Wolfgang Hohlbein Age of Dragons

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Wolfgang Hohlbein
Age of Dragons
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PONS
Wolfgang Hohlbein
Age of Dragons
Englisch von Brian Melican
1. Auflage 2011
© PONS GmbH, Rotebühlstraße 77, 70178 Stuttgart, 2011
PONS Produktinfos und Shop: www.pons.de
PONS Sprachenportal: www.pons.eu
E-Mail: [email protected]
Alle Rechte vorbehalten.
Englische Übersetzung, Annotationen und Übungen: Brian Melican
Redaktion: Jill Williams
Projektmanagement: Mareike Geib
Logoentwicklung: Erwin Poell, Heidelberg
Logoüberarbeitung: Sabine Redlin, Ludwigsburg
Sprecher/Tonaufnahmen: Dave Hickman, UK
Layout: Petra Michel Gestaltung & Typografie, Bamberg
Satz: Satzkasten, Dollenbacher & Müller, Stuttgart
Coverillustration und Einbandgestaltung: hilden_design, München
Druck und Bindung: Print Consult GmbH, Oettingenstraße 23, München
Printed in Slovak Republic.
ISBN 978-3-12-010070-6
Inhaltsangabe • 4 •
Auftretende Personen • 5 •
Age of Dragons • 7 •
Brothers in Oath • 8 •
The Dream Dragon • 16 •
The Warrior • 21 •
New Arrival • 28 •
Arbesa • 34 •
The Prophecy • 40 •
The Bodyguard • 56 •
The Wisdom of the Dragons Friendship • 76 •
Bajar and Batu The Khan • 81 •
• 91 •
Fantasy-Vokabular • 103 •
Englisch-deutsche Wortliste Aufgaben und Losungen :
• 70 •
• 104 •
• 116 •
Drachenfragen und -antworten • 126 •
Inhaltsangabe
Glitzernde Schuppen, messerscharfe Krallen, eine riesige, schemenhafte
Gestalt – als Timucin den weiblichen Drachen Sarantuya zum ersten Mal
in seinen Träumen sieht, erschrickt er fast zu Tode. Doch schnell stellt er
fest, dass sie kein gefährliches Ungeheuer, sondern ein weises und sanftes
Wesen und eine gute Ratgeberin ist.
Und Rat kann Timucin gut gebrauchen, denn obwohl – oder vielleicht
gerade weil – er der Sohn des Khans ist, hat er keinen leichten Stand im
Klan. Die anderen Jungkrieger machen ihm das Leben schwer, denn im
Bogenschießen und im Schwertkampf ist er nur Mittelmaß, er ist nicht der
schnellste Läufer und vollbringt auch keine Heldentaten auf dem Pferderücken. Außerdem hat er panische Angst vor Hunden – dabei sollte der
Hund doch der engste Freund eines jeden Kriegers sein! Sogar Timucins
Schwurbruder Chuzir fällt ihm in den Rücken und verbündet sich mit seinen
Feinden.
Doch Timucins rätselhafter Traumdrache kündigt ihm ein Ereignis an:
Ein Ereignis, das alles verändern wird. Timucin lernt die stolze Arbesa
kennen. Sie ist wunderschön, aber auch rebellisch, stolz und altklug. Immer
wieder reizt sie Timucin bis aufs Blut, doch dann lernt er sie besser kennen.
Mit ihr an seiner Seite muss er sich schließlich der schwersten aller Prüfungen stellen.
]
• 4 •
Auftretende Personen
Timucin, der junge Dschingis Khan
Timucin ist der Sohn eines mächtigen Khans. Sein Vater Tamer gebietet
über den Klan der Kijat und ist ein geachteter Krieger. Doch Timucin schafft
es nicht, seinem berühmten Vater nachzueifern – selbst seinem Schwurbruder Chuzir ist es unbegreiflich, wie man so wenig Begeisterung für das
Kriegshandwerk aufbringen kann. Nicht selten ist er deshalb Zielscheibe von
Hohn und Spott. Doch Timucin hat eine mächtige, wenn auch unsichtbare
Verbündete. Sein Name wird Timudschin ausgesprochen.
Chuzir, Timucins Schwurbruder
Chuzir ist der geborene Krieger: er reitet wie der Teufel, schießt den Pfeil
so weit wie keiner seiner Freunde und steht den anderen Jungkriegern an
Kampfeslust in nichts nach. Da ist es nicht einfach, dem unkriegerischen
Freund die Stellung als zukünftiger Khan zu gönnen. Sein Name wird
Tschusir ausgesprochen.
Arbesa, Timucins Braut
Vorlaut, spöttisch und ungebührlich – trotz ihrer Schönheit es ist nicht
leicht, die Tochter des befreundeten Khans der Voshon ins Herz zu schließen. Bald jedoch verbindet Arbesa und Timucin mehr als nur der Stand als
Kinder eines Khans: Sie haben ein gemeinsames Geheimnis.
Sarantuya, Timucins Drache
Sarantuya ist ein geheimnisvolles Geschöpf, an dessen Existenz Timucin
erst gar nicht glauben kann – erscheint sie doch in seinen Träumen!
In schwierigen Situationen jedoch ist sie für Timucin da und weist ihm
den richtigen Weg.
• 5 •
WOLFGANG HOHLBEIN
Age of
Dragons
Brothers in Oath Tr. 01 I
t has been a long day and Timucin is very tired, but that is unimportant. He looks at the arrow1 he has just been given and tries to
remember if he has ever seen anything as beautiful before.
The arrow is far more decorated2 than all the others he has seen. And
he has seen a lot of arrows. After all, his father is the khan3 – and not just
any khan, but the most powerful and feared4 for many days’ ride5. His
yurt6 is full of the most splendid bows7 and arrows hanging on the walls.
Often, other tribes8 come to visit. These tribes have beautiful weaponry9
too. Not just spears10, shields11 and glinting swords12, but artfully carved13
bows and even more exquisite14 arrows.
So far15, he has never seen an arrow like this one. It is longer than his
arm, not as long as the arrows the men use, but at least two hands longer
than the ones he and the other boys use to practise – and the carvings
are so detailed that he is almost afraid to touch it. The arrowhead is not
made of iron16, but of bronze. This makes it weak and practically useless
against anything with even thick fur, let alone17 against hardened leather18
arrow – Pfeil
decorated – verziert
3 khan – Herrscher über ein Reiternomadenvolk
4 feared – gefürchtet
5 for many days’ ride – im Umkreis vieler Tagesritte
6 yurt – Jurte, Rundzelt
7 splendid bow – prachtvoller Bogen
8 tribe – Sippe, Volk, Volksstamm
9 weaponry – Waffen, Bewaffnung
10 spear – Spieß
11 shield – Schild
12 glinting sword – blitzendes Schwert
13 artfully carved – kunstvoll geschnitzt
14 exquisite – vorzüglich, auserlesen
15 so far – bisher
16 iron – Eisen
17 let alone – geschweige denn
18 hardened leather – gehärtetes Leder
1
2
• 8 •
or plate armour1. Then again, this kind of arrow is not intended to be
used like that2. The soft metal has been engraved3 with artful lines and
symbols, and the edges have been so carefully polished and sharpened4
that it could probably split a hair in half.
As he looks at it, Timucin is ashamed.
“It is... it is beautiful,” he says. “I’ve never seen anything so beautiful.
You are a true artist.”
Chuzir pulls a face5 as if Timucin has just said something indecent6
or spoken badly of the gods7. He too holds an arrow in his hand, the
one that Timucin has given him in return for this stunning8 work. He is
almost convincing as he pretends to admire it9, even if there is very little
to admire. It is a completely normal arrow, short and not even entirely10
straight. Timucin has polished the iron head as much as he can and
added a few simple carvings with as much skill11 as his clumsy12 fingers
allow. Chuzir is kind enough not to say anything about it.
“I am no artist,” answers Chuzir after a noticeable pause and in an almost offended13 tone of voice. “Soon, I shall be a warrior14,” he adds with
a sideways glance in Timucin’s direction, “although I shall never be a
khan, of course.” He says these last words reproachfully15.
“But this arrow...” says Timucin.
plate armour – Rüstung, Panzerung
not intended to be used like that – nicht dafür gedacht
3 engraved – eingraviert
4 to sharpen – schleifen, schärfen
5 to pull a face – das Gesicht verziehen
6 indecent – unanständig
7 gods – die Götter
8 stunning – toll, fantastisch, überwältigend
9 He is almost convincing as he pretends to… – Beinahe überzeugend tut er so, als würde…
10 entirely – ganz
11 skill – Geschick
12 clumsy – ungelenk, ungeschickt
13 offended – beleidigt
14 warrior – Krieger
15 reproachfully – vorwurfsvoll
1
2
• 9 •
“I did not make it,” interrupts Chuzir. “It was old man Schezen who
did the carving. In return, I helped him collect firewood and peat1 for
three moons2.” He looks at Timucin. “Do you not like it?”
“Of course,” says Timucin quickly, “it’s wonderful. But my own arrow
is so...” He stops, embarrassed3, but Chuzir just laughs and jabs him in
the ribs4 so hard that Timucin will start crying if he does not stop himself
with all the strength he has5.
“That’s not the point,” says Chuzir, laughing, “because you probably
needed just as much time to carve it as I spent helping that rip-off merchant6 Schezen carry wood whilst he sat by the fire keeping himself warm.”
Perhaps that is true, thinks Timucin. Nevertheless, he is ashamed of
the gift. If this were someone else, he would suspect7 them of trying
to embarrass him by making such an exaggerated8 gift; but not Chuzir.
Chuzir is his best friend, his only friend even – despite the fact that9 he is
the khan’s son. Or perhaps it is because he is the khan’s son...
“Come on,” says Chuzir, jabbing him in the ribs again, “let’s go and
try them out!”
Just the very idea10 of shooting this exquisite arrow and perhaps damaging it fills Timucin with horror11, but Chuzir has already turned on his
heels12 and run off, so Timucin follows him.
He runs as fast as he can, but he just cannot keep up with13 Chuzir and
will probably lose him. Chuzir sees that his best friend is having trouble
and slows down, then stops entirely. Nevertheless, Timucin is completely
peat – Torf
moons – volle Monde, Monate
3 embarrassed – verlegen
4 to jab sb. in the ribs – jdm. einen Rippenstoß versetzen
5 with all the strength he has – mit aller Kraft
6 rip-off merchant – Halsabschneider
7 to suspect – mutmaßen, etwas unterstellen
8 exaggerated – übertrieben
9 despite the fact that… – trotz der Tatsache, dass…
10 just the very idea – allein die Vorstellung
11 to fill sb. with horror – jdn. mit Entsetzen erfüllen
12 to turn on one’s heels – auf dem Absatz herumfahren
13 keep up with – Tempo mit jmd. mithalten
1
2
• 10 •
out of breath1 when he too gets to the top of the hill. Chuzir does not say
anything, but he cannot stop himself from grinning2. Not that he tries
for one moment, either3.
“I bet4 I get to the trees before you!” Chuzir says. He is not even breathing heavily, while Timucin’s lungs are burning like fire and his heart is
beating so hard he thinks it might burst5.
“What a cheek!6” thinks Timucin to himself, and then he turns to
Chuzir.
“Why don’t you just tell me what I have to do for you?” he asks grumpily7. “After all, I shall have to do it anyway when I lose the bet. So I might
just as well save my strength.”
Chuzir grins and makes as if to8 jab him in the ribs again, but he just
runs around and starts strolling9 towards the woods. Timucin follows,
cursing himself10 for what he has just said. Of course, Chuzir will never
tell anyone anything about it. Timucin is his friend, after all, and they
are about to11 become brothers in oath. Yet if one of the other boys has
heard what he has said, then it will just lead to more rumours12 in the
village. And his father will not like that at all! He will have to be more
careful about what he says.
The two young warriors reach the trees at the same time. Chuzir takes his
bow from his shoulder, loads it with Timucin’s arrow and, inspecting it
closely, draws it halfway back. There he holds it, waiting until Timucin
out of breath – außer Atem
He cannot stop himself from grinning. – Er kann ein Grinsen nicht unterdrücken.
3 either – nicht einmal
4 to bet – wetten
5 to burst – bersten, platzen
6 What a cheek! – So eine Unverschämtheit!
7 grumpy – griesgrämig, mürrisch
8 makes as if to… – macht eine Bewegung, als ob…
9 to stroll – schlendern
10 to curse oneself – sich verfluchen
11 to be about to – gerade dabei sein, etw. tun
12 rumour – Gerede, Gerüchte
1
2
• 11 •
too has cocked1 his bow. He nods the signal to shoot and then draws
back his bow in a movement as smooth as it is strong2.
“Forever,” he says.
“Forever,” echoes Timucin.
Their arrows fly off3 with a twin crack4. Despite being too short, bent5
and warped6, Timucin’s arrow, sped by Chuzir’s bowstring7, flies almost
twice as far as the richly decorated work of art that he himself has shot
off. It must have flown8 at least two hundred paces, perhaps even three
hundred, before burrowing9 into the ground halfway between the trees
and the riverbank.
“Forever”, says Chuzir once again; and this time, too, Timucin echoes
him.
Chuzir is beaming10. A warm feeling comes over Timucin, accompanied
nevertheless by a strange feeling of emptiness, almost of disappointment.
So now they are brothers in oath. They have been talking about it since
last summer and have made preparations accordingly11, and somehow, he
expected it to be... well, more dramatic. Taking an oath together is more
than being brothers by birth; it means being bound together forever,
being two parts of a whole who just happen to live in two different
bodies 12. From this day forth13, he will be willing to give his life14 to protect
his brother if need be15, and he expects this thought to be somehow...
to cock (a weapon) – (eine Waffe) spannen
as smooth as it is strong – ebenso fließend wie kraftvoll
3 to fly off – davonfliegen
4 crack – Knall
5 bent – krumm
6 warped – schief, verzogen
7 bowstring – Sehne
8 It must have flown… – es muss… geflogen sein
9 to burrow into sth. – sich in etw. graben
10 to beam – strahlen
11 accordingly – entsprechend
12 who just happen to live in two different bodies – die nur zufällig in zwei verschiedenen
Körpern leben
13 from this day forth – vom heutigen Tag an (Redewendung, poetisch)
14 to be willing to give one’s life – Willens sein, mit seinem Leben einzustehen
15 if need be – wenn es sein muss
1
2
• 12 •
elevating1. Shouldn’t the earth quake2 and the heavens open? Shouldn’t
there at least be a thunderclap and a few flashes of lightning3?
Yet there is nothing, of course. Chuzir
embraces4 him briefly and then turns away
brusquely5. “Let’s go and get the arrows.”
DRACHENFRAGE
They do not run this time, but Chuzir has
Chuzir and Timucin
do not have the same
almost twice as much ground to cover6 as Tiparents, but are brothers.
mucin to reach his arrow and, for some reaWhat kind of brothers
are they?
son, Timucin does not want to follow him.
7
arrow
from
the
ground
He pulls the precious
and wipes it down8 carefully. Suddenly he has
an intense feeling of being watched. Perhaps the other young warriors
had found out what they were doing?
Timucin turns round and stiffens9. His hunch10 is true. Except that he
is not just being watched, he is being stalked11.
It’s a dog, almost as big as a foal12, but far heavier13. It is a shaggycoated monstrosity14 with huge teeth, dripping with yellow slaver15. And it
is standing about ten paces16 behind him at the edge of the forest, staring
at him.
elevating – erhebend
to quake – zittern, beben (earthquake – Erdbeben)
3 flashes of lightning – Blitze
4 to embrace – umarmen
5 brusquely – brüsk
6 to have ground to cover – Weg zurücklegen müssen
7 precious – kostbar
8 to wipe sth. down – etw. abwischen
9 to stiffen – erstarren
10 hunch – Ahnung, Bauchgefühl
11 to stalk – belauern
12 foal – Fohlen
13 heavy – massig
14 shaggy-coated monstrosity – zotteliges Ungetüm
15 slaver – Geifer
16 paces – Schritte
1
2
• 13 •
Timucin can feel his heart faltering1. He hates dogs and is afraid of
them more than anything else in the world. He grips the arrow tighter2,
but, although his life might now depend on it3, something seems to
be stopping him from drawing the bowstring. The dog might kill him.
Perhaps it does not want to, but it can – and this thought is more than
he can bear4.
“Timucin, shoot!” cries Chuzir at almost the same moment as he releases
his bowstring. The arrow whizzes5 past Timucin’s cheek6, stroking7 him
with its feathers. As the arrow hits the ground just over a man’s length
away from the dog, it lets out a frightened yelp8 and runs off with its tail
between its legs9.
“Timucin, shoot!” shouts Chuzir again, “What are you waiting for?”
Timucin hears Chuzir’s steps and sees the huge dog bolting like a
hare10 towards the trees and disappearing into the undergrowth11. Chuzir
reaches him, tears the arrow from his fingers and, faster than Timucin’s
eyes can follow, loads it into his bow. He draws the string back behind
his ear and then… He lets out a moan12 as he drops the bow. The dog is
gone.
“Why did you do that?” he asks angrily13. “Why didn’t you shoot?”
to falter – stocken
tighter – fester
3 although his live might depend on it – obwohl sein Leben davon abhängen könnte
4 to bear – ertragen
5 to whizz past – vorbeischießen, vorbeijagen
6 cheek – Wange
7 to stroke – streifen
8 frightened yelp – erschrecktes Jaulen
9 with its tail between its legs – mit eingezogenem Schwanz
10 to bolt like a hare – wie ein Hase davonlaufen
11 undergrowth – Unterholz
12 moan – Stöhnen
13 angrily – aufgebracht
1
2
• 14 •
“Because, er1, because the arrow...” stutters2 Timucin. Chuzir looks
at him with a frown3 and Timucin continues to speak, with a nervous
smile.
“I was afraid of breaking it, as it is so valuable4...”
This only makes Chuzir angrier, but he says nothing more, pressing
his lips together out of rage and stomping5 off past him to fetch his
dart6.
Timucin knows what will happen in the night. The dragon will come to
him and show him what he has missed.
]
er – ähm
to stutter – stammeln
3 with a frown – stirnrunzelnd
4 valuable – wertvoll
5 to stomp – stapfen
6 dart – Pfeil
1
2
• 15 •
The Dream Dragon
Tr. 02 T
imucin goes to bed unusually early this evening. Most evenings,
his mother has to tell him to go and leave the men to sit round
the fire in peace, as is their right1. All too often, he stays up until
his father puts his foot down2. Only then does he do as he is told and
goes into his little yurt, pitched3 right next to his father’s tent. He has
been sleeping alone here since last summer. Today, however, he cannot
wait to go. He gulps down4 his dinner, makes an excuse5 and goes to bed
before sunset.
As is always the case when trying to sleep, it takes a long time for him
to sink into slumber6. He has barely7 fallen asleep when Sarantuya comes
to him. Just like every time, Timucin feels her presence8 more than he
sees it. Well, in the first moments in any case. It is something big, infinitely9 soft but also infinitely old and strong that steals into10 his dreams
and only slowly takes on a form.
“I haven’t seen you for a while,” he says.
“I didn’t feel that you needed me,” answers Sarantuya. The shadowy
figure in his dream starts to become clearer. At the edge of his consciousness11, something big, something ancient12 stirs13, glinting14 like moonlight
as is their right – wie es ihnen zusteht
to put one’s foot down (Redewendung) – ein Machtwort sprechen
3 to pitch a tent – einen Zelt aufschlagen
4 to gulp down – herunterschlingen
5 excuse – Vorwand, Ausrede
6 to sink into slumber – in Schlummer sinken
7 barely – kaum
8 presence – Gegenwart
9 infinitely – unendlich
10 to steal into (veraltet) – sich hineinschleichen
11 at the edge of his consciousness – am Rande seines Bewusstseins
12 ancient – uralt
13 to stir – sich regen
14 to glint – glitzern
1
2
• 16 •
on silver scales1. It touches his soul2. He feels warmth and comfort and
thinks he almost sees something. Almost.
“Why did you do that?” asks Timucin.
Sarantuya squints3 as the moonlight in the dream breaks on her scales
and then flows down her flanks4, jingling5 lightly as if, somewhere far
away, a thousand cymbals6 are being struck. It is always night in Timucin’s dreams when Sarantuya comes to him, and there is always a full
moon. He has stopped being surprised by it.7
“What did you say?” she asks him.
Timucin has to force himself not to get angry; despite her huge claws8
and sharp fangs9, Sarantuya hates strong feelings like anger and fury10. She
is the most peaceful creature Timucin has ever come across.
“You know very well what I mean,” he says, just managing to keep
control of himself11. “That dog! Why did you stop Chuzir killing it?”
“Did I?” replies Sarantuya, pretending to12 be surprised. Then she laughs
quietly. It sounds like thunder13 rolling in the mountains on the horizon.
“What if your friend Chuzir just missed14?”
scales – Schuppen
soul – Seele
3 to squint – blinzeln
4 flank – Flanke
5 to jingle – klimpern
6 cymbal – Zimbel (Instrument: Glockenspiel)
7 He has stopped being suprised by it. – Er hatte längst aufgehört, sich darüber zu wundern.
8 huge claws – riesige Klauen
9 claws and fangs – Klauen und Fänge
10 anger and fury – Zorn und Wut
11 just managing to keep control of himself – mühsam beherrscht
12 to pretend to – vorgeben, etwas zu tun
13 thunder – Donner
14 to miss – verfehlen
1
2
• 17 •
“Nonsense!” replies Timucin. “Chuzir is the best shot1 I know. He
never misses his target2!”
“Not even with a bent arrow?” says Sarantuya mockingly3.
Timucin ignores this comment.
“He never misses his target,” he insists4.
“Well then, it must be that somebody wanted him to miss,” says Sarantuya, smirking5.
“You.”
“No,” says the dragon, suddenly in a very serious tone of voice. “I
would never do anything you do not want, and you know it.”
Timucin says nothing more. Chuzir said nothing after missing. He
simply walked on for a few moments, offended. The way he looked at
Timucin showed that he knew exactly who he blamed6 for his unusual
failure7. Perhaps Chuzir actually knows that it is Timucin’s fault8. Timucin has already told him once about his dream dragon, but Chuzir’s reaction was such9 that Timucin has never mentioned it again. It was years
ago now, and Timucin does not know if Chuzir remembers it at all, but
you just never know.
“You didn’t really want to kill the dog,” continues Sarantuya after a
while.
“But I was afraid of him”, answers Timucin.
“I know,” says Sarantuya with a sigh10, “but you don’t need to kill everything you are afraid of. Do you remember the first time you saw me?”
“Of course I do!”
shot – Schütze; auch: Schuss
target – Ziel
3 mockingly – spöttelnd
4 to insist – beharren
5 to smirk – schmunzeln
6 to blame sb. – jdn. beschuldigen
7 unusual failure – ungewöhnliches Versagen
8 to be sb.’s fault – jds. Fehler sein
9 such – dergestalt, so, solchermaßen
10 sigh – Seufzer
1
2
• 18 •
“You were afraid of me, too.”
DRACHENFRAGE
“No, I wasn’t,” claims1 Timucin, although
2
.
He
almost
died
of
What does Timucin
this is a downright lie
3
accuse the dragon
the
first
time
the
dragon
appeared
to
fright
Sarantuya of having
him in a dream.
done?
“So,” continues Sarantuya, “did you want
to kill me because of that?”
“Of course not!” answers Timucin, outraged4. “I would never...”
“... kill anything that hasn’t done you any harm5,” says Sarantuya, finishing his sentence for him. “I know. If it were any different, I would
never have come to you6.”
Timucin does not really understand what she is saying, but he isn’t
in the mood to7 ask questions. Sarantuya says many odd8 things that he
does not understand.
“What do you want?” he asks reluctantly9.
For once10, Timucin’s anger seems to amuse Sarantuya, perhaps because
she too feels that, in reality, it is only directed against himself.
“Really, it should be me asking you these questions,” she answers. “If I
remember correctly, you were the one who called me, and not the other
way round. Since I’m here anyway11... Tomorrow is a big day for you. A
very important day.”
Timucin thinks as hard as he can. Tomorrow? Tomorrow?
to claim – behaupten
downright lie – glatte Lüge
3 fright – Angst
4 outraged – empört
5 to do sb. harm – jdm. etw. zuleide tun
6 If it were any different, I would never have come to you. – Wäre es anders, wäre ich
niemals zu dir gekommen.
7 to be in the mood to do sth. – in der Stimmung sein, etw. zu machen
8 odd – komisch
9 reluctantly – unwillig
10 for once – ausnahmsweise
11 since I’m here anyway – wenn ich schon einmal hier bin
1
2
• 19 •
“How so?1” he asks, sceptically2.
“It’s a surprise!” says Sarantuya, teasing3 him. “You will meet someone.
Someone who will become very important to you.”
“Who?” asks Timucin.
Yet Sarantuya does not even answer. She disappears with a silvery,
bright4 laugh.
]
How so? – Wieso?
sceptically – skeptisch, misstrauisch
3 to tease sb. – jdn. necken
4 silvery, bright – silberhell
1
2
• 20 •
The Warrior
Tr. 03 H
is father Tamer wakes him the following morning before the sun
has come up. This is nothing unusual: most people in the village
get up before dawn1, and only very rarely2 does Timucin sleep
past sunrise. If he does, it is mostly when his father has been up too long
drinking or discussing matters3 with the other men – both of which have
the same result. What is unusual, however, is his father’s grumpy4 mood
and his even grumpier face. This is the first thing Timucin sees as he
opens his eyes. Tamer is a great warrior, no doubt, who has killed many
enemies and brought the tribe to respect and riches5. But at the bottom
of his heart6, he is a friendly man, a gentle7 one, especially where his son
is concerned8.
This morning, however, he is not at all gentle. In fact, he seems furious9 as he grasps10 his son’s shoulder and shakes him roughly11 to wake him.
If Timucin were not as sleepy, he would understand that his father really
is furious.
He rubs his eyes and looks astonished12 as his father goes back to the
small entrance to the tent and motions him to follow13.
Just like every morning, they look after the horses and drive14 the sheep
onto the pasture15 without saying a single word to one another. Then they
dawn – Sonnenaufgang
rarely – selten
3 matters – Dinge, Angelegenheiten
4 grumpy – mürrisch
5 riches – Reichtümer
6 at the bottom of his heart – im Grunde seines Herzens
7 gentle – sanftmütig
8 especially where his son is concerned – besonders zu seinem Sohn
9 furious – zornig
10 to grasp – ergreifen
11 roughly – derb
12 astonished – erstaunt
13 to motion sb. to do sth. – jdm. mit einer Geste gebieten, etw. zu tun
14 to drive – treiben
15 pasture – Weide
1
2
• 21 •
go down to the river to wash themselves in the icy waters of the Omon.
