When Tengis had walked away from everything he had ever known, he had not really figured out where it was he was going to go or how he would face the inevitable consequences, particularly from Clown Oldortar. Planning ahead in life had never been one of Tengis's strongest traits. He was confident that his advanced intellect more than negated the need for planning. He believed things would simply happen as they were supposed to. After all, he thought of himself as beyond mere mortal humanity; he was special. The normal rules of life did not matter to him and really didn't concern him very much. Tengis was an exceedingly empathic young man. The only problem was he was only capable of empathy with himself. However, he really did know every corner and recess of his mind and that gave him a great sense of comfort. He viewed truly knowing oneself as another means of transcending the norms of the world.
Smart as Tengis might have been, he had to confess that on occasion he wished he had thought things through a little more robustly. Nightfall was going to arrive soon and he had no ready means of shelter – or food or warmth or water. He may have been top of his class but at that moment he would gladly have traded place for fourth or fifth place – no lower, though. His stomach groaned. It had been hours since breakfast. His throat was rasping and hoarse. The atmosphere that breathed across the Steppe was blisteringly dry.
As he walked away from Baatarulaan, he cast a last look back at the vast cluster of shimmering buildings that stood out so starkly against the enormity of the Steppe. He had to go. Today had been what he had long needed to push him towards starting his real life. He knew that things would never again be the same. He had no doubt that he didn't want them to be.
Tengis made a mock salute to his home city, turned and walked towards the wilderness. He didn't know where he was going but he knew he would get there. He turned his mind towards more meaningful matters. If he was to change Baatarulaan, he had to be clear how he was going to achieve this. For the first time he admitted to himself that he did in fact need a plan. Before long his mind was lost in a myriad of complex calculations, ornate philosophies, extravagant religions and perplexing politics. He had a good deal to think about. Fortunately, he now had a good deal of time to think.
Tengis walked on into and through the night. The Steppe stretched out before him and the stars watched overhead. He didn't pay them any attention. He was busy.
The Steppe was immense. Its slowly undulating terrain was broken only by sporadic boulders, bushes or groups of huddling goats. By moonlight the terrain seemed hauntingly ethereal. A carpet of light blue covered the ground as far as the eye could see. A chilly air contributed further to the otherworldliness of the scene. Nothing stirred. Tengis continued with his thoughts as he moved slowly across the landscape. He no longer felt either cold nor hunger, so intense were his thoughts. His face was lined with a frown of concentration. A hare ran across his path desperate to find some shelter from the cold. Its rapid movement was in stark contrast to the stillness of its surroundings, but Tengis didn't notice it. Onwards he walked into unknown places and unchartered thinking.
As the sun rose the following morning, Tengis was almost two days’ normal walk away from Baatarulaan. The terrain had not changed even slightly since he had set foot on the Steppe but now the distance was fringed by advancing mountains. Tengis continued to stride out in body and mind. The mountains moved closer with each step. Tengis had transcended thirst and sleep.
By the time the sun was overhead, had he focused his gaze or shifted his thinking, Tengis would have started to make out the valleys and hillsides that lay ahead of him . . . but he didn't. He had too many things to work out. Fortunately, the voice in his head was keeping him company throughout all of his contemplations.
‘Change is inevitable,’ said the voice. ‘The people of Baatarulaan have grown fat and lazy. They need to be reminded of who they are and who it is that truly leads them.’
‘But the Khadists still control them,’ said Tengis. ‘The Fun Brigade makes sure that people do as they should.’
‘People have lost their faith,’ said the voice. ‘The Fun Brigade is not as strong as it used to be. People do not show one another the respect they should. They have turned Baatarulaan into a joke. They live merely to entertain themselves. It is not as it should be.’
‘That is Khad's fault,’ said Tengis, ‘not the people's. It was Khad who invented all that crazy stuff about laughter. It was Khad who changed the way the people were educated. It was Khad who ensured the people were driven to drugs and debauchery so that he could reap the rewards from the sale of Khem. If anyone is to blame, it is Khad, not the people.’
‘But why do you think that Khad formulated all of these things?’ asked the voice.
‘That's obvious,’ said Tengis, ‘he just wanted to break the spirit and memory of his cousin Chinggis whom he had hated so much.’
‘Do you really think that was the reason?’ asked the voice. ‘Could it not be that Khad knew the people. Perhaps he knew what they really wanted. Perhaps he knew that they lacked the natural intelligence to be able to think for themselves. Perhaps he knew the best way to ensure the progress and survival of the Ongolian race. Perhaps he didn't really hate his cousin. Perhaps he just found a different way to govern than Chinggis. Perhaps Chinggis had something dreadful planned for the people and Khad saved them by destroying Chinggis.’
