Sadeq Hedayat - Dah Akol

7/21/2019 Sadeq Hedayat - Dah Akol

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Dash Akol

by

Sadeq Hedayat

translated byKimberley A. Brown

edited by

Iraj Bashiri

copyright 1995, 1999

Everyone in Shiraz knew that Dash Akol and Kaka Rosta were s!ch bitter eneies that each

wo!ld shoot at the other"s shadow i# he co!ld$ %ne day Dash Akol had cro!ched contentedly on the

dais o# the Doil teaho!se, his !s!al ha!nt$ A delicately&wro!ght bird cage, covered with a #ine red

cloth, stood ne't to hi$ As he sat, he stirred the ice #loating in a bowl with his #ingertip$ S!ddenly,

Kaka Rosta stepped thro!gh the door$ (ith one hand on the sash at his waist, he tossed Dash Akol

a contept!o!s sneer and stalked to a seat on the opposite dais$ )e then t!rned towards the tea&boy

and staered, *+o$$bo$$boy, bring e a c!$$c!$$c!p o# tea*

Dash Akol cast a threatening look at the tea&boy who, recognizing his precario!s sit!ation, decided

to ignore Kaka Rosta"s order$ -nstead, he ade hisel# b!sy taking the tea glasses o## the large

brass tray, dipping the in hot water and care#!lly drying each !ntil it glistened and screeched$

-gnored, and there#ore ins!lted, Kaka Rosta sho!ted, *A$$$ are yo! dea#. -" talking to y$$yo!,

boy*

)esitating, the tea&boy siled and glanced towards Dash Akol$ /lenching his teeth, Kaka Rosta

spat o!t, *0et those who have the ga$$gall to #ace e coe o!t tonight #or a bi$$ bi$$bit o# an&to&

an b!siness*

As he cally t!rned the ice in his bowl and viewed the sit!ation #ro the corner o# his eye, Dash

Akol b!rst o!t la!ghing, s!ddenly and lo!dly$ A set o# pearly teeth #lashed beneath his hennaed

o!stache$

)e said, *%nly cowards brag$$$we"ll see i# yo! can p!t yo!r oney where yo!r o!th is*

Everyone in the teaho!se broke o!t la!ghing$ ot so !ch beca!se o# Kaka Rosta"s staering&&

they all knew he st!ttered&&b!t, rather, beca!se everyone in the city knew Dash Akol was one o# a

kind$ -ndeed, it wo!ld have been ipossible to #ind a sco!ndrel in the whole o# Shiraz who had

escaped Dash Akol"s #ist$

Every night, a#ter he had downed his !s!al 2!art o# araq at -saac the 3ew"s, he to!red the Dozak

neighborhood$ o one, incl!ding Kaka Rosta or his own grand#ather, dared challenge his

a!thority$ Kaka Rosta knew better than everyone else that he was no atch #or this an who had

in4!red hi twice and who had h!iliated hi not only by #looring hi b!t by sitting on his chest$

A #ew days ago, the !nl!cky Kaka had coe into the neighborhood and, seeing no opponent, had

beg!n to throw his weight aro!nd$ S!ddenly, o!t o# nowhere, Dash Akol had arrived to ridic!le hi,

*Kaka. (here"s the an o# the ho!se. Did yo! soke an overdose o# opi!. an, it has a##ected

yo! +!t let e tell yo! y #riend, p!t these cowardly, dastardly pranks aside$ 6o!"re behaving like

a lo!t and yo! are not even ashaed o# it -s this a new ethod o# begging. (hy do yo! ab!se

people by stopping the on their way hoe night in and night o!t. 7ry it again and, by 8o!rya the

aliant, - shall teach yo! a lesson$ -"ll slice yo! in hal# with this c!tlass$*

http://www.angelfire.com/rnb/bashiri/culture/shahnamecult.html#Dash





Kaka Rosta had p!t his tail between his legs and had le#t$ +!t even tho!gh he had been licked, he

had vowed that one day he wo!ld get back at Dash Akol$

/onversely, everyone in Shiraz loved Dash Akol&&even when dr!nk and #orbidding, he wo!ld allow

woen and children to cross his path$ -n #act, he was kind to people: i# anyone dared harass a

woan, or tried to b!lly people, Dash Akol ade hi pay #or it thro!gh the nose$ )e co!ld be

co!nted on to help people in #inancial distress and soeties even to carry their heavy parcels$