Then his father breaks the uncomfortable1 silence.
“Chuzir told me about the dog,” he says, his voice full of reproach2.
Timucin looks at him. He is not quite sure what Chuzir has told his
father, and so saying nothing is probably the cleverest thing to do. His
father sighs deeply.
“When are you going to finally become a man, my son?” he asks. “You
are my only son, Timucin, and one day you will take my place and become
khan. But how will you be able to do that if you are still a mere boy3?”
Timucin does not answer. His father does not want an answer, he can
feel this, and this is not the first time they have had this talk. Tamer may
not yet have said it as directly as he has now4, but Timucin knows very
well that it is a great source of pain to him5 that his only son will not grow
into the great warrior he wants him to be. Timucin may be a passable
bowman6, may be good rider, and may just about know how to handle7 a
sword and shield, but that is not enough. The other boys are better than
he is, even the younger ones. It is not so much a question of8 his ability,
his skill or even his courage9. It is just that he doesn’t like weapons. He has
never really understood where the glow10 in the eyes of the warriors comes
from when they speak of all the enemies they have slain11.
“Chuzir told me” says his father, picking up where he left off, “that you
were scared stiff12 of the dog as it stood in front of you.”
“It was a very big dog...” answers Timucin, “and it was very dangerous.”
uncomfortable – unangenehm
reproach – Vorwurf
3 a mere boy – bloß ein Junge
4 Tamer may not yet have said it as directly as he has now… – Tamer mag es zwar bislang
noch nie so direkt gesagt haben, wie jetzt…
5 it is a great source of pain to him that… – es schmerzt ihn sehr, dass…
6 passable bowman – leidlich guter Bogenschütze
7 to just about know how to handle sth. – mit etw. einigermaßen umgehen können
8 to be a question of sth. – an etw. liegen
9 courage – Mut
10 glow – Leuchten
11 to slay (veraltet) – erschlagen
12 to be scared stiff – vor Angst erstarrt sein
1
2
• 22 •
This must have been the wrong answer, because Tamer’s face becomes
even darker.
“Did it attack you?” he asks.
Timucin keeps silent. His father turns suddenly and walks back towards the village with such big strides1 that Timucin has to struggle2 not
to fall back. His father does not look at him as he starts talking again.
“Dogs, Timucin, are, after horses, our most loyal3 friends. They help
us to watch our sheep, to keep our food supplies4 free of rats, and they
warm us in winter when the fire no longer burns enough. There is no
need to be afraid of them!”
“But it was growling at me5!” says Timucin in his defence6. He is not
sure if this was actually the case, and it is clearly not the answer that
Tamer wants, because now he is really furious.
“But it didn’t attack you, did it? And even if it had, you would have had
to have killed it7 like a warrior. You had your bow with you, didn’t you?”
“Yes,” answers Timucin dejectedly8, “I am sorry, father.”
“Be silent!” shouts Tamer. “You are the son of a khan! You shall never
say you are sorry to anyone about anything! Not even to me! If you make
a mistake, be sure not to do it again. But never apologise9!”
“Yes father,” replies Timucin. He almost adds “I am sorry”.
They cover the rest of the way back to the village in silence. As they reach
it over the hill, the village is now wide awake and busy at work. They
hear children shouting, an ox10 mooing11 and, in the distance, the thunder
stride – Schritt
to struggle to do sth. – sich anstrengen, etw. zu machen
3 loyal – treu
4 food supplies – Vorräte
5 to growl at someone – jdn. anknurren
6 defence – Verteidigung
7 you would have had to have killed it – du hättest ihn töten müssen
8 dejected – niedergeschlagen
9 to apologise – sich entschuldigen
10 ox – Ochse
11 to moo – muhen
1
2
• 23 •
of horses’ hooves1. When they get to Tamer’s yurt, which, as is his right,
is the biggest in the village, big enough to take in all the men in the
entire tribe, they find it empty. This is unusual, and Timucin wants to
leave the tent and go about his daily work2, which he has now neglected3
too long. But Tamer calls him back with a lordly4 movement of his hand
and gestures to him to5 stand in the middle of the tent.
Timucin is confused6, but obeys his father. His heart is beating hard.
He has been hoping7 that this is all over, but it seems that his father has
not finished yet. Perhaps what Tamer has just said is only the beginning?
His heart starts to beat even faster, and he clenches his fists8 so that his
father does not see how badly his fingers are shaking9.
Tamer is moving around behind him, and Timucin asks himself what
he is actually doing. He does not dare10 to turn around, but keeps staring
at the ashes of the fire. Finally, his father returns and throws something
to the ground in front of him. It takes Timucin a while to recognise it
as the full outfit and weaponry of a warrior. There is a leather tunic11 and
belt, a fine-woven chainmail shirt12, boots with artfully engraved metal
plates13, a breastplate14 and shield, a precious bronze helmet and a broad,
decorated weapon-belt, wrapped around a beautifully forged15 sword.
There is everything he needs to be a warrior.
“Put it on!” says Tamer.
hoof (pl hooves) – Huf
to go about one’s daily work – sein Tageswerk verrichten
3 to neglect – vernachlässigen
4 lordly – herrisch
5 to gesture to sb. to do sth. – jdm. bedeuten, etw. zu tun
6 confused – verwirrt
7 he has been hoping – er hatte gehofft
8 to clench one’s fists – die Fäuste ballen
9 to shake – zittern
10 to dare to do sth. – es wagen, etw. zu tun
11 tunic – Rock
12 fine-woven chainmail shirt – fein gewobenes Kettenhemd
13 artfully engraved metal plates – kunstvoll verzierter Überzug von Metallplättchen
14 breastplate – Brustharnisch
15 to forge – schmieden
1
2
• 24 •
Timucin obeys1 his father, but he is becoming more and more nervous. He knows of the existence of warriors’ clothing2 because Tamer has
told him about it. His father always stresses3 that it is reserved for very
special occasions, and Timucin has never seen it before4. He does not
dare ask questions but looks quizzically5 at his father while putting on
the outfit. Finally, Tamer breaks the silence himself.
“Today is a special day,” he begins and watches closely6 every movement Timucin’s nervous hands make, “and I want you to make a good
impression. Behave yourself7 and do not bring shame8 upon our clan
or upon me, your father. And do not worry: I have told our warriors to
chase9 all the dogs out of the village until our visitor has left.”
Timucin feels his ears going red and sinks his head in shame.
“Who is coming to visit?” he asks nonetheless10.
“My brother in oath, Belmin, the khan of the Voshon tribe,” answers
Tamer. “Have you heard of them?”
“Yes father,” answers Timucin quietly. The Voshon? Of course he has
heard of them, as well as of Belmin, their wise and mighty11 khan. Belmin
became his father’s brother in oath when he and Tamer were the same
age as Timucin and Chuzir are now.
The Voshon tribe has far more land than Tamer’s tribe and is much,
much richer. It is told that12 their herds are so big that, if all their horses
were to be driven together at once, they would cover the steppe from
horizon to horizon. The khan’s yurt is said to be covered in pure gold.
to obey – gehorchen
clothing – Kleidung, Kleider
3 to stress – betonen
4 Has never seen it before – hat es nie zuvor gesehen
5 quizzically – fragend (Blick)
6 to watch closely – genau beobachten
7 to behave oneself – sich benehmen
8 shame – Scham
9 to chase – fortjagen
10 nontheless – nichtsdestotrotz
11 mighty – mächtig
12 It is told that (veraltet) – Man sagt, dass…; Es wird erzählt, dass...
1
2
• 25 •
Despite this wealth1 and power, it is told that they are a very peaceful
tribe, and many warriors laugh at2 them – as long as Tamer is not around
to defend the honour3 of his brother in oath.
Timucin buckles4 his sword-belt and then reaches for the last item, his
helmet. He thinks for a moment about whether to put it on now, but then
decides against this and puts it under his left arm. His father eyes5 him for
a moment, looks him up and down6 and then nods his approval7.
“And what is so important about this visit for me?” asks Timucin.
“Who am I meeting?”
Tamer looks at him surprised, and Timucin wants to slap himself in
the face8 for having asked this question. It is Sarantuya who has told him
that he will meet somebody who will affect his future, not his father. He
has said nothing. He looks at Timucin for two or three heartbeats9 in a
way that makes Timucin really very uncomfortable. Then, however, he
answers his son’s question: “You are old enough now, my son, and soon
you will be a man. It is time to find you a wife.”
“A wife?” Timucin is beyond10 surprised. He was ready for anything,
just not that. “But...”
“You are old enough, my boy,” interrupts Tamer, “at your age, I was
already married. Belmin is bringing his daughter, Arbesa. She is just one
year younger than you and, so I have heard tell11, very beautiful. And of
course a link between our tribes would be to everyone’s advantage.”
“But I don’t know this girl at all,” protests Timucin.
wealth – Reichtum
to laugh at sb. – sich über jdn. lustig machen
3 honour – Ehre
4 to buckle – schnüren
5 to eye sb. – mustern, beäugen (kritisch, misstrauisch)
6 to look sb. up and down – vom Kopf bis Fuß mustern
7 to nod one’s approval – zustimmend nicken
8 to slap oneself in the face – sich selbst ohrfeigen
9 heartbeat – Herzschlag
10 beyond – mehr als
11 I have heard tell (veraltet) – Man hat mir gesagt
1
2
• 26 •
As he has expected, his father’s face darkens. Moments later, however,
a sudden and unusually gentle smile spreads1 across his face. “Son, I
would never force you to marry2 anyone you do not want to, but have a
look at her at least. I ask for no more than that, and perhaps you will like
her. She will definitely like you, I’m very sure of that.”
Timucin looks quizzically as Tamer stops talking and bends down3
to pick up a polished silver plate left from the previous evening’s feast4.
There are streaks5 of dried sheep’s milk and bits of food stuck to it, but
Timucin can still see his own reflection6 in
the mirror and understands what his father
DRACHENFRAGE
means. He really does look like a warrior,
What does Tamer say he
magnificently7 equipped and wild, with his
has done with the dogs in
hair braided 8, his strong features and his
the village, and why?
9
lively , light blue eyes. Who would be able to
resist him looking like this?10
Timucin is about to make a jokey remark11 about this when he thinks
he feels movement behind him. It is a kind of golden shimmering12, like
moonlight breaking on polished scales. He quickly checks behind himself, but sees nothing. When he looks back at the plate, however, he sees
Sarantuya reflected behind him, this time even more clearly than in his
dream. She looks at him and she too sees the warrior which this wonderful armour, sword and helmet have made him into.
The big gold dragon looks sad.
]
to spread – sich verbreiten
2 to marry sb. – jdn. heiraten
3 to bend down – sich bücken
4 feast – Gelage
5 streak – Spur
6 reflection – Spiegelbild
7 magnificent – prachtvoll
8 to braid – (Haar) flechten
9 lively – wach
10 Who would be able to resist him looking like this? – Welches Mädchen würde diesem
Anblick wohl widerstehen?
11 jokey remark – scherzhafte Bemerkung
12 shimmering – Flirren
1
• 27 •
New Arrival
Tr. 04 B
elmin does not come until the sun is well past its highest point1.
Nevertheless, as befits someone of his rank2, he travels with a large
entourage3. Several riders have arrived before him to give advance
4
notice of his arrival. The whole village gathers5 to welcome him fittingly6.
Timucin of course has a place in the first row, right next to his father and
the other warriors.
However, Timucin does not start towards the group until the baggage
train7 can be seen on the hills in the West. He is not in much of a hurry8
to get there, and in even less of a hurry to meet either his father’s brother
in oath, or his daughter. He has got nothing against girls and knows as
well as the next man9 that the children of tribal chiefs10 get married to
each other in order to increase their power and to secure an often all too11
insecure peace. He should not be surprised that his turn has now come.
He has simply believed that he has a little more time – perhaps another
summer, maybe two.
Of course, he will not dare to defy12 his father. But he has mixed feelings13 about this meeting with his father’s brother in oath and, above all,
the daughter.
well past its highest point – ihren Zenit gut überschritten
as befits someone of his rank – wie es seinem Rang zukommt
3 entourage – Gefolge
4 to give advance notice of sth. – etw. ankündigen
5 to gather – zusammenlaufen
6 fittingly – angemessen, wie es sich geziemt
7 baggage train – Tross
8 to not be in a hurry – es nicht eilig haben
9 as well as the next man – so gut wie jeder andere
10 tribal chief – Stammesfürst
11 all too – allzu
12 to defy sb. – sich jdm. widersetzen
13 mixed feelings – gemischte Gefühle
1
2
• 28 •
As befits their status1, the other boys, including Chuzir, wait at an appropriate2 distance behind the warriors and the elders3, yet in front of the
women still. Timucin has to walk past them in order to join his father on
time. He ignores the other boys as usual, but greets Chuzir and is about
to set off even faster. Yet he notices Chuzir’s dark expression of face and
turns round to him, his brow furrowed quizzically4. Chuzir avoids his
gaze5 and turns away.
“What is wrong?” asks Timucin bluntly6. He is confused.
“Nothing,” replies Chuzir curtly7. Timucin stretches his hand out so
as to seize him by the shoulder8, but Chuzir steps back quickly and Timucin pulls back his arm. He feels a faint but deep stabbing pain9 in his
chest: Chuzir is his brother in oath!
“You must hurry, Timucin,” says one of the other boys, “otherwise you,
our future Khan, will arrive too late to greet your bride10.”
Timucin flashes his eyes at11 the boy, but does not say anything. Ilhan, the boy, is two heads taller than him and doesn’t like him. Timucin
dislikes him too, and feels that he will have to fight him one day. Yet
he does not want it to be now, so he offers Ilhan nothing more than a
contemptuous12 look and makes to go on13. Ilhan, however, continues in
a mocking14 tone.
status – Stand
appropriate – gebührend
3 the elders – die Ältesten
4 his brow furrowed quizzically – die Stirn fragend gerunzelt
5 to avoid sb.’s gaze – jds. Blick ausweichen
6 bluntly – geradeheraus
7 curtly – einsilbig, knapp, kurz
8 so as to seize him by the shoulder – um ihn an der Schulter zu ergreifen
9 faint but deep stabbing pain – kleiner, aber stechender Schmerz
10 bride – Braut
11 to flash one’s eyes at sb. – jdn. anfunkeln
12 contemptuous – verächtlich
13 to make to do sth. – etw. machen wollen; sich aufmachen, etw. zu tun
14 mocking – höhnisch
1
2
• 29 •
“Don’t you worry1! We will make sure that nothing else gets in the way
of our future khan and his bride. Woof woof2!”
This comment was followed by laughter3 from all around, and Timucin feels a sudden fury, so strong that he wants to jump at the bigger boy
and pummel4 him.
Yet his fury dies away5 as quickly as it comes, and gives way to6 something very different and much, much worse. His eyes fill with burning
tears, and he turns back to Chuzir. He steps so close to him that no one
else can hear him speak.
“Why did you tell them about it?” he whispers.7 His voice is shaking.
Chuzir avoids his gaze again. Timucin waits for him to answer the
question, but he says nothing, so Timucin
turns away angry and walks away as quickly
DRACHENFRAGE
as he can without running. Behind him, the
Timucin asks Chuzir:
boys are laughing and a few of them bark
“Why did you tell them
again. Timucin keeps his back turned to
about it?” What does he
them, but it costs him all the strength he has
mean: Tell whom about
what?
to hold back the tears.
His father seems very angry when he arrives
next to him, but he does not have the time to say anything to him because, in that moment, the baggage train is coming by. Tamer simply
looks at his son angrily in a way that seems to promise punishment later.
Then he straightens his shoulders8 and gets ready to greet his guests.
Don’t you worry! – Mach dir keine Sorgen!
Woof woof! – Wauwau
3 laughter – Gelächter
4 to pummel sb. – mit Fäusten auf jdn. einschlagen
5 to die away – verrauchen, abebben
6 to give way to sth. – etw. Platz machen
7 to whisper – flüstern
8 to straighten one’s shoulders – die Schultern straffen
1
2
• 30 •
Belmin is an older, white-haired man with a white beard that reaches
his chest. He has a weather-beaten1 face and exudes2 an aura of dignity3
and power that you can almost reach out and grasp4. Timucin has often
met men who have great power (including his father, of course), but
Belmin differs from them in one important point: he is the first chief he
has ever met who does not carry a weapon. His large entourage, too, is
mostly unarmed5. Just the two knights6 right and left of him have spears
held upright7 in their hands, and it looks to Timucin somehow as if they
only have them to tie their pennants8 to, which are fluttering9 above their
heads in the wind.
Tamer greets his noble guest effusively10, using the complicated and
wordy greetings common to his people. Timucin uses this time to have
a closer look at the many people accompanying11 the khan of the Voshon.
Of course, there is a very particular person he is looking for, and he finds
her a little behind Belmin, flanked12 by two knights who, contrary to
his first impressions13, are heavily armed. She is slender14, wrapped up in
exquisite garments15, and about a hand shorter than him. She has to be
Arbesa, his future wife. Her face is veiled16, so he cannot quite recognise
weather-beaten – wettergegerbt
to exude – ausstrahlen
3 dignity – Würde
4 that you can almost reach out and grasp – die man fast mit Händen greifen kann
5 unarmed – unbewaffnet
6 knight – Ritter
7 upright – aufrecht
8 to tie a pennant to sth. – Wimpel an etwas befestigen
9 to flutter – flattern
10 effusive – überschwänglich
11 to accompany – begleiten
12 to flank – flankieren
13 contrary to his first impressions – entgegen seines ersten Eindruckes
14 slender – schmal
15 garment – Gewand
16 veiled – verschleiert
1
2
• 31 •
its features1, but he thinks he sees her keen stare2 through the material
and quickly looks away.
The greeting ceremony goes on for quite some time, but eventually3
it is over and Belmin makes a brief gesture, allowing his entourage to sit.
Milk as well as other, stronger drinks are offered, along with a meal, and
suddenly the ceremonial silence, previously broken only by the exchange
of formalities4 between the khans, gives way to general laughter and pats
on the shoulder5 as the more than thirty riders start to mix with the
population of the village. Arbesa, too, slips6 down from her horse with
a smooth7 movement, yet Timucin does not find the right moment to
approach her8 or even to look at her. Tamer puts his hand on his shoulder
and pushes him in between himself and Belmin.
“This my son, Timucin,” he says.
The old khan looks at him with his strangely soft eyes for a few instants. Despite the tangible9 aura of softness and goodness he exudes,
Timucin – who is already very uncomfortable – is almost afraid of him.
Then the khan smiles suddenly.
“So you are Timucin,” he says, “I have heard a lot about you. I am
told that you are a son who is every bit as honourable10 as his father. Is
this true?”
Timucin does not know what to answer and simply lowers his head in
shame. In this situation, this is almost an insult. Tamer is horrified11 and
features – Gesichtszüge
keen stare – aufmerksamer Blick
3 eventually – schließlich
4 formality – Förmlichkeit
5 pat on the shoulder – Schulterklopfen
6 to slip – gleiten
7 smooth – geschmeidig
8 to approach sb. – sich jdm. annähern
9 tangible – spürbar
10 honorable – ehrenwürdig
11 horrified – entsetzt
1
2
• 32 •
sucks in air sharply past his teeth1. Belmin, however, just laughs, quietly
and benevolently2.
“Well, I see he really is his father’s son. My brother in oath was never
one for too many words3.”
Tamer laughs, but even his laugh sounds hollow4, and he puts another
hand on Timucin’s shoulder. It is as if he is showing Timucin off5 as his
own property6, and Timucin finds this degrading7. He does not say anything, however, and keeps looking for Arbesa. The girl has already gone
past him, without even looking at him, as it seems to him8, and is now
talking with the women. The men of the tribe, too, have mingled with9
the village people, and are eating, joking and drinking with them. The
big reception has dissolved10 into nothing. Only his father and his father’s
brother in oath are still standing, trying to look important, but they are
clearly not succeeding11. Tamer clearly finds the situation embarrassing;
Belmin looks amused by it all. Finally, he clears his throat and gestures
towards the big yurt in the middle of the village.
“It was a long and tiring journey, old friend, and I am thirsty. We have
not seen each other for many years and have much to talk about.”
And talk they did12.
]
to suck air past the teeth – Luft duch die Zähne ziehen
benevolently – gütig, wohlwollend
3 He was never one for too many words – Er war nie ein Mann überflüssiger Worte
4 hollow – (Lachen, Lob, usw.) nicht ganz echt
5 to show sth. / sb. off – jdn. / etw. vorzeigen
6 property – Besitz
7 degrading – entwürdigend
8 as it seems to him – wie ihm scheint
9 to mingle with people – sich unter Leute mischen
10 to dissolve – sich auflösen
11 to succeed – erfolgreich sein
12 And talk they did. (veraltet) – Und so geschah es.
1
2
• 33 •
Arbesa
Tr. 05 H
aving gone to bed so early the evening before, Timucin ends up
going to bed very late tonight. A huge feast is being given in
honour of1 the guests, starting just before sundown and going
on until far past midnight. Almost all of the clansmen2 are in Tamer’s
tent, eating, talking and drinking. The women are barely able to keep
up3 with serving food and drinks. With all the delicious food, and with
the hours that pass, the feasting4 becomes ever more boisterous5, and the
men’s tongues become looser6. The camp echoes to the sounds of laughter and music and the happy voices of the men as they try to outdo each
other7 with amazing stories. Everyone knows that only half of the stories
are actually true, but that does not stop them being listened to intently8
and greatly enjoyed.
Timucin spends the feast sitting at his father’s right-hand side, listening to the stories that the clansmen are so happily embellishing9, but he
cannot fully concentrate on the proceedings. His gaze keeps wandering10
over to the veiled girl next to Belmin, and when he is not looking at her,
he thinks he can feel her eyes on him.
At the beginning, it is an unpleasant feeling. He does not like being
stared at without being able to see the face of the person staring11. After
a while, however, it just feels slightly odd12. He is curious13 to have a look
in honour of – zur Ehre von
clansman – Sippenangehöriger
3 barely be able to keep up with – kaum damit nachkommen, etw. zu tun
4 feasting – Festmahl
5 boisterous – ausgelassen
6 loose – locker
7 to outdo each other – sich gegenseitig überbieten
8 to listen intently – aufmerksam zuhören
9 to embellish a story – eine Geschichte ausschmücken
10 to wander – sich irren
11 to stare at sb. – jdn. anstarren
12 slightly odd – etwas merkwürdig
13 curious – neugierig
1
2
• 34 •
behind the veil. But apart from the fact that this is not the done thing1,
he doesn’t allow himself to make such a request2.
It is long past midnight when, from outside the yurt, they hear the
typical sound of swords clashing3. Tamer stops talking to his brother in
oath without finishing his sentence and then jumps up and hurries out
of the tent. Everyone else, including Belmin and of course Timucin, follow suit4.
Outside the tent, a fight is going on between one of Arbesa’s bodyguards and a man from the village; at least, that is the way it seems at
first. Swords clash and spray sparks5, light breaks on shimmering metal
and the links6 in chainmail vests7. The two men seem to be carrying out
a bizarre and speedy dance around each other, exercising8 themselves
in sword-fighting techniques like parries9 and feints10 whilst the blades11
smash into their shields. No blood has yet been spilled12, as Timucin
quickly recognises, and none will be: the two men are laughing as they
fight. Arbesa’s bodyguard could land a hit13 on the leg of the man fighting
him, but turns the blade at the last moment so that it hits him flat. This
hurts, but is not dangerous. The onlookers14 whoop and clap15 whilst Ilhan’s father – as Timucin recognises him, uncomfortably – hops around
this is not the done thing (Redewendung) – das schickt sich nicht
to make a request – eine Bitte äußern
3 to clash – aufeinanderprallen
4 to follow suit – es jdm. gleichtun, nachziehen
5 spark – Funke
6 links – Glieder
7 chainmail vest – Kettenhemd
8 to exercise – vollführen, ausführen
9 parry – Parade (Fechten)
10 feint – Finte (Fechten)
11 blade – Stahl
12 to spill blood – Blut vergießen
13 to land a hit – einen Treffer anbringen
14 onlooker – Zuschauer
15 to whoop and clap – johlen und klatschen
1
2
• 35 •
on one leg swearing1, and then lunges at his opponent all the more bitterly 2.
Timucin too suddenly hears himself cheering on3 the two fighters as
he hears a high-pitched4 voice next to him.
“What do you men find so exciting about playing war?”
“Well, because it’s just...” says Timucin. Then he stops himself in midflow5 and turns round to see who has said this.
It is Arbesa. She has removed her veil and is looking down at the two
fighters with an expression somewhere between quizzical and derogatory6.
She has the most beautiful face that Timucin has ever seen.
“Yes...?” she asks, turning round to him. Timucin looks into her crystal-clear, almost uncannily7 light eyes. These eyes awaken8 something in
him whose existence he has not known until that moment. It is as if his
throat has been tied up9.
“Well, because it’s... er...” he stutters.
Arbesa’s eyes flash in a way that can only be described as scoffing10.
“I understand. ‘Because men just do that kind of thing’, right?” She
laughs. “We all know that. The question is why?”
“In order to measure their strength11 and be ready when they come up
against the enemy,” answers Timucin automatically. He feels stupid, and
Arbesa probably thinks he is stupid too, because the scorn12 in her eyes
continues to grow.
“The enemy?” she repeats. “Which enemy?”
Before Timucin has the chance to answer, she does it herself.
to swear – fluchen
to lunge at sb. all the more bitterly – sich noch verbissener auf jdn. stürzen
3 to cheer on – anfeuern
4 high-pitched – (Stimme) hell
5 in mid-flow – mitten im Satz
6 derogatory – abfällig
7 uncanny – unheimlich
8 to awake – wecken, erwecken
9 to tie up – zuschnüren
10 scoffing – spöttisch
11 to measure one’s strength – seine Kräfte messen
12 scorn – Spott, Hohn
1
2
• 36 •
“It doesn’t matter much. There’s always an
DRACHENFRAGE
enemy around1, isn’t there?” Her eyes look
Why are the two men
at Timucin as intently as if she were looking
fighting outside the tent?
at him for the very first time. Something in
her gaze stabs at Timucin’s heart like a thin
needle.
“You too look like a real warrior, but perhaps a little small,” she says
and covers her face back up with her veil, turns around abruptly2 and
walks back to the yurt with quick steps.
Timucin looks confused and hears a cheerful peal of laughter 3 behind
him. A hand comes down on his shoulder and, as he looks up, he is
looking directly into Belmin’s bearded face. The old khan smiles, almost
mischievously4.
