Hungarian Heritage Review, 1990 (19. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1990-09-01 / 9. szám
“Wait, my son.’ he Mother beseeched him, “thou wilt not have to wait for longl’ Csaba waited. After a short while, Lady Reka passed away quietly and peacefully. Csaba buried her on the flowering bank of a lovely brook, which has every since been called Reka Brook. At length the time came for Csaba and his warriors to leave. Tears flowed as parents bade farewell to their children. The old RABON BAN (Prophet) had evil dreams that night. He was worried when he spoke to Csaba. “I dreamed of a muddy sea surrounding us, a sea of hostile people. What will happen to us if thou shouldst not come back in time? The last of the Huns will all perish here, like a small island in the midst of raging watersl” ‘If danger should threaten my people here,' Csaba answered, “thou shouldst send a message to me by means of fire and water, wind and earth, and whenever I might be, I shall return to the rescue.” No sooner had Csaba left with his men, than hostile neighbors fell upon the Szekelys (left-handed families). The Rabonban prayed for help and UR heard his prayer. He sent a fiery flash to Earth that set the forest on fire in front of Csaba and his warriors. “Turn back, Csabai” the fire roared. “The Szekelys are in peril!” Csaba and his Huns turned their mounts. They swept down the mountain slopes like a raging storm wiping out the enemies. Once again they started toward the East. Suddenly, floodwaters blocked their way and the waters roared. “Back, Csaba, back,” they roared. “The Szekelys are in dangerl" Faster than the wind, the Huns stormed back in Szekely-land, and fell upon the intruders, killing them to the last man. They started out for a third time. Suddenly, a storm stopped them with lightning and thunder. “Turn, Csaba, túrni” roared the storm. “A handful of Szekelys are fighting for their lives!” So Csaba and his Huns returned for the third time, and saved their people. At last the enemies learned not to harm the peaceful little settlement in the mountains of Transylvania, between Oltárkő and Reda Brook. Csaba and his men were able to reach old Scythia, the land of their Magyar brethen. They were greeted with open arms, but the leaders of the Magyars shook their heads at Csaba’s request. “We have heard of Atilla’s land,” they said, “one day we might decide to break up our camps here, and move to the West, but not now. Our people are happy here. There is plenty of grass for our herds, plenty of fish and game. We live in peace and prosperity. Perhaps one day the time will come when our warriors grow restless, and will want to reconquer Atilla’s heritage. You must wait." Csaba waited. His young Huns married Magyar girls, and lived happily on Scythian soil. After many, many years, Csaba felt his death approaching. He asked as a last favor to speak to the Magyar warriors. After they had all gathered around the council-fire, he told them once aain about Atilla’s land. He spoke of the great plains, surrounded with high mountains. He spoke of the beautiful forests teeming with game. Of lakes and rivers, full of fish. He told them that nowhere on Earth grew tastier fruit and lusher grass than there. That beautiful country was the inheritance, Csaba told the Magyars, and he spoke of the lonely Szakelys still waiting for them in the mountains of Translvania. As his last request, the Magyars took the oath that one day they would re-take Atilla’s land, their inheritance, and make it their homeland. They solemnly vowed to live there forever, until fire turns into ice and waters dry up. Hun graves rose on the meadows of the —continued next page 30 HUNGARIAN HERITAGE REVIEW SEPTEMBER 1990