+!t he co!ldn"t stand the idea o# anyone being s!perior to hi&&partic!larly soeone like Kaka

Rosta who soked at least three mesquals o# opi! a day and who was always ca!sing tro!ble$

And now that Dash Akol had ins!lted hi in the teaho!se, Kaka Rosta sat back and chewed his

o!stache, sarting with anger$ A#ter a while, the la!ghter in the teaho!se had died down, b!t the

tea&boy, pale&#aced, wearing a collarless shirt, sk!llcap and pantaloons, contin!ed to twist and t!rn,

la!ghing and aking the others in the teaho!se la!gh$ Event!ally, Kaka Rosta lost control$ )e

grabbed the crystal s!gar&c!be container and threw it at the teaboy"s head$ 7he s!gar bowl hit

instead the top o# the saovar, where a pot o# tea was brewing: the whole thing got knocked over,

breaking a n!ber o# c!ps in the process$ +!rsting with anger, Kaka Rosta le#t the teaho!se$

An'io!sly the teaho!se owner checked over the saovar and said, *Did he ever disar Rosta

%ne old saovar"s all we had, and he"s done it in$* Even tho!gh the innkeeper said this in a

sorrow#!l tone, his all!sion to Rosta #!eled the la!ghter$ ;r!strated, the innkeeper attacked his

apprentice, b!t Dash Akol, siling, p!lled o!t a sall oney p!rse and dashed it onto the #loor$

7he owner picked !p the p!rse, weighed it, and grinned$

S!ddenly a an in a velvet t!nic, large tro!sers and a #elt cap h!rled hisel# into the teaho!se$ )e

glanced abo!t #rantically$ 7hen he went !p to Dash Akol and said, *)a4i Saad passed away$*

Dash Akol raised his head and said, *ay <od bless his so!l *

*Don"t yo! know abo!t his will.*

*(hat do yo! take e #or. A grave&robber <o tell the gho!ls$*

*6o! don"t !nderstand$ 6o!"ve been appointed the e'ec!tor o# his estate$*

-t seeed as tho!gh this news shocked Dash Akol$ Again he looked the essenger over and r!bbed

his #orehead, p!shing back his egg&shaped hat and revealing a bit o# the !ntanned head$ 7hen he

shook his head, p!lled o!t his gilded&steed pipe, #illed it with tobacco, tapped it down, lit it and

said, *ay <od bless the )a4i$ (hat"s done is done, b!t he really sho!ldn"t have$ 7his will ca!se a

lot o# tro!ble #or e$ Anyhow, yo! go on ahead$ -" on y way$*

7he essenger was )a4i"s anservant$ (ith long strides he le#t the teaho!se$ Dash Akol, p!##ing

the while on his pipe becae pensive$ -t was as tho!gh a s!dden blanket o# dark clo!ds had

descended over the irth and la!ghter in the teaho!se$ A#ter eptying his pipe, Dash Akol picked

!p his bird cage, handed it into the tea&boy"s care, and went o!t$

(hen Dash Akol reached the garden o# the )a4i"s property, the service had already #inished$

Several Qur'an reciters and prayer&book dealers were 2!arreling over their wages$ A#ter a

considerable delay by the pond, he was !shered into the ain salon$ -ts stained&glass&doors, which

overlooked the garden, were open$ )a4i"s wi#e cae !p to the c!rtain separating the en"s and

woen"s 2!arters$ She greeted Dash Akol warly$ Dash Akol sat down on a c!shion and said, *(e

all iss )a4i$ ay yo! and yo!r children live a long li#e*

)a4i"s wi#e, choking with eotion, said, *7he evening that )a4i took sick, the -a 3o"eh was

called and, in the presence o# witnesses, )a4i appointed yo! e'ec!tor o# his estate$ Did yo! know