“Yes, well, you’ve met my daughter now, then,” he says. “Do you still
like her?”
Timucin says nothing – what can he say? – and just looks up at
Belmin, taken aback5. He takes his hand off of Timucin’s shoulder and
motions with his head for Timucin to follow him.
“Come, let us step together.”
Timucin looks helplessly6 at the two fighters; they have not come
anywhere near finishing, and yet it is a question of the honour of the
tribe. That does not seem to bother7 the old khan, however, who walks
off slowly, away from the light and shouts and noise of the friendly tussle8. Timucin is not sure how long it will stay friendly. He knows Ilhan’s
father well, and he does not like losing.
there’s always someone around – irgendeiner wird sich schon finden
abruptly – mit einem Ruck
3 cheerful peal of laughter – fröhliches Gelächter
4 mischievous – schelmisch
5 taken aback – verdattert
6 helpless – hilflos
7 to bother – stören
8 tussle – Gerangel
1
2
• 37 •
“Please do not be upset at Arbesa,” says Belmin once they have walked
a while. “She is still young and speaks freely and from the heart. She will
soon learn to consider1 her words better.”
“I am not upset at her,” says Timucin hurriedly, “she is a girl, after all2.”
“And very pretty one, eh?” adds the father. Timucin feels himself going red3. He does not know why, but he lowers his head and hopes that
Belmin does not notice.
“She is still a child,” continues the old khan in an amused tone of voice,
from which Timucin understands that he has noticed his blush4, “but we
can see that she will soon be a good-looking young woman. If she takes
after her mother5, she will be a real beauty6. By the same token7, she will
be fiercely8 independent.” He laughs. “You can think yourself lucky9 to
get a woman of her calibre10. If you want her.” He stands still and examines Timucin with a changed, but still not unfriendly gaze. “So, do you
want her?”
“But of course!” answers Timucin hastily. “My father...”
“... has told you how important this alliance is for our two tribes, and
how I am his oldest and best friend and his brother in oath. The important thing, however, is what you and Arbesa want. Do you want this to
happen?”
Timucin does not answer straight away11 and, when he does, he answers so openly that he surprises himself.
“I do not know, my lord12. I mean, I do not know her yet. She is very
pretty, but...”
to consider sth. – etw. abwägen
after all – immerhin, schließlich
3 to go red – rot werden
4 blush – Schamesröte
5 If she takes after her mother… – Wenn sie nach ihrer Mutter kommt…
6 beauty – Schönheit
7 by the same token – umgekehrt
8 fierce – kratzbürstig, wild
9 to think oneself lucky – sich glücklich schätzen
10 calibre – Qualität
11 straight away – gleich
12 my lord – mein Herr
1
2
• 38 •
“I understand,” sighs Belmin. He does not seem upset at all. In fact,
he almost sounds relieved1, even if Timucin does not quite understand
why. “Then again, this is the reason we are here.” He gestures towards the
tent to which his daughter has walked back. “Arbesa is waiting for you in
your tent. Go to her and get to know her better. We shall stay for a few
days, and if you still think she is the right one for you – and she thinks
you are the right one for her – then you will return with us and spend
the rest of the year at our village.” He smiles warmly. “Now, get going. If
I know my daughter, she doesn’t like being kept waiting2...”
]
1
2
relieved – erleichtert
She doesn’t like being kept waiting. – Sie wartet nicht gerne.
• 39 •
The Prophecy
Tr. 06 H
e does not go straight back to his tent, but stops by the fight to
see how it ends. It lasts for some time and gets ever more bitter.
Well, at least Ilhan’s father becomes more bitter. There is some
blood too, even though the wounds1 are only small, harmless cuts2. But
Timucin is pleased when Tamer and Belmin step in3 and declare the
fight a tie4. Belmin’s warrior looks happy and laughs as he embraces5 his
opponent. Ilhan’s father is clearly unhappy, however6, and Timucin sees
that he would quite happily take his sword and finish the fight if the two
khans were not there.
The first fight is followed by others between Belmin’s men and village
warriors, most are just harmless tussles. The two khans, as well as most
of the men, return to the fire to continue the celebrations, and Timucin
sits down with them without having been asked7. To judge by the look8
his father gives him, he does not like this, but he says nothing and lets
Timucin sit next to him for far longer than usual. Not long before morning, Timucin finally9 gets up and goes to his yurt. He can almost feel the
strange looks Belmin gives him like a warm hand between his shoulder
blades10.
It is dark and warm in his tent as he enters the tent. He has been hoping
he will find Arbesa asleep, and her regular, shallow11 breathing seems to
confirm this hope. Timucin does not make a light, and tries to undress
wound – Wunde
harmless cuts – harmlose Schnittwunden
3 step in – einschreiten
4 a tie – unentschieden
5 to embrace – umarmen
6 however – jedoch
7 without having been asked – uneingeladen
8 to judge by sth. – nach etw. zu urteilen
9 finally – schließlich
10 shoulder blade – Schulterblatt
11 shallow – flach
1
2
• 40 •
without making any noise. The metal on his suit of armour makes this
impossible, however, it clinks1 and rattles2. Arbesa’s breathing does not
change. But when he slips under the warm sheepskin3 and carefully lies
down back-to-back with her, she raises her head and speaks.
“So, all the fights are over and the great warrior returns tired from battle4.” Her voice is quiet, derogatory and not at all sleepy.
Timucin grounds his teeth in anger, not so much at Arbesa’s words,
but at himself for actually believing that he would get off so lightly5. His
reason6 tells him to say nothing and pretend7 to be asleep; but this is perhaps the first, and definitely not the last time he realises how pointless8 it
is to use a word like reason when talking to a woman.
“It was just a bit of fun,” he answers, without raising his head.
“Yes, of course. I think it’s great fun to watch two men going at each
other with sharp iron blades and hitting each other until they bleed,” she
replies.
This makes Timucin very angry, but he does not really know with
whom he is so angry. He remains silent for a few moments, then he sits
up, shoves9 the sheepskin to the side and feels around10 in the dark until
he finds a flint11 and the small oil lamp. He is so angry that his hands are
trembling and it takes him five or six attempts12 to get the wick13. Once
he has finally succeeded, he is still clumsy14 enough to burn his fingers on
to clink – klimpern
to rattle – scheppern
3 sheepskin – Schaffell
4 battle – Schlacht
5 to get off lightly – leicht davonkommen
6 reason – Vernunft
7 to pretend to do sth. – so tun, als ob
8 pointless – sinnlos, zwecklos
9 to shove – schubsen, schlagen
10 to feel around – herumtasten
11 flint – Feuerstein
12 attempt – Versuch
13 wick – Docht
14 clumsy – ungeschickt
1
2
• 41 •
the tiny flame. Arbesa’s eyes glint with disdain1 as he turns to her. She too
has sat up and pushed the cover down to her knees. She is wearing nothing more than a very thin dress, through which Timucin can see almost
everything. It embarrasses2 him. He looks down.
“Why are you so shy3, great warrior?” asks Arbesa tauntingly4. Timucin
says nothing in reply, but feels himself going red again.
“You are not embarrassed, are you?” continues the girl, pretending to
blink in surprise. “I mean, I don’t know much about the customs of your
people, but isn’t it usual for the warrior to return to his woman after a
successful day’s battling and lie with her?” He does not answer.
After a brief pause, she adds: “Well, if they’ve survived and have more
to do than just bleed in silence.”
“You do not have to sleep here,” says Timucin, annoyed. “If you do
not like my company, I can quite happily5 ask my father to provide you
with your own quarters6.”
Arbesa keeps smiling. The yellow light of the oil lamp makes her face
appear even more beautiful than before, and despite his growing fury he
is incapable of7 turning away from her. Moreover8, there is a brief moment in which she seems to realise that she may have gone too far9 and is
frightened. It was, however, just a very brief moment, then her beautiful
face becomes just as scornful10 as ever, if not worse.
“Then again,” she continues, as if he has not said anything, “you look
far better without those silly clothes. It must be awfully 11 uncomfort-
disdain – Verachtung, Hohn
to embarrass oneself – sich in Verlegenheit bringen
3 shy – schüchtern
4 taunting – stichelnd
5 quite happily – (ironisch) sehr gern
6 quarters – Quartier, Bleibe
7 to be incapable of doing sth. – nicht in der Lage sein, etw. zu tun
8 moreover – zudem, darüber hinaus
9 to go too far – zu weit gehen
10 scornful – spöttisch, höhnisch
11 awful – schrecklich
1
2
• 42 •
able to walk around with more than your own weight1 on your body in
iron.”
Timucin instinctively looks down at himself, and Arbesa says quietly
and, although he would not have thought it possible2, more scornfully:
“Just don’t you go getting any ideas3.”
“Ideas? I don’t know what to think at all,” replies Timucin sharply 4.
Well, he means it to sound sharp, but it sounds more pathetic5 than anything, even to his own ears. He is so red that he does not really need the
lamp to light up his yurt.
Arbesa stops talking and, although Timucin is not looking at her directly, he can feel that her facial expression6 has changed. After what
seems like an eternity7, she speaks again.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.” Timucin is surprised.
“You didn’t hurt me,” says Timucin, lying without much conviction8.
“And you need not apologise to anyone”, he adds.
“Why?” says Arbesa with a furrowed brow9.
“Because you might be the wife of a khan one of these days,” he says,
“and the wife of a khan never apologises to anyone for anything.”
The girl looks at him thoughtfully10 for a long moment.
“And who taught you such rubbish11?” she asks in a soft but confused
tone of voice.
“My father!” answers Timucin loudly. “And it is not rubbish! It is the
truth!”
weight – Gewicht
although he would not have thought it possible – obwohl er es nicht für möglich gehalten
hätte
3 just don’t you go getting any ideas – bild dir bloß nichts ein
4 sharp – scharf
5 pathetic – kläglich
6 facial expression – Gesichtsausdruck
7 eternity – Ewigkeit
8 conviction – Überzeugung
9 furrowed brow – gerunzelte Stirn
10 thoughtful – nachdenklich
11 rubbish – Blödsinn
1
2
• 43 •
“Because your father is the khan, and because the khan always speaks
the truth, even if what he says is not true, you mean?” asks Arbesa.
In that instant1, her words make Timucin so angry that he would like
to grab her and shake her until she takes them back and says she is sorry.
Then he realises what he has just been thinking and laughs at himself
against his own will2.
“You’re probably right,” he says.
Arbesa is quiet again for a while. She sits up again, pulls her knees to
her body and wraps3 her arms around them, and Timucin finds it more
and more difficult not to blatantly4 stare at her. He manages it somehow,
but he is relatively sure that the girl knows what is going on inside him.
Not that he understands it himself.
“I didn’t want to offend you,” says Arbesa finally.
“You haven’t offended me,” replies Timucin and realises only as he
speaks these words that they are the truth. She has not offended him.
“But tell me, why are you so hostile5?”
“Am I so hostile?” asks Arbesa. She leans her chin on her knees and
looks up at him, amused. Then she shrugs her shoulders6. There is something about the mischievous7 glint in her eyes that makes Timucin remember something vaguely, but he does not know what. Whatever it
is, however, it is familiar8 and fills him with a feeling of sudden warmth.
The feeling is so strong that he has to stop himself from just hugging9 her.
“I’m just not used to all of this, you know.”
“All of what?” asks Timucin.
“All these warriors and weapons and fun you have fighting.”
instant – Moment, Augenblick
against his own will – gegen seinen Willen
3 to wrap sth. around sth. – etw. um etw. herumschlingen
4 blatant – unverhohlen
5 hostile – feindselig
6 to shrug one’s shoulders – mit den Achseln zucken
7 mischievous – spitzbübisch
8 familiar – vertraut
9 to hug sb. – jdn. in die Arme schließen
1
2
• 44 •
“I understand,” says Timucin, “I’ve heard tell that your tribe is very
peaceful.” He does not think that he has said anything wrong, but suddenly Arbesa raises her head and an angry crease appears between her
thin eyebrows.
“That’s right, just go ahead and say what you think!” she snaps1. “You
think we are tribe of cowards2, don’t you? That we don’t like fighting.”
Timucin is about to contradict3 this, and will probably end up apologising to her again, but the girl does not let him speak a word. She continues speaking, louder than before and more angrily.
“You needn’t have any qualms4 about speaking freely. I may still be a
child, but I know very well what other tribes think and say about us.”
“I did not say that I thought your people were cowards,” says Timucin
in his defence5, “but what kind of khan has a tribe without warriors?”
“A very wise khan, perhaps?” asks Arbesa. Her fury disappears as quickly as it came. Yet something has changed. The tender bond6 between
them that appeared a few moments back has been torn7.
“But how do you expect to defend your land and your property against
enemies who may want to rob you of it8?” asks Timucin half-heartedly9.
“No one has tried as yet10,” answers Arbesa softly.
“Yes, perhaps because there is no honour in winning against an enemy
that cannot defend itself,” replies Timucin. He regrets having said11 these
words as soon as he has said them. Arbesa is not offended though; she
simply shrugs her shoulders and nods in the direction of12 the entrance
to the tent.
to snap – schnappen
coward – Feigling
3 to contradict – widersprechen, erwidern
4 qualm – Hemmung, Bedenken
5 defence – Verteidigung
6 tender bond – zartes Band, zarte Bindung
7 to tear (tore, torn) – reißen (riss, gerissen)
8 to rob sb. of sth. – jdn. einer Sache berauben, etw. wegnehmen
9 half-hearted – lahm, lasch
10 as yet – bislang
11 to regret having done sth. – bereuen, etw. gemacht zu haben
12 to nod in the direction of – eine Kopfbewegung in eine Richtung machen
1
2
• 45 •
“How odd. I thought I just watched my bodyguard win against your
man. Simply because my people do not enjoy fighting, we are not defenceless1. You should try to listen to her.”
“To her?” asks Timucin, not understanding what Arbesa means. She
does not answer, however, and lies down, pulls up the cover to her shoulders and turns herself in it so that there is nothing left for Timucin to
protect himself2 from the cold of the night.
He sits silently for some time looking at the girl as she pretends to
sleep before he puts out the light. He lies straight and waits for either3
sleep or the cold, whichever comes first.
Tr. 07 The cold is the first of the two, and it stops him sleeping. After a while,
however, Timucin finds himself once again in the silvery moonlight of
his dream world. Usually (not always, but almost always), he has difficulty making out4 exact forms in his dreams, but tonight he can see more
than just vague ghosts under a starry5 sky. It is still a dark, night-time
world, but not quite as impenetrable6 as usual. Behind Sarantuya, he can
see hills on a distant horizon covered by woods, and a silver, winding7
river. No steppe, and no traces8 of people. Timucin can feel that this is a
world untouched by the hand of man9. He has an almost physical sense10
of great age and of indescribable11 power, and this comes not only from
the huge dragon, but from the fabric12 of this world itself, a world which
Sarantuya does not often let him see.
defenceless – wehrlos
to protect oneself – sich schützen
3 either... or... – entweder... oder...
4 to make out – erkennen
5 starry – sternenübersät
6 impenetrable – undurchdringlich
7 winding – gewunden
8 trace – Spur
9 untouched by the hand of man – unberührt von Menschenhand
10 physical sense – körperliches / spürbares Empfinden
11 indescribable – unbeschreibbar, unermesslich
12 fabric – Stoff
1
2
• 46 •
“Now, did I promise too much?” asks Sarantuya. She is in a cheerful
mood1 – well, as cheerful as a dragon the size of ten oxen2 can appear, at
least. There is a glint of mischief3 in her eyes, and her long, scaly tail4
seems to thump5 on the floor to the rhythm of some silent music.
“Wasn’t that an exciting day? Well? Wasn’t it?”
“Yes,” admits Timucin. Then he pulls a face. “Well, at least it was for
some of us here.”
“Oh, don’t be like that about it!6” answers the dragon in a jovial7 tone
which Timucin just does not understand.
“Come on! Every man in the village would give his eye teeth8 to share
his yurt with the daughter of such of a mighty khan!”
“Yes, but she is a pain in the neck9!” says Timucin.
“Pain in the neck? We have heard those words spoken before about the
son of certain khan in your village...” The dragon lays her head sideways10.
“So why is she such a pain? Because she says the truth?”
Timucin is offended, but does not say anything; he knows there is no
use11. When Sarantuya has decided to talk about a certain topic, then she
talks about it – and that is that12.
“Yes, but she laughed at me,” he says after some time, “and insulted13
my father.”
“No, she didn’t,” says Sarantuya, shaking her head so that he does not
start to contradict her. Her smile disappears and her face looks worried,
quizzical.
cheerful mood – heitere / aufgeräumte Stimmung
oxen (Sg.: ox) – Ochsen
3 mischief – Schalk
4 scaly tail – schuppiger Schwanz
5 to thump – klopfen
6 Don’t be like that about it! – Tu nicht so!
7 jovial – heiter, gut gelaunt
8 Every man would give his eye teeth to… – Jeder würde sonst was tun, um…
9 pain in the neck – Nervensäge
10 sideways – schräg
11 there is no use – es nutzt gar nicht
12 and that is that – Fertig!
13 to insult – beleidigen
1
2
• 47 •
“Nevertheless, I feel resentment1 in you, my young friend. What went
wrong?”
At first, Timucin wants to deny2 everything, but that would be pointless. Even if Timucin tries to hide things, Sarantuya can read his thoughts
and he knows it. Nevertheless, she always insists on3 him saying them
out loud4.
“Chuzir,” he admits.
“Your friend or, I beg your pardon5, your brother in oath now. That
makes him more than just a friend, doesn’t it?”
“Some brother in oath!” says Timucin. “He told everyone about it!”
“About what?” asks the dragon, pretending not to know.
“About the thing with the dog,” he answers angrily. “Now everyone
in the village knows that I am afraid of dogs. Not just my father, but all
of them.”
“And what is so bad about that? I know that you know this already, but
I shall say it again: even the heart of the bravest6 warrior is not free of fear.
Only the most stupid people have no fear of anything, and these people
do not live very long. But that is beside the point7. Even we dragons
know fear.”
“Fear of what?”
“You would not understand it,” answers Sarantuya mysteriously. “And
this is not what we are talking about. Now, tell me, what is so bad about
everyone knowing you are afraid of something?”
“Not just something,” answers Timucin, “but dogs! Mangy8 little mutts9!
Everyone will laugh at me.” Well, to be precise, they are already laughing,
he thinks.
resentment – Groll
to deny – leugnen
3 to insist on sth. – auf etw. bestehen
4 out loud – laut
5 I beg your pardon (veraltet) – Verzeihung
6 brave – tapfer
7 beside the point – nebenbei
8 mangy – räudig
9 mutt – Köter
1
2
• 48 •
“No one will laugh at you when you are khan,” says Sarantuya. “And
what takes more courage? To face1 the scorn of your tribesmen because of
who you are, or to fight with – what did you call it – a mangy little mutt?
You could have beaten it to death2 if you had wanted. You are strong.”
“No, I am a coward,” says Timucin bitterly.
“No, you are not!” says Sarantuya, almost angrily. “You were afraid of
this dog, but you were even more afraid of people finding this out and
laughing at you. A real coward3 kills what he fears, so that no one finds
out about his fear.”
Timucin thinks about the mighty teeth and the wild look in the dog’s
eyes. He doubts4 whether the animal really was all that harmless, but
does not say anything for the moment.
“I still don’t understand why he did it, though!” he continues. “He is
supposed to be my best friend, and he betrayed5 me! Why?”
“Because, unlike you6, in the depths of his heart7 he really is a coward!”
answers Sarantuya quietly. “And he is furious.”
“Furious? At me? But why me? I have never done anything to him!”
“He missed the dog. For the first time ever he missed a target, and he
blames you. And he is not entirely wrong, if you think about it a moment.”
“Why? Because my arrow was bent?” says Timucin.
“Well, that is certainly what he thinks,” says Sarantuya, winking conspiratorially8, “but you and I both know why he really missed.”
Timucin keeps quiet. What Sarantuya says does not make anything
better. In any case, it is unimportant why he is to blame for9 Chuzir’s
failure.
to face sth. – sich etw. aussetzen
to beat to death – erschlagen
3 coward – Feigling
4 to doubt – zweifeln
5 to betray – verraten
6 unlike you – im Gegensatz zu dir
7 in the depths of his heart – tief in seinem Herzen
8 to wink conspiratorially – verschwörerisch zwinkern
9 to be to blame for – an etwas schuld sein
1
2
• 49 •
“He is already regretting having told everyone,” says Sarantuya, “so
don’t be angry with him. You are friends after all, right?”
“Well, that’s what I thought until now, yes,” says Timucin, upset.
“Friendship also means forgiving1,” says Sarantuya. “In fact, that is
what it means above all2.”
Timucin is about to make a nasty comment3 when he notices movement in the corner of his eye and turns round, frightened. Something
rushes away4. It is big, scaly and snake-like5, and disappears so quickly
that he cannot make it out. Was it perhaps a...?
Surprised, he turns back to Sarantuya, who answers his question before he has asked it.
“Don’t ask, my little friend. I can’t answer, and he won’t talk to you
either. We only talk to the people we belong to.”
It takes a moment for Timucin to understand what she means.
“So... you mean that somebody else here is speaking to a dragon right
now?” he murmurs6. A moment ago, he would never have believed that
dragons could grin7. But Sarantuya can, and she grins almost shamelessly8.
“Yes. For some time, too!”
It takes Timucin even longer to understand, then he turns around
half-terrified9 to Arbesa. She is not there, of course, because this is just a
dream. Sarantuya giggles10.
“Arbesa?” he murmurs sceptically. “You mean... she too has a dragon?”
“Well, actually it’s us dragons who have you and not you us,” says
Sarantuya, a little offended, “but yes, she does.”
to forgive – verzeihen
above all – vor allem
3 nasty comment – giftige Bemerkung
4 to rush away – davonhuschen
5 snake-like – schlängelnd
6 to murmur – murmeln
7 to grin – grinsen
8 shameless – unverschämt
9 terrified – erschrocken
10 to giggle – kichern
1
2
• 50 •
“Oh,” says Timucin.
“Oh. Yes ‘oh’ indeed” says Sarantuya, making fun of his tone of voice.
“So you thought you were the only one?”
“If I’m honest, yes I did.” In fact, if he is completely honest, he is not
even sure whether Sarantuya actually exists at all.
“Well, in that case, I’m going to have to disappoint1 you,” says Sarantuya, teasing him, “you’re not as special as all that2, my little Khan!”
“But why did Arbesa not say anything about it?” mumbles3 Timucin.
“Why should she? She doesn’t know you at all.” Timucin thinks back:
in fact, she did say something about it.
“Anyway, it’s nothing special to her. Almost everyone in her tribe has
a dragon-friend.”
“The whole tribe?” says Timucin, astonished4.
“Well, almost all of them,” answers Sarantuya, “because they are a very
peaceful people, and dragons love peaceful people.”
“What? Dragons, of all creatures5!” he says. He regrets this immediately,
but of course Sarantuya would have heard these words even if he had just
thought them. She looks offended, upset and ever so slightly6 angry.
“You think that, just because we are big and strong, we are dangerous?”
she asks. Timucin discovers that it is possible to blush in a dream too.
He keeps silent.
“We are big and very strong,” continues Sarantuya, sounding suddenly
very serious7 and still slightly angry, “so no one can be of any danger
to us8, but why should this make us into beasts 9? We are not like you
people!”
to disappoint – enttäuschen
You’re not as special as all that – So etwas Besonderes bist du nicht
3 to mumble – murmeln
4 astonished – erstaunt
5 Dragons, of all creatures! – Ausgerechnet Drachen!
6 ever so slightly – ein kleines bisschen
7 serious – ernst
8 to be of danger to someone – jdm. gefährlich werden
9 beast – Bestie
1
2
• 51 •
Timucin wants to say something, but Sarantuya motions him to keep
quiet with an astonishingly human1 movement of her right paw2.
“I know what people say about us. You all think we are monsters,
horrible monsters who eat people and animals and burn land with our
breath of fire3.” She winks at him before continuing. “That’s about the
size of it, right?4”
“Hm,” says Timucin.
“But that is not the way it is. We are just as big and strong as you think,
even stronger – just one of us could wipe your tribe off the face of the
earth5. But why would we do that? No dragon has ever killed a person,
and we never shall, as long as you are in existence6.”
“I’m sorry,” murmurs Timucin, “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“I know,” says Sarantuya in her usual, softer tones. Suddenly, she starts
giggling.
“Did I just mishear7 something, or did you just say sorry to me, son
of the khan?”
Timucin is silent and Sarantuya is serious again.
“Well, you would have asked that question at some point, and I’ve just
answered it. Perhaps this was the right moment, now that you have met
your wife.”
“We are not married yet8!” objects9 Timucin, but Sarantuya shakes her
head, her scales jingling10 lightly as she does.
“She will be your wife, young Khan. You will live a long and happy life
together, even though you will betray11 her one day.”
human – menschlich
paw – Tatze
3 breath of fire – Feueratem
4 That’s about the size of it, right? – So ungefähr kommt das doch hin, oder?
5 to wipe sth. off the face of the earth – etw. vom Antlitz dieser Welt vertilgen
6 as long as you are in existence – solange es euch gibt
7 to mishear – sich verhören
8 not yet – noch nicht
9 to object – aufbegehren
10 to jingle – klirren
11 to betray – betrügen
1
2
• 52 •
“Me? Never!” says Timucin, outraged1.
“Yes, yes, you will,” says Sarantuya softly, “but don’t worry – she will
forgive you.”
“You can see into the future?” says Timucin, eyes wide open2.
“Not everything,” says Sarantuya, “We dragons do not see into the
future, not in the way you think.”
“Well, you did predict3 that I was going to meet somebody who would
be of great importance to me.”
“That wasn’t the future, my little friend, that was just one day. But we
do see a lot, that is true. Some of the paths4 into the future are clear and
wide, some thin and blurred5, or even forked6. I can tell you that Arbesa
will become your wife and that you will live long and happily together.
What you do in that time is up to you7. I can’t see that.”
“And even if you could see it, you wouldn’t tell me,” says Timucin.
“That’s true,” answers Sarantuya cheerfully, “but you will find the right
way in any case. I’m almost sure!”
“Almost?”
“Almost,” insists8 Sarantuya, “because even
DRACHENFRAGE
we dragons don’t know everything. We have
What is the prophecy
neither the right nor the power to get involved
9
which the dragon makes?
your
lives.
But
you
have
a
good
heart
and
in
I believe in you. Otherwise I wouldn’t have
chosen you10.”