‘You watch what you're saying!’ shouted Tengis.
His voice echoed across the Steppe. An eagle flying overheard suddenly changed direction, startled by the solitary human's outburst far below. It ruffled its feathers against the cold, wondered whom the human was talking to and flew on towards its mountain-top nest. ‘Chinggis is the reason why any of us are here. He was the one true emperor and I will see his vision reinstated.’
‘Are you sure that's wise?’ asked the voice.
‘What on earth do you mean?’ replied Tengis. ‘How could it not be wise? Chinggis was the greatest man to have walked the Earth.’
‘Tell me,’ asked the voice, ‘what do you really know about Chinggis? I mean really, truly know about him as a man; about his real desires; what he really wanted to achieve?’
‘He brought peace and prosperity to our country,’ said Tengis. ‘He united a thousand tribes across his empire. He permitted many faiths to coexist in harmony. He was our true leader.’
‘But,’ said the voice, ‘why do you really think he did those things?’
‘What do you mean?’ yelled Tengis.
A group of goats looked on in bewilderment at the human marching past talking to himself.
‘Could there not have been some other reason?’ said the voice. ‘Could it not have been that Chinggis had motivations other than to be a good and just emperor? Could it not have been that Chinggis wanted something else, something altogether more sinister?’
‘You're mad!’ screamed Tengis. ‘Stop talking like this. Get out of my head!’
‘You know there is possibly some truth in what I'm saying,’ continued the voice. ‘You have spent your life believing only the best of Chinggis. But remember, he was merely a man and men are weak . . . even Chinggis.’
‘Chinggis was never weak!’ shouted Tengis. ‘He united the known world. He was the greatest ruler ever to have walked the Earth.’ In his desperation, he was repeating himself now.
‘He was an incredible man,’ said the voice, ‘there's no denying that, but he was a man. Men all have their weaknesses; men all have their price. Look at the people of Baatarulaan. Even among the good there is corruption. Even among the faithful there is depravity.’
‘That is the fault of the Khadists,’ said Tengis. ‘I believe that all men are good; I have to believe that. It is the Khadists that have polluted the minds of Baatarulaan. I have to have faith that they can be good again. I want to be the man that helps them get there. I want to lead the people in revolt. I want to help the people help themselves no matter what it takes.’
‘No matter what it takes?’ asked the voice. ‘You sound like Khad.’
‘I am nothing like him,’ said Tengis. ‘He killed out of spite and jealousy. All I'm saying is that I would be prepared to be strong, tough even, if required.’
‘So,’ said the voice, ‘you'd consider killing so long as it wasn't out of spite or jealousy?’
‘I'm not saying that,’ said Tengis. ‘I know that control is important and that you can't have people doing what they want if their intentions are impure or if it is going to damage the way things need to be.’
‘But if things got out of hand?’ said the voice. ‘What then? You'd consider using some stronger force, say death?’
‘I would never let things get out of hand,’ said Tengis, ‘but if they did, then yes, it would only be logical to consider capital punishment if it was deemed to be for the greater good. Even Chinggis would have endorsed that and all I am trying to do is reinstate his idealism.’
‘Khad was always fond of death, too,’ said the voice. ‘He would say that even foul water will put out a fire. Are you sure you understand what Chinggis's cousin was trying to do? It sounds as though you're not sure. He was only trying to do good by the people in his view.’
‘All Khad ever wanted was power,’ said Tengis. ‘He didn't want change. He didn't like it when people rocked the boat. He polluted his people's minds and encouraged Khem addiction. I want to help people break free.’
‘No matter what it takes, I know!’ said the voice. ‘You've already told me, I believe.’
‘The people need assistance to help them see the error of their ways,’ said Tengis. ‘Chinggis would have never let his country go into decline the way it has. I can't even believe that Khad would have allowed it. That city is close to anarchy. Only the Fun Brigade and the power of Khem keep people from killing one another, and even that doesn't always work. It needs a strong leader. It needs someone its people can believe in. I am Chinggis, am I not? Have you not told me many times that I am an emperor?’
‘Indeed that is true,’ replied the voice. ‘You will be emperor, in time, if you listen to me. At the moment you are just a very clever man with good ideas – great ideas. You have the potential to be as great as Chinggis. You have the promise to be wealthier than Khad. We need to see what we can do to help you take the right path. For the time being, keep thinking and keep walking towards the highest mountain.’
‘Who are you?’ asked Tengis. ‘Why are you so keen to help me?’
The voice remained silent.
