Qysyr kenes... Kәdimgi shaldardyng qysyr kenesi. Búl - aqsaqaldar alqasy da, ardagerler kenesi de emes. Qazir Almatynyng әr audanynda ardagerler kenesi bar, olardyng resmy oryndar bekitken basshylary bar. Bizding aitqaly otyrghanymyz - ol emes. Bizding aitqaly otyrghanymyz - gýlzar, sayabaqtarda jazda kólenkelep, qysta kýnshuaqtap otyratyn qarapayym shaldar bar ghoy, solar jayynda. Solardyng ermek ýshin aitylatyn, keldi-kettisi joq әngimeleri haqynda.

"Auylynnyng artynda tóbe bolsa, ertteuli túrghan atpen ten" depti kóshpendiler. Erteli-kesh auyl aqsaqaldary sol tóbege shyghyp, ary-beri ótken jolaushyny da, jýrisi suyt jau­shy-habarshyny da barlap-kórip otyrady eken. Odan basqa ýlkender bir-birine almasatyn kýndelikti ahbar-janalyqtar qanshama... Býgingi qalada túratyn qarttarda onday bas qosatyn tóbe joq. Biraq boylarynda kóshpen­dilerding bir tamshy qany bar. Ony ózderi bayqamauy da mýmkin. Alayda qoldary qalt etse, bayaghy babalary sekildi, ýiir izdegen sayaqtay bas qosatyn jerlerdi ansap túratyny anyq.

Qysyr kenes... Kәdimgi shaldardyng qysyr kenesi. Búl - aqsaqaldar alqasy da, ardagerler kenesi de emes. Qazir Almatynyng әr audanynda ardagerler kenesi bar, olardyng resmy oryndar bekitken basshylary bar. Bizding aitqaly otyrghanymyz - ol emes. Bizding aitqaly otyrghanymyz - gýlzar, sayabaqtarda jazda kólenkelep, qysta kýnshuaqtap otyratyn qarapayym shaldar bar ghoy, solar jayynda. Solardyng ermek ýshin aitylatyn, keldi-kettisi joq әngimeleri haqynda.

"Auylynnyng artynda tóbe bolsa, ertteuli túrghan atpen ten" depti kóshpendiler. Erteli-kesh auyl aqsaqaldary sol tóbege shyghyp, ary-beri ótken jolaushyny da, jýrisi suyt jau­shy-habarshyny da barlap-kórip otyrady eken. Odan basqa ýlkender bir-birine almasatyn kýndelikti ahbar-janalyqtar qanshama... Býgingi qalada túratyn qarttarda onday bas qosatyn tóbe joq. Biraq boylarynda kóshpen­dilerding bir tamshy qany bar. Ony ózderi bayqamauy da mýmkin. Alayda qoldary qalt etse, bayaghy babalary sekildi, ýiir izdegen sayaqtay bas qosatyn jerlerdi ansap túratyny anyq.

Ana bir jyldary Almatyda aqsaqaldar bas qosyp әngimelesetin skver-gýlzarlar kóp edi. Keyin jer satylatyn zang shyqqaly bos jatqan alandar jekemenshikke ótip, ýy salynyp ketti de, shaldardyng órisi taryldy. Búl kýnde qalada demalatyn oryndyqtary bar onday alandar birnesheu ghana. Abay eskertkishining many, Shoqan eskertkishining qasy, opera-balet teatrynyng aldy, búryn Lenin eskertkishi túrghan Áliya-Mәnshýk alany, Gagarin kóshesining boyy... Áriyne, múnda demalatyn adamdar birkelki emes, ortalyqtan shetke qaray úzaghan sayyn múnda otyratyn shaldardyng status-mәrtebesi, týr-týsi, kiyim kiyisi birtin­dep ózgere bastaydy. Árkim óz ýiine jaqyn sayabaqqa barady ghoy. Búryn әjeptәuir qyzmet atqarghan, birshama dәrejeli, ziyaly zeynetkerdi jogharyda aitylghan ortalyqtan tabasyn. Búlardyng arasynda ishinara tayauda bayyghan balalarynyng arqasynda qatargha keyin qosylghan shaldar da bar. Osylardyng qay-qaysysyna da keregi - aqparat, el janalyqtary, ósek-ayan, alypqashty әngimeler... Keybireuler oqighany taldaugha óresi jetpey, basqalardan úghynghysy keledi.