“Chosen?” repeats Timucin.
outraged – entrüstet, schockiert
eyes wide open – die Augen weit aufgerissen
3 to predict – vorhersagen
4 path – Weg
5 blurred – verschwommen
6 forked – verzweigt
7 up to you – eure Sache
8 to insist – auf etwas bestehen
9 To get involved in – sich in etw. einmischen
10 If that were not the case, I wouldn’t have chosen you – Wäre es anders, hätte ich dich
nicht gewählt
1
2
• 53 •
“We dragons choose the people to whom we wish to offer our friendship, and we choose very carefully. Only those who are pure1 of heart
and who do not go the way of the sword will ever know us.” Sarantuya
hesitates for a moment, as if she is not sure if she should continue talking
or not, but she does.
“You have never spoken of me to your father, am I right?”
Timucin answers with a shake of his head, and Sarantuya continues.
“And perhaps you shouldn’t. Did you know that he too once had a
dragon companion2?” Timucin’s eyes open wide.
“What? My father? The khan?”
“Before he was khan,” answers Sarantuya, “at about your age.” She
laughs good-temperedly3. “I shouldn’t tell you of course... but... but he
too was afraid.”
“Of dogs?”
“No, of horses!” chortled4 Sarantuya.
“Of horses?” gasps5 Timucin. “My father the khan was afraid of horses?!”
“He was not khan back then,” answers Sarantuya, “and he faced6 and
conquered7 his fear.” Timucin needs a while to get used to this idea.
“And? What happened then?” he asks.
“He went the wrong way,” answers Sarantuya in a way that makes it
clear to Timucin that it is pointless to ask any further questions. She
changes the subject8.
“Back then, many of us had friends in your tribe. There was even a
time when all of you had dragons. Why else do you think that so many
of your tribe can remember us, without ever having seen us?”
“What happened?” asks Timucin.
pure – rein
companion – Gefährte
3 good-tempered – gutmütig
4 to chortle – glucksen
5 to gasp – keuchen
6 to face sth. – sich etw. stellen
7 to conquer – überwinden, besiegen
8 to change the subject – das Thema wechseln
1
2
• 54 •
“The same thing as almost always,” answers Sarantuya sadly, “too many
of you chose the wrong path.” Timucin can feel the dragon’s sorrow1 and
he realises that he has hit upon a subject that she does not want to talk
about. Nevertheless, he asks another question, quietly.
“And which path is the wrong path, exactly?”
“Later,” answers Sarantuya, clearing her throat loudly, “perhaps I’ve
already told you enough for one day. Just be patient2, my little Khan. We
will have plenty of opportunities to talk again, perhaps your whole life
long. But that is your decision.”
]
1
2
sorrow – Trauer
Just be patient – nur Geduld
• 55 •
The Bodyguard
Tr. 08 A
rbesa has already gone when Timucin wakes up. It is at least an
hour after sunrise, he has a horrible taste in his mouth and a
throbbing headache1. It is as if he hasn’t just sat with the men,
but also drunk the spirits2 made of fermented sheep’s milk3
that they sometimes take to excess4. Moreover, he still has the strange
dream in his head – something to do with the dragon and Arbesa, although he cannot remember any precise details. He’s probably breathed
in too much smoke from the fire, which would explain both the headache and odd dreams, he thinks.
Where is Arbesa, though?
Timucin looks at the empty bed next to him and is almost annoyed, until he remembers that he is behaving5 like an old married man.
Sarantuya has said that they will get married, but only at some point, and
that is assuming6 that Timucin understood correctly, and assuming that
she has actually spoken to him and that this is not all just some strange
fantasy that he has experienced. That was no fantasy, though. His father
used to be afraid of horses? How pathetic7 is that?!
Timucin curls his lip in scorn8 at the very thought of it, and stands up.
The noises of village life penetrate into the tent, at once muffled9 and yet
somehow urgent10, too. He just manages to stop himself shaking his head
to dispel11 his sleepiness12 – it would probably explode. He feels this bad
throbbing headache – hämmernde Kopfschmerzen
spirits – Alkohol, Spirituosen
3 fermented sheep’s milk – vergorene Schafsmilch
4 excess – Übermaß
5 to behave – sich verhalten
6 to assume – annehmen
7 pathetic – lächerlich
8 to curl one’s lip in scorn – die Lippen verächtlich schürzen
9 muffled – gedämpft
10 urgent – aufdringlich
11 to dispel – vertreiben, zerstreuen
12 sleepiness – Schlaftrunkenheit
1
2
• 56 •
without even having tasted a drop1 of the fermented sheep’s milk. This
is not the first time he asks himself what the warriors see in drinking
themselves into unconsciousness2 night after night.
Anyway: his father used to be afraid of horses? Pathetic!
Timucin steps out of the tent, crouching3 as he goes. He feels like a
grown warrior with a hangover4 as the bright morning sun stabs at his
eyes, and he does not just blink, but has to grind his teeth5 to avoid
groaning6 out loud. Normally, his father and the warriors behave like
this in the morning when the night has been too short and too festive7.
He understands the attraction of drink less than ever this morning. What
he does understand, though, is why the men are often so anxious to8 get
down to the river. He feels dirty, his whole body is sticky, and his clothes
and hair smell so badly of smoke that he almost feels ill. He wants nothing more than to get to the river, but before he sets off9, he remembers
that his father has asked him to make sure he is always dressed properly10
as long as there are guests in the village. So he gathers up all his armour
and weapons into a bundle11 that he slings12 over his shoulder. As he makes
his way to the hill, he groans under the weight of it. Arbesa was right: it
weighs more than he does. Suddenly he is no longer angry at her for having gone; at least she does not have to see him in this miserable state13.
without even having tasted – ohne auch nur gekostet zu haben
to drink oneself into unconsciousness – sich bis zur Bewusstlosigkeit zu betrinken
3 to crouch – sich docken
4 hangover – Kater
5 to grind one’s teeth – mit den Zähnen knirschen
6 to groan – stöhnen, ächzen
7 festive – feierlich
8 to be anxious to do sth. – es eilig haben, etw. zu tun
9 to set off – loslegen
10 properly – standesgemäß
11 bundle – Bündel
12 to sling – werfen
13 miserable state – bejammernswerter Zustand
1
2
• 57 •
He drags his feet1 up the hill without replying to any of the tribespeople
who greet him. Then he crosses the patch of woods2 where he and Chuzir
gave their oath, yawning3 and even stopping a couple of times to regain
his strength4. As he passes the bush into which the dog disappeared, an unpleasant memory tries to break into his mind5, but he ignores it and forces
himself to think of nothing – which is not hard in his current state.
After what seems like an eternity, he can see the river shimmering6
through the undergrowth7 in front of him. He sets off faster towards the
water and then throws his bundle of clothing and armour to the ground
so that it rattles and jingles for a few moments. He reaches for his underwear and is about to pull it off over his head, when he sees something out
of the corner of his eye and stops.
Something or someone is splashing8 in the water. Timucin looks closely
and notices that he is blushing again; someone is swimming in the shallow waters of the Omon. That someone is Arbesa. She is wearing less than
the night before. Well, nothing. And the water is so clear that it hides
nothing. If she finds it as embarrassing as Timucin, she hides it masterfully9 as she kicks around in the water lying on her back and looking up
at him with her glinting eyes. She does not even have the decency to10 pretend to be embarrassed, and is having a lot of fun at Timucin’s expense11.
“My, oh my12, our great warrior is already awake!” she says teasingly13,
picking up last night’s conversation as if there has been no interruption14.
to drag one’s feet – schlurfen
patch of woods – Waldstück
3 to yawn – gähnen
4 to regain one’s strength – neue Kraft schöpfen
5 mind – Geist, Sinn, Bewusstsein
6 to shimmer – schimmern
7 undergrowth – Gebüsch
8 to splash – plätschern
9 masterfully – meisterhaft
10 to have the decency to do sth. – den Anstand besitzen, etw. zu tun
11 at sb.’s expense – auf jmds. Kosten
12 my, oh my – ach du meine Güte!
13 to tease – necken, ärgern
14 interruption – Unterbrechung
1
2
• 58 •
“Astonishing! Don’t you need more time to recover1 from the great battle?”
“Good morning to you, too!” growls2 Timucin. Last night, when
Sarantuya told him about his future with Arbesa, he still liked the idea
despite their misunderstanding3, but perhaps one should not believe
everything dragons say, especially female4 dragons.
He is close to taking off his clothes and jumping into the water, but
then he reconsiders5 and wades6 into the icy water, his teeth chattering7 as
he goes. Arbesa moves a little aside but doesn’t let him out of her vision
for an instant. She looks even more scornfully in his direction, but what
else can he expect?
“Does your tribe always wash with its clothes on?” she asks.
Timucin looks at her angrily, dives8 under and stays below the waterline until his lungs are crying out for air and his heart is about to burst.
He resurfaces9, spluttering10 and gasping for air, runs his hands though his
long, wet hair and then answers.
“Only if the water is dirty or full of vermin11.” Arbesa looks at him
confused, shrugs her shoulders and then paddles away on her back using
only her hands and feet. Then, however, she turns back in order to circle12
around him, getting closer and closer, like a predator13 around its prey14.
He dives again, swims underwater back to the bank15 and wades back
out of the water, soaking wet16. If Arbesa were not there, he would have
to recover – sich erholen
to growl – knurren
3 misunderstanding – Missverständnis
4 female – weiblich
5 to reconsider – sich eines Besseren besinnen
6 to wade – waten
7 to chatter – klappern
8 to dive – tauchen
9 to resurface – wieder auftauchen
10 to splutter – prusten
11 vermin – Ungeziefer
12 to circle around sb. – jdn. umkreisen
13 predator – Raubtier
14 prey – Beute
15 bank – Ufer
16 soaking wet – tropfnass
1
2
• 59 •
taken his underwear off now and wrung it out1, but she keeps looking
at him. So he runs his hands over his undergarments2 and bends down
to pick up his bundle. He threw it carelessly, so he spends quite some
time untangling3 it before he can put his clothes on. His wet underwear
makes every movement more difficult, however, and sticks to his body as
he goes. He is annoyed when he thinks about how long it will take to dry
under all this leather, and his skin already feels cold enough as it is.
Arbesa must be thinking the same; even without turning to her, he
can feel her scornful gaze. Sarantuya might have predicted4 he would betray her, but perhaps the dragon was wrong: he feels more like drowning5
her than anything else.
Without saying a word, he finishes dressing himself, not because he
really wants to or because his father has asked him to, but more than anything because of what Arbesa said to him last night. He even puts on his
belt and weapons as well as his shield and helmet. Only then does he6 turn
to the water and see that Arbesa really has been watching him the whole
time. Her eyes are still as wide and defiant7 as ever. Suddenly, he remembers what they remind of him: of Sarantuya. Arbesa has Sarantuya’s eyes!
It is almost as if he does not want to, but he asks her a question.
“What is she called?”
“He.” She keeps smiling, and something comes into her eyes that
touches and warms him for a brief instant8. “I’m a girl, and our dragons
are always male. Just like yours are always female.”
“Now I understand what the warriors mean when they talk about their
wives,” he replies, grinning. Arbesa smiles back, but her eyes keep their
strange new expression.
to wring out – auswringen
undergarments – Unterwäsche
3 to untangle – entwirren
4 to predict – vorhersagen
5 to drown sb. – jdn. ertränken
6 Only then does he… (veraltet) – Erst dann…
7 defiant – herausfordernd
8 brief instant – kurzer Moment
1
2
• 60 •
“Tselmeg. His name is Tselmeg.” She paddles around in the water a little more as if she is waiting for an answer, and when she does not get one,
she turns her back to him. Timucin clears his throat awkwardly, starts to
turn around and stops still1.
Tr. 09 His good mood disappears again instantly2 and his face darkens. He is no
longer alone; just a little behind him, four or five boys climb out of the
bush into which the dog had disappeared the day before yesterday3. One
of them is Chuzir, another is Ilhan, and the other three are Ilhan’s most
trusted4 friends – and the worst bullies5 in the tribe. At first, they just
stand there staring at him; all except Chuzir are smiling threateningly6
and Timucin’s heart starts to beat faster.
“Uh oh,” sneers7 Arbesa, “now our big, strong warrior has a bit of a
problem. But it won’t be too bad – I mean, he is armed8, at least.”
Although she is only saying this to rib9 him, and he knows it, Timucin
does not feel like laughing10 right now. The sight of the five boys scares
him. They too are armed, Chuzir with his bow and arrow, the four others
with clubs11 that they have clearly just cut from the trees. What use is his
sword now? He is not going to run at them with a bare12 blade.
If fighting is at all necessary. Timucin thinks for a moment, and although his heart is still beating fast, he realises that he does not yet know
what they want. Perhaps they are just here by chance13, and he remembers
to stop still – erstarren
instantly – schlagartig
3 the day before yesterday – vorgestern
4 trusted – treue
5 bully – Raufbold
6 threatening – drohend
7 to sneer – spötteln
8 armed – bewaffnet
9 to rib sb. – jdn. necken
10 he does not feel like laughing – ihm ist nicht nach Lachen zumute
11 club – Knüppel
12 bare – blank
13 by chance – zufällig
1
2
• 61 •
what his father has often told him: if you show fear, your enemy will see
it too. Don’t show fear, and they will avoid a fight.
“And who is saying anything about fighting anyway?” whispers someone to him from behind his forehead. As he steps towards the boys, he
realises it is Sarantuya’s voice and stops again. The dragon is there, invisible1 to all except him. It is strange that she is there: this is the first time
he has heard her voice whilst2 awake. Something very important must
have happened. Without even being aware of it3, he looks left and right.
The dragon is nowhere to be seen, of course, but Ilhan and his friends
notice the move and a wide, sneering grin spreads across Ilhan’s face.
“Don’t you worry, oh mighty Khan,” he scoffs4, “there aren’t any dogs
around.”
Timucin sucks air through his teeth and then walks on, holding his
shoulders as straight as he can. His right hand is on the hilt5 of his sword,
as if it had just landed there6, but this does not have the effect he expects
and Ilhan’s grin just gets broader.
“Well, look at that! Our future khan has put on his sword and shield
in order to defend the honour of his bride. Then again,” he continues,
looking lewdly7 in the direction of the river, “it does not seem like there
is much to defend in this case.”
For an instant, Timucin sees red. For a short moment, he must stop
himself actually pulling8 his sword and cutting Ilhan’s stupid smile out
of his face. Then, however, he calms himself down. He and Arbesa have
done nothing dishonourable9, and nakedness10 is not a taboo in the tribe.
invisible – unsichtbar
whilst (auch: while) – während
3 to be aware of sth. – sich einer Sache bewusst sein
4 to scoff – spötteln
5 hilt – Heft (Waffen)
6 as if it had just landed there – wie zufällig
7 lewd – anzüglich
8 to pull – ziehen
9 dishonourable – schändlich, unehrenhaft
10 nakedness – Nackheit
1
2
• 62 •
Men, women and children often wash in the river together, and they
never wear clothes like he just has. Ilhan is just trying to get him angry.
“What do you want?” he asks in a strong voice. He is careful not to
look at Chuzir as he says this, but his brother in oath licks his lips nervously and looks away quickly nonetheless. Timucin thinks back to what
Sarantuya told him last night and sees that it was the truth. Chuzir is
already regretting his mistake, but why is he here with the others, then?
Timucin is confused.
Sarantuya answers him silently: Because he cannot go back. One mistake
all too often leads directly to another 1 if the person making it does not have
the courage to face it.
“Oh, we just wanted to make sure2 that our future khan and his bride
are not in any danger,” answers Ilhan.
“Woof woof!” adds one of the other boys. Timucin ignores this and
replies coldly.
“Well, everything is fine, thanks. It is good
DRACHENFRAGE
to see, however, that you already know the
3
your
future
ruler.”
Arbesa is caught naked
debt you owe
by the five boys.
Chuzir takes a small, nervous step backWhy should she not be
4
.
wards; Ilhan’s hand grasps his club tighter
ashamed of this?
His eyes flash with fury5.
“Don’t be too sure about that, Timucin,”
he growls, “you are not yet khan.”
“And if I were, that shouldn’t stop you,” answers Timucin defiantly.
“Just imagine6 that I am some boy, any7 boy, from the village.”
One mistake all too often leads directly to another – ein Fehler zieht nur zu oft den
nächsten nach sich
2 to make sure that… – sichergehen, dass…
3 the debt you owe to your future ruler – was ihr eurem künftigen Herrscher schuldig seid
4 to grasp tighter – sich fester schließen um
5 His eyes flash with fury. – Seine Augen blitzen vor Wut.
6 Just imagine… – Denk dir einfach…
7 any – irgendein
1
• 63 •
“Hm, I’m having trouble doing that1,” answers Ilhan icily2, “because all
the other boys in the village have the heart of a true warrior.”
He is only trying to provoke3 you, whispers Sarantuya, and there is no
shame in avoiding a fight that you cannot win.
His father has already told him this more than once, and it always
sounded obvious4 and convincing5. Oddly enough, however, it does not
sound so obvious or convincing now. In fact, Timucin feels pure rage
welling up6 inside him, but fear at the same time. There are four of them
– not counting Chuzir – and Ilhan on his own is stronger than him. So
he says nothing.
Suddenly, the bigger boy smiles a broad and unmistakably7 dirty
smile.
“We do beg your pardon, oh most noble8 Khan,” he says in a smutty9
tone, “if you want to be alone with your bride, we’ll happily turn round.
Unless you need help...” The other boys, except Chuzir, greet this comment with dirty laughter.
“Take that back!” hisses10 Timucin.
“What if I don’t?11” asks Ilhan. Timucin looks down at the club in Ilhan’s
hand. Ilhan shrugs his shoulders12 and sends it flying13 into the bushes.
“Just so you can’t say we were unfair about it. You are welcome to use
your sword, however, great Khan – at least then we would be about even14.”
to have trouble doing sth. – schwer fallen, etw. zu tun
icy – eisig
3 to provoke sb. – jdn. reizen
4 obvious – einleuchtend
5 convincing – überzeugend
6 to well up – aufwallen
7 unmistakably – eindeutig, unmissverständlich
8 noble – edel
9 smutty – anzüglich
10 to hiss – zischen
11 What if I don’t? – Und wenn nicht?
12 to shrug one’s shoulders – mit den Schultern zucken
13 to send sth. flying – etw. in großem Bogen werfen
14 to be even – gleichauf liegen
1
2
• 64 •
“I don’t want to fight you,” says Timucin, who is almost surprised as
he hears his own words. “We have one blood; why should we strike1 one
another?” Ilhan pulls a mock-disappointed2 face.
“Hmm, why? Perhaps because I do not want to serve3 a khan who is a
coward?” he suggests.
Timucin does not reply to this, but suddenly feels a tension4 in his
thoughts that does not come from him. Sarantuya is looking at him and
clearly expects a certain reaction, but he does not know which. Besides5,
he is terribly afraid. He has understood that there is no way he can avoid
this fight. Ilhan and the others have come to fight him here and now, and
have chosen this moment so that Arbesa will see – for whatever reason6.
Instead of answering, he takes off his shield, slowly lays it down on
the floor and then removes his sword and belt. Ilhan stops his pretend7
surprise, shrugs his shoulders, and then nods at his friends.
“Well, what do you know? Our little khan shows courage! Now, show
us what you’ve got8!” This is the cue9 for one of the boys to go into the
bushes and come back with a string10 on which a dog has been leashed11.
On closer inspection12, however, it appears to be something that thinks
it is a dog13, because it smaller than most cats, has a mangy coat14, and is
slobbering15 so badly that it has left a wet trail behind it. One of its ears
has been torn off. It growls quietly when it sees Timucin.
to strike (veraltet) – schlagen
mock-disappointed – gespielt enttäuscht
3 to serve sb. – jdm. dienen
4 tension – Anspannung
5 besides – außerdem
6 for whatever reason – warum auch immer
7 pretend – gespielt
8 show us what you’ve got (Umgangssprache) – zeig uns, was in dir steckt
9 cue – Stichwort, Zeichen
10 string – Leine
11 to leash – festbinden
12 on closer inspection – bei näherer Betrachtung
13 …that thinks it is a dog – …das sich einbildet, ein Hund zu sein
14 mangy coat – räudiges Fell
15 to slobber – sabbern
1
2
• 65 •
“Now don’t be afraid, oh great Khan,” smirks1 Ilhan, his three stooges2
laughing spitefully3, “and if this terrifying beast gets too dangerous, just
say the word and we’ll do what we can.” On this, the boy lets the dog
loose and it runs straight at Timucin, barking furiously as it goes. It is
a pathetic creature, and not even Timucin can be afraid of it. Nevertheless, he takes a step back, perhaps out of reflex, and Ilhan laughs loudly.
Meanwhile, invisible and silent, Sarantuya stretches her wings4 and, just
as it about to reach Timucin, the dog jumps back in fear, runs around
looking scared and then runs back with its tail between its legs5, squeaking6 as it goes. Ilhan looks surprised, truly, but then his face darkens.
“Fine,” he growls, “but let’s see if you can scare off something that isn’t
ten times smaller7 than you!” He lunges at Timucin with his fists curled.
It is more a reflex than anything else that helps Timucin to fend off8
his first punch, but the sheer force9 of Ilhan’s wild attack throws Timucin
to the ground and Ilhan rams10 his knee so hard against his chest that it is
probably only his armour that saves his ribs from being broken like little
twigs11. The air whistles12 out of his lungs and, for a second, his vision is
clouded13 by red pain. His heart explodes in fear and he would scream if
he had enough air. Ilhan bellows14 triumphantly, punches him a few times
in the face and knocks his arms back without any effort at all as he tries
to smirk – grinsen
stooge – Strohmann, Stichwortgeber
3 spiteful – gehässig
4 wings – Schwingen
5 tail between its legs – eingeklemmter Schwanz
6 to squeak – quietschen
7 ten times smaller – zehnmal so klein
8 to fend off – abwehren
9 sheer force – pure Wucht
10 to ram – rammen
11 twig – Zweig
12 to whistle – pfeifen
13 to cloud – bewölken
14 to bellow – brüllen
1
2
• 66 •
to hit back. The next punch splits1 his bottom lip; then his nose starts to
bleed; the punch after that almost sends him into unconsciousness.
Sarantuya! Help me! In his mind, he is screaming for help.
Nothing happens. The dragon’s wings do not come to save him this
time, nor does fire rain down from the heavens2. Ilhan just keeps hitting
him, perhaps with even more strength than before. Timucin is afraid; as
the punches get stronger, he starts to worry that he may die. He blindly3
feels around for anything hard and heavy that he can use to defend himself, and finds the hilt of his sword. It sits neatly4 in the palm5 of his hand,
it is heavy and sharp and gives him a feeling of safety. Even as Ilhan sits
astride6 him raining down blows7, he knows he can stop it all with just one
movement. Then the blood flowing to the floor will not be his any more.
Instead of using the sword, however, he drops it again and calls desperately8 in his thoughts for Sarantuya. Help me!
The dragon remains silent. Timucin can feel her presence so clearly as
if she were right behind him, but she says nothing.
“Stop!” shouts a furious, high-pitched voice9. Ilhan punches him in the
face again, even harder, but then his weight disappears from Timucin’s
chest and Ilhan’s mad laughter is replaced by surprised shouts.
Timucin pushes himself up onto his elbows, screws up his eyes10 to get
rid of the blood and tears and then opens them wide as he sees who has
come to help him. He has been counting on Chuzir, desperately hoping
for him, but his brother in oath is standing looking lost and confused.
Now it is Ilhan who is lying on his back covering his face with his hands;
to split – aufplatzen
the heavens (veraltet) – der Himmel
3 blindly – blindlings
4 to sit neatly – gut liegen, gut sitzen
5 palm – Handfläche
6 astride – rittlings
7 to rain down blows on sb. – auf jdn. einprügeln
8 desperate – verzweifelt
9 high-pitched voice – hohe, schrille Stimme
10 to screw up one’s eyes – blinzeln
1
2
• 67 •
the form1 who is kneeling on2 him, smacking him in the face3 again and
again, is about a head shorter than Timucin, has hip-length, raven-black4
hair clinging to5 its skin in wet streaks, and is wearing nothing except this
hair – and water.
“Leave him alone!” screams Arbesa and every word is accompanied by
another slap6. Ilhan’s face is starting to turn red with all the smacking,
despite Arbesa’s hands being small and slim.
“You call that courage? Four on one? You really are very brave warriors,
aren’t you?!”
Ilhan finally overcomes his surprise and throws Arbesa off him with a
rough7 movement. His face is glowing red and is contorted8 with shame
and fury; murderous rage9 is burning in his eyes. Timucin is almost completely sure than he will lunge at him again, but instead Ilhan takes a step
back and spits blood and phlegm10 on the grass.
“Yes,” he says contemptuously, “I should apologise to my khan; I did
not know that his bodyguards were so brave.” With this, he turns on his
heels and marches off, followed by his three stooges. Chuzir stands still,
not sure what to do, but does not look Timucin in the eyes. After a moment, he too goes, almost as fast as the others.
Timucin tries to get up, but everything is spinning11; his face hurts
badly, every breath he takes causes him pain. It feels like Ilhan may well
have broken one of his ribs. He feels Arbesa kneel down12 beside him,
stretch out her hand to him, but she does not dare to touch him. Then
form – Gestalt
to kneel on someone – auf jdm. knien
3 to smack sb. in the face – jdm. eine Ohrfeige verpassen
4 hip-length, raven-black – hüftlang und rabenschwarz
5 to cling to sth. – an etw. kleben
6 slap – Klatsch, Ohrfeige
7 rough – grob
8 contorted – verzerrt
9 murderous rage – Mordlust
10 phlegm – Rotz, Schleim
11 to spin – sich drehen
12 to kneel down – niederknien
1
2
• 68 •
she does something which surprises him completely: she bends down to
his face and blows a kiss on his cheek 1.
“You were very brave, Timucin,” she whispers in his ear.
Timucin looks at her, confused. He does not understand what she
means. Brave? He has been a coward.
“What?” he murmurs.
“It was brave of you not to do it.” Arbesa nods towards the sword. She
smiles, warmly and honestly, in a way she has not smiled at him yet.
Then she stands up and, in one flowing2 movement, puts out her hand
to help him to his feet. He is embarrassed, but he needs the help to get
up. He starts to thank her and is about to make a jokey3 remark to try
and play down4 his weakness5 when he notices movement behind him
and jumps round, convinced that Ilhan and the others have come back
to give him another drubbing6.
Instead, he sees his father.
Tamer stands before him, silent and stony-faced7 between the trees.
Timucin understands that he has been there for some time, has seen
everything. His father’s stare cuts him like a knife. It is a look of
contempt8.
