Aigul's Friends
Aigul lived far away on the Russian steppes. Rather than having a house, her family lived in a large tent. They moved around so that their herds of
horses could find grass.
Aigul was a very little girl. She was too small to help pack the tent or milk the horses. She was too small to help carry water or cook the food. She was
even too small to carry her father’s saddlebags.
“I don’t know what to do about Aigul,� her mother said one morning. “She is so small, and she hasn’t learned to speak yet. She
follows the dogs and horses around, and can only bark and neigh.�
“Give her time,� her father said. “She is still very young.�
Aigul went out to play. It was cold and she was dressed warmly. She brought a wooden horse that her brother had carved for her. She pretended that
she was grown up and this was her snow-white mare. She would name her mare Byely, which meant white. Byely would wear a red saddle and bridle,
and they would ride over the steppes together.
Then she felt the ground shake.
“Aigul, get out of the way!� her father called. The girl stood up just in time to see the herd of horses running towards her. They snorted and
neighed and tossed their heads. They were running so fast that they couldn’t stop.
“I’ve got you,� said a voice, and strong hands lifted Aigul off the ground. Her oldest brother held her fast as they galloped alongside the
herd. He turned his horse and carried her back to the tent.
“Aigul!� her mother said, with tears in her eyes. “You must be more careful.�
The child looked back to where she had been playing, wondering what had become of the little wooden horse.
By that night, the weather had grown colder and snow had begun to fall. Aigul still thought about her toy. When her mother was not looking, she ran
toward the place where she had dropped it.
The wind blew stronger, and the little girl could hardly stand. The horse lay on the ground and she picked it up and put it into her coat. Then she turned
to go back to the tent. It was snowing harder now- and which way was the tent?
She thought that she saw it and walked along. The snow already came up over her ankles.
When she came to the top of the hill, she saw that the light had only been the moon reflecting on the snow. The tent was nowhere in sight.
Aigul started to cry. Then there was a feeling of soft fur against her legs. She looked down to see a furry black dog.
“Hello,� barked the dog, “Why are you crying, little girl? Are you lost?�
Aigul made a whimpering noise like a puppy, and the dog took her sleeve in his mouth.
“My master used to call me Sabaka,� the dog said. “But he is gone now and I do not have a family. Come with me, then, and I'll get you
home. I can smell the stew your mother is cooking.�
The dog led her through the snow. By now, the snow was so deep that Aigul could hardly walk. The dog pulled her along.
Then he began to bark, “Come over here! Over here!�
The little girl heard a snorting sound and the crunch of snow under hooves. Then she looked up into the face of a snow-white mare. The mare lowered
her head so that her nose touched Aigul’s coat.
Aigul neighed like a little lost foal.
“What is this little one doing out in the snow, Sabaka?� asked the mare.
“She is looking for her tent,� the dog replied. “Carry her on your back, as you once did your mistress.�
The mare knelt down and the dog helped Aigul onto her back.
“Hold on tightly,� the mare said. “My mistress was a fine lady. She wore a red sarafan dress and a gold and pearl kokoshnik on her head,
but she is gone now and I do not have a family.�
“I will call you Byely,� Aigul neighed. She buried her hands in the mare’s warm, thick mane. On they went through the snow, with Sabaka
following in the tracks behind.
Aigul must have fallen asleep, because suddenly there was the sound of many horses neighing, and the dog barking, and people calling her name. She
tumbled down from the horse’s back into her mother’s arms.
“Take her into the tent,� her father said. He and her brothers were covered with snow, for they had been searching for her.
“Look at the fine mare that little Aigul has brought to us!� her oldest brother said. He reached up and petted the mare’s neck. The mare
reached her head over and nuzzled the little girl. "I think she wants to be your horse!"
Then the dog came and lay down beside her father, putting his head under her father’s hand to be petted. “The dog and horse brought her
home!� her father said.
“My friends,� Aigul said, pointing at the two animals. Then she lay her head against her mother’s shoulder and slept.
Summer had come to the steppes again. The snow had disappeared, and grass and flowers grew in its place. Aigul had grown too. This year
she helped her mother pack the tent and their belongings. Then her father lifted her onto Byely’s back and, with Sabaka beside them,
they started off for greener pastures.