурт ларда. Чуьртана тlехь билгало а йина, охьавижна юккъера ваша а. Цунна а, вукху вешина санна, наб кхетта. Кхоалгlачу дийнахь хьаьжча, хьалхачул а чурт лахделла карийна. Тlаьххьара а жимах волу ваша вахана ден чурт ларда. Шена мел чlогlа наб тlегlоьртича а, наб ца кхоьтуьйтуш, чурт лардеш lаш хилла жимах волу ваша. Буьйса юкъал тlех яьллачу хенахь, стиглара охьа а беъна, цхьа lаьржа бода тlегlоьртина ден чуьртана.

Бода дикка гера кхаччалц, lадда а lийна, кlанта, вист а хилла, аьлла:
— Хlай суна тlегlерта бода, хьо хlун ю? Са ду хьо я жин ду хьо? Дистхила! Бода, хlумма а ца олуш, кхин а герга гlерташ хилла. Кlанта lад а оьзна, пха
тоьхна. Тlаккха а юха ца болуш, кlентан ден чурта тlе кхетта бода. Кlант, кхоссавелла, боданна тlе хиъна. Кlант шена тlе хиъча, бодано вадийна ворхlе а стигалан lаьрчашка ваьккхина. Цу стиглан lаьрчашкара керчаш, юха лаьтта боьссича, кlора санна lаьржа дин хилла, дlахlоытина lаьржачу боданах. Лаьтта тlехь ира а хlоьттина, лестина, бегабелла дин:
— Хlинца-х даций суна тlехь цхьа а хlума, — аьлла. Букъа тlехь хиъна lачу кlанта аьлла:
— Кхин хlума-м дац хьуна тlехь, со кlант-м ву. lаьржачу гилано жоп делла:
— Тахана-тховса дуьйна хьан долахь бу со, хьо бен кхин да воцуш. Хьо холчухlоьттинчу муьрехь, хьайна со ма ишшинехь, хlара сан цlоганан мерз багор ахьа, со тlекхочур бу хьуна.

Кlантана цlоганах баьккхина мерз а белла, дlабахана lаьржа гила. Говран цlоганах баьккхина мерз шен кисана а биллина, шолгlачу буса а ден чурт ларда охьахиъна жимах волу ваша. Хьалхарчу буса санна, лерина, кхунна наб тlегlоьрттинчу хенахь, стиглара охьахьаьдда кlайн гlаларт. Гергга кхаччалц, lадда а lийна, кlанта аьлла:
— Суна герга ма гlерта, аса лазор ду хьо, кlайн гlаларт.

Кхин и соцург а ца хилла, lад оьзна, пха тоьхна кlанта. Шена пха тоьхча а, шек ца долуш, кlентан ден чуртана тlе кхетта кlайн гlаларт. Цунна а, кхоссавелла тlехиъна, чурт лардеш lен кlант.
Хьалаиккхина, ворхlе а стигала хьала а даьлла, цигара керчаш лаьтта охьадоьссинчу кlайчу гlалартах сира дин хилла дlахlоьттина.
— Хlинца-м маlа-моза а хир бацара суна тlехь, — аьлла, лестина, бегабелла сира дин.
— Со санна волу кlант бен, кхин хlума дац хьуна тlехь, вир-бекъа, — аьлла, вистхилла кlант.

Тlаккха кlайчу дино, шен цlоганах баьккхина мерз а луш, кlанте аьлла:
— Хlинца хьан дола бели со. Холчухlоытина, соьгара гlо эшна, со хьашт ма хиллинехь, хlара мерз багор ахьа, со тlекхочур бу хьуна.

Кlанта, баьккхина мерз кисна а боьллина, сира дин дlабахийтина. Еана тlекхаьчна кхоалгlа буьйса а. Кlант ден чурт лардеш lачу хенахь, тохара санна, мерза наб тlегlоьртина цунна. Оцу буса тlегlоьртина гlаларт а, кlанта, тlера охьа ца вуссуш, карадалийча, цунах расха дин хилла. Цо а, вукху шина дино санна:
— Хьан дола бели со, хьо холчухlоьттича, хьайна гlо эшначу меттехь, хlара мерз багор ахь, — аьлла, цlоганах баьккхина мерз белла. Иза а, вуьш санна, баьлла цхьана агlор дlабахана.

Кхо дей, кхо буьйсий дlадаьлча, шайн жимах волу ваша волчу вахана воккхах волу ши ваша, цо ден чурт муха лардо хьажа. Шаьш йинчу билгалонал чурт лахделла ца карийна кхарна. Цхьана дийнахь воккхах волчу шина вешина хезна, хаьхкича, дин хьалхабаьллачунна шен йоl а луш, эло говраш хохкуьйту, аьлла. И шиъ цига ваха кечвелча, ша а ваийтахьара, аьлла жимах волчу вашас.
— Ахь цигахь дан хlумма а дац, я хьан цигахь гlуллахк а дац, — аьлла, човхийна хилла цара жимах волу ваша.