]
to blow a kiss – einen Kuss hauchen
flowing – fließend
3 jokey – scherzhaft
4 to play down – überspielen, übertünchen
5 weakness – Schwäche
6 drubbing – Prügel
7 stony-faced – mit versteinertem Gesicht
8 contempt – Verachtung
1
2
• 69 •
The Wisdom of the Dragons
Tr. 10 W
hy didn’t you help me?” says Timucin to Sarantuya as soon
as he has closed his eyes and slid over1 into his dream world.
“I thought you were my friend!”
“I am,” says the dragon, fluttering her eyelids2, ”and you should count
yourself lucky3, too, if I may say so.”
“How so?” asks Timucin, annoyed.
“Because you don’t want me as your enemy, little Khan. No one does.”
For just a moment, there is something in her eyes that he has never seen
before, that he has never felt in her before and that makes him go icecold to the depth of his soul4. This feeling disappears too quickly for him
to become frightened, however, and Sarantuya resumes5 her usual, wide
dragon-smile.
“And besides,” she adds in a changed, almost cheerful tone, “I did help
you!”
“Ha!” snorts6 Timucin.
“Did I not repel7 that bloodthirsty8 beast that wanted to tear you to
pieces?”
“Do you mean that yapping9 little piece of scum10?” replies Timucin
with a dismissive11 tone. “That was great of you, but I think I would have
just about been able to12 handle it, thanks.”
“Are you sure?” asks Sarantuya, mock-cluelessly13.
to slide over – hinübergleiten
to flutter one’s eyelids – mit den Augenlidern klimpern
3 to count oneself lucky – sich zu den Glücklichen zählen
4 soul – Seele
5 to resume – wieder aufnehmen
6 snort – schnauben
7 to repel – vetreiben, zurückweisen, abwehren
8 bloodthirsty – blutrünstig
9 to yap – kläffen
10 scum – Abschaum
11 dismissive – verachtungsvoll
12 I would have just about been able to handle it. – Ich wäre damit schon zurecht gekommen.
13 mock-clueless – gespielt ahnungslos
1
2
• 70 •
“You know exactly what I mean,” snarls1 Timucin, “although I didn’t
even want you to tear off their heads or anything like that.”
“What did you want, then?”
“Perhaps if you had just frightened them off a bit. You know, filled
their hearts with fear or something of that nature2.”
“They are already so afraid that there is no more room for fear,” answers the dragon, “but I know what you mean. It would have been just
lovely if they had run off scared and then thought that they were scared
of you. Would you have liked that3?”
“Yes,” answers Timucin.
“So you like people to be afraid of you?” asks the dragon. Timucin is
about to nod automatically, but then he is not sure whether he really
does want people to be afraid of him.
“I think you fought very bravely4 – well, for a man. Not by dragon
standards, of course...”
“What? I just got punched the whole time!” growls Timucin resentfully.
“Well, if I remember correctly, Ilhan got the odd5 smack too! And believe you me, they hurt him far more than the punches he gave you hurt
you,” says the dragon, giggling, “because that kind of lad6 really dislikes
getting beaten up7 by a girl!”
Not as much as I dislike being saved by one, though, thinks Timucin.
Instinctively, he turns to the left, where Arbesa is sleeping next to him.
He cannot actually see her in his dream-world, but he can still feel her
presence8. He feels warmth and comfort like he has not felt since lying in
to snarl – fauchen
something of that nature – so etwas in der Richtung
3 Would you have liked that? – Hätte dir das gefallen?
4 to fight bravely – sich tapfer schlagen
5 the odd… (Umgangssprache) – der eine oder andere…
6 lad – Bursche, Junge
7 to beat up – verprügeln
8 presence – Nähe
1
2
• 71 •
his mother’s arms as a small boy, but this is different. It is more intimate1
and much, much sweeter.
Sarantuya does not try to even pretend that she is not reading his
thoughts.
“You are ashamed of being helped by a girl, but you accuse me of not
having helped, too!”
“Yes, but you’re a dragon, not a girl!” hisses Timucin.
“But I was one, once,” answers Sarantuya snappishly2, “and that wasn’t
all that long ago either. Those millennia just fly by...3” she giggles again,
then sighs deeply and is suddenly very serious again.
“You did not need any help, little Khan. You did everything right!”
“Right? You mean I got a right beating!”
“You could have killed him. But you didn’t.”
Timucin thinks of the sword he held in his hand, thinks of the short
but intense temptation4; the power it exercised5 for a brief moment sends
a shiver down his spine6. Perhaps this is the first time he has realised just
how thin the boundary7 is between life and death.
“It was right,” repeats Sarantuya heavily, “because a few scratches and
cuts will heal8, but you cannot give back a life you have taken. And
sometimes the person who has taken it becomes the person who is pursued9.”
“Is this supposed to be10 the Wisdom of the Dragons or something?” he
asks angrily.
“No,” answers Sarantuya, “just my experience after a long life. Nothing
would have happened if you had killed that boy, because you are the son
intimate – vertraut, intim
snappish – schnippisch
3 Those millennia just fly by… – Die paar tausend Jahre…
4 temptation – Verlockung
5 to exercise (power) – ausüben
6 It sends a shiver down his spine – Ihm läuft dabei ein Schauer über den Rücken
7 boundary – Grenze
8 to heal – heilen
9 to pursue – verfolgen
10 Is this supposed to be…? (ironisch) – Soll das jetzt … sein?
1
2
• 72 •
of the khan, and he challenged1 you; but you may have never forgotten
him. Ever.”
“And what if I had forgotten him?”
“That would only have been worse,” says Sarantuya mysteriously, “because sometimes it is only a tiny step that puts a life onto the wrong path.
But you did right2.”
Timucin is not in the mood for another round of dragon wisdom.
Not that Sarantuya is not in the right3; he knows she is.
“Yes, well... whatever the case, I learned something important today.”
“What did you learn?”
“That it might be nice to have friends, but that’s all there is. When it
comes down to it4, you’re on your own5.”
Sarantuya looks at him silently for a while, and in such a strange way,
that Timucin feels more and more uncomfortable. He only said what he
just said to annoy her slightly, but he realises he has really hurt her. He
did not mean to do that.
“I meant Chuzir,” he claims6.
“No,” says Sarantuya, “no, you didn’t.”
Timucin is silent.
“I understand,” says Sarantuya, sighing.
“What?”
Instead of answering his question, Sarantuya just stares straight past
him, as if the answer is somewhere out there in the grey twilight7 surrounding them.
to challenge – herausfordern
to do right – richtig handeln
3 to be in the right – Recht haben
4 When it comes down to it… – Wenn es darauf ankommt…
5 to be on one’s own – alleine sein
6 to claim – behaupten
7 twilight – Zwielicht
1
2
• 73 •
“There is something you should know, little Khan,” she says after a long
while, “I did not finish my story last night. I know that you beseeched
me to help 1, but I chose not to hear you.”
“Why?”
“I have not yet told you why so few of us chose to befriend2 your tribespeople and make you into companions.”
“Companions? It sounds like we’re married!” He tries to laugh, but
his joke does not have any effect on Sarantuya, who stares at him with
a serious look.
“Well, we do marry you, in a way,” she answers, “because we enter into
an eternal3 bond with you. If we choose to bind ourselves to one of you,
then we stay with you for life. Unless, that is, you take the wrong path;
even then, we have to grant you a last wish4, whatever it may be5.”
“Whatever it may be?” says Timucin, making sure. “You mean, I can
wish for whatever I want and I’ll get it? Whatever it may be?”
“Whatever it may be,” repeats the dragon. She sounds sad. “Be careful what you wish for, though. You would never see me again, and you
might have to pay a terrible price.”
What she says scares Timucin, and he is quite sure that she means
to do so, too. Suddenly, however, Sarantuya bares her teeth 6 in a wide
dragon-smile.
“Well, enough Wisdom of the Dragons for one night?” she asks cheerfully. Timucin is serious, however; he is still scared, and Sarantuya’s fake7
joviality8 just makes it worse. He can tell that she is hiding something
behind it, and he can sense that he does not want to know it.
to beseech sb. to help – jds. Hilfe erflehen
to befriend sb. – sich mit jdm. anfreunden
3 eternal – ewig
4 to grant sb. a wish – einen Wunsch erfüllen
5 whatever it may be – ganz gleich, was es ist
6 to bare one’s teeth – die Zähne blecken
7 fake – aufgesetzt, vorgetäuscht
8 joviality – Fröhlichkeit
1
2
• 74 •
“You haven’t told me why you only reveal yourselves1 to so few people,”
he says.
“We have been responsible for2 too much bad in the world,” answers
the dragon, “because you humans are clever. You’re all incredibly stupid,
but very clever too. After a while, too many people knew about the last
wish, and we had to grant them. The temptation of unlimited power is great, any only
DRACHENFRAGE
very few can withstand3 it. Your world and
4
sufIf a dragon and a human
your tribe have experienced boundless
separate, the dragon
fering, wars and terrors and death, and we
must give its human
dragons are not there to offer these kinds of
companion a parting gift.
What is this gift?
presents. So most of us have chosen to avoid
people, and only very few of us seek human
companions.”
“But you did,” says Timucin. “Why?”
“Because I saw that you have real greatness inside you, Timucin,” she
replies. “Do not disappoint me, little Khan; the consequences for your
people would be grave5.”
]
to reveal oneself – sich zeigen
to be responsible for sth. – etw. zu verantworten haben
3 to withstand – widerstehen
4 boundless – grenzlos, endlos
5 grave – fürchterlich
1
2
• 75 •
Friendship
Tr. 11 B
elmin and his entourage stay for ten days. As befits his rank and
position as a great khan and brother in oath to Timucin’s father,
a feast is given every evening in Belmin’s honour. The fire in his
father’s tent often burns so long that its last light mingles with the first
rays of the rising sun. Arbesa and Timucin spend every night in his yurt,
and although she then passes most of the day avoiding1 him, either busy
doing something or chatting with the other women, they become a lot
closer to each other in this time. They haven’t touched each other at all,
the fleeting2 kiss as he lay on the ground that first morning remains their
only kiss. She even seems afraid of any other contact, although she does
not seem to be prudish3. Something happens between them, however.
Timucin is not sure whether it is friendship or love, but he feels good
when she is there. After a while, he misses the continual nagging4 and
frequently5 unfriendly scorn when she is not there. At first, what Belmin
said about him spending a year in his village frightened him – Timucin
has never been away from his home for more than a couple of days at a
time6 – but now he is more afraid of not seeing Arbesa for more than a
day. Not only does he now know that he will have to spend the rest of
the summer and the winter to come in the Voshon village, but he is actually looking forward to being there together with Arbesa.
And so it comes to the last day. Arbesa is already gone when he wakes up
(Timucin has not yet found out how she always manages to get up before
him, even when he tries to get up earlier), so Timucin leaves the yurt and
runs to the river to wash without his armour hoping to find her there.
Instead, he finds Chuzir there.
to avoid sb. – jdm. aus dem Weg gehen
fleeting – kurz, scheu, flüchtig
3 prudish – schamhaft
4 nagging – Neckerei
5 frequently – häufig
6 days at a time – aufeinanderfolgende Tage
1
2
• 76 •
His brother in oath is sitting on a rock1 on the riverbank, his bare2 feet
dangling3 in the water. Timucin does not need to ask him to know that
he has been waiting for him for some time4. He wants to say something,
but it is like his throat has been sewn shut again. Chuzir has avoided him
over the last few days with the same success as Arbesa.
Finally, however, Chuzir says something to break the uncomfortable
silence.
“Hello,” he says, without turning round or even looking up.
“Hello,” replies Timucin, just as curtly5. He has not admitted it to
himself, but he has greatly desired6 to see his brother in oath one more
time before leaving the village. Now that he sees him, though, he does
not know what to say. He wants to slap himself until the words he has so
carefully considered7 over the last days come out, but they don’t.
“Today is the big day,” says Chuzir after the silence threatens to become too heavy. He is still looking away from Timucin with his feet in
the water and has something lying on his thighs that Timucin cannot see.
Timucin wants to step closer, but for some reason feels he cannot.
“Yes,” he answers.
“They are already saddling up the horses 8,” continues Chuzir. To be
exact, they had already started saddling them yesterday evening, and
both of them know it.
“We are starting off early. It is a long ride9.”
“Yes, long indeed. You won’t be back until next spring, if at all10.”
“What do you mean?” asks Timucin. “I will come back, of course I
will come back.”
rock – Felsen
bare – nackt
3 to dangle – baumeln
4 he has been waiting for him for some time – er wartet schon eine Weile auf ihn
5 curt – einsilbig (Antwort)
6 to greatly desire to do sth. (veraltet) – etw. sehr gerne machen wollen
7 to consider – sich überlegen, sich zurechtlegen (Worte, Gedanken)
8 to saddle up a horse – ein Pferd satteln
9 ride – Ritt
10 if at all – wenn überhaupt
1
2
• 77 •
“And what if the girl does not want to?” asks Chuzir.
“The girl,” he replies, a little strongly in tone, “is my betrothed1. I shall
return with her before the year is out.”
“Unless she does not want to leave her people and persuades2 you to
stay,” says Chuzir. “Women are good at that sort of thing3.”
“Nonsense!” replies Timucin. “My father would never allow it.”
Chuzir stares at the river for a while. The starlight is dancing on it.
“Yes,” he sighs, “you are right. He would never let that happen.” His
voice is full of bitterness4, and at first Timucin does not understand it.
Then he sucks air through his teeth.
“I do not believe it! You are jealous of Arbesa!”
“Rubbish!” replies Chuzir flatly5. “It’s just that...” He needs a moment
to find the right words, and keeps looking at the river. “It’s just that I
don’t want to lose you. We are friends.”
Timucin is as relieved as he is confused by this statement. In fact, he
is so confused that he is slightly angry.
“I shall return before a year is out,” he replies sharply, “and we are
more than friends: we are brothers in oath.” Well, I hope we still are, he
adds in his thoughts. On this, Chuzir turns round to face him and says
something that scares Timucin.
“Are we still brothers in oath?”
“What do you mean?” responds Timucin roughly.
Chuzir takes his feet out of the water and turns slowly towards him
until Timucin can see what he has in his lap6. His eyes widen.
“I’ve been waiting for you because I wanted to speak to you alone
and to give you this, if you want it back.” He holds up the arrow to
Timucin.
betrothed (veraltet) – Verlobte(r)
to persuade sb. to do sth. – jdn. dazu überreden, etw. zu machen
3 Women are good at that sort of thing – Darin sind Frauen gut, Frauen können so etwas
4 bitterness – Bitterkeit
5 flat – matt
6 lap – Schoß
1
2
• 78 •
“Have you lost your mind?1” gasps Timucin. “We swore our oath2 on
this arrow.”
“I am not worthy of it3,” replies Chuzir quietly. “I betrayed you and
did not stand by you when you needed my help. I would understand if
you want to undo4 our oath.”
For a moment, Timucin wants to grab the arrow out of his hands –
not to break it and so to undo this oath made for all eternity – but to
slap Chuzir in the face for being so stupid.
“You have gone mad,” he says. “I will go mad with anger if you do not
put away this arrow right now. How did you betray me?”
“I should not have told the others about your fear of dogs.”
“That is true,” says Timucin, “so you owe me one5, then?” He grins.
Chuzir looks up at him uncertainly6. His hand, in which the arrow is
resting, is trembling ever so slightly, but a faint glimmer7 of hope comes
into his eyes. It is still quite dark, so Timucin cannot be sure, but he
thinks he sees tears glinting in the starlight.
“And there was no point trying to help against Ilhan,” he says, grinning
even wider, “because I had a great bodyguard... and if you say any more
stupid things about our friendship being over, I’ll set her on you8!”
“So you forgive me, then?” asks Chuzir shyly.
“There is nothing to forgive,” says Timucin fiercely9. Then he takes the
arrow out of Chuzir’s hand and lays it carefully on the ground. Chuzir
looks closely at Timucin, as if he is looking for traces of malice10 or a
grudge11 in his face.
Have you lost your mind? – Bist du noch ganz bei Trost?
to swear an oath – ein Eid schwören
3 to be worthy of sth. – etw. wert sein
4 to undo – lösen
5 you owe me one – ich habe etwas gut bei dir
6 uncertain – unsicher
7 glimmer – Funke, Schimmer
8 to set sb. on sb. – jdn. jmd. auf den Hals hetzen
9 fierce – heftig
10 malice – Heimtücke
11 grudge – Groll
1
2
• 79 •
“And what about Ilhan and the others?” he asks.
“You keep an eye on them for me until I return,” replies Timucin,
mock-strict1 and winking conspiratorially.
“Can you keep a secret?” he asks Chuzir,
DRACHENFRAGE
who nods. “When I come back with Arbesa,
Chuzir asks Timucin if he
we won’t be alone.”
wants to undo their oath.
“What do you mean?” asks Chuzir, wideWhat would he have to
eyed.
do to accomplish this?
“I’ve already spoken with Arbesa’s father,
and he is going to help me,” continues Timucin. Chuzir’s eyes get even wider and his jaw drops2.
“There are lots of puppies in his village and he has promised to give me
one that I can raise3” says Timucin. “When I come back, I will have the
biggest, wildest dog you can imagine!”
Chuzir looks at him in surprise for a moment longer, then he starts
to laugh loudly. Finally, they hug and return hand in hand to the village.
The others are already waiting for them; a few moments later, Timucin
leaves the village.
]
strict – streng
his jaw drops – sein Unterkiefer klappt herunter
3 to raise – großziehen
1
2
• 80 •
Bajar and Batu
Tr. 12 A
lmost nine months later to the day1, Timucin returns, just as he
has promised his brother in oath he will. This time, there is no
huge baggage train approaching the dozen2 yurts of his home
village, nestling3 next to the hill on the banks of the Omon;
it is just he, Arbesa and their two loyal bodyguards. Despite his tribe’s
peaceful nature and the fact that there are no animosities4 with any of
the neighbouring tribes, Arbesa’s father insists on these two accompanying the couple5. Two further bodyguards are present6, too – Bajar and
Batu, the two huge black dogs that Timucin has raised in the preceding7
months and which follow him everywhere he goes.
Their arrival does not go unnoticed8. Timucin’s sharp eyes and ears
tell him that they are being followed by lookouts9, but they have not
come with bad intentions10. They are just watching them, not planning
to ambush11 them.
When they are about two arrow-flights12 away from the village, a small
troop13 of riders approaches them. Timucin sees from a long way off that
his father is not one of them. He is a little disappointed, but not too
badly, and the feeling goes as quickly as it has come. After all, they saw
each other but14 ten days ago. As is custom15 in the two tribes, his father
to the day – auf den Tag genau
dozen – Dutzend
3 to nestle – sich schmiegen
4 animosity – Feindseligkeit
5 couple – Paar
6 present – anwesend
7 preceding – zurückliegend
8 Their arrival does not go unnoticed – Ihre Ankunft bleibt nicht unbemerkt
9 lookout – Späher
10 bad intention – böse Absicht
11 to ambush sb. – jmd. auflauern
12 arrow-flight – Entfernung, die ein Pfeil fliegt
13 troop – Trupp
14 but (veraltet) – nur, gerade einmal
15 as is custom – wie üblich ist
1
2
• 81 •
visited the father of the bride at the end of the engagement period1 to
discuss the final details of the wedding. Then he returned earlier in order
to prepare the great feast in Timucin’s village. Belmin and the great men
of his tribe are to arrive later, at which time Timucin and Arbesa will
marry and the bond between the two tribes will become official.
Timucin is looking forward to this day. In the months past they have
not been apart for a single day, and he now knows Arbesa as well as
anyone can know another person. Yet it will be different once2 they are
married, the only son and the only daughter of two khans.
Timucin has learned a lot from Arbesa and her people, and perhaps
Arbesa has learnt the odd thing from him. Although they have never said
it, they both know how their future together will be. After many years,
hopefully very many years, Belmin and Tamer will be called to the gods3,
and then they will unite their two tribes and make a new and more powerful one, one which is not ruled by a man of the sword, but by a man
of wisdom. It will be a tribe of prosperous4 farmers and artisans5, not of
warriors and pillagers6.
But this is a long way in the future.
Arbesa steers7 her pony closer to Timucin’s horse and points to the
riders approaching.
“Your father is not coming to welcome us?”
“He is the khan and a very busy man,” answers Timucin with a touch
of mockery8, “and we are only children.”
“Yes, and your mother will probably tear his head off if he doesn’t
bring you home as quickly as possible. I certainly would, if I had not
seen my only son for so long.”
engagement period – Verlobungszeit
once – wenn erst einmal
3 called to the gods – zu den Göttern gerufen
4 prosperous – wohlhabend, gedeihend
5 artisan – Kunsthandwerker
6 pillager – Plünderer
7 to steer – lenken
8 a touch of mockery – ein Anflug von Spott
1
2
• 82 •
“Yes, well,” sighs Timucin, “my mother is an obedient1 woman and
knows to respect her husband.”
“Then maybe you should marry her,” says Arbesa with a straight face2.
Timucin is about to reply with a jokey answer, but now he sees the riders
come closer and recognises Chuzir. He shouts out his name and dashes
off3 towards him. The two dogs follow him, barking excitedly. Arbesa
falls back, although Timucin knows that she could ride just as fast if she
wanted. The three riders also increase their speed, and Chuzir waves at
Timucin, who sees that his brother in oath has his bow on the saddle
and the arrow in his quiver4 – just their arrow. His two companions hold
their horses back as they draw nearer, so that only Timucin and Chuzir
are approaching one another, like two knights duelling. Indeed it seems
that neither wants to be the one to stop, and it is only at the last minute
that both of them tear their horses out of the gallop and pass by each
other closely enough for Timucin’s left knee to touch Chuzir’s. He yanks5
so hard at the bridle6 that the horse neighs7 angrily and stands on its hind
legs8, turning round instantly. Chuzir does exactly the same.
They approach each other like two warriors, but embrace as friends,
bending in their saddles. Timucin almost falls from his, due to the force
of Chuzir’s embrace. His two dogs run around yapping and growling,
but seem to have understood that this was not meant to be a fight and
wag their tails9. For a while, the two friends just laugh happily, pat each
other on the shoulder, or prod and poke10 one another until Timucin
obedient – gehorsam
straight face – scheinbar ernst
3 to dash off – lossprengen
4 quiver – Köcher
5 to yank – reißen, ziehen
6 bridle – Zügel
7 to neigh – wiehern
8 hind legs – Hinterläufe
9 to wag a tail – mit dem Schwanz wedeln
10 to prod and poke – stupsen und knuffen
1
2
• 83 •
notices that their friendly exchange of blows1 threatens to become less
friendly, and stops.
“And so this is how2 you greet your future khan?” he asks, laughing.
“No, this is how I greet an old friend! An old friend who can still ride
a horse as well as ever!”
“I let you off lightly3,” replies Timucin. “It wouldn’t have been fair to
put you to shame4 after we haven’t seen each other for so long!”
Chuzir’s horse starts to get restless and he has to calm it back down.
Timucin uses the time to have a good look at his old friend. He has not
been away for a full year, and yet his friend seems to have grown up a lot.
His shoulders have got broader, he is quite a bit5 taller and he is also far
more muscular. Then he sees that he too must look different to Chuzir;
even he himself has noticed changes in recent months. He too has grown
– a lot more than Chuzir – and his shoulders too are broader. He is far
better built6 than he was, and his voice has become a lot deeper. That is
almost certainly due to the way he has been living. Belmin’s tribe is not
just peaceful, but very wealthy7. They eat well every day, their yurts are
never cold, and he has learnt to eat other things than lamb and mutton8
that he would never have tried before – even if he was reluctant9 at first.
And once he got used to them, these new foodstuffs10 not only tasted
good, but did him good, too.
That is only one reason behind the change, though, another being
Arbesa, in whose presence he really comes into his own11. The third, and
perhaps most important thing, is something that he cannot put his fin-
blow – Schlag
so this is how you… – ist das vielleicht eine Art
3 to let sb. off lightly (Umgangssprache) – Rücksicht auf jdn. nehmen
4 It wouldn’t have been fair to put you to shame – Es wäre unfair gewesen, dich zu beschämen
5 quite a bit – ein gutes Stück
6 better built – kräftiger
7 wealthy – wohlhabend
8 lamb and mutton – Lamm- und Hammelfleisch
9 reluctant – widerstrebend
10 foodstuff – Lebensmittel
11 to really come into one’s own (Redewendung) – regelrecht aufblühen
1
2
• 84 •
ger on1, something that cannot be described. It is the peaceful life of the
Voshon, a life free of fear and fighting and war and blood. It soothes2 his
soul, and affects his body in a good way.
In just a few days, you will be a married man, a silent voice says, teasing
him, but don’t overdo it. Enjoy the time that you are still a boy. Later, you
will wish you still were!
He is about to turn in his saddle and give Arbesa a look, he is used to
her little speeches, but he has asked her to leave off3 a little for the first
few months. It has taken him some time to realise that her apparently4
rude way of talking to him is her manner of showing her affection5, and
he knows that his friends and people in the tribe will not understand this
straight away. He suddenly realises that the voice is Sarantuya’s, though.
Recently, the dragon has started talking to him more often during daylight hours6 as well as in his dreams. And her voice seems to be getting
more and more similar to Arbesa’s. Well, it is becoming as sarcastic in
any case.
Tr. 13 Behind him he hears a high-pitched and mildly scornful laugh and,
as Chuzir gets his horse back under control and looks up, he is looking
directly at Arbesa’s face. Unlike for her first visit, Arbesa has not worn
a veil, and Timucin is visibly amused by the effect Arbesa’s face has on
Chuzir. He is looking at somebody he has last seen as a girl, and who is
now a woman.
“Don’t believe a word this silly boy says,” jokes Arbesa, “my father
found the most peaceful horse in the whole tribe; otherwise, he probably
wouldn’t have made it here7!”
to put one’s finger on sth. – etw. genau ausmachen
to soothe – beruhigen
3 to leave off sth. – etw. lassen, etw. unterlassen
4 apparently – scheinbar, vermeintlich
5 affection – Zuneigung
6 during daylight hours – tagsüber
7 He wouldn’t have made it here – Er hätte den Weg nicht geschafft
1
2
• 85 •
So Arbesa is clearly not going to play the obedient wife, not even on
her first day. Timucin sighs silently to himself and hears a silent laugh
behind his forehead.
Chuzir laughs and, for a moment, Timucin has the impression that a
shadow has come over his face. It disappears again very quickly and he is
not sure it really was there.
“Arbesa,” replies Chuzir, “I am pleased to see you again.”