Ersayyn búryn qyzmet istep jýr­gende kensege bara jatyp, ýiine kele jatyp, gýlzarda qauqyldasyp otyr­ghan qarttardy kórip: "qaytsin bayghústar, ishteri pysqan son, amal joq, osynda keledi eken ghoy" dep, olargha mýsirkey qaraytyn-dy. Endi, mine, "kýlgenge kýle jetedi" degendey, Ersayynnyng ózi de zeynet jasyna tolyp, shaldardyng sanatynan bir-aq shyqty. Qyzmet­siz qalghan song bir aiday ózin qoyargha jer tappay, ýy manynda sende­lip jýrdi de, aqyry Abay eskertkishi manyna jinalatyn qarttardyng tobyna qosyldy.

Áriyne, búl adamdar - ana jyldary búl syrttay kórip jýrgen qarttar emes, mýlde basqa jandar, tәuelsiz Qazaqstannyng jana shaldary... Biraq eshtene ózgermegen siyaqty. "Aldynghy tolqyn aghalar, keyingi tolqyn iniler, kezekpenen óliner, bayaghyday kóriner" dep danyshpan Abay aitqanday, búlar da búdan otyz jyl búrynghy shaldardan ainymaydy. Tek, syrttay qaraghanda әriyne. Al ishtey ýnilseniz, bayaghy qarttargha úqsamaytyn kóp aiyrmashylyqtardy tabasyz.

Alghashqy joly Ersayyn ýlkenderge sәlem berip, bir shetke kelip jayghasqan. Eshkim "sen kimsin" degen joq. Bar bolghany jana adamgha ýdireyise bir qarap qoydy. Kelesi joly týstanysqa ainalady ekensin. Endi jón súrasu bas­talady. Aty-jónin, qanday qyzmette bolghanyn, tughan oblysyn, ru-teging týgel alaqangha týsedi. Saghan endi kýdik joq. Qarttar qauymynyng erkin mýshesi­sin. Búl arada seni eshkim tizimge almaydy, jurnalgha tirkemeydi. Kelmesen, joqtamaydy. Tek birer apta kórinbey ketseng ghana: "Bir jaqqa baryp qayttyng ba, kórinbeding ghoy" dep súrap jatady. Al múnda keletinder bir-birimen talaydan tanys siyaqty. Birin-biri Mәke, Sәke, Jýke dep atap, kezdeskende shúrqyrasyp qalady.

Bylay qaraghanda, zeynetkerding bәri teng siyaqty ghoy. Búl syrttay qaraghanda ghana solay. Aralasa kele, jaqynnan kóz salsanyz, aralaryndaghy alshaqtyq badyrayyp kórinip túrady. Alla taghala әu basta adamzatty bir­kelki jaratpaghan ghoy. Bilim-bilik, minez-qúlyq, kisilik dengeyleri әrtýrli. Bireulerding kórgen-bilgeni mol, soghan oray әngimeshil, múnday qartty oty­rys­tyng gýli deuge bolady. Al endi bireuler - qúlaq moldasy, olar qarttardyng qasyna әngime tyndau ýshin keletin siyaqty. Áleumettik, túrmystyq tensizdik te birden kózge úrady. Bireu - bay, bireu - kedey, ýshinshi bireu - ortasha. Búl jaghyn sen esepke almaghanynmen, qarttardyng jýris-túrysy, kiygen kiyimi, qylayaghy ústaghan tayaghyna deyin әigilep aityp túrady. Ómirde kim batyl, kim jasyq, kim keudeli, kim býgejek, búl da qarttardyng túrmys-kýiinen habar beredi.

Búl turaly el ishinde tarap ketken mynaday anekdot bar. Bәlkim, shyn bol­ghan oqigha. Eki qart osynday sayabaqtardyng birinde úshyrasyp qalady ghoy. Ekeui de tildesetin kisi tappay, ishi pysyp, erigip kele jatsa kerek:

- Áy, shal, nege sәlem bermeysin? - deydi bireui әdeyi sóz shygharu ýshin.