Tengis walked on into the evening light. For the first time since leaving his mother he became vividly aware of his surroundings. He was no longer in Baatarulaan; he was a long way from home. His stomach noticed that Tengis was paying attention and reminded him loudly that it needed some attention, too. Tengis was approaching the foothills to the mountains and set about looking for some shelter and provisions.
Close by was a small grassy bank laid out invitingly next to a small stream. Tengis gathered together some twigs, leaves and larger branches. He had read in a survival handbook that if he rubbed two sticks together the right way he could start a fire. Just in time before darkness fell he succeeded. Exhaustion began to claw at him but he knew he needed to eat. Scouring some nearby rocks he sought out birds’ nests. He also foraged for some berries, fungi and roots. He found a thinly layered concave stone that acted perfectly as a skillet of sorts. He was glad he had read about herbology and botany. He was even more glad once he had finished cooking a mushroom omelette.
After his meal Tengis was soon fast asleep. It had been a long two days. He had learned a great deal about himself and his potential. The voice in his head had confirmed his path towards greatness. Tengis had understood most of what had been said and he knew now more than ever that he was Chinggis Khaan; he had to be, didn't he?
Waking the next morning, Tengis found himself disappointed that the voice had not come to him during the night nor led his dreams off to glorious battles. Instead, all he had dreamed about was wealth. Lots and lots and lots of wealth. As his dream returned to him, Tengis recalled that in it he had lived in a cave. The cave lay deep in the mountains. In its depths lay piles upon piles of a yellow-orange shining metal. Tengis dreamed that he languished on top of the piles of sunny metal, playfully letting pieces slip between his fingers. He had bathed in the metal. He had slept upon it. Outside the cave a million people waited, all kneeling with their head turned towards its entrance as if entranced – entranced by Tengis. He had dreamed that these were his people and that they all had absolute faith and confidence in him. It had felt good, really good. It was an even better dream than usual.
Even though the voice hadn't come to him during the night Tengis knew that he needed to head towards the biggest mountain. Behind him lay the Steppe, and beyond that lay his home and Baatarulaan. Ahead of him lay a range of mountains that stretched upwards, left and right far out of sight, further than the horizon in any direction.
Following the stream he had drunk from the previous night Tengis now began to clamber across the rocky foothills and. within an hour he was walking through a narrowing valley. Rocky outcrops rose high around him with cliffs and large birds of prey circled overhead. Strange goat-like animals with long curved horns stood on vertical precipices peering down at him intently as they chewed whatever it was they were eating. Tengis walked onwards..
The valley walls became steeper and steeper, though curiously the floor began to slope downwards. Tengis knew he was walking further into the mountains and couldn't understand why the stream that earlier had been flowing away from the mountains was now flowing towards the very middle of them. The valley turned into a gorge and he walked on in a state of slight trepidation. Icicles began to decorate the stream and rocks around him. The sun had not shone here for thousands of years. Dank chilly darkness began to pervade everything.
‘Don't be afraid,’ said the voice in Tengis's head. ‘There is nothing here that can harm you.’
‘Stop creeping up on me like that,’ said Tengis. ‘Try and give me notice that you are about to arrive, will you?’
‘What?’ said the voice sarcastically. ‘Like moaning and wailing or something? No, no, that wouldn't do at all.’
‘I guess not,’ said Tengis, ‘but it's not at all polite. What is this place? It's absolutely freezing here.’
‘This place has no name,’ said the voice. ‘No one ever comes here. In fact, no one has ever been here. That's what's so special about it. There are things here that nobody has ever found, things that nobody has ever dreamed of. Well, almost nobody . . .’
‘If there's nothing here, though,’ said Tengis, ‘what am I supposed to do?’
But his question remained unanswered; the voice had disappeared again. Tengis determined to carry on into the darkening gorge. What little light remained came from far above. Natural ice sculptures loomed down overhead from long-frozen waterfalls. The gorge narrowed and narrowed and began to descend more steeply to the point that the only way to walk was in the icy stream itself. Tengis continued onwards, both hands feeling their way along the side of the icy gorge. Several hundred metres ahead of him Tengis could see that a bright light was shining from the middle of the gorge. He picked up his pace. He had no sense of danger; he just wanted to be nearer to the light and away from this murky and desolate prison.
As he neared the light, Tengis saw that it marked the end of the gorge. His pace quickened. Beyond the corridor the ground opened up into a large open wasteland. The area was wide enough to allow in enough sunlight to grow sparse vegetation but was otherwise surrounded by steep cliff faces that rose up into the mountains. At the opposite side of the opening from the gorge Tengis noticed that the ground rose slightly. He was unable to see what was there. He finally exited the gorge and hopped across several large rocks that formed a path across a forbidding-looking pool that seemed to mark the destination of the backwards-flowing stream.
