Donna Rosenberg - Kotan Utunnai lyrics

Chapter 1 The hero, who is the narrator, learns that the Repunkur k**ed his parents. Taking his father's war gear, he sets out to avenge their d**hs. In Repunkur country, he finds his older brother a prisoner. With his sister's help, the hero frees his brother and k**s his captors. I was reared by my older sister in the land of the Repunkur. For many years, we lived in a little gra** hut. I would often hear a rumbling sound throughout our land. My sister told me that this was the sound of gods fighting. When many gods were dying, the sound would go on and on without interruption. When I grew older, I would often hear similar sounds made by the spirits of the Yaunkur upon the roof of our gra** hut. I could not understand this, so I said, "Older Sister, you have reared me well. Now it is time to tell me how this has come to be." As my sister looked at me, her eyes trembled with fear and shining tears coursed down her cheeks. She replied, "I intended to tell you the story when you were older. I shall tell you now, since you wish it, but I must warn you not to act rashly when you have heard it. "Although I have reared you, you and I belong to different people," she began. "Mine are the Repunkur, people of the sea. Yours are the Yaunkur, people of the land. Long ago your father ruled the upper and lower regions of Shinutapka. He was a great warrior and hero. One day he decided to go across the sea on a trading expedition. He invited his second son, Kamui-otopush, and your mother to join him on his journey. Since you were just a baby, she strapped you to her back and took you along. "When they sailed by the coast of the island of Karapto, the people invited them ashore. Although they were Repunkur, they offered a sign of peace and wine to drink. Day and night, the people of the island encouraged your family to drink that poison. Your father became drunk with the wine, and his mind became clouded. He announced that he and his family intended to buy the major treasure of the people of Karapto and take it away. "Your father's announcement caused fighting to break out, which spread to neighboring lands, including my own. My country is a land of many great warriors, and in one of his battles against the Repunkur, your father was k**ed. "I was there when he died," my sister continued. "I took your father's war helmet and his clothes from his dead body. To help your mother, I rook you from her back and tied you securely to me with my baby-carrying cords. With my sword, I did my best to protect your mother's life, but she had been a warrior all her life, so she insisted on fighting. Like your father, she was k**ed in that battle. "Seeing that both your mother and your father were dead and that you were far too young to help your brother or survive on your own, I carried you to this land where we have been living all these years. It is a safe and isolated place; neither gods nor humans ever visit it. "Since the time of your parents' d**h," my sister concluded, "your older brother, Kamui-otopush, has been fighting all alone against the Repunkur to avenge them. I must tell you this, for you asked to hear the whole story. However, remember that it would be unwise for you to act rashly." I listened to the words of my older sister with complete surprise. My heart overflowed with rage. Was she not my enemy? Her own people had k**ed my parents. It took a great effort to calm myself and refrain from k**ing her! I did not feel like thanking her for saving my life, but I forced myself to be polite. "You have reared me well, Older Sister," I said. "Now I would like you to find my father's clothes and give them to me." She immediately entered the hut, untied the cord of her treasure bag, and brought forth six magnificent robes, a belt with a metal buckle, a small metal helmet, and a wondrous sword. All of these she held out to me. With great pride and pleasure I put on my father's robes, placed his belt around my waist, tied his helmet on my head, and thrust his sword beneath his belt. My father's heroic spirit infused my body through his war gear. I strode up and back in front of the fireplace, flexing my shoulders and stamping my feet. Soon I felt my body go up the smoke hole of our little hut. Then I found myself being pushed through the air by a strong wind. The mighty breeze blew me into a country formed of majestic mountains. I landed on the shore of the sea, not far from the mountains. My older sister dropped down at my side with the roaring of the wind. We traveled over a series of metal spruce forests, which clinked and clanked as the wind struck their branches. Certainly only great gods would live in a land such as this! Suddenly I smelled smoke. When I descended into the lower regions of the forest, I found its source - a great bonfire. Along one side of the fi re sat six men wearing stone armor. Next to them sat six women. Across the fire from them sat six men wearing metal armor, and next to them sat six women. At the far end of the fi re, between the two groups of warriors, stood a very strange-looking being I had never seen before. I wondered whether he could possibly be human, for he looked more like a small mountain that had arms and legs sprouting from it. His