- Men nege sәlem beruim kerek? Ózing nege sәlem bermeysin? - deydi ekinshisi.

- Men senen ýlkenmin ghoy...

- Ony qaydan bildin? Kórset kuәligindi!

- Kórsetsen, kórset!

Búlar sol arada kuәlikterin tekse­rip kórse, ekeui týidey qúrdas bolyp shyghypty. Endi qaytpek kerek?

- Qazir aqshanyng zamany ghoy. Kimning pensiyasy az bolsa, sol sәlem bersin, - deydi bireui túryp.

- Meyli, solay-aq bolsyn. Ákel zeynet kuәligindi!

- Ákelsen, әkel!

Búlar zeynet kineshkasyn salystyryp kórse, ekeuining pensiyasy da bir­dey bolyp shyghady. Búdan da nәtiyje shyqpaghan son, alghash sóz bastaghan shal:

- Áy, shal, balang qanday qyzmet is­tey­di? Sony aitshy, solardyng dәre­je­sine baghynayyq. - depti.

- Mening balam audandyq sotta tergeushi.

- Endeshe, mening balam - oblysta prokuror.

Osydan keyin balasy audanda is­teytin qart, amal joq, prokurordyng әkesine sәlem bergen eken:

- Assalaumúghalaykým, qúrmetti aqsaqal!

Búl әzil ýshin aitylghan sóz bolghanymen, osynyng astarynda biraz oy jatqany anyq. Shyntuaytqa kelgende, zeynetkerding qoghamdaghy orny, olargha jasalatyn syi-qúrmet bir kezde ózi atqarghan qyzmetimen ghana emes, balalarynyng býgingi qyzmet-dәrejesimen ólshenetini taghy bar. Ministrding әkesi, әkimning әkesi, deputattyng әkesi, elshining әkesi, millionerding әkesi... degender el ishinde erekshe abyroy-bedelge iye. As pen toyda, tórde otyratyn - solar, dastarqangha bata berip, sóz bastaytyndar - solar.

Alayda búl dýniyede týbegeyli qatyp qalghan ne bar? Shen-shekpen, mansap qanday bayansyz bolsa, sol arqyly qonghan jasandy abyroy da kisige opa bermeydi eken. Joghary qyzmet­tegi balasy paraqor-jemqor atanyp, oryndarynan alynsa, ne isi sotqa berilse, onyng kýiigin әkesi bayghús tartady eken. Ersayyn balasynyng arqasynda syi-qúrmetke bólengen sonday bir qartty bilushi edi. Balasy isti bolyp, ústalghan kýni әlgi aqsaqal jýrek talmasyna úshyrap, ana dýniyege attanyp ketti... "Jaqsy bala әkesin tórge sýireydi, jaman bala kórge sýireydi" degen osy.

Syrt qaraghanda, búl qarttar zamany ótip ketken, qazir eshqanday ról oinamaytyn, basy artyq jandarday kóringenimen, olar da osy qoghamnyng mýshesi, qoghamgha tәn minez-qúlyq olargha da jat emes. "Sanany túrmys biyleydi" degen ras. Ár aluan mýddeler, kózqarastar qaqtyghysy qarttar arasynda da belgi berip qalady. Sonday-aq bireu dindar, bireu sopy, bireu әli kýnge deyin ateist degendey, ol da bilinip túrady. Sonan son, kim qay rudan, biylikke jaqyn ýstem rudan ba, әlde oppozisiyagha býiregi búryp, ýlesten qaghylyp jýrgen qadirsiz rudan ba, ol da sezilmey qalmaydy.

- E-e, Alla taghala, el-júrtqa tynyshtyq bere gór! Halyqqa qanaghat, patshagha tәupih ber. Súghanaqtyng súghynan, til-kózden saqta! Elimiz oipyl-toypyl ózgeristen aman bolghay! - dedi ýnemi tәspih tartyp, tórde otyratyn, ýstine qymbat kostum kiygen, mol deneli, qyzyl-kýreng jýzdi Mәkeng aqsaqal.