Climbing up the small rise, Tengis froze mid-step. Further ahead, at the far end of the clearing, the cliff landed sheer into the ground. Tengis stared at the stone, his mouth drying and his heart racing; in front of him stood a natural chasm hewn into the rock face. It was a cave entrance exactly like he had seen in his dream. It penetrated into abject darkness and was just large enough for a young man to walk through.
Excitedly, Tengis hurriedly searched for wood to make a torch. He pulled up dried or dying vegetation that surrounded the water's edge and tied the lengths of grasses around a larger stick. He had kept some of the sticks he had used to create fire the previous night and was glad for having done so. He prayed that this would work. He was apparently in favour with the gods and within minutes he had himself a large flaming torch. There was no telling how long he would need the torch to last, so Tengis had made it especially large. He stuffed the remaining dried grasses into his pockets and lifted the torch with both hands. Blinking slowly, he moved towards the darkness.
It took Tengis several long seconds before his eyes became accustomed to the gloom, but his torch looked as though it would serve him well. Holding it out in front of him, he walked forwards into the unknown.
‘This is it!’ whispered a voice. It wasn't quite the voice in his head. Somehow the noise seemed further inside him.
Tengis ignored it and crept onwards. Inside the cave entrance the roof rose upwards into unseen darkness. He found himself standing in what seemed to be an enormous hollow cavern. As he moved forwards, the light from his torch began to glow brighter and brighter. The grotto became more and more apparent to him. Its walls appeared to glow and sway with the torchlight. Tengis moved closer to inspect them. Staring at the rocky walls, Tengis could see that there was another material embedded into the rocks. In some places he could make out dots the size of pinpricks; in other places the material was larger than a plate. Whatever it was, it reflected the torchlight brilliantly. Tengis had no idea what it was but it was definitely the sun-drenched metal he had seen in his dream the night before.
Moving to the centre of the cavern, Tengis fixed his torch into the ground using a few larger stones as buttresses. He ran back outside and found as much wood and grass as he could. He built piles of wood within easy reach and used some to create a substantial fire in the middle of the grotto. He wanted to see the whole space. He wanted to see what it was he had found. It made no sense to him yet but Tengis knew that this was something important. This was something that would help him fulfil his destiny. By stoking the fire, Tengis got the flames to rise high into the cavern and their light licked and flickered at the glowing material all around him.
Tengis sat and waited for the voice inside his head. It would surely come. He wouldn't have to wait long.
‘You did it!’ said the voice in his head. The voice sounded mildly surprised. ‘I am impressed. You really are as good as we thought you were.’
‘What on earth is it?’ asked Tengis. ‘It's beautiful.’
‘It's power!’ said the voice.
‘What do you mean?’ asked Tengis. ‘It looks like rock or metal or something. How can that be power?’
‘As you said, it's beautiful,’ said the voice. ‘People will find it more beautiful than you can possibly imagine. People will kill to possess even a small amount of this. You have it all. That means people will do exactly as you say. You can . . . how did you put it? . . . you can help people to help themselves. You have power over men. They will worship you.’
‘But,’ said Tengis, ‘why? We are sitting in a cave filled with shimmering magic in the middle of nowhere about four days’ travel from Baatarulaan. How does that give me any power?’
‘We will have to figure out how to take some with you when you return to Baatarulaan,’ said the voice. ‘Just a little will be enough to make people fall in love with its appeal. It will prove more addictive than Khem; it will wield more strength than a dozen Fun Brigades.’
‘But it's stuck into the rock,’ said Tengis. ‘How on earth do I get it out?’
‘Not everything in life is easy,’ said the voice. ‘I suggest a little sweat and toil. You will find the tools you need in the cavern somewhere.’
Tengis walked around the room's lengthy perimeter, as the voice told him: ‘I think it was left over there.’ Tengis followed the instructions given to him. In one far corner, amid some rocks and rubble, he found a length of material. As he picked it up and moved it aside, heavy dust fell away to reveal a number of metal implements – a pickaxe, a large hammer, a small chisel and a number of buckets and sieves of varying size.
‘What do I do with these?’ asked Tengis.
‘Use your imagination,’ replied the voice somewhat tetchily.
Tengis looked at the various implements. He had never attended the construction class at school; it had always seemed to him below somebody of his intellect. Now he regretted that hasty decision.