)a4i #ro be#ore.*

Dash Akol said, *;ive years ago - et hi on a trip to Kazer!n$*

*)a4i, <od rest his so!l, always said, "7here is one an aro!nd here and that is Dash Akol$*"



Dash Akol said, *a"a, - cherish y #reedo ore than anything else, b!t now that -"ve been

entr!sted to carry o!t a dead an"s last wish, by the light o# the s!n, - swear that -"ll set an

e'aple$*

As he t!rned his head, thro!gh the slit o# a c!rtain, he saw the #l!shed #ace and the ravishing black

eyes o# a yo!ng girl$ ;or a oent their eyes et, b!t the girl, as i# coy, dropped the c!rtain and

le#t$ /o!ld she be called bea!ti#!l. 8erhaps$ -n any event, her st!nning eyes had worked their agic

and had t!rned Dash Akol"s li#e !pside down$ )is #ace #l!shed: he dropped his head$ 7his yo!ng girlwas ar4an, )a4i Saad"s da!ghter$ +!rsting with c!riosity, she had coe to eet the town"s hero

and their protector in person$

;ro that day #orward, Dash Akol got ca!ght !p in )a4i"s a##airs$ (ith the help o# an e'pert dealer,

two neighborhood to!ghs and a scribe, he ade an inventory o# )a4i"s possessions$ )e disposed o#

what needed to be sold, and he locked and sealed the rest in a storeroo$ )e had the deeds o# )a4i"s

estate read to hi, collected what was owed the estate, and paid its debts$ )e took care o# all o# this

in two days and two nights$ %n the evening o# the third day, e'ha!sted, he headed #or hoe$

Reaching Seyyed )a4 <harib intersection, he b!ped into Ea =oli, the sith$ Ea =oli said,

*;or two nights now, Kaka Rosta has been waiting to take yo! on$ 0ast night he said, "7here"s a

#ine way to keep a deal$ -t sees he has #orgotten his proise$*" Dash Akol ran his #ingers thro!ghhis o!stache and said, *Don"t yo! worry abo!t that$*

Dash Akol reebered 2!ite well that only three days be#ore, in the Doil teaho!se, Kaka Rosta

had threatened to take hi on$ +!t he knew Kaka Rosta well eno!gh to know that the latter, along

with Ea =oli, had plotted to ake hi lose #ace: he decided to ignore the$ )e, th!s, went on

his way$ As he went, ar4an doinated his tho!ghts$ )e tho!ght o# no one b!t ar4an and co!ld

not erase her #ro his ind, hard as he tried$

Dash Akol was a thirty&#ive&year&old an, rob!st b!t rather !gly$ Seeing hi #or the #irst tie, ost

people wo!ld be rep!lsed$ +!t once they sat and listened to his stories, or heard abo!t his e'ploits

#ro others, they wo!ld #ind theselves attracted to hi$ 7hose who were able to ignore the scars

on his #ace #o!nd hi a noble and attractive an with coal&dark eyes, black, b!shy eyebrows, proinent cheekbones, a slender nose and an ebony beard and o!stache$ (hat had dis#ig!red his

#ace were the any wo!nds in#licted !pon it$ %n his cheeks and #orehead were the traces o# saber

c!ts&&c!ts that had healed 2!ite !nattractively, e'posing shiny pink #lesh$ 7he worst o# these had

prod!ced a t!ck !nder his le#t eye, dis#ig!ring the le#t side o# his #ace$

)is #ather had been one o# the notable landowners o# the ;ars province$ (hen he died, his legacy

had gone to his only son$ +!t Dash Akol, care#ree and a spender, #elt no allegiance to oney >or to

other worldly things?$ )e devoted his li#e to heroic deeds, restoration o# people"s lost #reedos and

philanthropy$ )e was a siple an, attached to none other than these goals$ 7he oney that he took

in #o!nd its way either to those who were in greater need or to his diversions$ 7hese were to sit

drinking strong brands o# araq proclai his presence at the intersections or ha!nt local gatheringsaccopanied by his retin!e o# #ollowers$ So !ch #or his #a!lts and his erits$ 7he !nbelievable

thing, however, was that he had never had a great love in his li#e$ Several ties his #riends had tried

to set hi !p and, each tie, he had shied away$ +!t #ro the day he #irst becae the e'ec!tor o#