Búl - әriyne, óz ómirine dәn riza, tórt týligi say, molshylyqta túratyn adamnyng sózi. Al, "oypyl-toypyl ózgeristen saqta" degeni jalpaq júrtqa qaratylghan ba, әlde oblys әkimining orynbasary bop jýrgen úlynyng bolashaghyn oilaghandyq pa, jip taghu qiyn edi.

- Aumiyn, aitqanynyz kelsin! Qashanda el-júrttyng tynyshtyghyn oilaudan tanbaysyz-au, Mәke! - dedi ýnemi sonyng qasynan qalmaytyn, bir kezde Mәkenning qolastynda istegen qatpa qara shal qolma-qol ilip әketip.

Múndayda әrkimge alma-kezek súraq qoyyp, әngimeni qyzdyryp otyratyn bir kisi bar. Ol - baspasózde úzaq jyl qyzmet istegen, qu bastan quyrdaqtyq et alatyn, shәkene boyly, shegir kóz, sary shal. Sol jymyn-jymyng etip, janaghy tәspih tartqan qartqa qadala qarap otyrdy da:

- Mәke, aitynyzshy, siz bilesiz ghoy, әriyne... Júma namazy kezinde imamgha bir taban tayau otyrasyz... Osy meni kópten mazalap jýrgen bir súraq bar, - dedi otyrghandargha jaghalay kóz tastap.

- IYә, ne súrayyn dep edin? Ayta ber, - dedi Mәkeng oghan birtýrli sekemdene qarap.

- Aytsam, Alla taghala Adam atamyzdy topyraqtan jaratypty. Sonan son, onyng bir qabyrghasynan Haua anamyzdy jaratyp, sol ekeuinen bәrimiz taralyppyz... Al Ibilis-shaytandy ottan jaratypty. Shaytannyng mindeti - adam balasyn azghyru, joldan taydyru... Mening týsinbey jýrgenim, adam-pendesi shaytannyng azghyruymen joldan taysa, perishteler ony kýnәgha jazyp, maqshar kýnderinde tozaqqa salyp qinaydy eken. Osynyng ózi adamgha jasalghan qysas emes pe? Ibilis-shaytandy jarat, sonan song ony adamdy az­ghyrugha júmsa, aqyrynda shaytannyng tiline ergen pendeni jauapqa tartyp jazala... Sonda, búl ózi qalay bolghany? Adam sorlygha tym obal emes pe?

- Ony men qaydan bileyin... Ol jaghyn meshitke baryp, mýftiyden súra! - dedi Mәkeng jauap beruden jaltaryp.

- Mәke-au, mýftiyge bizding qolymyz jete me. Maghan sizding jauabynyz da jetip túr, - dep qadaldy shegir kóz shal.

- Áy, osy jurnalister-ay, qadal­ghan jerlerinnen qan alasyndar-au! - dedi Mәkeng aqsaqal renjip. - Mening oiymsha shaytandy, sirә, adamdy synau ýshin jaratqan shyghar. Bes kýndik jaryq dýnie pendeni synau ýshin berilgen deydi ghoy... Qoryqpa, bir Allagha siynyp, taza jýrseng shaytan saghan týk te istey almaydy.

- Raqmet, Mәke. Shaytannyng shantaj jasauy beyishke baratyn joldy qiyndatu desenizshi, ainalyp kelgende, - dedi shegir kóz shal әli de kýdigi tarqamaghan keyippen. - "Albasty qabaqqa qarap basady" deydi ghoy. Shaytan da ii júmsaq, jibi bostardy ainaldyratyn shyghar.

Ana dýniyening sharuasyn birynghay­lap tastaghan shaldar endi myna dýniye­ge auysty. Kópshiligi audandyq, oblys­tyq dengeyde qyzmet istegen adamdar. Óz tústaryndaghy әldebir basshynyng әdildigi, batyldyghy, taghy bireu­lerding qorqaqtyghy, tayghaqtyghy sóz bolady. Olar dýniyeden ótip ketken jandar ghoy, jasqanbay, emin-erkin sóz etuge bolady. Shaldar da qu, býgingi basshylar jóninde ayaqtaryn andap basady.