He tried using the tools in a myriad of ways. After several hours, and at the cost of a fistful of blisters, Tengis succeeded in using the pickaxe and chisel to chip away a significant piece of rock. He put it on the ground and set about smashing it into smaller and smaller pieces using the hammer. He placed the smaller rocks in the sieves of varying size and worked away the pieces he didn't care about. Eventually he was left with small nuggets of the sunny substance. He held a large piece up to the firelight. It truly was beautiful. The fire's reflection glistened from its every edge. Its touch brought Tengis a confidence he had never previously known.
‘How did you know about this?’ asked Tengis. ‘You knew to guide me here. You knew what was here.’
‘I haven't been here for hundreds of years,’ said the voice. ‘I don't think anybody has – in fact, I'm certain of that.’
‘But what has this got to do with Chinggis?’ said Tengis. ‘I am linked to him; in fact, I may well be him – you know that. You've hinted often enough. And it was you that brought me here. There has to be some link between this strange metal and Chinggis Khaan.’
‘This cave was first uncovered during the age of Chinggis. When it was originally found, the cavern was little more than a hole. The shimmering metal quickly asserted itself as a thing of power and allure. The more that was found, the greater its power grew. Over time, more and more of the precious material was uncovered. The hole became a cave, then the cave became this cavern. The metal became an idol; whoever owned it became a god.’
‘Are you saying,’ asked Tengis, ‘that Chinggis and his people found this metal, dug it out and used it to fund the growth of his empire?’
‘Hmm,’ said the voice, ‘something sort of similar to that, you will find out one day. Everything will reveal itself in time.’
‘So,’ said Tengis, ‘who does it actually belong to?’
‘That doesn't matter, does it?’ answered the voice.
‘Of course it does!’ said Tengis. ‘If somebody owns it, then taking it would be theft. That much is obvious.’
‘Really?’ said the voice. ‘Look at how beautiful it is. Do you honestly care who it belongs to so long as you possess it? Think about the strength and command it will offer you. There is no man who will be able to stand against you so long as you control the shining metal.’
‘I suppose that, so long as I use it for the greater good, then there is no harm in my doing so,’ mused Tengis. ‘If no one has put a claim on it for hundreds of years, then logically no one owns it; finders keepers.’
‘That's the spirit,’ said the voice, ‘but remember, if you are going to steal bells, plug your ears. You will be shocked at the amount of influence you now have in your hands and you'd better be ready to face the consequences. Are you clearer about your purpose yet?’
‘I think so,’ said Tengis. ‘I just have to dot some is and cross some ts. On our way here we went through most of it. I should probably write it down though in case there is any confusion.’
Tengis scraped around looking for some slate on which to write. He found several large tablets and sat down to scribe his ideology. He scratched his stubbly chin in contemplation, put stone to slate and began to write.
The Ten Recommendations
by Tengis Khaan
1 You shall have only one belief (and that belief is that the Ten Recommendations are the right and proper thing to believe in and that the owner of the Ten Recommendations tablet is the right and proper person to tell you what to believe in).
2 You shall not worship false idols (unless they help you keep the faith or understand something really important such as the Ten Recommendations).
3 You shall not say bad things about the Ten Recommendations or the keeper of the tablet. (He or she does have feelings, you know, and is only trying to help.)
4 You shall have one day off a week from all work and on that day you shall read and discuss the Ten Recommendations.
5 Respect your elders (and other people of influence or authority, particularly if they might prove useful in the future).
6 You shall not kill people. (It really is not nice no matter how rude someone might be – only the keeper of the tablet can decide to murder someone and even then only if it is really, really for the greater good.)
7 You should only ever have children with people you care for and who care for you. (Moreover, fathers should never ever leave a pregnant woman before the child has been born because that is just plain wrong; as punishment they shall be subject to a penalty equal to that deemed appropriate by the keeper of the Recommendations).
8 Do not take things that are not yours (at least not without asking beforehand, the only exception being if something has lain untouched for several hundred years, in which case it is to be deemed fair game).
9 Do not say bad things about other people (unless you think they really deserve it).
10 Do not be jealous of donkeys, goats or, for that matter, anything because it doesn't get you anywhere. Channel that energy into hard work and maybe one day you will be able to afford a horse. (Important people, however, can be jealous and take what they want by force or other means.)
Once Tengis had finished carving his thoughts into stone, he lifted them high above his head and read them by the fire-light. He looked at his shadow flickering against the precious metals in the wall. He breathed in, puffed up his chest and liked what he saw. To him it appeared to be a very imperial profile.
‘And so,’ shouted Tengis to no one in particular, ‘New Chinggism is reborn!’
He tucked the tablets under his arm, put out the fire and headed back towards Baatarulaan with renewed vigour. The voice in his head said nothing but sat with a satisfied grin across its beaming face.