face looked like a cliff sheared off by a landslide. His huge nose looked like an overhanging rock. Strapped to his side he wore a sword as large as the oar of a boat. I knew that he must be the evil human demon called Dangling Nose, a famous Repunkur warrior. While I stood gazing upon this strange group, the earth beneath my feet moved this way and that, and the metal branches of the spruce trees clinked and clanked as they struck each other. When my eyes left the group by the fire and searched the trees, I saw the most surprising sight. A gravely wounded man was tied to the top of a large spruce tree. Now and then he would rearrange his bound limbs, and it was his movements that were causing the earth beneath my feet to move this way and that. Even though I had never seen him before, I knew that he must be Kamui-otopush, my older brother. My older sister said, "Younger Brother, this man is too sorely wounded to accompany us to battle. His presence will only hurt us. Let me carry off his body while you fight these people alone." As soon as my ears had heard her words, the six warriors in metal armor announced together, "We are the people of Metal River, six brothers and six sisters. We were hunting in the mountains today when we came upon Kamui-otopush. He was returning to his country, for he had finished fighting. He was moving slowly, for his many battles had sorely wounded him. We would have k**ed him then and there if we did not fear the anger of Shipish-un-kur, our mighty uncle and ruler. So we tied him to a large spruce tree." They added, "Soon these six warriors of Stone River came by with their sisters, and they stopped here with us. And now you also have come along. Are you a god, or are you human? Together, let us take Kamui-otopush as a gift to Shipish-un-kur. He surely will praise us when he sees this trophy!" The man standing at the head of the fire proclaimed, "T he famous warrior Dangling Nose adds his deep voice in agreement." While he was speaking, my older sister went to the top of the spruce tree and freed my older brother. The sound of his loosened ropes falling on the metal branches drew the eyes of all the demons in that direction. I did my best to prevent them from seeing me in my human form. Like a light breeze I flew with my sword into their midst. Beginning on one side of the fire, I raised my father's wondrous sword and sliced into the flesh of three of the warriors in stone armor with a single stroke, slashing three of their women as well. Turning to the other side of the fire, I sliced into the flesh of three of the warriors in metal armor with a single stroke, slashing three of their women as well. Swinging my sword back, I aimed to k** Dangling Nose. However, he flew over my blade like a Light breeze and said, "I thought that Kamui-otopush was bound to the top of the spruce tree, but he has strength enough to k** our people. I doubt that we would be able to k** such a man in battle. Let us take him to the battle-chasm, for it will be easier to k** him there." Meanwhile, our sword blades gleamed as he and I fought fiercely against one another. In the midst of our battle, my older sister dropped down at my side with the roaring of the wind. "I have taken the body of your older brother back to your country," she announced. "There I found your oldest brother, now the ruler of your land, and your oldest sister. It is fortunate that your parents left them behind when they set off on that trading expedition across the sea so many years ago. Before I left, we restored Kamui-otopush to life, so do not let concern for him distract your fighting." While my older sister was speaking, the remaining six women attacked her with their swords. Wicked women can be brave and strong fighters! My sister raised her sword, her blade shining against theirs. She was a match for them, but she would not be able to k** them easily. As their battle carried the women toward the distant mountains, an attack by the six remaining warriors and Dangling Nose directed my attention back to the men. I raised my sword, my blade shining against theirs. I was a match for them, but I would not be able to k** them easily. I did my best to prevent them from seeing me in my human form. Like a light breeze, I flew with my sword over their blades. As we fought, I noticed a river flowing from one group of mountains to the next. Between them, it descended into a deep ravine. When I saw many sharp sword-blades and spear-blades of stone rising from the poisonous water, I knew that this must be the battle-chasm Dangling Nose had mentioned. The warriors banded together and forced me coward the chasm. Time and again they almost k**ed me, but I did my best to prevent them from seeing me in my human form. Like a light breeze, I flew with my sword over their blades. Meanwhile, I chanted, "Hear me, gods of the chasm, gods of the deep ravine! I am one Yaunkur against many Repunkur. If I die here, my blood will give you little wine to drink. Take my side against these warriors, and you can gorge yourselves upon their blood!" With these words, my heart flooded with renewed spirit and strength. With my father's wondrous sword, I drove the Repunkur toward the battle-chasm. The oldest of the warriors in stone armor was the