Arbesa replies pleasantly1 and then she and Chuzir exchange polite
greetings. Arbesa starts to tease him too just like she does Timucin, who
uses this time to size up2 the rest of the group. He is overjoyed3 to see his
arrow in Chuzir’s quiver; perhaps Chuzir took it with him deliberately4,
and Timucin is angry at himself for not having thought of taking his
oath-arrow, too. Yet Chuzir is bound to5 understand this. In any case, if
the look in his eyes is anything to go by6, he is too happy to see Timucin
to think about little details like that.
He tears his gaze away from Chuzir and looks at the other two riders, who have stayed back at a respectful distance. He is surprised to see
that one of them is Ilhan, and is not sure whether this is a good or a bad
thing. In contrast to Chuzir, he does not seem to have changed at all and
still looks how Timucin remembers him: a thin, tall fellow7 with a mean
face and malicious8 eyes. The only difference, however, is that he is looking at Timucin with respect; no trace of friendliness at all, but respect
nonetheless. The other rider with him was also at the riverbank that day,
and he is not looking at Timucin at all, but is staring wide-eyed at his
two huge dogs. They are weaving in and out9 of the horses’ legs, wagging
their tails when they look up at Timucin, Arbesa and Chuzir and growl-
pleasantly – freundlich
to size up – mustern
3 to be overjoyed – große Freude haben
4 deliberately – ganz bewusst, mit Absicht
5 Chuzir is bound to… – Chuzir wird bestimmt…
6 if it is anything to go by… – wenn er das richtig deutet…
7 fellow – Kerl
8 malicious – heimtückisch
9 to weave in and out – tänzeln
1
2
• 86 •
ing and baring their tremendous1 teeth when they look at Ilhan and the
other boy. Timucin briefly grins, but does not think any further about
what he might do; he will have plenty of time to pay them back for what
they did2. For the moment, there are more important things to do. And
do you really need to pay them back? adds Sarantuya silently.
No, not really.
Timucin decides that Chuzir has spent enough time suffering3 his
future wife’s cheerful teasing – for now, at least – and pushes his horse in
between their steeds4, pretending to be strict with his friend.
“If I did not know better,” he growls, “I should think you were courting5
my future wife! But you would never do a thing like that, would you?6”
“Never!” says Chuzir, making an injured face and adding with a loud
whisper: “Well, not when you are around!”
Arbesa – and Sarantuya too – find this funny and laugh; Chuzir too
starts to laugh out loud, and Timucin pretends to be even stricter and
turns to the two riders.
“Accompany my bride to the village. I have some business to take care
of with this utter rogue7 here!” He follows this little joke with a fully
overdone commanding gesture8. Chuzir grins at him, but the other two
immediately start off on their horses and try to flank Arbesa’s pony. Ilhan
makes an almost ridiculously9 low bow10.
“As you wish, my Khan.”
Timucin frowns11. They must have said that to make fun of him. Yet
they are frightfully respectful about it; in fact, they seem almost afraid
tremendous – gewaltig
to pay sb. back for sth. – jdm. etw. heimzahlen
3 to suffer sth. – etwas erleiden
4 steed (veraltet) – Ross
5 to court sb. – jdm. den Hof machen
6 But you would never do a thing like that, would you? – Aber so etwas käme dir niemals in
den Sinn, oder?
7 utter rogue – unverschämter Bursche
8 overdone commanding gesture – übertrieben befehlende Geste
9 ridiculous – lächerlich
10 to make a low bow – sich tief verbeugen
11 frown – die Stirn runzeln
1
2
• 87 •
of him. The second boy still will not look at him. Something is not right
here1.
He remains silent, however, until Arbesa and her bodyguards – all
four of them – have started for the village and are a good distance away.
Then he turns in his saddle to Chuzir and, with a puzzled 2 expression,
asks him something.
“What did you do to them to make them so friendly to me all of a
sudden3?”
Chuzir does not answer. The elation4 of the morning melts away with
the first rays of the sun. Timucin repeats the question, now very seriously.
“What is going on here, Chuzir. Why is he calling me... khan?”
Chuzir avoids his gaze, lets three, maybe four heartbeats go by that
seem like an eternity, and then speaks.
“Because you are khan, Timucin.”
“What do you mean?” Timucin’s voice sounds more frightened than he
actually is; he does not really understand what Chuzir’s answer means. Or
maybe he does not want to understand it. His thoughts are suddenly more
tense5 than ever, and the tension is not coming from him. Something else
is inside him, listening, terrified, and scared of what is to come.
“Where is my father?” asks Timucin once he realises that Chuzir will not
answer of his own accord6. His brother in oath is still avoiding his gaze.
“He is not here,” Chuzir says then.
“Not here?!” Timucin sits up in his saddle, straight as an arrow7. “What
do you mean? He rode out before us just ten days ago.”
“I know,” interrupts Chuzir, turning slowly in his saddle to face his
brother in oath. Timucin can see how difficult this is for him.
“He did not arrive, Timucin. I’m sorry.”
Something is not right here (Redewendung) – Irgendetwas stimmt hier nicht
puzzled – fragend,verwirrt
3 all of a sudden – so plötzlich
4 elation – Hochgefühl
5 tense – angespannt
6 of one’s own accord – von sich aus
7 straight as an arrow (Redewendung) – kerzengerade
1
2
• 88 •
“Not arrived? What’s that supposed to mean? Do not talk to me in
riddles1, Chuzir! What happened?”
“The Tatars,” answers Chuzir. An icy hand takes hold of2 Timucin’s
heart and seems to crush it, slowly but mercilessly3. He tries to say something, but cannot speak a word. He is horrified.
“The Tatars?” he whispers back, after a
while. “But... why? I mean... how?” Chuzir
DRACHENFRAGE
holds his gaze, but it costs him strength.
One of the riders says
His voice trembles as he talks.
something to Timucin
“We don’t know exactly how. He has
that makes him ask
4
;
that
is
all
they
have
been taken prisoner
where his father is. What
is said and who says it?
told us.”
“But he is alive?” asks Timucin.
Chuzir hesitates too long for his answer to
sound as convincing as Timucin would like.
“Probably,” he says after some time. He tries a laugh.
“You know what cowards they are; they are hoping that we will pay a
great ransom5, and as long as they think that we will give them gold and
livestock6, they will not touch him.”
Timucin stares at him. A feeling of strange, crippling7 pain starts to
spread inside him. His father? Prisoner? That is impossible! And it is not...
right, either! Suddenly, it is as if he is waking up from a dream, a dream
that has been long and sweet, a dream in which the world was peaceful. It
is too beautiful to be true, and his awakening8 is all the more9 painful.
“Why did you not tell me? You should have sent a messenger!”
riddle – Rätsel
to take hold of sth. – nach etw. greifen
3 mercilessly – unerbittlich
4 to be taken prisoner – in Gefangenschaft geraten
5 ransom – Lösegeld
6 livestock – Vieh
7 to cripple – lähmen
8 awakening – Erwachen
9 all the more – umso
1
2
• 89 •
“We only heard yesterday,” answers Chuzir, not defensively1, but quietly and sympathetic2.
“The elders came together and sent a messenger to the Tatars to ask
about their conditions3. He has not yet returned – but this is no reason
to worry4”, he adds hastily, almost frightened. “It is a long way to travel.
He will be here at sundown at the very earliest.”
Timucin closes his eyes. The feeling of having left a beautiful dream
for an equally5 horrible nightmare is still there. He is filled with cold
horror, and with something else that he recoils from6, something that he
does not want to recognise. Something is stirring in his thoughts, something big and powerful, whispering to him in an inaudible7 and comforting voice. Yet he does not want to hear the words that are being spoken.
He tries to think of his father, but this makes him shiver8. They spoke to
each other just a few days ago, yet the picture in his mind is of Tamer’s
face as it appeared to him that morning on the riverbank, his face as he
watched his only son being saved by a girl.
Don’t do it, little Khan, whispers the voice behind his forehead, don’t
let it happen.
Timucin ignores the voice. He opens his eyes and sits bolt upright9 in
his saddle; his fingers grip the bridle so hard that it hurts.
“We ride.”
]
defensively – im Tonfall der Verteidigung
sympathetic – mitfühlend
3 condition – Bedingung
4 reason to worry – Grund zur Beunruhigung
5 equally – ebenso
6 to recoil from sth. – von etw. zurückschrecken
7 inaudible – unhörbar
8 to make sb. shiver – jdm. einen grausamen Strich spielen
9 bolt upright – kerzengerade
1
2
• 90 •
The Khan
Tr. 14 I
t has grown very quiet in the great yurt. The air is stuffy1 from all the
people and the fire, and Timucin does not know whether it is his
head or his throat that hurts more. Something invisible seems to be
in the tent, too. It is something without a body, something that crackles2 and hovers3 between them. It turns the silence between their words
into something acrimonious4 and makes the small hairs on the back of
the men’s hands and necks stand on end5. Timucin closes his eyes and
refuses6 to understand the excited words directed at him by one of the
men. Ilhan’s father, who else?7
He is tired like he has never been tired before. It is as if he is carrying
an invisible heavy burden8 on his shoulders, and his shoulders no longer
feel as broad and strong as he thought they had become just a few hours
back. His mouth is dry from speaking for too long and too loudly. His
thoughts have been replaced9 by a chaotic emptiness behind his forehead
that not even Sarantuya’s words can escape. Her whispering is different,
almost unpleasant. Without realising that he is doing it, his hand is feeling around for something to hold onto10. He feels lost.
A thinner, cooler hand that is somehow filled with wonderful warmth,
takes his and holds it. As he opens his eyes, he is looking at Arbesa’s
beautiful face. It looks very serious, yet in the depth of her eyes, those
eyes into which he likes to dive, he can see a look of sorrow and endless
empathy11. It is not necessary for Arbesa to say anything to him, or even
stuffy – stickig
to crackle – knistern
3 to hover – schweben
4 acrimonious – feindselig
5 to stand on end – (Haare) sich aufstellen
6 to refuse – sich weigern
7 who else? – (ironisch) wer denn sonst?
8 burden – Last
9 to replace – ersetzen
10 something to hold onto – Halt
11 empathy – Mitgefühl
1
2
• 91 •
to smile at him. He can just feel the strength that she is trying to give
him, and is very thankful for it.
“We must decide now, Khan!”
Timucin turns to Ilhan’s father with a tired movement and only notices as he is doing so that Ilhan’s father is not saying these words for the
first time, and that he has said them louder and more strongly each time.
He also notices that the confusion of shouts, words and nervous movements is slowly dying down1. He becomes uncomfortably aware2 that at
least a dozen pairs of eyes are staring at him and listening to every word
he says. The two dogs, who have been sitting still as two statues3 hewn4
of black basalt at his sides, listening and looking alertly5, have begun to
whimper6. He gestures with his left hand and they return to silence. Two
or three of the men who have perhaps come too close retire7 respectfully,
their eyes filled with fear.
He does not want this. He has returned from the happiest time of
his life to date to celebrate the happiest day, not to hold a war council8,
and certainly not to get involved in this useless and dangerous struggle
for power9.
Yet it is precisely this which he must do, he realises sadly. Ilhan’s father
has never been a friend of his father’s, and does not like Timucin either.
In fact, Timucin has always seen Ilhan’s father as one of those who is
most likely to challenge his father for his position as khan10.
Do not let him provoke you, little Khan, whispers a voice in his thoughts.
Sarantuya has not said much since he entered the camp and began this
to die down – zum Erliegen / zur Ruhe kommen
to become aware of sth. – sich etw. bewusst werden
3 still as a statue – reglos wie eine Statue
4 to hew – hauen, meißeln
5 alertly – wachsam
6 to whimper – winseln
7 to retire (veraltet) – sich zurückziehen
8 war council – Kriegsrat
9 struggle for power – Machtkampf
10 to challenge sb. for sth. – jdm. etw. streitig machen
1
2
• 92 •
council, which has now been going on all day and will certainly continue
into the night, but Timucin has felt her presence the whole time. She
has listened attentively1 to every word that has been said – especially to
the words he has said.
It is as if he is afraid of what is to come, he is worried about what will
happen. He does not know what it is, but it frightens him. I know, he
thinks silently. Arbesa looks at him briefly, a look that no one else notices,
but which lets him know that his conversation with himself in his head
has not escaped her notice2. Perhaps she has been listening. More probably, she too has been speaking with her own dragon. He speaks, loudly.
“We must all of us keep a cool head. If we react too hastily, we may
further endanger3 Tamer’s life, rather than save it.”
The tall, thin warrior pulls a scornful face and grunts4, which would
have been enough to cost him his head if Tamer were in Timucin’s place.
And in a way, it is as if he is in Timucin’s place, despite the hours he has
spent now being told by many of the warriors that he is the de facto khan,
that this is de facto his yurt, that these are his warriors who have sworn
loyalty to the khan, even if he does not want to be it. It is a grotesque
situation. Yes, it is true that he has returned in order to move into this
yurt, one day5, to take his father’s carved throne, one day, to become khan
– one day. But not now. And not like this.
The tense silence holds and, despite the fact that they have now had
the same conversation perhaps a dozen times, Timucin starts to feel a
change. The day is drawing to its close6, and everyone here is exhausted7.
More than this, the men are ready to hear a decision. He asks himself
how many of them would openly rally to8 an opponent, should one
to listen attentively – aufmerksam auf jedes Wort lauschen
to escape sb.’s notice – jdm. verborgen bleiben
3 to endanger – gefährden
4 to grunt – grunzen
5 one day – eines Tages
6 to draw to its close – sich seinem Ende entgegen neigen
7 exhausted – erschöpft
8 to rally to sb. – sich auf jds. Seite schlagen
1
2
• 93 •
come forward to dispute1 his decision. Not many, whispers Sarantuya
behind his forehead, because most of them are loyal to you. But you must
make the right decision nonetheless.
That has never happened before. Timucin cannot remember Sarantuya ever having given him such a direct piece of advice2 before, let alone
telling him what other people are thinking. She must be very worried.
He is too. If he could only know which decision is the right one. Yet
it will become clear in just a few moments.
“Timucin, you...” Ilhan’s father stops himself mid-flow as he realises
that he has chosen the wrong tone of voice and that several of the men
are looking at him darkly, almost threateningly. He strokes his chin with
the back of his hand3 nervously and then continues, in a changed tone,
more respectful and yet nontheless defiant.
“My Khan, I do not wish to seem disrespectful, but do let me speak
openly.”
“Go ahead,” says Timucin.
Ilhan’s father remains silent for far longer than everyone expects; Timucin can see that he is considering every word carefully.
“I do not wish to offend you, Khan...”
“Timucin,” interrupts Timucin, “you are welcome to keep calling me
Timucin.”
Is this the wrong decision? A flicker of triumph surges into the man’s
eyes.
“Timucin,” nods the warrior, “you know your father better than anyone here, so I do not need to tell you how he would have reacted if you
had been taken and he were standing here.”
Timucin tries not to, but he can see his father’s face again, the sorrow
and contempt as he sees his son being beaten on the riverbank.
“Well, how would he have reacted?” asks Arbesa.
to dispute – bestreiten
piece of advice – Ratschlag
3 to stroke one’s chin with the back of one’s hand – sich mit dem Handrücken über das Kinn
fahren
1
2
• 94 •
The rage that surges into the eyes of the warrior cannot escape notice,
yet Timucin is not able to say if this is due to what Arbesa has said, or
just due to the fact that she has dared to enter the fray1. Apart from her
there are only men in the yurt, and women are not allowed in the war
council. Yet Arbesa followed him into the tent as if it were the most
natural thing in the world2, and he only now realises that this must have
felt like a slap in the face to many men like Ilhan’s father. Yet it is too late
to do anything about this now.
“Be quiet, child!” hisses the warrior. “When men are talking, women
are...”
“Arbesa,” interrupts Timucin, not loudly but sharply, “is my bride and
will soon be your ruler. You shall speak to her in a more resepctful tone!”
The dogs growl in agreement and bare their teeth. Timucin does not hold
them back this time.
The man stares at him, the smouldering3 rage in his eyes burning
brighter, and Timucin sees that it is probably nothing more than the
presence of his huge fighting dogs that is keeping Ilhan’s father from
acting on his impulses. What if, thinks Timucin angrily, I were to just let
them loose and watch them do their job, which is to protect me and to tear
my enemies to shreds 4?
At this moment, however, Chuzir stands on the other side next to
Arbesa and lets his hand fall loudly onto the handle of his sword, hanging in his belt. It is just a gesture, nothing more, yet it suffices5 to fill
Timucin’s heart with warmth and strength.
“Our khan,” answers Ilhan’s father in a deliberate and carefully respectful tone, “would have done what any true khan would do. He would
have called his men to arms and let these cowards have the answer they
deserve6.”
to enter the fray – sich einmischen
as if it were the most natural thing in the world – wie selbstverständlich
3 smouldering – lodernd
4 to tear sb. to shreds – zerfleischen
5 to suffice – genügen
6 to deserve – verdienen
1
2
• 95 •
“And what would be this answer?” asks Timucin.
“We must go and free our khan!”
“Yet did you not yourself just call Timucin ‘khan’?” asks Arbesa.
Timucin does not say anything, but he sighs inside. She may be right,
but she is walking on thin ice1. “Who is your new khan, the man to
whom you owe allegiance2...”
“As long as Timucin’s father is not here, yes,” answers the warrior, “and
I shall obey him.” He then turns to Timucin.
“We are talking about the life of your father here, my Khan. And the
honour of our tribe. Tamer will not be happy if he returns to find that
we have behaved as cowards.”
The men in the yurt murmur in agreement, and Timucin can almost
feel the change in what they now expect him to decide. Whether he is
a boy or not, Timucin has just been insulted by Ilhan’s father, and he
cannot accept that.
“It is no sign of cowardice to avoid a fight that one cannot win,” he
says, quoting his father. “The Tatars are great in number3 and they will
know that we are coming.” He raises his hand to stop Ilhan’s father contradicting him, and continues in a deliberately commanding tone4.
“We all know how weak the Tatars are – they are no match for us5 and
we could win against them. Yet they would kill my father. Is that what
you want?”
Two or three of the men make frightened noises, and Timucin’s opponent drops his hand to his sword, and then relaxes it. He speaks resepctfully despite the fury inside him.
“No, of course not, my Khan,” he whispers. “So what do you wish to
do?”
“I have decided,” answers Timucin loudly and in a clear voice so that
everyone may hear him, “that we shall wait until the messenger returns
to be walking on thin ice – sich auf dünnem Eis bewegen
to owe allegiance – Treue / Gehorsam schuldig sein
3 great in number – groß an der Zahl
4 in a deliberately commanding tone – in absichtlich gebieterischem Tonfall
5 to be no match for sb. – kein Gegner sein
1
2
• 96 •
whom you sent to the Tatars. We shall hear their conditions. Should they
demand a ransom, then we shall pay it if we are able.”
“And if we are not?” asks the warrior.
“Then I shall go to them myself and negotiate1 his release2 personally,” replies Timucin. Not only Ilhan’s father, but also Chuzir and many
other warriors look at him, astonished and almost incredulous3; only the
warmth in Arbesa’s eyes seems to grow.
“Should I not return,” he answers after a short, pregnant pause, “then
you will have to decide what to do.”
“My Khan,” shouts one of the men, his voice sounding more disbelieving4 than angry, “that will not help your father!”
“This is the coward’s way!” adds another.
“We are warriors, not wenches5 who can be traded like pawns6!”
There is a brief moment when it looks as if the mood may turn. Timucin can almost feel people rallying to Ilhan’s father, and he can almost
see his father’s disapproving7 look. His father has not only seen his son
beaten, but now how he is losing his tribe. This has never happened for
as long as there have been khans.
“Silence!” he shouts. Is he tricking himself8, or can he hear the roar of
huge, invisible wings throwing their shadow over the men?
“I know what you are thinking; I too feel it. Yet there is no honour in
spilling innocent blood when there is another path to take. I am no more
a coward than any of you, and if there is no other choice, of course we
shall take our weapons and free Tamer. Yet we shall try the way of the
word, before we take that of the sword. I have decided so, and you shall
obey me!”
negotiate – verhandeln
release – Freilassung
3 incredulous – ungläubig
4 disbelieving – ungläubig
5 wench – Weib
6 to trade sb. like a pawn – mit jdm. schachern
7 disapproving – vorwurfsvoll
8 to trick oneself – sich täuschen
1
2
• 97 •
Tr. 15 The invisible wings spread further; something is stiring in him, the power of
the dragon that is part of him. It is the legacy1 of his father, which he now
understands for the first time not to be the strength in his sword-arm nor
the accuracy2 of his bow, but something different and far more important.
Once again, there is an unpleasant silence. Everyone stares at him,
most of them disbelieving, astonished or angry, a few of them perhaps in
agreement. Then Ilhan’s father speaks quietly, disdainfully3, and looking
at Arbesa out of the corner of his eyes.
“Now we are ruled by women and children.”
Timucin slaps him in the face.
It is absurd. The warrior is more than a head taller than him and ten
times as strong, and a part of him knows that this is just the moment his
opponent has been waiting for. Several men suck their teeth and others
lower their hands to their swords and daggers. Ilhan’s father takes a step
back and begins to draw his sword. Suddenly, a big black form growls,
leaps4 and sinks its teeth into his arm.
The man screams, roaring as he falls back, and tries to use his other
arm to hit the dog, but it is no use, as the second dog has taken his other
hand. Deep in Timucin, the dragon stirs5, stretches its claws6 and, for a
moment, Timucin is sure that the warrior can see her. He is sure that he
can see into her eyes and can see something that shakes him to the depth
of his soul and fills his heart with fear, a fear so dark that it makes him
forget the black beasts biting at his arms. Time seems to become slower
as Timucin sees in fantastic clarity7 how one of the dogs lets his arm drop
and goes for his neck.
legacy – Erbe
accuracy – Treffsicherheit
3 disdainful – verächtlich
4 to leap – aufspringen, sich stürzen
5 to stir – sich regen
6 claws – Krallen
7 clarity – Klarheit
1
2
• 98 •
He wants the dog to bite; for a moment, for a short terrible moment,
he wants it to bite, wants nothing more than to see his fighting dogs
tear this man to pieces, this man who has dared to challenge him, the
khan, the ruler of this tribe; this man who has dared to insult him and
his bride. He can see his father again, the expression in his eyes as he
watched his son’s most shameful moment, and perhaps this is what he
owes his father, what his father expects of him. Perhaps he should spill
the blood of his enemy, let the entire tribe see his life be taken, see that
the rule1 of the stronger is still law2. It is in him, this power that is almost
the power of a dragon, an ancient power that seeks3 blood and triumph
and knows no mercy4. This is what Sarantuya means when she has talked
about the paths he can take. He does not even have to do anything: he
must only wait one more heartbeat and the fangs of his dogs will do it
for him – he will be khan.
“No!” he shouts. “Heel5!”
The dog’s teeth close on the man with a noise that sounds like a beartrap6 snapping shut. Yet it is not his throat that the dog bites, but a patch
of skin just under it. The second dog lets go of the man’s bleeding arm
and returns to Timucin.
“No,” says Timucin, now more quietly, almost to himself. “No, that is
not our path.”
Once again, it is as if time has slowed. Countless eyes are staring
at him. Many of the men are astounded7, shocked, completely helpless.
Each one is waiting for him to draw his sword and finish it himself. Instead, Timucin does something that surprises himself more than anyone
else. He stops the tempting, dark whispering inside himself, drops his
hand from his sword, and goes to the man to help him up.
rule – Herrschaft
law – Gesetz
3 to seek – etw. suchen, nach etw. gieren
4 to know no mercy – keine Gnade kennen
5 Heel! – (zu Hunden) Bei Fuß!
6 bear trap – Bärenfalle
7 astounded – verblüfft
1
2
• 99 •
Ilhan’s father looks at him, confused and scared, yet he takes his hand
and stands up, swaying1 on his feet. His eyes no longer burn with triumph and fury, but are a sea of uncertainty. He stands there for a moment, looking down at Timucin, before picking up his sword. He returns
it to his sheath2, tired. He sinks his head and speaks with real respect.
“Yes, my Khan, I shall obey you.”
And one day, you will understand me, too, adds Timucin in his thoughts.
He tries to smile at the man in his eyes, but the warrior avoids his gaze;
he seems shocked. Perhaps he understands before Timucin that it is this
moment that has made the boy into the khan, whether his father returns
or not.
“You may go now!” he says to everyone
DRACHENFRAGE
loudly after a pause. “Keep watch for3 the
What does Timucin decimessenger and tell me the instant he arrives.
de to do about saving his
It has been a long day and we all need peace
father from the Tatars?
4
.”
The
sound
of
huge
beating
wings
and rest
and sharp claws accompanies his every word,
but he can feel the tension dropping at the same time. One after another,
the men turn and go. Finally, Ilhan’s father is almost alone with them.
He looks at Timucin, then at Arbesa, then again at Timucin and goes,
leaving the couple to themselves. The dogs are at Timucin’s side.
Only Chuzir is left. He looks at Timucin in a way that makes him shiver.
“Thank you,” says Timucin.
“What for,” asks Chuzir. The sound of his voice frightens Timucin
even more than the look in his eyes.
“For being on my side,” he answers. “I do not know what would have
happened without you5.”
to sway – schwanken
sheath – Schwertscheide
3 to keep watch for sb. – nach jdm. Ausschau halten
4 rest – Ruhe
5 I do not know what would have happened without you – Ich weiß nicht, wie es ohne dich
ausgegangen wäre
1
2
• 100 •
“You are my brother in oath,” replies Chuzir.
This is not the answer that Timucin wants to hear, but he also feels
how pointless it would be to say another word. He nods silently, and
Chuzir understands that he now wishes to be alone with Arbesa. He
turns away obediently, but stops after a few paces and turns to them.
“Was he right?”
“About what?”
“That you have been too long with the other tribe,” says Chuzir. These
words hurt Timucin deeply, but he does not show it. Instead, he shakes
his head and smiles as if Chuzir has said something silly, but forgivable.
“No,” he replies. Nothing more. Chuzir seems even more disappointed,
but turns and leaves.
“That was incredibly1 brave of you,” says Arbesa.
“Was it? Or is he right?” Arbesa lays her hand softly on his shoulder.
“One day, he will understand you. He is your brother in oath and,
more importantly, he is your friend. Give him time.” Timucin is almost
ashamed and is just able to2 stop himself from pushing away her hand.
“I hope I am wrong, but I feel like I have destroyed what makes my
people special.” Arbesa laughs strangely at this.
“You have only destroyed what makes them bad. They will understand
you. You will become a great khan, who rules not by the sword, but by
wisdom.”