Tayauda mynaday әngime boldy. Osy elding basshysy bir jiynda "búdan keyin qolastyndaghy qyzmetkeri paraqor-jemqor bolyp shyqsa, sony jú­mys­qa alghan bastyghy qosa jauap beredi" depti... Shaldar "búl bir ta­uyp aitylghan is boldy" desip, sony biraz sóz qyldy.

- Osy "jemqor" degen pәle qaydan shyqty? Bayaghy bizding túsymyzda múnday is joq edi ghoy, - dedi әngimege aralaspay, kóbinshe ýnsiz otyratyn púshpaq bórikti shal. Búl - kópting kónilinde jýrgen jay bolsa kerek. Oghan әrkimder pikir qosyp, duyldasyp ketti.

- Ol zamanda adamdar taza edi ghoy...

- Stalin zamanynda jemqor qaydan shyqsyn. Qyrmannan bir shelek biday úrlaghan kisini Sibirge aidap jiberetin.

- Qalay dýr, osy "jemqor" degen sóz bizge azattyqpen birge keldi. Úrylar da bostandyqty kýtip jýripti ghoy...

- Qalay jeudi ýlkender kórsetken son, tómendegiler ayanyp qalsyn ba. Álgi "balyq basynan shiriydi" degen ras, - desip jatyr.

Osy tústa taghy sol shegir kóz sary shal suyrylyp algha shyqty.

- Jalpy, elbasynyng manayyna kileng jemqorlardy jinap alghan bastyq jauapqa tartylsyn degeni óte dúrys, - dedi ol da qostap. - Al, biraq sol bastyqtardy taghayyndaghan adam bar ghoy. Mәselen, jemqor ministr­ler, әkimder ústalyp jatyr, qogham qauipsizdigin senip tapsyrghan generaldar qashyp baryp, shetelde boy tasalap jýr... Endeshe, solargha kezinde lauazym-shen bergen kim? Óz ýkimimen qyzmetke taghayyndaghan kim? Tandap alghan kadrlarynan sonshama jemqor, satqyn shyqqan basshy nege jauapqa tartylmaydy?!

Otyrghandarda ýn joq, bir-birine qarap, baqyraydy da qaldy. Beyne, dauystary ishterine týsip ketken sekildi. Tek әlden uaqytta:

- Bauyrym-au, mynauyng - búl jerde emes, parlamentte aitylatyn sóz ghoy! - dedi shet jaqta otyrghan bireu.

- Sen ózing kimsin? Oppozisiyalyq partiyadan emessing be? Auzyna ie bolmay qaydaghyny aityp, býirekten siraq shygharyp otyrady ekensin! - dedi tәspih tartqan birәdar shal kәdimgidey ashulanyp.

- Kónildegi dýniyeni syrtqa shygharmay ishke býgip, rak bolatyn jayym joq, - dedi shegir kóz sary shal da berispey. - Týsinbegen nәrsendi ózderiniz siyaqty kózi ashyq ýlkenderden súrap alghannyng nesi aiyp?

- Tu-u, saghan daua joq eken! - dep birәdar shal etegin qaghyp túryp ketti.

"Qúrysyn, bir pәlege úrynbay túrghanda ýige jetip alayyq" dedi me, basqalar da oryndarynan dýrk kóterildi...

Arada birneshe kýn jauyn-shashyn bolyp, qarttardyng basy qosylghan joq. Tek, kýn kózi shyghyp, әue rayy tý­zelgen son, qonaqtaugha kelgen qústarday, eski mekenderin qayta tap­qan. Birneshe kýn ýide qamalyp otyrghangha ishteri pysyp qalghan ba, әngime dýkeni qayta qyzdy. Bәri de teledidar kórip, gazet oqyp, biraz ósek-ayang jinap kelgen eken, solaryn ortagha saldy.