Воккхах волу ши ваша шайн дех йисинчу вирна хьалхай, тlехьай а хиъна, ваха новкъа ваьлла, эло говраш а хахкийтина, говр хьалхаяьлла, хьуьнар тоьллачунна, йоl лучу тойне хьажа. Воккхах волу ши ваша дlаваханчул тlаьхьа, араваьллачу жимах волчу вашас, ша хьалха баьккхина мерз, киснара схьа а баьккхина, багийна, цунах хlун хуьлу хьажа. Мерз баьгна балале, беана схьаиккхина, кlанта дуьххьара лаьцна, хьаргlа санна болу lаьржа дин. Дика, лерина кечвелла, цу дина а хиъна, элан тойне ваха дlаиккхина жимах волу ваша. Воьдуш, хьалха вирахь дlаваханчу шина вешина тlаьхьа кхиъча, цаьрга салам а луш, царна вовзале, тlехъиккхина и шен динахь, уьш салам дlаэца кхуьуш, ца кхуьуш. Шина вашас аьлла хилла, тlаьхьа а хьаьжна:
— Ма вайша човхийна, цlахь витинчу вайшиннан вешех а, вайшиннах а тера вац и вахана бере, — аьлла.

Урх хецна йитча, мохаца чехкалла къуьйсуш, юхаоьзча, стиглан lаьрчашка хьалагlерташ, вадийна элан юьрта дlакхачийна lаьржачу дино жимах волу ваша. Юьрта чу ма вуьйллинехь, тlекхаьчначу тобане, элан той мичхьа ду, аьлла, хаьттича, юьртахоша дийца а дийцина, элан гlалин гlопе вахана кlант. Кетlахь лаьттачу эле салам а делла, кlанта аьлла:
— Хаьхкича, говр хьалхаяьлла хьуьнар тоьллачунна, эло шен йоl ло, аьлла, хезна вогlу со.

Эло кlанте аьлла:
— Динан бере, хьо тlаьхьависна. Дика дой долу береш говраш хахка бахана кхо дей, кхо буьйсий хан ю.

Тlаккха вистхиллачу кlанта аьлла:
— Сийлахь эла, хьуна хlун билгало ян еза дин хьалхабаьллачу кlанта? И билгало хьуна тlекхачо хьожур вара со.

Эло жоп делла:
— Башлома кlел кхаьчна, охьадогlуш шийла шовда ду. Цу шовдан йисттехь лаьттачу лекхачу кхура кlел, билгалонна, йиллина сан йоьlан кlудал ю. Оцу кlудал чу тесна цо пlелгах юллу чlуг ю, сан йоьlан цlе а тlехь. Хьалха тlекхаьчначу беречо цу кlудал чуьра пlелгах юллу чlуг схьакхачо еза. Цуьнга лур ю ас сайн йоl.

Эло дан дезарг шега ма-дарра дийцича, шен динан урх схьа а озийна, кlентийн тоба дlаяханчу лорах шен гила а берзийна, иза урхана малбина битина кlанта. Дикка некъ бинчул тlаьхьа, хьалха дlабаханчу берешна тlаьхьа а кхиъна, уьш тlаьхьа а буьтуш, хьалхаваьлла, лам чу а кхаьчна, цигахь шовдана йистехь болчу кхура уллорчу кlудал чуьра элан йоьlан цlе тlехь йолу чlуг а яхьаш, цlехьа вирзина шина вешин жимах волу ваша. Элан йоьlан чlуг а яхьаш, говраш хахка бахана береш цlа кхочу ларбеш lаш эла а, цуьнан тойне гулделла адамаш а хилла. Кlанта мавоггlура элан гlопан керта тlоьхула дин дехьа а оьккхуьйтуш, цуьнан йоl йолчу коре шен гила тесна. Корах арахьоьжучу йоlе ша еана чlуг кхоьссина кlанта.

Говраш хахка баханчу нахал, кхуьнан дин хьалха баларна, кху кlанте шен йоl а луш, кхаа дийнаххьий, кхаа бусий ловзар дина эло. Доьалгlачу дийнахь кlант-йоl новкъа даьккхина.