Yet is this really wisdom? Timucin takes a few steps back from her and
Arbesa lets her hand drop. She is disappointed, yet her eyes still smile at
him.
“You need time, too,” she says.
“Your people are known for their peaceful nature,” he answers, “which
I admire3 and envy4, but my people are not like this, not like yours.”
“Yet we too were once like you,” replies Arbesa, “until the dragons
showed us the right way. Have you never asked yourselves how we were
incredibly – unglaublich
to be just able – gerade noch können
3 to admire – bewundern
4 to envy – beneiden
1
2
• 101 •
able to live in peace with our neighbours? Why your father and mine are
friends, despite the fact that Tamer has attacked so many other tribes and
robbed them of their women, their animals and their treasure1?” As he
tries to answer, she talks further.
“I know what you want to say: there is no honour in attacking a tribe
of cowards,” she says, quoting him in scornful tone 2, “but we are no
more cowards than you. That is what you have felt, Timucin; it is the
power of the dragons that protects us. You have just learned something
very important, my love, and I am happy for you.”
“What have I learned?” asks Timucin. Arbesa does not answer, but the
silent voice of Sarantuya answers him for her. If you had done what the
men wanted and drawn your sword, you would have lost me.
Yet you won the fight for me, not I, answers Timucin silently. He did
not just imagine the dragon’s powerful force in his heart; he really has
her power, her invincibility3, just as much as anyone else here, including
Ilhan’s father. Sarantuya bent the will4 of the men, not him.
That is not true, answers the dragon. Her voice sounds as if she is
slightly amused, but it is warm and proud, too. It was your power that
they felt. You have always had it. I only showed you how you can best use it,
and I am proud of you, my Khan.
]
treasure – Schatz
in scornful tone – in verächtlichem Tonfall
3 invincibility – Unbesiegbarkeit
4 to bend sb.’s will – jds. Willen beugen
1
2
• 102 •
Fantasy-Vokabular
to swear an oath einen Eid schwören
brave wacker, mutig
battle Schlacht
attack Angriff
castle Schloss
wise weise
creature Wesen
darkness Finsternis
defender Verteidiger
to forge schmieden
legend Mythos
secret Geheimnis
to fight valiantly sich tapfer schlagen
noble edel
to harry verheeren, plündern
to spill blood Blut vergießen
to banish sb. jdn. verbannen, verjagen
to pillage plündern
combat Kampf
to curse oneself sich verfluchen
leader Anführer
magician Magier
bandit Räuber
to lay waste to sth. etw. verwüsten
to quake beben, zittern
to rule herrschen
• 103 •
Englisch-deutsche Wortliste
a mere boy
a tie
above all
abruptly
accompany
accordingly
accuracy
acrimonious
admire
affection
after all
against his own will
alertly
all of a sudden
all the more
all too
although he would
not have thought it
possible
although his live
might depend on it
ambush sb.
ancient
And talk they did.
(veraltet)
and that is that
anger and fury
angrily
animosity
any
apologise
apparently
approach sb.
appropriate
armed
arrow
arrow-flight
artfully carved
artfully engraved
metal plates
artisan
as befits someone of
his rank
bloß ein Junge
unentschieden
vor allem
mit einem Ruck
begleiten
entsprechend
Treffsicherheit
feindselig
bewundern
Zuneigung
immerhin, schließlich
gegen seinen Willen
wachsam
so plötzlich
umso
allzu
obwohl er es nicht für
möglich gehalten
hätte
obwohl sein Leben
davon abhängen
könnte
jmd. auflauern
uralt
Und so geschah es.
Fertig!
Zorn und Wut
aufgebracht
Feindseligkeit
irgendein
sich entschuldigen
scheinbar, vermeintlich
sich jdm. annähern
gebührend
bewaffnet
Pfeil
Entfernung, die ein
Pfeil fliegt
kunstvoll geschnitzt
kunstvoll verzierter
Überzug von
Metallplättchen
Kunsthandwerker
wie es seinem Rang
zukommt
as if it had just landed
there
as if it were the most
natural thing in the
world
as is custom
as is their right
as it seems to him
as long as you are in
existence
as smooth as it is
strong
as well as the next
man
as yet
assume
astonished
astounded
astride
at sb.’s expense
at the bottom of his
heart
at the edge of his
consciousness
attempt
avoid sb.
wie zufällig
wie selbstverständlich
wie üblich ist
wie es ihnen zusteht
wie ihm scheint
solange es euch gibt
ebenso fließend wie
kraftvoll
so gut wie jeder
andere
bislang
annehmen
erstaunt
verblüfft
rittlings
auf jmds. Kosten
im Grunde seines
Herzens
am Rande seines
Bewußtseins
Versuch
jdm. aus dem Weg
gehen
avoid sb.’s gaze
jds. Blick ausweichen
awake
wecken, erwecken
awakening
Erwachen
awful
schrecklich
bad intention
böse Absicht
baggage train
Tross
bank
Ufer
bare
blank, nackt
bare one’s teeth
die Zähne blecken
barely
kaum
barely be able to keep kaum damit nachkomup with
men, etw. zu tun
battle
Schlacht
be a question of sth.
an etw. liegen
be about
gerade dabei sein,
etw. tun
be anxious to do sth. es eilig haben, etw.
zu tun
be aware of sth.
sich einer Sache
bewusst sein
• 104 •
be to blame for
be even
be in the mood to
do sth.
be in the right
be incapable of doing
sth.
be just able
be no match for sb.
be of danger to
someone
be on one’s own
be overjoyed
be responsible for
sth.
be sb.’s fault
be scared stiff
be taken prisoner
an etwas schuld sein
gleichauf liegen
in der Stimmung sein,
etw. zu machen
Recht haben
nicht in der Lage sein,
etw. zu tun
gerade noch können
kein Gegner sein
jdm. gefährlich werden
alleine sein
große Freude haben
etw. zu verantworten
haben
jds. Fehler sein
vor Angst erstarrt sein
in Gefangenschaft
geraten
be walking on thin ice sich auf dünnem Eis
bewegen
be willing to give
Willens sein, mit
one’s life
seinem Leben
einzustehen
be worthy of sth.
etw. wert sein
beam
strahlen
bear
ertragen
bear trap
Bärenfalle
beast
Bestie
beat to death
erschlagen
beat up
verprügeln
beauty
Schönheit
become aware of sth. sich etw. bewusst
werden
befriend sb.
sich mit jdm. anfreunden
behave
sich verhalten
behave oneself
sich benehmen
bellow
brüllen
bend down
sich bücken
bend sb.’s will
jds. Willen beugen
benevolently
gütig, wohlwollend
bent
krumm
beseech sb. to help
jds. Hilfe erflehen
beside the point
nebenbei
besides
außerdem
bet
wetten
betray
verraten, betrügen
betrothed (veraltet)
Verlobte(r)
better built
kräftiger
beyond
mehr als
bitterness
Bitterkeit
blade
blame sb.
blatant
blindly
bloodthirsty
blow
blow a kiss
bluntly
blurred
blush
boisterous
bolt like a hare
bolt upright
bother
boundary
boundless
bowstring
braid
brave
breastplate
breath of fire
bride
bridle
brief instant
brusquely
buckle
bully
bundle
burden
burrow into sth.
burst
but (veraltet)
But you would never
do a thing like that,
would you?
by chance
by the same token
calibre
called to the gods
chainmail vest
challenge
challenge sb. for sth.
change the subject
chase
chatter
cheek
cheer on
cheerful mood
• 105 •
Stahl
jdn. beschuldigen
unverhohlen
blindlings
blutrünstig
Schlag
einen Kuss hauchen
geradeheraus
verschwommen
Schamesröte
ausgelassen
wie ein Hase davonlaufen
kerzengerade
stören
Grenze
grenzlos, endlos
Sehne
(Haar) flechten
tapfer
Brustharnisch
Feueratem
Braut
Zügel
kurzer Moment
brüsk
schnüren
Raufbold
Bündel
Last
sich in etw. graben
bersten, platzen
nur, gerade einmal
Aber so etwas käme
dir niemals in den
Sinn, oder?
zufällig
umgekehrt
Qualität
zu den Göttern
gerufen
Kettenhemd
herausfordern
jdm. etw. streitig
machen
das Thema wechseln
fortjagen
klappern
Wange
anfeuern
heitere/aufgeräumte
Stimmung
cheerful peal of
laughter
chortle
Chuzir is bound to…
circle around sb.
claim
clansman
clarity
clash
claw
clench one’s fists
cling sth.
clink
clothing
cloud
club
clumsy
coat
cock (a weapon)
companion
condition
confused
conquer
consider
contempt
contemptuous
contorted
contradict
contrary to his first
impressions
conviction
convincing
count oneself lucky
couple
courage
court sb.
coward
crack
crackle
cripple
crouch
cue
curious
curl one’s lip in scorn
curse oneself
fröhliches Gelächter
curt
glucksen
Chuzir wird bestimmt…
jdn. umkreisen
behaupten
Sippenangehöriger
Klarheit
aufeinanderprallen
Kralle
die Fäuste ballen
an etw. kleben
klimpern
Kleidung, Kleider
bewölken
Knüppel
ungelenk, ungeschickt
Fell
(eine Waffe) spannen
Gefährte
Bedingung
verwirrt
überwinden, besiegen
sich überlegen, sich
zurechtlegen
(Worte, Gedanken),
etwas abwägen
Verachtung
verächtlich
verzerrt
widersprechen,
erwidern
entgegen seines ersten
Eindruckes
Überzeugung
überzeugend
sich zu den Glücklichen zählen
Paar
Mut
jdm. den Hof machen
Feigling
Knall
knistern
lähmen
sich docken
Stichwort, Zeichen
neugierig
die Lippen verächtlich
schürzen
sich verfluchen
cymbal
dagger
dangle
dare to do sth.
dart
dash off
dawn
days at a time
decorated
defence
defenceless
defensively
defiant
defy sb.
degrading
dejected
deliberately
deny
derogatory
deserve
desperate
despite the fact
that…
die away
die down
dignity
disappoint
disapproving
disbelieving
disdain
disdainful
dishonourable
dismissive
dispel
dispute
dissolve
dive
do right
do sb. harm
Don’t be like that
about it!
Don’t you worry!
doubt
• 106 •
einsilbig, kurz, knapp
(Antwort)
Zimbel (Instrument:
Glockenspiel)
Dolch
baumeln
es wagen, etw. zu tun
Pfeil
lossprengen
Sonnenaufgang
aufeinanderfolgende
Tage
verziert
Verteidigung
wehrlos
im Tonfall der Verteidigung
herausfordernd
sich jdm. widersetzen
entwürdigend
niedergeschlagen
ganz bewusst, mit
Absicht
leugnen
abfällig
verdienen
verzweifelt
trotz der Tatsache,
dass…
verrauchen, abebben
zum Erliegen/zur Ruhe
kommen
Würde
enttäuschen
vorwurfsvoll
ungläubig
Verachtung, Hohn
verächtlich
schändlich, unehrenhaft
verachtungsvoll
vertreiben, zerstreuen
bestreiten
sich auflösen
tauchen
richtig handeln
jdm. etw. zuleide tun
Tu nicht so!
Mach dir keine
Sorgen!
zweifeln
downright lie
dozen
drag one’s feet
Dragons, of all
creatures!
draw its close
glatte Lüge
Dutzend
schlurfen
Ausgerechnet Drachen!
sich seinem Ende
entgegen neigen
drink oneself into
sich bis zur Bewusstunconsciousness
losigkeit zu betrinken
drive
treiben
drown sb.
jdn. ertränken
drubbing
Prügel
during daylight hours tagsüber
effusive
überschwänglich
either
nicht einmal
either... or...
entweder... oder...
elation
Hochgefühl
elevating
erhebend
embarrass oneself
sich in Verlegenheit
bringen
embarrassed
verlegen
embellish a sry
eine Geschichte
ausschmücken
embrace
umarmen
empathy
Mitgefühl
endanger
gefährden
engagement period
Verlobungszeit
engraved
eingraviert
enter the fray
sich einmischen
entirely
ganz
entourage
Gefolge
envy
beneiden
equally
ebenso
er
ähm
escape sb.’s notice
jdm. verborgen bleiben
especially where his
besonders zu seinem
son is concerned
Sohn
eternal
ewig
eternity
Ewigkeit
eventually
schließlich
ever so slightly
ein kleines bisschen
Every man would give Jeder würde sonst was
his eye teeth to…
tun, um…
exaggerated
übertrieben
excess
Übermaß
excuse
Vorwand, Ausrede
exercise
vollführen, ausführen,
ausüben
exhausted
erschöpft
exquisite
vorzüglich, auserlesen
exude
ausstrahlen
eye sb.
eyes wide open
fabric
face sth.
facial expression
faint but deep
stabbing pain
fake
falter
familiar
fang
feared
feast
feasting
features
feel around
feint
fellow
female
fend off
fermented sheep’s
milk
festive
fierce
mustern, beäugen
(kritisch, misstrauisch)
die Augen weit aufgerissen
Stoff
sich etw. aussetzen,
stellen
Gesichtsausdruck
kleiner, aber stechender Schmerz
aufgesetzt, vorgetäuscht
stocken
vertraut
Fang (Kralle oder
Reißzahn)
gefürchtet
Gelage
Festmahl
Gesichtszüge
herumtasten
Finte (Fechten)
Kerl
weiblich
abwehren
vergorene Schafsmilch
feierlich
kratzbürstig, heftig,
wild
fight bravely
sich tapfer schlagen
fill sb. with horror
jdn. mit Entsetzen
erfüllen
finally
schließlich
fine-woven chainmail fein gewobenes
shirt
Kettenhemd
fittingly
angemessen, wie es
sich geziemt
flank
Flanke, flankieren
flash one’s eyes at sb. jdn. anfunkeln
flashes of lightning
Blitze
flat
matt
fleeting
kurz, scheu, flüchtig
flint
Feuerstein
flowing
fließend
flutter
flattern
flutter one’s eyelids
mit den Augenlidern
klimpern
fly off
davonfliegen
foal
Fohlen
• 107 •
follow suit
food supplies
foodstuff
for many days’ ride
for once
for whatever reason
forge
forgive
forked
form
formality
frequently
fright
frightened yelp
from this day forth
frown
furious
furrowed brow
garment
gasp
gather
gentle
gesture to sb. to do
sth.
get involved in
get off lightly
giggle
give advance notice
of sth.
give way to sth.
glimmer
glint
glinting sword
glow
go about one’s daily
work
go too far
go red
go unnoticed
gods
good-tempered
grant sb. a wish
grasp
grasp tighter
grave
great in number
es jdm. gleichtun,
nachziehen
Vorräte
Lebensmittel
im Umkreis vieler
Tagesritte
ausnahmsweise
warum auch immer
schmieden
verzeihen
verzweigt
Gestalt
Förmlichkeit
häufig
Angst
erschrecktes Jaulen
vom heutigen Tag
an (Redewendung,
poetisch)
die Stirn runzeln
zornig
gerunzelte Stirn
Gewand
keuchen
zusammenlaufen
sanftmütig
jdm. bedeuten, etw.
zu tun
sich in etw. eimischen
leicht davonkommen
kichern
etw. ankündigen
etw. Platz machen
Funke, Schimmer
glitzern
blitzendes Schwert
Leuchten
sein Tageswerk
verrichten
zu weit gehen
rot werden
unbemerkt bleiben
die Götter
gutmütig
einen Wunsch erfüllen
ergreifen
sich fester schließen
um
fürchterlich
groß an der Zahl
greatly desire to do
sth. (veraltet)
grin
grind one’s teeth
groan
growl at someone
grudge
grumpy
grunt
gulp down
half-hearted
hangover
hardened leather
harmless cuts
has never seen it
before
have ground cover
have the decency to
do sth.
have trouble doing
sth.
Have you lost your
mind?
He cannot stop
himself from
grinning.
he does not feel like
laughing
he has been hoping
he has been waiting
for him for some
time
he has stopped being
suprised by it
he is almost convincing as he pretends
to…
he was never one for
too many words
he wouldn’t have
made it here
heal
heartbeat
heavy
Heel!
helpless
hew
high-pitched
• 108 •
etw. sehr gerne
machen wollen
grinsen
mit den Zähnen
knirschen
stöhnen, ächzen
jdn. anknurren
Groll
griesgrämig, mürrisch
grunzen
herunterschlingen
lahm, lasch
Kater
gehärtetes Leder
harmlose Schnittwunden
hat es nie zuvor
gesehen
Weg zurücklegen
müssen
den Anstand besitzen,
etw. zu tun
schwer fallen, etw.
zu tun
Bist du noch ganz bei
Trost?
Er kann ein Grinsen
nicht unterdrücken.
ihm ist nicht nach
Lachen zumute
er hatte gehofft
er wartet schon eine
Weile auf ihn
Er hatte längst aufgehört, sich darüber zu
wundern.
Beinahe überzeugend
tut er so, als würde…
Er war nie ein Mann
überflüssiger Worte
Er hätte den Weg
nicht geschafft
heilen
Herzschlag
massig
Bei Fuß! (zu Hunden)
hilflos
hauen, meißeln
hell (Stimme)
high-pitched voice
hilt
hind legs
hip-length, ravenblack
his brow furrowed
quizzically
his eyes flash with
fury
his jaw drops
hiss
hollow
honorable
honour
hoof (pl. hooves)
horrified
horsey
hostile
hover
How so?
however
hug sb.
huge claws
human
hunch
I beg your pardon
(veraltet)
I do not know what
would have happened without you
I have heard tell
(veraltet)
I would have just
about been able to
handle it.
icy
if at all
if it is anything to
go by…
If it were any different, I would never
have come to you.
if need be
If she takes after her
mother…
If that were not the
case, I wouldn’t
have chosen you
impenetrable
hohe, schrille Stimme
Heft (Waffen)
Hinterläufe
hüftlang und rabenschwarz
die Stirn fragend
gerunzelt
Seine Augen blitzen
vor Wut.
sein Unterkiefer klappt
herunter
zischen
nicht ganz echt (Lachen, Lob, usw.)
ehrenwürdig
Ehre
Huf
entsetzt
pferdenärrisch
feindselig
schweben
Wieso?
jedoch
jdn. in die Arme
schließen
riesige Klauen
menschlich
Ahnung, Bauchgefühl
Verzeihung
Ich weiß nicht, wie es
ohne dich ausgegangen wäre
Man hat mir gesagt
Ich wäre damit schon
zurecht gekommen.
eisig
wenn überhaupt
wenn er das richtig
deutet…
Wäre es anders, wäre
ich niemals zu dir
gekommen.
wenn es sein muss
Wenn sie nach ihrer
Mutter kommt…
Wäre es anders,
hätte ich dich nicht
gewählt
undurchdringlich
in a deliberately
commanding tone
in honour of
in mid-flow
in the depths of his
heart
inaudible
incredibly
incredulous
indecent
indescribable
infinitely
insist on sth.
instant
instantly
insult
interruption
intimate
invincibility
invisible
iron
Is this supposed to
be…? (ironisch)
It is a great source of
pain to him that…
It is told that (veraltet)
It must have flown…
in absichtlich gebieterischem Tonfall
zur Ehre von
mitten im Satz
tief in seinem Herzen
unhörbar
unglaublich
ungläubig
unanständig
unbeschreibbar,
unermesslich
unendlich
auf etw. bestehen,
beharren
Moment, Augenblick
schlagartig
beleidigen
Unterbrechung
vertraut, intim
Unbesiegbarkeit
unsichtbar
Eisen
Soll das jetzt … sein?
Es schmerzt ihn sehr,
dass…
Man sagt, dass…; Es
wird erzählt, dass...
Es muss… geflogen
sein
It sends a shiver
Ihm läuft ein Schauer
down his spine
über den Rücken
It wouldn’t have been Es wäre unfair
gewesen, dich zu
fair to put you to
beschämen
shame
jab sb. in the ribs
jdm. einen Rippenstoß
versetzen
jingle
klimpern, klirren
jokey
scherzhaft
jovial
heiter, gut gelaunt
joviality
Fröhlichkeit
judge by sth.
nach etw. zu urteilen
just about know how mit etw. einigermaßen
to handle sth.
umgehen können
Just be patient
nur Geduld
just don’t you go
bild dir bloß nichts ein
getting any ideas
Just imagine…
Denk dir einfach…
mühsam beherrscht
just managing to
keep control of
himself
• 109 •
just the very idea
keen stare
keep up with
keep watch for sb.
khan
kneel down
kneel on someone
knight
know no mercy
lad
lamb and mutton
land a hit
lap
laugh at sb.
laughter
law
leap
leash
leave off sth.
legacy
let alone
let sb. off lightly
(Umgangssprache)
lewd
links
listen attentively
listen intently
lively
livestock
look sb. up and down
lookout
loose
lordly
loyal
lunge at sb. all the
more bitterly
magnificent
make a low bow
make a request
make out
allein die Vorstellung
aufmerksamer Blick
Tempo mit jmd.
mithalten
nach jdm. Ausschau
halten
Herrscher über ein
Reiternomadenvolk
niederknien
auf jdm. knien
Ritter
keine Gnade kennen
Bursche, Junge
Lamm- und Hammelfleisch
einen Treffer anbringen
Schoß
sich über jdn. lustig
machen
Gelächter
Gesetz
aufspringen, sich
stürzen
festbinden
etw. lassen, etw.
unterlassen
Erbe
geschweige denn
Rücksicht auf jdn.
nehmen
anzüglich
Glieder (z. B. von
einer Kette)
aufmerksam auf jedes
Wort lauschen
aufmerksam zuhören
wach
Vieh
vom Kopf bis Fuß
mustern
Späher
locker
herrisch
treu
sich noch verbissener
auf jdn. stürzen
prachtvoll
sich tief verbeugen
eine Bitte äußern
erkennen
make sb. shiver
make sure that…
make to do sth.
makes as if to…
malice
malicious
mangy
marry sb.
masterfully
matters
measure one’s
strength
mercilessly
mighty
mind
mingle with people
mischief
mischievous
miserable state
mishear
miss
misunderstanding
mixed feelings
moan
mock-clueless
mock-disappointed
mocking
moo
moons
moreover
motion sb. to do sth.
muffled
mumble
murderous rage
murmur
mutt
my lord
My, oh my!
nagging
nakedness
nasty comment
neglect
• 110 •
jdm. einen grausamen
Strich spielen
sichergehen, dass…
etw. machen wollen;
sich aufmachen,
etw. zu tun
macht eine Bewegung,
als ob…
Heimtücke
heimtückisch
räudig
jdn. heiraten
meisterhaft
Dinge, Angelegenheiten
seine Kräfte messen
unerbittlich
mächtig
Geist, Sinn, Bewusstsein
sich unter Leute
mischen
Schalk
schelmisch, spitzbübisch
bejammernswerter
Zustand
sich verhören
verfehlen
Missverständnis
gemischte Gefühle
Stöhnen
gespielt ahnungslos
gespielt enttäuscht
höhnisch, spöttelnd
muhen
volle Monde, Monate
zudem, darüber hinaus
jdm. mit einer Geste
gebieten, etw. zu tun
gedämpft
murmeln
Mordlust
murmeln
Köter
mein Herr
Ach du meine Güte!
Neckerei
Nackheit
giftige Bemerkung
vernachlässigen
negotiate
neigh
nestle
noble
nod in the direction
of
nod one’s approval
nontheless
not be in a hurry
not intended to be
used like that
not yet
obedient
obey
object
obvious
odd
of one’s own accord
offended
on closer inspection
once
one day
One mistake all too
often leads directly
to another
onlooker
Only then does he…
(veraltet)
out loud
out of breath
outdo each other
outraged
overdone commanding gesture
owe allegiance
ox (pl. oxen)
paces
pain in the neck
palm
parry
passable bowman
pasture
pat on the shoulder
patch of woods
path
verhandeln
wiehern
sich schmiegen
edel
eine Kopfbewegung
in eine Richtung
machen
zustimmend nicken
nichtsdestotrotz
es nicht eilig haben
nicht dafür gedacht
pathetic
paw
pay sb. back for sth.
peat
persuade sb. to do
sth.
phlegm
physical sense
noch nicht
gehorsam
gehorchen
aufbegehren
einleuchtend
komisch
von sich aus
beleidigt
bei näherer Betrachtung
wenn erst einmal
eines Tages
ein Fehler zieht nur
zu oft den nächsten
nach sich
Zuschauer
Erst dann…
laut
außer Atem
sich gegenseitig
überbieten
empört, entrüstet,
schockiert
übertrieben befehlende Geste
Treue/Gehorsam
schuldig sein
Ochse
Schritte
Nervensäge
Handfläche
Parade (Fechten)
leidlich guter Bogenschütze
Weide
Schulterklopfen
Waldstück
Weg
piece of advice
pillager
pitch a tent
plate
plate armour
play down
pleasantly
pointless
preceding
precious
predator
predict
presence
present
pretend to do sth.
prey
prod and poke
properly
property
prophecy
prophesy
prosperous
protect oneself
provoke sb.
prudish
pull
pull a face
pummel sb.
pure
pursue
put one’s finger on
sth.
put one’s foot down
(Redewendung)
puzzled
quake
qualm
• 111 •
kläglich, lächerlich,
unsinnig
Tatze
jdm. etw. heimzahlen
Torf
jdn. dazu überreden,
etw. zu machen
Rotz, Schleim
körperliches/spürbares Empfinden
Ratschlag
Plünderer
einen Zelt aufschlagen
Teller
Rüstung, Panzerung
überspielen, übertünchen
freundlich
sinnlos, zwecklos
zurückliegend
kostbar
Raubtier
vorhersagen
Gegenwart, Nähe
anwesend
vorgeben, etwas zu
tun; so tun, als ob
Beute
stupsen und knuffen
standesgemäß
Besitz
Prophezeiung
prophezeien
wohlhabend, gedeihend
sich schützen
jdn. reizen
schamhaft
ziehen
das Gesicht verziehen
mit Fäusten auf jdn.
einschlagen
rein
verfolgen
etw. genau ausmachen
ein Machtwort
sprechen
fragend, verwirrt
zittern, beben (earthquake: Erdbeben)
Hemmung, Bedenken
quarters
quite a bit
quite happily
quiver
quizzically
rain down blows
on sb.
raise
rally sb.
