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Writer's pictureEnheduana

Eldar Akhadov: Meaning of Life (story)

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Decided a ferocious and bloodthirsty conqueror to conquer the whole world. It became his army to attack neighbouring peoples. Ruthless warriors ruined and destroyed everything. Luck accompanied the conqueror: many glorious kingdoms were destroyed by his army. The courtiers, looking in front of him, were amicably greatened by his emperor!


One day, his army advancing along the edge of the desert along the shore of a turbulent sea suddenly stopped. The lookouts reported that there was one person ahead who blocked their way without allowing them to move on, and he requires a meeting with him.

“Bring him to me!” the conquerer ordered.” “Who are you to ban something from my army?!” he screamed at an unarmed poorly dressed old man who was brought to him. The conquerer did not need an answer from alone the madman trying to stop an entire army, and yet before executing him, the tyrant allowed the old man to utter an answer.


“I am a poet. I have the most powerful army in the world - poems. I suggest you surrender voluntarily, dissolve your army and return to peaceful life without wars or battles. Stop spilling blood”.


It became so funny to the conqueror that, having laughed, he asked: “And how does your army intend to defeat mine? Will my warriors fight against poems? Looks like you 're really crazy!”

“My army is invincible,” the poet replied, “it manages feelings, awakens conscience and mercy in people and wins without a fight.” So he said and suddenly he was disappeared. Soon the army of the conqueror began to fall apart for no apparent reason. From it separated and immediately disappeared, as if sand or water through fingers, the best fighters on whose abilities counted the one who yesterday considered himself almost already the master of the world!


Finally, he was left all alone. The former conqueror slowly hobbled along the shore of the sea, remembering the recent past and thinking of near death. Suddenly someone called him. The strange old man who destroyed great army in an incomprehensible way came up and handed him a book:


“These are poems about love. Read them. They will help to understand the meaning of life.”


The old man disappeared. The book remained. The man revealed the book and started reading...



Excerpt from the book Except You



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