)a4i Saad"s estate and set eyes on ar4an, his li#e had taken a new t!rn$

%n the one hand, he had ade a vow to a dead #riend and was bo!nd by a sense o# responsibility$

%n the other hand, he had #allen !nder the spell o# ar4an$ 7he #orer responsibility weighed on

hi ore$ 7he an who had s2!andered away his own property, giving it to the wind, as it were,

wo!ld now get !p early in the orning with the single tho!ght o# increasing )a4i"s incoe$ )e

oved )a4i"s wi#e and children to a saller ho!se, rented o!t their hoe, and hired a t!tor to teach

the children$ )e p!t )a4i"s wealth to work and, #ro dawn&to d!sk, he toiled over )a4i"s a##airs$

;ro this point on, Dash Akol abandoned his !s!al noct!rnal ro!nds and challenges and he ceased

to ingle with his cronies$ <rad!ally his sense o# advent!re died$ +!t the sco!ndrels and the lo!ts



who so!ght to rival hi, egged on by the mullahs who had been deprived o# )a4i"s property, #o!nd

soe breathing space$ 7hey were the to!ghs now$ And Dash Akol was red!ced to a ere topic at

the teaho!ses$ At the 8achenar teaho!se, it was r!ored that they had ridic!led hi saying, *(ho.

Dash Akol. )e is an old windbag (here is the old dog now. <ood riddance )e"s taking

advantage o# the old )a4i, thinking he"ll coe into soething$ (hen he reaches his corner, he t!rns

tail and r!ns$*

Kaka Rosta with his venoo!s, staering voice cried o!t, *)e has one #oot in the g$$g$$grave,yet he"s #allen in love w$$w$$with Saad"s da!ghter$ )is sword is h!ng !p #or g$$g$$good )e"s p!lled

the w$$w$$wool over everyone"s eyes and is living o## )a$$)a4i"s wealth$ (hat a l!cky d$$d$$ dog*

;ro this point on, Dash Akol lost all his clo!t$ o one wo!ld respect hi, not even the help in the

kitchen$

Everywhere he entered, people began to whisper&&they ade #!n o# hi$ Dash Akol took this all in,

b!t he seeed to ignore it$ ar4an"s love was in his veins, so !ch so that his heart and ind were

copletely absorbed$

Evenings, to p!sh ar4an o!t o# his ind and to keep hisel# b!sy, he drank araq. )e"d also

p!rchased a parrot to keep hisel# copany$ )e wo!ld sit in #ront o# the parrot and po!r o!t hisheart$ -# Dash Akol were ever to ask #or ar4an"s hand, her other wo!ld be delighted to oblige$

+!t on the other hand, he didn"t want to be tied down by a wi#e and #aily$ )e wanted to be #ree as

he had been born and reared to be$ +esides, he #elt that i# he arried the girl who had been his

charge, it wo!ld be a betrayal o# )a4i"s tr!st$ (orst o# all was his #ace$ Every night he s!rveyed

hisel# in the irror@ the scars, the tell&tale arks and the peranently dis#ig!red le#t side$ Sadly he

wo!ld say to hisel#, *ar4an wo!ld never love e$ ost likely, she"ll #ind a handsoe, virile

yo!ng an #or a h!sband $$$ o$ 7his is #ar #ro chivalry$ She"s a ere child o# #o!rteen while -"