Býgingi әngime qyrghyzdar jayynda. Bir júmanyng aldynda qyrghyzdar ózderining tәuelsizdik túsyndaghy ekinshi preziydenti Bakiyev degendi taqtan taydyryp, quyp jibergen eken. Qazir qaladaghy ýlken janalyq osy bolyp túr. Búl qyrghyzdargha preziydent qútaymay-aq qoydy. Osydan tórt-bes jyl búryn túnghysh preziydentteri Aqaev ta halyq qaharynan qashyp, Mәskeuge baryp tyghylghan. Al myna Bakiyev birden Mәskeuge jetip barugha úyalghan bolar, Belarusi astanasy Minskini panalapty.

Búl jaghday әngime tappay jýretin bizding shaldargha jaqsy boldy. Rahat! Óz bastyghyng emes, ózge elding preziydenti turaly qoryqpay sóilesuge bolady.

- Degenmen, osy qyrghyzdaryng - jauynger-aq halyq, - dedi búryn әngimege kóp aralaspaytyn Jýkeng degen aqsaqal. - Olay deytinim, olar ainalasy on shaqty jyldyng ishinde eki preziydentti aidap tastady ghoy. Moyyndau kerek, múnday erlik bizding qazaqtyng qolynan kelmeydi.

- Olay bolatyny, qyrghyzdyng újymy berik. Onyng ýstine, olardyng jeri shaghyn ghoy. Kóteriliske shyqqan kýni bәri bir kisidey Pishkekke jetip keledi, - dedi qyrghyzgha qonysy jaqyn púshpaq bórikti aqsaqal.

- Ol jaghy solay-aq bolsyn. Al osy preziydentterding basyna is týsse bolghany, birden Mәskeuge qashatyny nesi? - dedi búryn sauda salasynda istegen Sәkeng degen aqsaqal. - Orystar da olardy jat kórmeydi, qashyp barghandardy tuysqany kelgendey qúshaq jayyp qarsy alady?

Búl bir oigha kelmegen qyzyq jay eken. Otyrghandar birazgha deyin ýnsiz qaldy.

- Oi, tәiir-ay, sony da bilmey­sinder me? - dedi taghy da shegir kóz sary shal júrtty jalt qaratyp. - Bizding "preziydent" dep jýrgenderimiz­ding bәri - kompartiyanyng búrynghy basshylary emes pe. Mәskeu - olardyng úshqan úyasy, qazaqsha aitqanda, tórkinderi... Taqta otyrghan kezderinde olar mindetti týrde Kremlige qyzmet etedi. Bastaryna kýn tughanda, Mәs­keu­ge qashyp baryp tyghylatyny sodan.

Búl joly oghan qarsy shyqqan eshkim bolmady.

- Áy, Tóke-ay, bilmeytining joq-au! - dedi bir shal ony sýisine qostap. - Shynynda da, solay eken-au ózi. Odaqtas Respublikalar tәuelsizdik aldyq degenimen, balshabekterding biyliginde qala beripti-au...

- Baltyq elderi men Gruziyadan bas­qasy, - dedi shegir kóz shal onyng sózine týzetu engizip.

Búryn kóp mәn bermegen keybir jaylargha kózderi endi jetkendey, qarttar bir sәt bastaryn iyzep, otyryp qaldy.

- Áytkenmen, osy qyrghyzdardyng eti tiri, keudesi joghary, - dedi púshpaq bórikti shal sóne bastaghan әngimening otyn qayta kósep. - Men jaqynda Talas jaqtaghy bir aghayynnyng toyyna baryp qayttym. Bizding bir tuysymyz qyrghyzdan kelin týsiripti. Qyrghyz qúdalardy kýtip, qauqyldasyp otyrmyz. Keyde әldenege talasyp qalamyz... Bir qúdamyz tym órkókirek, qyljaq­bas­tau kisi eken. Bir kezde sol otyryp:

- Eger dúrystap ólshese, qyrghyzdyng jeri kólem jaghynan qazaq dalasynan bir de kem emes! - degen pikir aitty. Bizding jaqta da nebir qyzba jigitter otyrghan.

- Qúda, ózge erkeleginizdi kóte­reyik, biraq mynauynyz tym artyqtau! - dedi solardyng biri.

- Týk te artyq emes! - deydi әlgi qúda mizbaqpay. - Eger qyrghyzdyng tau­laryn ýtiktep jiberse, kólemi qazaq dalasynan kem týspeydi...