first to fall to the bottom of the ravine and be sliced into chunks of human meat. His spirit left his body with a loud roar and rumbled as it flew off to the west. Next, the largest of the warriors in metal armor fell to the bottom of the ravine and was sliced into chunks of human meat. His spirit left his body with a loud roar and rumbled as it flew off to the west. In time I k**ed all but Dangling Nose. One by one, their spirits left their bodies with a loud roar and rumbled as they flew off to the west. Not one among the dead would be restored to life. Dangling Nose and I then fought to the d**h. Time and again he almost k**ed me, but each time I returned his sword thrust with one of my own. Finally he said, "Great warriors fight in more than one way. I now challenge you to a contest of strength!" He did not wait for my response but quickly rushed toward me. As we wrestled together, he enclosed me between his mighty hands and began to press the breath out of me. My heart fluttered with pain, but I made a quick twist and escaped from his hands as running water rushes through open fingers. Finally I was able to hurl Dangling Nose down into the deep ravine. When his body hit bottom, the sharp blades of the stone swords and stone spears sliced him into chunks of human meat. His spirit left his body with a loud roar and rumbled as it flew off to the west. He would not be restored to life either. Chapter 2 The hero travels to Shipish to fight the fearsome Repunkur ruler. The ruler's sister helps the hero. Together, they rescue the hero's older sister and k** her Repunkur enemies. Then they fight two storm demons. Victorious, they return to the hero's homeland, where they are reunited with the hero's older brother and older sister. The two Yaunkur men marry the two Repunkur women and live in peace. In the quiet time that followed, I walked along the river and said to myself, "Who is this fearsome ruler who would have received my older brother as a trophy? If I were to return to my country without seeing Shipish-un-kur, my people would look upon me as a coward. He may k** me, but I must see how we two warriors compare with one another." A light breeze carried me above the river as it flowed down to the sea. At its mouth I found the large village of Shipish surrounding a lone, majestic mountain. Its peak soared so far into the heavens that it was wrapped in clouds of mist. I followed the winding trail to the stockade at the top. Fearsome spirits rumbled their warnings from the top of the stockade, but I entered in spite of them. Peering through the windows of the large house, I saw the fearsome ruler of this country. The sight of Shipish-un-kur filled my heart with awe, for he wore magnificent robes and carried wondrous swords. However, he was only a young man. Whiskers had just begun to grow upon his chin. As he sat by the side of the glowing hearth, the most beautiful young woman I had ever seen sat next to him. Even my older sister was not this beautiful! I could tell from her face that she possessed the magical powers of a prophet, and their conversation soon proved my judgment correct. "Shipish -un-mat, dear younger sister," I heard him say, "ever since you were a child, you could tell the future. Tell me, then, why do I have the feeling that danger is approaching?" Shipish-un-mat tied her hair with the band of a prophet and picked up her magical wand. A prophecy immediately streamed forth from her mouth. "By the battle-chasm of our river," she began, "I can see that people have joined together to fight a Yaunkur. At times the blood and gore conceal my view of the scene. At other times, I see the tangle of their swords in battle. Then I see the broken swords of the Repunkur disappear into the west. Meanwhile, the sword of the Yaunkur is brightly shining in the east. "Then," the prophetess continued, "I see the Yaunkur, in the form of a marvelous little bird with speckled feathers, flying downstream above our river. Fierce fighting suddenly breaks out in our land, completely destroying our villages. I see your sword entangled with the sword of the Yaunkur. At times the blood and gore conceal my view of the scene. At other times, I see the tangle of swords in battle. Then I see a terrible sight-your broken sword disappearing under blood and gore. Meanwhile, the sword of the Yaunkur is brightly shining in the east. Then the entire vision disappears." "You have spoken dreadful, wicked words!" Shipish-un-kur exclaimed, with rage blazing forth in his eyes and in his voice. "The gods may be speaking through you, but their words infuriate me. I fight only against the gods; I keep peace with human beings. T he evil Repunkur may have fought against the young Yaunkur all his life, but I will not fight him! Should he ever come here, I will greet him with kindness and peace in my heart." I flew through the window and up to the rafters of their large house. I walked this way and that on the beams, stamping my feet so that the rafters creaked and the household gods rumbled with fright. Then I dropped down beside the young ruler with the roaring of the wind. I caught him by his hair and twisted his head this way and that. As I tossed him about, I said, "Tell me, Shipish-un-kur, why was Kamui-otopush taken