#orty&years old$ (hat"s to be done. 7his love will be the death o# e$ ar4an, yo!"re killing e$ -n

who can - con#ide. ar4an, yo!r love is killing e$*

7ears wo!ld gather in his eyes and, one shot a#ter the ne't, he wo!ld down ore araq. 7hen, as he

sat with a splitting ache between his ears, he #ell asleep$ +!t, in the iddle o# the night, at the tie

that the city o# Shiraz with its twisting aze o# streets and alleys, e'pansive gardens, and deep&

colored wine was sleeping: at the tie that the stars cally and ysterio!sly twinkled in the indigo

night sky: at the tie that ar4an with her scarlet cheeks slept cally, breathing soothly,

dreaing o# the day"s work: at this sae tie, the real Dash Akol, the Dash Akol who was at ease

and nat!ral with all o# his #eelngs and whis&&a care#ree Dash Akol&&wo!ld eerge #ro the

bondage o# traditonal inhibitions and the con#ineent o# belie#s iposed on hi since childhood$

;reely he wo!ld grasp ar4an in an ebrace@ the slow p!lse o# her heart, the #iery lips and her

war body$ <ently he wo!ld kiss her on each cheek$ +!t as he awoke #ro his sleep, he c!rsed his

wretched li#e$ 0ike a crazed person pacing back and #orth, he spoke angry epithets to hisel# !nder

his breath$ 7he rest o# the day, in order to strangle all tho!ghts o# ar4an, he dashed here and thereto attend to )a4i"s a##airs$ Seven years passed in this way: Dash Akol wo!ld have been ready to lay

down his li#e to protect )a4i"s wi#e and #aily$ ot once did he #lee #ro his responsibilty$

-# one o# )a4i"s children #ell ill, day and night he wo!ld hover over the child like a nervo!s other$

0ittle by little, he #o!nd hisel# strongly attached to the, b!t his #eelings #or arian were

soething else&&no do!bt it was his love o# ar4an that helped hi reain so cal$ 0ittle by little,

the children were ready to leave the nest$ And then, that which sho!ld not have coe to pass cae

abo!t@ a s!itor asked #or ar4an"s hand&&and on top o# it all&&who was the h!sband&to&be b!t a an

older and !glier than Dash Akol hisel#$

)e tried not to let on the depths o# his sadness$ %n the contrary, he tried hard to occ!py hisel# with

the gathering together o# the dowry$ ;or the evening o# the arriage vows, he p!lled together agreat #east and bro!ght )a4i"s wi#e and children back to their hoe$ 7he large entry hall with stained

windows to the yard he assigned as a salon #or receiving the gentleen$ And he invited all the



iportant en o# Shiraz, incl!ding the erchants and the city #athers$ At 5@ p$$ that day, when

the g!ests crowded ear&to&ear in the halls and covered the #inest carpets and when sweets and #r!it

had been laid in #ront o# the, Dash Akol appeared in the sae way as be#ore with hal#&to!sled hair$

)e wore a 2!ilted cashere t!nic that reached below his knees, c!t across by the sho!lder&strap o#

his c!tlass, a cashere belt, black&twill tro!sers, hand&woven cotton shoes and a brand new #elt cap$

7hree en carrying vario!s&sized ledgers #ollowed hi$ Everyone stared at Dash Akol as with long

strides he walked over to the -a 3o"eh and said, *6o!r Reverence, )a4i&&ay <od rest hisso!l&&ade a will and #or seven solid years has kept e in no end o# tro!ble$ )is yo!ngest son who

was only #ive is now twelve$* 8ointing to the three en with ledgers who had #ollowed hi, he

contin!ed, *7hese show )a4i"s assets and belongings$ All the e'penses to date, incl!ding tonight"s, -

have paid o!t o# y own pocket$ ow it is tie #or each party to go his separate way$

