Maternal Field

The young man Suvankul and the girl Tolgonay swear to share happiness and sorrow equally. They do everything together: they work on their native field, raise beloved boys, and build their house brick by brick. The war extracts its bloody tribute from women, grinding up the men of Tolgonay in the millstones of historical events. Tolgonay mourns, pouring out her despair and pain to the field, but finds the strength to continue living through work, honesty, and the care of her grandmother. Once she saved a baby from death, almost dying herself: she carried him to the doctor across the icy river. Sometimes Tolgonay turns to the field, asking how to reach the heart of every person? The field replies: 'You are a Human. You are above all, you are wiser than all! You are a Human! You say!'.

Included in the collection are two more stories by the author: 'Early Cranes' and 'Farewell, Gulsary'.