Quartier, Bleibe
ein gutes Stück
(ironisch) sehr gern
Köcher
fragend (Blick)
auf jdn. einprügeln
rob sb. of sth.
großziehen
sich auf jds. Seite
schlagen
ram
rammen
ransom
Lösegeld
rarely
selten
rattle
scheppern
really come into one’s regelrecht aufblühen
own (Redewendung)
reason
Vernunft
reason to worry
Grund zur Beunruhigung
recoil from sth.
von etw. zurückschrecken
reconsider
sich eines Besseren
besinnen
recover
sich erholen
reflection
Spiegelbild
refuse
sich weigern
regain one’s strength neue Kraft schöpfen
regret having done
bereuen, etw. gemacht
sth.
zu haben
release
Freilassung
relieved
erleichtert
reluctant
widerstrebend,
unwillig
remark
Bemerkung
repel
vetreiben, zurückweisen, abwehren
replace
ersetzen
reproach
Vorwurf
reproachfully
vorwurfsvoll
resentment
Groll
rest
Ruhe
resume
wieder aufnehmen
resurface
wieder auftauchen
retire (veraltet)
sich zurückziehen
reveal oneself
sich zeigen
rib sb.
jdn. necken
riches
Reichtümer
riddle
Rätsel
ride
Ritt
ridiculous
lächerlich
rip-off merchant
Halsabschneider
rock
rough
rubbish
rule
rumour
rush away
saddle up a horse
scales
scaly tail
sceptically
scoff
scoffing
scorn
scornful
screw up one’s eyes
scum
seek
send sth. flying
serious
serve sb.
set off
set sb. on sb.
shaggy-coated
monstrosity
shake
shallow
shame
shameless
sharp
sharpen
She doesn’t like being
kept waiting.
sheath
sheepskin
sheer force
shield
shimmer
shimmering
shot
shoulder blade
shove
show sth./sb. off
show us what you’ve
got (Umgangssprache)
• 112 •
jdn. einer Sache
berauben, etw.
wegnehmen
Felsen
grob, derb
Blödsinn
Herrschaft
Gerede, Gerüchte
davonhuschen
ein Pferd satteln
Schuppen
schuppiger Schwanz
skeptisch, misstrauisch
spötteln
spöttisch
Spott, Hohn
spöttisch, höhnisch,
verächtlich
blinzeln
Abschaum
etw. suchen, nach etw.
gieren
etw. in großem Bogen
werfen
ernst
jdm. dienen
loslegen
jdn. jmd. auf den Hals
hetzen
zotteliges Ungetüm
zittern
flach
Scham
unverschämt
scharf
schleifen, schärfen
Sie wartet nicht gerne.
Schwertscheide
Schaffell
pure Wucht
Schild
schimmern
Flirren
Schütze; auch: Schuss
Schulterblatt
schubsen, schlagen
jdn./etw. vorzeigen
zeig uns, was in dir
steckt
shrug one’s shoulders mit den Achseln
zucken
shy
schüchtern
sideways
schräg
sigh
Seufzer
silvery, bright
silberhell
since I’m here
wenn ich schon einmal
anyway
hier bin
sink in slumber
in Schlummer sinken
sit neatly
gut liegen, gut sitzen
size up
mustern
skill
Geschick
slap
Klatsch, Ohrfeige
sich selbst ohrfeigen
slap oneself in the
face
slaver
Geifer
slay (veraltet)
erschlagen
sleepiness
Schlaftrunkenheit
slender
schmal
slide over
hinübergleiten
slightly odd
etwas merkwürdig
sling
werfen
slip
gleiten
slobber
sabbern
smack sb. in the face jdm. eine Ohrfeige
verpassen
smirk
schmunzeln, grinsen
smooth
geschmeidig
smouldering
lodernd
smutty
anzüglich
snake-like
schlängelnd
snap
schnappen
snappish
schnippisch
snarl
fauchen
sneer
spötteln
snort
schnauben
so as to seize him by um ihn an der Schulter
the shoulder
zu ergreifen
so far
bisher
so this is how you…
ist das vielleicht eine
Art
soaking wet
tropfnass
Irgendetwas stimmt
Something is not
hier nicht
right here (Redewendung)
something of that
so etwas in der
nature
Richtung
something to hold
Halt
onto
soothe
beruhigen
sorrow
Trauer
soul
Seele
spark
spear
spill blood
spin
spirits
spiteful
splash
splendid bow
split
splutter
spread
squeak
squint
stalk
stand on end
stare at sb.
starry
status
steal into (veraltet)
steed (veraltet)
steer
step in
stiffen
still as a statue
stir
stomp
stony-faced
stooge
stop still
straight as an arrow
(Redewendung)
straight away
straight face
straighten one’s
shoulders
streak
stress
strict
stride
strike (veraltet)
string
stroke
stroke one’s chin with
the back of one’s
hand
stroll
struggle to do sth.
struggle for power
stuffy
• 113 •
Funke
Spieß
Blut vergießen
sich drehen
Alkohol, Spirituosen
gehässig
plätschern
prachtvoller Bogen
aufplatzen
prusten
sich verbreiten
quietschen
blinzeln
belauern
sich aufstellen (Haare)
jdn. anstarren
sternenübersät
Stand
sich hineinschleichen
Ross
lenken
einschreiten
erstarren
reglos wie eine Statue
sich regen
stapfen
mit versteinertem
Gesicht
Strohmann, Stichwortgeber
erstarren
kerzengerade
gleich
scheinbar ernst
die Schultern straffen
Spur
betonen
streng
Schritt
schlagen
Leine
streifen
sich mit dem Handrücken über das Kinn
fahren
schlendern
sich anstrengen, etw.
zu machen
Machtkampf
stickig
stunning
toll, fantastisch,
überwältigend
stutter
stammeln
succeed
erfolgreich sein
such
dergestalt, so, solchermaßen
suck air past the
Luft duch die Zähne
teeth
ziehen
suffer sth.
etwas erleiden
suffice
genügen
suspect
mutmaßen, etwas
unterstellen
sway
schwanken
swear
fluchen
swear an oath
ein Eid schwören
sympathetic
mitfühlend
tail between its legs
eingeklemmter
Schwanz
take hold of sth.
nach etw. greifen
taken aback
verdattert
Tamer mag es zwar
Tamer may not yet
bislang noch nie so
have said it as
direkt gesagt haben,
directly as he has
wie jetzt…
now…
tangible
spürbar
target
Ziel
taunting
stichelnd
tear (tore, torn)
reißen (riss, gerissen)
tear sb. to shreds
zerfleischen
tease
necken, ärgern
temptation
Verlockung
ten times smaller
zehnmal so klein
tender bond
zartes Band, zarte
Bindung
tense
angespannt
tension
Anspannung
terrified
erschrocken
that thinks it is a dog das sich einbildet, ein
Hund zu sein
that you can almost
die man fast mit Hänreach out and grasp
den greifen kann
That’s about the size So ungefähr kommt
of it, right?
das doch hin, oder?
the day before
vorgestern
yesterday
the debt you owe to
was ihr eurem
your future ruler
künftigen Herrscher
schuldig seid
the elders
die Ältesten
the heavens (verder Himmel
altet)
the odd… (Umgangssprache)
there is no use
there’s always someone around
think oneself lucky
this is not the done
thing (Redewendung)
Those millennia just
fly by…
thoughtful
threatening
throbbing headache
thump
thunder
tie a pennant to sth.
tie up
tighter
to the day
touch of mockery
trace
trade sb. like a pawn
treasure
tremendous
tribal chief
tribe
trick oneself
troop
trusted
tunic
turn on one’s heels
tussle
twig
twilight
unarmed
uncanny
uncertain
uncomfortable
undergarments
undergrowth
undo
unlike you
unmistakably
untangle
untouched by the
hand of man
• 114 •
der eine oder andere…
es nutzt gar nicht
irgendeiner wird sich
schon finden
sich glücklich schätzen
das schickt sich nicht
Die paar tausend
Jahre…
nachdenklich
drohend
hämmernde Kopfschmerzen
klopfen
Donner
Wimpel an etwas
befestigen
zuschnüren
fester
auf den Tag genau
ein Anflug von Spott
Spur
mit jdm. schachern
Schatz
gewaltig
Stammesfürst
Sippe, Volk, Volksstamm
sich täuschen
Trupp
treu
Rock
auf dem Absatz
herumfahren
Gerangel
Zweig
Zwielicht
unbewaffnet
unheimlich
unsicher
unangenehm
Unterwäsche
Gebüsch, Unterholz
lösen
im Gegensatz zu dir
eindeutig, unmissverständlich
entwirren
unberührt von Menschenhand
unusual failure
ungewöhnliches
Versagen
up to you
eure Sache
upright
aufrecht
urgent
aufdringlich
utter rogue
unverschämter
Bursche
valuable
wertvoll
veil
Schleier
veiled
verschleiert
vermin
Ungeziefer
wade
waten
wag a tail
mit dem Schwanz
wedeln
wander
sich irren
war council
Kriegsrat
warped
schief, verzogen
warrior
Krieger
watch closely
genau beobachten
weakness
Schwäche
wealth
Reichtum
wealthy
wohlhabend
weaponry
Waffen, Bewaffnung
weather-beaten
wettergegerbt
weave in and out
tänzeln
weight
Gewicht
well past its highest
den Zenit überschritpoint
ten
well up
aufwallen
wench
Weib
What a cheek!
So eine Unverschämtheit!
What if I don’t?
Und wenn nicht?
whatever it may be
ganz gleich, was es ist
When it comes down Wenn es darauf
to it…
ankommt…
whilst (auch: while)
während
whimper
winseln
whisper
flüstern
whistle
pfeifen
whizz past
vorbeischießen,
vorbeijagen
Who else?
(ironisch) Wer denn
sonst?
die nur zufällig in
who just happen to
zwei verschiedenen
live in two different
Körpern leben
bodies
Who would be able to Welches Mädchen
würde diesem
resist him looking
Anblick wohl widerlike this?
stehen?
whoop and clap
johlen und klatschen
wick
winding
wings
wink conspirarially
wipe sth. down
wipe sth. off the face
of the earth
wisdom
with a frown
with all the strength
he has
without even having
tasted
without having been
asked
withstand
Women are good at
that sort of thing
Woof woof!
Would you have liked
that?
wound
wrap sth. around sth.
wring out
yank
yap
yawn
you owe me one
you would have had
to have killed it
You’re not as special
as all that
yurt
• 115 •
Docht
gewunden
Schwingen
verschwörerisch
zwinkern
etw. abwischen
etw. vom Antlitz dieser
Welt vertilgen
Weisheit
stirnrunzelnd
mit aller Kraft
ohne auch nur gekostet zu haben
uneingeladen
widerstehen
Darin sind Frauen gut,
Frauen können so
etwas
Wauwau
Hätte dir das gefallen?
Wunde
etw. um etw. herumschlingen
auswringen
reißen, ziehen
kläffen
gähnen
ich habe etwas gut
bei dir
du hättest ihn töten
müssen
So etwas Besonderes
bist du nicht
Jurte, Rundzelt
]
]
Aufgaben
Brothers in Oath
1. Weaponry
In der Lebensweise der Steppenkrieger spielen Waffen eine wichtige Rolle.
Kannst du diese Waffen mit den richtigen deutschen Übersetzungen
verbinden?
1. spear
a) Axt
2. sword and shield
b) Harnisch
3. bow and arrow
c) Speer
4. armour
d) Pfeil und Bogen
5. axe
e) Schwert und Schild
Im Deutschen ist es üblich
„Pfeil und Bogen“ zu sagen,
im Englischen ist es
umgekehrt.
The Dream Dragon
2. Moonlit dream-world
In diesem Textausschnitt über den Drachen Sarantuya sind einige Wörter im
Zwielicht des Traumes nicht sofort erkennbar. Kreise die richtige Variante
ein, um den Text zu vervollständigen.
Sarantuya squints as the moonlight in the dream breaks on her scales / scupper / dandruff and then flows down her flanks, mingling / tingling / jingling lightly
as if, somewhere far away, a thousand cymbals / trumpets / drums are being
struck. It is always night in Timucin’s dreams when Sarantuya comes to him,
and there is always fullmoon / a full moon / a fullmoon. He has stopped being
surprised by it.
3. Dragon anatomy
In den folgenden Sätzen beschreibt Timucin das Aussehen seines Drachen.
Allerdings hat er nicht immer die passenden Wörter, um die sehr spezielle
• 116 •
Anatomie eines solchen Wesens treffend zu beschreiben. Hilf ihm, indem du
seine Beschreibungen mit dem richtigen Begriff verknüpfst. Übersetze die
Begriffe danach ins Deutsche!
1. Sarantuya has really big, sharp teeth.
a) claws
2. She does not have skin, but lots of shiny flakes. b) fangs
3. My dragon has very long, hard, pointy nails.
c) flanks
4. Sarantuya’s sides are large and flat.
d) scales
Vom Adjektiv „sharp“
leitet sich „to sharpen“ ab –
also schärfen. „Black“ zum
Beispiel ergibt „to blacken“
und aus „short“ wird
„to shorten“!
The Warrior
4. The steppe fauna
Nachdem Tamer erfahren hat, dass Timucin Angst vor Hunden hat, erzählt
er seinem Sohn, dass diese doch treue Weggefährten für Menschen seien.
Er spricht auch noch über andere Tiere. Finde die Tierwörter in diesem
Wortdrachen!
dmo pofan
du
fla
dogsmb
o
irh
rs
efghverm
• 117 •
ina
ce
rra
tsh
eepf
loucare
w
New Arrival
5. The invisible bride
Als Arbesa ankommt, geht es viel um Blicke. Timucin starrt Chuzir an, Chuzir dreht sich weg, Tamer beäugt seinen Sohn kritisch, Arbesa entzieht sich
dem Blick der anderen mit ihrem Schleier. Fülle die Lücken in diesen Sätzen
mit den Vokabeln rund ums Sehen und Gesehenwerden.
1. Timucin tries to look Chuzir in the (i)
, but Chuzir avoids his
(ii)
.
2. Ilhan’s son makes a nasty comment and Timucin (iii)
his
eyes at him.
3. Tamer (iv)
his son angrily because he arrives late to greet
the guests.
4. Timucin tries to look at Arbesa’s face, but it is (v)
and he
cannot see its features.
5. Timucin feels as if Arbesa is (vi)
at him from behind her
(vii)
.
gaze
staring
veil
eyes
flashes
looks at
veiled
Den Ausdruck „to look on
somebody“ gibt es nicht – jemanden
anschauen heißt immer „to look at
somebody“! Es gibt jedoch auch den
Ausdruck „to look on somebody,
as…“, was so viel heißt wie jemanden
als … (Freund, Feind, usw.)
ansehen.
Arbesa
6. Scornful looks
Unbeeindruckt von Timucins kriegerischem Gehabe schaut Arbesa immer
wieder spöttisch, höhnisch oder verächtlich drein. Wie viele englische Wörter für abfällige Gesichtsausdrücke kannst du in diesem Wortgitter finden?
Achtung: Die Wörter können auch rückwärts, von oben oder von unten und
auch diagonal gelesen werden.
• 118 •
D
E
R
O
G
A
T
O
R
Y
G
I
C
B
A
E
J
O
K
S
N
G
S
C
V
D
E
X
A
S
I
N
C
D
A
C
B
E
R
C
K
I
O
J
A
K
I
L
T
O
C
R
F
B
R
I
M
E
E
R
O
E
F
R
E
E
N
S
F
N
M
E
I
F
R
R
W
F
I
F
T
N
N
A
U
T
Y
X
U
U
E
S
G
A
S
T
R
U
G
L
The Prophecy
7. Mischievous mischief
In diesem Kapitel kommen viele Wortstämme doppelt vor, einmal als Substantiv und einmal als Adjektiv (also wie „Wut“ und „wütend“ auf Deutsch).
Bilde in dieser Übung entweder das Substantiv oder das Adjektiv zu dem
jeweiligen Wort.
Substantiv
mischief
Adjektiv
hostile
coward
jovial
resentful
• 119 •
8. Fear and anxiety
Timucin mag Angst vor Hunden haben, aber sein Vater hatte seinerzeit
Angst vor Pferden! Fülle die Lücken in den folgenden Sätzen über Angst mit
den richtigen Wörtern.
scary
afraid
fear
terrified
scares
1. Everyone finds out that Timucin is
of dogs.
2. When Timucin sees the huge, slavering dog, he is
.
3. Tamer has never told his son about his
of horses.
4. The thought of fighting a big dog
Timucin a lot.
5. The dog that Timucin sees with Chuzir is a very
dog.
The Bodyguard
9. Having fun at someone’s expense
Arbesa amüsiert sich prächtig auf Timucins Kosten und lässt keine Gelegenheit
aus, sich über ihn lustig zu machen. Deswegen befinden sich im Text so viele
Begriffe für diese Sticheleien. Im folgenden Absatz sind die Buchstaben dieser
Wörter wild durcheinandergewürfelt worden. Bringe sie wieder in Ordnung!
Arbesa likes nothing more than to tsaee (i)
Timucin. Whenever the
opportunity presents itself, she makes lsufnocr (ii)
comments at him,
especially when he is wearing his armour. If he replies, she just birs
(iii)
him some more. He gets tired of all her auntts (iv)
and reacts
angrily.
Nicht vergessen: Bei he, she, & it
muss das s mit, auch wenn das
Wort schon auf ein s endet, zum
Beispiel bei She teases him.
10. Fight!
In diesem Kapitel muss Timucin gegen seinen Erzfeind Ilhan kämpfen,
und da fallen fast so viele neue Vokabeln wie Faustschläge. Kannst du die
Synonyme zusammenbringen?
• 120 •
1. punch
a) rage
2. to bellow
b) to slap
3. sword handle
c) blow
4. to smack
d) hilt
5. fury
e) to yell
The Wisdom of the Dragons
11. I did help you!
In der Traumwelt faucht Timucin seinen Drachen an, sie hätte ihm nicht
geholfen, als er von Ilhan überfallen wurde. „Ich habe dir doch geholfen“,
sagt sie, oder „I did help you!“ und bedient sich dabei einer Sonderform des
Simple Past. Diese Vergangenheitsform des Widersprechens kommt im
folgenden Text ein paar Mal vor. Wähl sie an der passenden Stelle.
Timucin was attacked by Ilhan and (i) did fight / fought back. He did not beat
Ilhan, however, because Ilhan was much stronger than him. However, he (ii) did
resist / resisted the temptation to use his sword, which was a victory of another
kind. Timucin’s father Tamer (iii) saw / did see the fight, but did not help his son.
The person who (iv) helped / did help him though, was Arbesa.
12. Desperation
Timucin erzählt Sarantuya, wie er sie während des Kampfes angefleht hat,
ihm zu Hilfe zu eilen. Dabei benutzt er das uralte Wort „beseech“ –
„I beseeched you to help“. Welches der folgenden Verben ist nicht eine
geläufigere Art, dies zu sagen, sondern sagt etwas ganz anderes aus?
to implore somebody
to ask somebod
y
to beg somebody
to deplore somebody
Friendship
13. Brothers in…
Kannst du das folgende kleine Wortgitter lösen, um das Band der Freundschaft zwischen Timucin und Chuzir zu schließen? Im Gitter kannst du
waagrecht und senkrecht die gleichen Wörter lesen.
• 121 •
1
N
2
1. Einen Schwur auflösen
2. Ein Synonym für arrow
3. Der Schwur
3
A
2
3
A
Im Deutschen bellen Hunde, Katzen
miauen, Kühe muhen, Schafe blöken
und Pferde wiehern. Im Englischen ist
es so: dogs bark, cats miaow, cows
say moo, sheep bleat and
horses neigh.
T
Bajar and Batu
14. Woah, horsey!
Timucin und Chuzir sind nicht mehr nur junge Pferdenarren (horsey bedeutet pferdenärrisch auf deutsch), sondern bereits erfahrene Reiter, als sie sich
wieder begegnen. Suche die Begriffe rund ums Thema Pferde hier heraus,
bevor ihre Rosse sie in vollem Galopp zertreten!
gierefryn
ei
gh
ga
llopfor
b
lif
rid
lehidryh
ind
leg
sst
erg
hste e d u y hei
15. Newch?
In diesem Kapitel kommen einige Vokabeln häufig vor, die du hier mit
verdrehten Buchstaben wieder findest. Entschlüssele die Wörter und ordne
dann das Ergebnis der passenden Übersetzung zu.
1.
2.
3.
4.
DRIER
RAY DUB DOG
RISEN PRO
BODIE TEE FINW
R
B
P
O
W
• 122 •
a)
b)
c)
d)
Gefangener
gehorsame Ehefrau
Leibwächter
Reiter
Across
3. Weisheit
4. Traum
6. Feigling
7. Kraft
8. Schwur
10.Drache
11. Blut
16. Crossword Puzzle
Löse dieses Kreuzworträtsel
mit Vokabeln aus der ganzen
Geschichte!
Down
1. Schwert
2. Waffe
3. Krieger
5. Versuchung
9. Pfeil
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
• 123 •
:
Losungen
Brothers in Oath
D
E
R
O
G
A
T
O
R
Y
1. Weaponry
1-c, 2-e, 3-d, 4-b, 5-a
G
I
C
B
A
E
J
O
K
S
N
G
S
C
V
D
E
X
A
S
I
N
C
D
A
C
B
E
R
C
O
The Dream Dragon
2. Moonlit dreamworld
scales, jingling, cymbals, a full moon
3. Dragon Anatomy
1-b, 2-d, 3-a, 4-c
claws – Krallen, fangs – Fänge,
flanks – Flanken, scales – Schuppen
O
J
A
K
I
L
T
F
B
R
I
M
E
E
R
O
E
F
R
E
E
N
S
F
N
M
E
I
F
R
R
W
F
I
F
T
N
N
A
U
T
Y
X
U
U
E
S
G
A
S
T
R
U
G
L
7. Mischevous mischief
mischievous, hostility, cowardly, joviality,
resentment
8. Fear and anxiety
1. afraid, 2. terrified, 3. fear, 4. scares,
5. scary
4. The steppe fauna
dog, horse, vermin, rat, sheep
„vermin“ heißt Ungeziefer, und damit
sind Schädlinge, also Ratten, Mäuse,
Insekten und so weiter, gemeint.
New Arrival
The Bodyguard
5. The invisible bride
(i) eyes, (ii) gaze, (iii) flashes, (iv) looks
at, (v) veiled, (vi) staring, (vii) veil
6. Scornful looks
disdainful, scornful, scoffing, sneer,
derogatory
I
R
The Prophecy
The Warrior
Arbesa
K
C
9. Having fun at someone’s expense
(i) tease, (ii) scornful, (iii) ribs,
(iv) taunts
10. Fight!
1-c, 2-e, 3-d, 4-b, 5-a
The Wisdom of the Dragons
11. I did help you!
(i) fought, (ii) did resist, (iii) saw,
(iv) did help
12. Desperation
to deplore somebody – jemanden
verurteilen
• 124 •
Friendship
Bajar and Batu
13. Brothers in…
1. undo, 2. dart, 3. oath
14. Woah, horsey!
neigh, gallop, bridle, hind legs, steed
15. Newch?
1. rider – d, 2. bodyguard – c,
3. prisoner – a, 4. obedient wife – b
1
2
3
U N D O
N
A A
2
D A R
3
O A T H
T
16. Crossword Puzzle
Across: 3. wisdom (Weisheit), 4. dream
(Traum), 6. coward (Feigling), 7. strength
(Kraft), 8. oath (Schwur), 10. dragon
(Drache), 11. blood (Blut)
Down: 1. sword (Schwert), 2. weapon
(Waffe), 3. warrior (Krieger),
5. temptation (Versuchung), 9. arrow
(Pfeil)
1
S
W
O
2
W
R
3
E
4
D
R
E
A
W
M
P
6
C
I
S
D
5
R
O
W
A
R
N
7
O
M
A
S
D
T
E
I
M
O
P
T
R
E
N
G
T
H
A
8
9
10
D
O
A
A
R
B
L
O
W
• 125 •
H
I
A
G
R
11
T
O
N
O
D
N
Drachenfragen und -antworten
Brothers in Oath
New Arrival
Chuzir and Timucin do not have the
same parents, but are brothers. What
kind of brothers are they?
Chuzir und Timucin haben nicht dieselben
Eltern, sondern sie sind Schwurbrüder.
Durch ihren Eid, einander gegen Feinde zu
verteidigen, sind sie sogar stärker verbunden als Brüder aus einer Familie.
Timucin asks Chuzir: “Why did you tell
them about it?” What does he mean:
Tell whom about what?
Chuzir hat den anderen Jungen im Dorf von
Timucins Angst vor Hunden erzählt.
The Dream Dragon
What does Timucin accuse the dragon
Sarantuya of having done?
Chuzir schießt daneben und verfehlt den
Hund. Timucin gibt Sarantuya die Schuld
dafür, weil Chuzir sonst nie sein Ziel
verfehlt. Sarantuya allerdings weist solche
Beschuldigungen von sich.
The Warrior
What does Tamer say he has done with
the dogs in the village and why?
Tamer erzählt Timucin, er hätte alle Hunde
aus dem Dorf jagen lassen. So will er seinen
Sohn in Verlegenheit bringen und ihm
verdeutlichen, wie unsinnig er seine Angst
von Hunden findet.
Arbesa
Why are the two men fighting outside
the tent?
Die zwei Männer sind keine Feinde, sondern
messen ihre Kräfte in einem freundschaftlichen Schwertkampf. Allerdings droht die
Situation, ernst zu werden.
The Prophecy
What is the prophecy which the dragon
makes?
Der Drache prophezeit, dass Timucin und
Arbesa heiraten und glücklich zusammenleben werden. Allerdings wird Timucin sie
einmal verraten.
The Bodyguard
Arbesa is caught naked by the five boys.
Why should she not be ashamed of this?
Arbesa braucht sich nicht zu schämen, weil
das Nacktsein beim gemeinschaftlichen
Baden kein Tabu ist.
• 126 •
The Wisdom of the Dragons
If a dragon and a human separate, the
dragon must give its human companion
a parting gift. What is this gift?
Der Drache muss dem Menschen einen
Wunsch erfüllen.
Friendship
Chuzir asks Timucin if he wants to undo
their oath. What would he have to do to
accomplish this?
Um den Eid zu lösen, müsste Timucin den
Pfeil, den sie als Gegenstand des Schwurs
ausgetauscht haben, zerbrechen.
Bajar and Batu
One of the riders says something to
Timucin that makes him ask where his
father is. What is said and who says it?
Timucin wird misstrauisch, warum sein
Vater nicht da ist, als Ilhan ihn mit „mein
Khan“ anspricht.
The Khan
What does Timucin decide to do about
saving his father from the Tatars?
Timucin entscheidet, zunächst auf den
Boten warten. Wenn er zurückkehrt und die
Nachricht übermittelt, dass die Tataren ein
Lösegeld wollen, wird die Sippe es zahlen,
wenn sie kann. Wenn nicht, wird Timucin
mit den Tataren persönlich verhandeln.
• 127 •