At this oent he co!ld not go on #or a sob choked his throat$ (itho!t adding anything, nor

waiting #or an answer, he dropped his head and, with tear&#illed eyes, walked o!t o# the ho!se$ As

soon as he was o!t, he took a deep breath$ )e #elt he had been set #ree, that the b!rden o#

responsibility had been li#ted o## his sho!lders$ +!t deep down, his heart was broken$ (ith long

strides he wandered ailessly !ntil he recognized -saac the 3ew"s ho!se$ (itho!t hesitation, he

crossed over the dap bricks into the interior o# the decrepit, poll!ted co!rtyard which, s!rro!nded by #ilthy hovels and a yriad o# sall windows, resebled a giant beehive$ A coat o# green slie

covered the sall pond in the co!rtyard$ A so!r sell h!ng in the air$ 0a!ghing arti#icially, -saac the

3ew&&thin, with a soiled sk!llcap, goatee and greedy eyes&&approached hi$ Dash Akol, not in the

ood #or sall civilities, said, *Bpon both halves o# yo!r o!stache, give e a bottle o# yo!r #inest

brew to re#resh y throat$*

-saac the 3ew shook his head and headed down the cellar stairs$ A#ter a #ew in!tes, he ret!rned

with a bottle$ Dash Akol took the bottle #ro hi, dashed its neck against the wall to open it, and

2!ickly downed hal# the bottle$ 7ears gathered in his eyes and he began to co!gh$ )e stopped

hisel# #ro co!ghing and, with the back o# his hand, wiped his o!th$ -saac the 3ew"s son, a

sickly 4a!ndiced child with a distended stoach, a gaping o!th and a cr!sted&over nose, stared at

Dash Akol$ Dash Akol reached !p #or the salt 4ar on the shel# above hi and, with his #inger,scooped !p a bit o# salt and licked his #inger$ -saac the 3ew cae toward Dash Akol, tapped hi on

the sho!lder and said, *0!tis take their drinks straight&&no relish*

7hen he slipped his hand !nder Dash Akol"s t!nic aterial and said, *(hat are yo! wearing. 7his

t!nic"s copletely o!t o# #ashion$ (henever yo! want to part with it, -"ll gladly take it o## yo!r

hands #or a good price$* Dash Akol siled sadly: he took soe oney #ro his pocket, placed it in

-saac the 3ew"s pal and le#t$ -t was alost d!sk$ )is body #elt war, his ind was !ddled and

his head ached$ 7he alleys were still dap #ro the a#ternoon rain and the sell o# the straw in the

!d covering the walls blended with the per#!e o# orange blossos in the air$ ;rozen in his ind

were ar4an"s #ace, #l!shed cheeks, black eyes with long eyelashes, and so#t c!rls #raing her

#orehead$ )is past eories #lashed be#ore his eyes one by one$ )e reebered his trips with his#riends to the tobs o# Sa"di and +abak!hi$ Soeties a sile to!ched his lips: soeties a #rown

wrinkled his brow$ 7he thing that was the clearest to hi was that he was a#raid o# his own hoe:

his present sit!ation was !nbearable&&he had lost all interest in it$ )e wanted to go away, #ar away$

7he tho!ght o# drinking all night and po!ring his heart o!t to his parrot crossed his ind$ All o# his

li#e seeed !seless&&shallow and witho!t eaning$ A poe cae to ind&&in a #it o# ipatience, he

!r!red@

- envy the getting together o# prison inates, 7he sweeteats o# their gatherings are the links o#

their chains$

)e reebered another poe which he recited even ore lo!dly@

- have gone ad, people, +ring a reedy$

+ring a adan"s only reedy, +ring a chain



)e recited the poe with grie#, disappointent and bitterness: then, as tho!gh losing patience, or

beca!se his ind was elsewhere, he #ell silent$ -t was dark o!tside when Dash Akol reached his

!s!al corner, Sar&e Dozak$ )ere was the sae s2!are he had spent ost o# his tie de#ending

d!ring his yo!th$ o one had dared to coe #orward to challenge hi$ (itho!t thinking, he walked

over to the #ront stoop o# a hoe, sat down and p!lled o!t his pipe$ )e #elt that the place had

deteriorated: people, like hisel# who had becoe old and broken, had changed$ )is eyes swa in