Веана цlа кхаьчча, ша ялийна элан йоl нацкъарчу цlа чу дlа а лачкъийна, ша хьалха чохь висинчу цlа чу а вахана, паргlатваьлла lаш хилла кlант. Ловзарга вахана ши ваша а веана цlа кхаьчна. Шен шина вешега хаьттина жимах волчу вашас:
— Хьан яьккхи элан йоl? Хьенан говр хьалхаяьлла тойнехь? — аьлла. Шина вашас аьлла:
— Хьох тера вацара иза. Хьаъа а яьккхича а, хьуна хlун бала бу цуьнан? Шолгlачу дийнахь а хезна кхаа вешина:
— Лахара хьала хьаьжча, бохь а ца гуш, охьахьаьжча, бух а ца гуш болчу лекхачу бердах бинчу бена чуьра лечанан ши кlорни еанчу кlантана, эло шен йоl ло, — аьлла.

Ша а ваийтахьара аша, аьлча, шешан жимах волу ваша а ца воуьйтуш, элан йоl яккхалур яцара-техьа вайшинга хlинца мукъана а, аьлла, воккхах волу ши ваша вахана, шайн вира а хиъна.

Бухависинчу вашас шен киснара шолгlа мерз багийна. Дукха хан ялале, беана схьаиккхина сира дин. Дика духар тlе а дуьйхина, лерина кеч а велла, шен динахь араиккхина жимах волу ваша.

Новкъа дlавоьдуш, шен шина вешина тlехъиккхина хlара. Дlаделла салам дlаэца уьш ца кхуьуш, схьаделла жоп хаза хlара ца кхуьуьш, сирачу дино вадийна, тlехъиккхина кlант. Шина вашас тlаьхьа а хаьжна, аьлла:
— Ма вайша цlахь витинчу вешех тера вац иза, цо элан йоl йоккхур ю хьуна.

Шен шед кхочехь, мел долу адам а гулдина, эла lаш, вахана дlакхаьчна жимах волу ваша. Дерриге а адам гулделла даьлча, эло дlакхайкхийна:
— Ломан бердах болчу лечанан бена чуьра ши кlорни еанчу кlанте шен йоl ло ша, — аьлла.

Оцу адамашца вахана, лекхачу лома кlел дlа а хlоьттина, шен сирачу гиле хаьттина кlанта:
— Хlинца хlун дича, тоьлур дара вайша? — аьлла. Сирчу дино шен дега аьлла:
— Кху ломана го бина дукха адам ду, хьуьнар къовса деана, хьо хlумма а воха ма вохалахь. Даг тlе бог хlоттош, ши гола тlетаlае суна, чож морцуш чоьже шед а тоха. Кхузткъе кхааммо санна мохь тоха, хьалхарчу когашца гlашлойн некъ боккхуш, тlаьхьарчу когашца ворданан некъ боккхуш, оцу лечанан бена тlе кхачор ву аса хьо.

Кlанта, шен дино шега ма-аллара, даг тlе бог хlоттош, гола таlийна, чоьже шед тоьхна, кхузткъе кхааммо санна мохь-цlогlа тоьхна, сира дин тlетаlийна. Хьалхарчу когашца гlашлойн некъ боккхуш, тlехьарчу когашца ворданан некъ боккхуш, ломан бердаш херцош, лечанан бена тlе кхаьчна сира гила. Бена улло кхаьчначу кlанта, эле охьа мохь тоьхна:
— Леча дац бенахь, цуьнан ши кlорни ю, хlун де ша! — аьлла.

Эло и кlорнеш схьаялае аьлла, жоп делла. Лечанан ши кlорни ян а еъна, йоьlан корах чукхоьссина кlанта. Кхаа дийнаххьий, кхаа бусий той а дина, кlанте шен йо! а елла, новкъа ваьккхина, цlа хьажийна эло. Ша ялийна элан йоl, тохара, хьалха ялийна цуьнан йиша йолчу, цlа чу дlа а лачкъийна, паргlатваьлла, охьахиъна жимах волу ваша.

Цlа веанчу шина веше хаьттина бухарчу вашас:
— Элан йоl хьан яьккхина? — аьлла.
— Сирачу динахь веанчу беречо яьккхи элан шолгlа йоl а, хlумма а хьох тера а вацара иза, — аьлла, жоп делла шина вашас.
— Сох тера ца хиллехь а, шуьшиннах тера мукъа а хила велара иза, — аьлла, жоп делла жимах волчу вашас.