Sóz tapqangha qolqa joq. Toyda otyrghandar әlgining sózine mәz bolyp, kýlisip aldyq, - dep púshpaq bórikti shal әngimesin ayaqtaghan.

- Qalay deseniz de, osy qyrghyzdarda ejelden kele jatqan bir qyzghanysh bar, - dedi shegir kóz, sary shal taghy bir әngimening shetin shygharyp. - Qaytsin bayqústar, qazaq jerindey asty-ýsti birdey kenish dalasy bolmaghangha, Áz Tәukedey, Abylayday danyshpan handary bolmaghangha ishteri órtenetin shyghar...

- Osy bizding Kenesary hangha da qastyq jasaghan solar emes pe? - dedi Sәkeng aqsaqal sóz qosyp.

- Dúrys aitasyz. Qyrghyzdyng Jantay jәne Orman degen manaptary han Keneni qapyda qolgha týsirip, hannyng basyn orystargha ýsh myng kýmiske satqan! - dedi shegir kóz, sary shal. - Bizding qazaq keng ghoy, kek saqtamay bәrin tez úmytyp ketemiz. Sol qylyghy ýshin qyrghyzdar bizden әli kýnge deyin keshirim súraghan joq...

Shaldardyng әngimesi emin-erkin. Bir mәseleni sheshu, nemese bir taqyrypty sonyna deyin indetu shart emes. Birdi aityp, birge op-onay kóshe salady. Keyde gazetke basylghan әldebir maqala әngime ózegine ainalyp ketedi. Mine, býgin de solay boldy. Basqalardan sәl keshirek kelgen shegir kóz shal qolyna ústaghan әldebir gazetti kópting aldyna jaynamazday jayyp saldy.

- Búl dýnie ne bolyp barady, jarandar? - dedi kelgen bette dabyl qaghyp. - Búryn atyn ghana estiytin lankes degen pәleden aman edik. Mine, ol da jetipti elimizge...

- Ne deydi?

- Taghy ne bop qaldy? - desti otyrghandar ýrpiyisip.

- Aqtóbede atys bolyp, eki poliysey men tórt lankes oqqa úshypty. Terrorister jasyrynghan ýiden biraz qaru-jaraq tabylypty...

- Osy habardy men mana radiodan estip, týsine almay qoyyp em. Ol ózi qaydan kelgen lankester eken? - dedi kishkentay tranzitoryn qolynan tastamaytyn púshpaq bórikti shal.

- "Terrorist" dep jýrgenderi - bas­taryna aq kepesh kiygen sol auyldyng balalary kórinedi. Ózderin "uahabiys­piz" deydi eken...

- "Uahabiys" degeni ne pәle taghy da?

- Uahabis - arab elderinde islamnyng bir bútaghy kórinedi. Songhy jyldary biz, demokrat bolghannyng jóni osy dep, shet júrttyq missionerlerge esikti aiqara ashyp qoydyq emes pe. Endi sonyng sazayyn tartyp otyrmyz, - dedi gazetti elden búryn tolyq oqyghan shegir kóz shal.

- Ol ýshin ókimetti kinalaugha bolmaydy! - dedi tәspih tartyp, tórde otyrghan Mәkeng aqsaqal shegir kóz shaldy únatpay. - Kýni keshe ózderining kommunist, ateist bolghanyna qaramay, bizding basshylar dinge keng jol ashyp qoydy emes pe.

- Apyr-ay deseyshi, - dep sonyng qasynan qalmaytyn qatpa qara shal birden ilip әketti. - Astanada dinshil­derge arnap túrghyzghan piramidany aitsayshy! Sony salugha qansha miyl­­lion ketti deydi, qúday-au...

- Ár ýsh jyl sayyn dýniyejýzi dinbasylaryn jinap, qúryltay ótkizip jýrgenin qayda qoyasyz? - dedi olardy taghy bir shal qostap.