#ront o# hi and his head throbbed$ S!ddenly, a shadow approached hi$ 7hen he heard a voice,*/$$cowards sneak o!$$o!t at n$$ night*

Dash Akol recognized Kaka Rosta$ )e stood !p and oved his hand to his waist$ )e spat and

said, *Son o# a coward 6o! consider yo!rsel# a 0!ti. 0et e tell yo!, yo! are abo!t to eet yo!r

atch now*

Kaka Rosta la!ghed 4eeringly and staered, *-t$$it"s been a long t$$tie since yo!"ve been

aro!nd$ 7onight there"s a w$$w$$wedding at )a4i"s$ Didn"t they let yo! in.*

Dash Akol c!t hi o##, *<od knew yo! well when he gave yo! only hal# a tong!e$ 7onight -"ll c!t

the other hal# o!t$*

)e p!t his hand down and drew his c!tlass$ Kaka Rosta, who looked like Rosta painted on thewall o# the bathho!se, also p!lled o!t his c!tlass$ Dash Akol 4aed the tip o# his c!tlass into the

gro!nd, stood by and rit!ally lowered his head to his chest saying, *(hoever considers hisel# a

l!ti can try to p!ll this c!tlass o!t$*

Kaka Rosta s!ddenly l!nged #or hi$ Dash Akol str!ck Kaka Rosta"s wrist with s!ch #orce that

his c!tlass #lew #ro his hand$ 7heir litany had drawn a crowd, b!t no one dared coe #orward to

break the !p$ Dash Akol la!ghingly said, *- let yo! retrieve it this tie$ +!t - warn yo!$$$ hold

yo!r c!tlass tight$ 7his is the night #or settling o!r acco!nt once and #or all$*

Kaka Rosta approached Dash Akol with clenched hands$ Each l!nged #or the other and began

t!ssling$ ;or hal# an ho!r they rolled on the gro!nd, sweating pro#!sely, b!t neither co!ld clai a

victory$ -n their str!ggle, Dash Akol"s head s!ddenly str!ck the paveent and he nearly lostconscio!sness$ Kaka Rosta, too, altho!gh #ighting #or dear li#e, was losing his strength$ 7hen he

saw Dash Akol"s c!tlass 4aed into the gro!nd$ (ith all his strength, he drew the c!tlass o!t o#

the gro!nd and stabbed it into Dash Akol"s side$ 7he #orce o# the act rendered both cobatants

otionless$

7he onlookers dashed !p and tried to help Dash Akol stand$ +lood dripped #ro his side$ Dash Akol

p!t his hand over his wo!nd and tried to stagger against the wall, b!t he #ell again$ Soon a#ter the

onlookers carried hi hoe$

7he ne't day, when news o# Dash Akol"s in4!ry reached )a4i Saad"s ho!sehold, alikhan, )a4i"s

oldest son, cae to visit$ (hen he reached Dash Akol"s side, he saw that Dash was pale and wan$

+loody saliva dripped #ro his o!th and his eyes wandered as he pain#!lly drew each breath$

Even on his deathbed, Dash Akol recognized alikhan$ (ith a trebling voice that choked in his

throat he said, *-n y li#e, - had only this parrot, only yo!$$$ hold hi dear$$$ <ive hi to $$$*

)e #ell silent again$ alikhan took o!t his silk handkerchie# and wiped his eyes$ Dash Akol lost

conscio!sness and died one ho!r later$ Everyone in Shiraz grieved #or hi$

alikhan took the parrot"s cage to his hoe$ 7hat a#ternoon ar4an p!t the cage in #ront o# her and

stared at the bird"s !lti&colored wings, hooked beak and ro!nd tired eyes$ S!ddenly the parrot, in a

voice that echoed Dash Akol"s, said, *ar4an$$$ ar4an$$$ yo!"ve killed e$ (ho can - tell.

ar4an, yo!r love has killed e$*

7ears ran down ar4an"s cheeks$



Documents

Sadeq Hedayat - Dah Akol