Кхоалгlа йоl, кхузткъа аьрша кlорга йолчу гlу чуьра ка хьала-баьккхинчунна ло эло, аьлла, хабар хезна вежаршна. Жимах волчу вашас ша ваийтахьара, аьлча, хьалха санна, иза човха а вина, вира тlе а хиъна, шаьшшиъ новкъа ваьлла воккхах волу ши ваша. Ши ваша новкъа ваьлла дукха хан ялале, киснара схьабаьккхина, кхоалгlа мерз а багийна кlанта. Беана, схьаиккхина кlанта кхоалгlа лаьцна хилла расха дин. Дуьгу нускал санна, шен дин кечбина, нускал дало кlант санна, ша а кечвелла, новкъа даьлла хlара шиъ. Новкъа дlавоьдуш, шен шина вешина тlаьхьакхиъна, цаьрга салам делла кхо. Кхуьнан сапам схьаэца уьш ца кхиалуш, тlехъиккхина жимах волу ваша. Вахана элан гlопе кхаьчча, цигахь карийна кхунна массо а махкара баьхкина нах. Эло, нахана юккъе а ваьлла, кхайкхийна, кхузткъа аьрша кlоргачу гlуна чуьра ка схьабаьккхинчу кlанте шен йоl ло ша, аьлла. Массо а цецваьлла висина. Кlант шен расхачу динах дагаваьлла, вайшинга хlун далур дара-теша, аьлла. Расхачу дино кlантана жоп делла:
— Ша кхоа ца беш, аренаш lадош мохь тохий, чож дагош шед тоха шена. Хьалхарчу когашца латта охкуш, тlехьарчу когашца латта нацкъар кхуьйсуш, ша гlуна буха кхачор ву хьо. Тlаккха ка схьа а эцна, хьаладер ду вайша.

Дино шега ма аллара, аренаш lадош мохь тоьхна, гила ор тlе тесна кlанта. Расхачу гило хьалхарчу когашца латта охкуш, тlехьарчаьрца иза нацкъар кхуьйсуш, кана тlе кхачийна кlант. Буха ма кхеччинехь, катоьхна маlа а лаьцна, ка хьалабадийна кlант вогlуш, коьман маlа а яьлла, хецабелла юха ор чу бахана иза. Цу заман чохь гlалин корах арахьоьжуш lачу йоlа, кlантана хилла харцо а гина, мохь тоьхна:
— Дакъаза ма вала хьо, жима къонах! Барзо лоцучуьра, хlунда ца лоцу ахьа иза? — аьлла.

Говраца юха чу а иккхина, катоьхна вортана тlера а лаьцна, ка хьала а баьккхина, ластийна йоl йолчу корах чукхоьссина кlанта ка. Цига гулделла мел долчу адамана кхаа дийнахь, кхаа бусий той а дина, шен жимах йолу йоl а елла, цlа ваха новкъа ваьккхина эло кхаа вешех жимах волу ваша. Ша ялийна элан кхоалгlа йоl, шайн йижарий болчу дlа а лачкъийна, расха дин важа ши дин болчу божли чохь дlа а хьулбина, шен вежарий схьакхачале, вахана охьахиъна кlант.

Эло кхайкхийна хьуьнар тоьллачунна йоl луш хиллачу тойнехь а lийна, цlа веана ши ваша. Бухахь lачу шайн жимах волчу вешега аьлла шина вашас:
— Ма хьох тера вацара-кх, элан йоl къевсинчохь, расхачу динахь кхузткъа аьрша кlоргачу гlуна чуьра ка хьалабаьккхина жима кlант.

Жимах волчу вашас аьлла:
— И кlант сох тера ца хиллехь а, цо хьуьнарш тоьлла яьккхина кхо йоl а, цуьнан хьуьнарш толийна lаьржа, сира, расха кхо дин а аса гойтур-м бу шуна, — божлара схьаозийна кхоь а гила а, сов цlа чуьра араяьккхина хазалла гlараяьлла йолу элан кхоь а йоl а шина вешина хьалха хlоттийна жимах волчу вашас.
— Вай дас дина весет дагара дlа ца долу суна: вон хила атта ду, дика хила хала ду бертахь lелаш, аьллера цо. Къастаде шайна нускал а, дин а, — аьлла жимах волчу вашас цецбоьвлла лаьттачу шен вежарина.

Дуьгу нускалш санна дой кечдина, невцарий санна шаыи кечбелла, поштанна кхо дин а боьжна, эла волчу вахана кхо ваший, церан зударий, кхо йиший.

Бахана невцарий а, шен мехкарий а ша волчу кхаьчча, шен шед кхочехь мел долу адам а гулдина, ворхl дийнахь, ворхl бусий доккха ловзар а дина, ша да волчу дохнах ах даьхний шен невцаршна а, мехкаршна а делла, цlа хьовсийна эло уьш.

Баьхкина цlа а кхаьчна, мерзачу безамца, цlенчу дагца, доккхачу ирсаца баха хоьвшина кхо ваший, церан зударий, кхо йиший.