- Sony aitpaysyng ba! - dedi tәspih tasyn sanap otyrghan Mәkeng aqsaqal shegir kóz shalgha alaya qarap qoyyp. - Álem dinderining basyn qosu - irimiz dep jýrgen alpauyt memle­ketterding bireuining oiyna keldi me? Taghy da bizding basshylar - әlem elderine ýlgi kórsetip jýrgen...

Qarsylastary bastyrmalatyp ketkenge, shegir kóz shaldyng jýni jyghylyp qalghan siyaqty edi. Biraq ol taghy bir pәleni oilap otyrghan sekildi. Kópshi­likke qarap, jymiya kýlip aldy da:

- Mine-mine, mening kýdiktenetin jerim de dәl osy ara! - dedi taspih tasyn sanaghan Mәkeng aqsaqalgha kóz qiyghyn salyp. - Dýniyejýzinde bir kezde din taratqan, payghambarlar, әuliye-әmbiyeler túrghan ortalyqtar bar ghoy. Mәselen, Sauyt Arabiyasy, Riym-Vatikan, Erusaliym, Qytay, Ýndistan siyaqty... Sol elder din­derding basyn qosam, din turaly әngime qozghaymyn dese qúp jarasar edi. Al bizdegi kýni keshe "din - apiyn" dep jar salghan balshabekter "kalimagha" tilderi kelmey jatyp, dindi nasihattaugha qalay qúlshyna kirisip ketti? Osynyng ózi ataq shygharudyn, ózderin jarnamalaudyng amaly emes pe?!

- Jarnamalasyn. Onda túrghan ne bar? - dedi qatpa qara shal birden qarsy shauyp. - Qazir jarnamanyng zamany. "Asyng barda el tany berip jýrip" degen qayda? Jer jýzining pop­tary men lamalary bizding jana astanamyzdy kórip, tanghaluynyng ózi nege túrady?! Din basylardyng beti beri qarasa, basqalary qayda barady?

- Anda-sanda óstip bir tauyp aitatynyng bar-au! - dep Mәkeng aqsaqal atqosshysyn qostap qoydy. - Ótken qúryltayda Astanagha kelgen bir taqyr bas lama: "Biz múnday syi-siyapatty óz elimizde de kórip jýrgenimiz joq. Dinge qamqor bolyp otyrghan dәl Qazaqstanday basqa bir memleketti kórgen emespiz. Sizderding basshylarynyz Nobeli syilyghyn alugha layyq!" dedi-au kózine jas alyp.

- Mineki, mәselening týp qazyghyna endi jettik! - dedi shegir kóz shal mәz bolyp. - Dinbasylardyng basyn qosu bizge ne ýshin qajet bolghanyn endi týsingen shygharsyzdar. Ózimizdi solardyng auzymen maqtatu, sol arqyly kókeyimizdi tesken syilyqqa qol sozu...

Mynany estigende, Mәkeng aqsaqaldyng ashulanghany sonsha, qolyndaghy tәspighyn asyghys jinap, qaltasyna tygha saldy:

- Osy sen-aq tyrnaq astynan kir izdep otyrady ekensin! - dedi shegir kóz shalgha shaqshiya qarap. - Átten, bizde demokratiya... Sóz bostandyghy bar. Áytpese, zang oryndaryna aityp, qamatyp tastaytyn-aq qudyng ózising ghoy...

Keyde otyrystyng ayaghy osylay talas-tartysqa úlasyp ketetini bar. Ne isteysin, Mәkeng aqsaqal aitqanday, demokratiya... Sóz bostandyghy. Qayda barsang da aldynnan shyghatyn - sayasattanghan dýniye... Kóp mәseleler jayynda parlamenttegiler júmghan auyzdaryn ashpaghan son, qoly bos shaldar ony, amal joq, osynday otyrystarda sóz qylady. Kýsh-qayraty tilinde qalghan jandar ghoy, oidaghysyn aitsyn olar da... Ishtegi ashy zapyrandy tyqqyshtap jinay bermey, uaq-uaq osylay syrtqa shygharghan paydaly. Qarttardan ózara sher tarqatysatyn qysyr kenesti ayaymyz ba?! Dýniyening kilti ózderinde túrghanday sezinip, olar da ortamyzda jýre bersin.

"Jas Alash" gazeti