Selim,Mustafa and Safiye sat down around the table.Mustafa started telling his story:
-What I am about to reveal regarding myself,even my daughter doesn't know.She was too young to hear such a tragic story from me.But now,she is old enough to listen to my story.She is 8 years old.As I have just told you,I am Circassian.I was born in northern Circassia,more specifically in the city called Anapa.There was an Ottoman garrison there.Garrison means troops inside the fortress.In this case,the Ottoman troops in Anapa stronghold.Once a month they used to supervise the entire city and seek handsome and strong boys to recruit for the garrison.I was the eldest among my siblings.I had 2 brothers and 3 sisters.My father and my brothers used to go fishing every morning.We had been sitting on the beach for several hours and untill our baskets were full of fish,we wouldn't go home.At noon,we would come back home,rest a little,eat millet porridge or raw corn and go to the market.We used to sell all the fish untill evening.Then,we would return home,rest,ear dinner with our mother and assist her in sewing sheep leather jackets.On Sundays,mother used to go to the market and sell her handmade jackets.I almost forgot to tell you,that our house was not very near to the black sea.I and my brothers used to be sheep shepherds at dawn.One day,when I was 15 years old,mother passed away.She was suffering from heart desease.After my mother's death,all the sheep in our shed were eaten by wolves.My father used to lock the shed's door every evening.He was so devastated after mother's death,that he didn't even remember to thoroughly check if the shed was really closed.Briefly,our commercial business went bankrupt and only fishing was not enough for 7 persons.My mother was buried in the local cemetery according to Orthodox Christian rules.The majority of Circassians in Anapa were Orthodox and Ottomans had been trying to completely islamize the city by force.
-What was your genuine name?
-Astemir.
-Did anyone from the Ottoman garrison abduct you?
-No,if only that was the case!After one day from my mother's funeral,it was monthly time for the garrison troops to inspect the city.They were checking every boy in each family.I witnessed how my neighbours were sold by their parents.This was my fate too.When the soldiers came to our house,they observed me and my 10 year-old twin brothers.Somehow,he found my brothers weak and he chose me for my looks and physical strength.
-What did he like in you exactly?
-My blonde hair,blue eyes,height and muscles.The soldier offered my father 30000 Kurushs.It was indeed a lot of money and father abandoned me for silver coins!He took the bag full of money and handed me over to that soldier.I couldn't believe my eyes at that moment...What kind of father sells his children for money?I was extremely devastated.Bitter tears were coming down from my eyes.I looked at father and shouted at him:
"-How can you do this to me?Is money relatively valuable than me?"
-"Yes,it is!Your existence doesn't let me feed your siblings.Only fish won't be sufficient for us.If I don't sell you,then we will surely die from hunger."
-"You won't,father!The fish we used to sell will suffice us at least for one week.Then,you will buy the sheep again.All of us will go on what mother had been doing.Don't sell me,I'm begging you!"
-"I am aware of what I am doing.Soldier,take him away at once!"
-"No!Father!"-I was yelling desperately,but in vain.
My damned father didn't even look at me.He turned around and soon went in the house.He dragged my crying siblings inside and slammed the door.I was taken to the garrison with other Circassian boys.Some of them were selected for army and the minority for learning medicine.I was in that minority and started learning.I spent 3 years in the garrison.After I finished my studies,I was sent to Istanbul with 200 other Circassian doctors.On the way towards Istanbul,the ship stopped at Georgian city called Poti.There was a broad slave market.I witnessed from the deck,how Georgian girls and boys were being stripped naked in front of the Ottoman merchants and Georgian nobles.I heard from my colleagues who were resting on the beach,that those nobles were rulers of several Georgian principalities and kingdoms.This is why,I told you in the beginning,that Circassians and Georgians sell their compatriots.
-What a misery,doctor!I was also abducted by Georgians.