prisoner and bound at the top of a spruce tree? I avenged him by fighting the Repunkur. They spoke of you as a fearsome ruler who would have received my older brother as a trophy. I knew that if I were to return to my country without seeing you, my people would look upon me as a coward. So I have come. If you greet me with kindness and peace in your heart, I cannot accept that. I must see how we two warriors compare with one another. Even if we k** each other, our hearts will be content. Show me your courage, strength, and sk**." With these words, I grabbed the great warrior's younger sister and carried her toward the smoke hole, while she screamed for help. Shipish-un-kur quickly drew his sword and prevented me from leaving through the smoke hole. I then dashed to the window, bur again I could not get past his sword. The two of us flew from side to side beneath the ceiling like a pair of birds. Angry at her prophecy, the great warrior became determined to k** his sister. I carried Shipish-un-mat before me as a shield, believing that her brother would spare us both because of his loyalty to her. I was wrong. Shipish-un-kur's repeated sword-thrusts finally turned Shipish-un-mat against him, and she became determined to k** him. As soon as I released her, she drew a dagger from her robes and began to attack him, gaining strength from the wrath in her heart. Hearing the commotion, throngs of armed men rushed in and attacked us. My companion spirits joined the local spirits on top of the stockade, and they rumbled together like one great spirit. The gods sent a fearsome wind rushing into the house, fanning the flames in the hearth until they left their bounds and began to consume the house itself. We escaped just before the building collapsed. When I saw armies of spearmen coming toward me, I chased them toward Shipish-un-mat. Somewhat to my surprise, she proved to be as courageous and as sk**ed as she was beautiful. She stood her ground and fought them off, slashing as if she were facing only a few warriors rather than hundreds of them. The flashing of her sword concealed all other swords. She cut down the warriors like blades of gra**, and corpses soon covered the earth like a blanket. Strong as we were, we could not have k**ed hundreds if a· ma** of clouds had not blown toward us as swiftly as an arrow in fl ight. While a mighty god rumbled a warning, my older brother dropped down beside me with the roaring of the wind. We saluted one another with our swords, and then Kamui-otopush began his attack. Although I swung my father's wondrous sword against the warriors, my sk** was small compared to that of Kamui-otopush. The flashing of his sword concealed all other swords. He cut down the warriors like blades of gra**, and corpses soon covered the earth like a blanket. Suddenly Shipish-un-mat screamed, "Valiant Yaunkur warrior, your older sister is fighting mighty demons in a far land. Unless we hurry to her aid, they may k** her, and you will never see her again! Kamui-otopush has the strength and sk** to stand alone against all the warriors here. Let us quickly depart! " Shipish-un-mat flew into the heavens. I sheathed my sword and quickly flew behind her. When we came to the land Shipish-un-mat had seen in her vision, we heard the loud rumbling crashes that told of many dying gods. Below us, battle-mists concealed the earth. Through the clamor we could hear the sad rumblings of my older sister's companion spirits. The rumbling of my sister's spirits led me to her rescue. I saw with dismay that she was gravely wounded. She would swing her sword once or twice but then faint from the effort. When she regained consciousness, she would swing her sword again. I dropped down at her side with the roaring of the wind. I unsheathed my father's wondrous sword and swung it against the warriors, but my sk** was small compared to that of Shipish-un-mat. Once she began her attack, the flashing of her sword concealed all other swords. She cut down the warriors like blades of gra**, and corpses soon covered the earth like a blanket. Then my older sister collapsed to the ground while a host of spears fell upon her. I pulled her into my arms and held her body up toward the heavens. "Oh gods," I said, "you to whom my father prayed, my older sister reared me lovingly and well. Reward her for the care she gave me. Even though she is the child of my enemy, I pray you to restore her to life!" The gods heard my words, and their hearts were kind. My sister's spirit left the body in my hands as a new, living spirit. It flew up with a loud roar and rumbled all along its eastward journey to our land, the land of the Yaunkur. Shipish-un-mat and I continued the fight with renewed spirit. We did not stop until we had avenged my older sister by completely destroying those who had fought against her. When we had finished and all was quiet, Shipish-un-mat's eyes suddenly filled with tears. She said to me, "I can see that to the west of this land, the storm demon and his younger sister are preparing to attack us, man to man and woman to woman!" Before long a ma** of clouds rose in the west, bringing stormy weather upon us. I watched as two creatures walked toward us. First came a very strange-looking being whom I had never seen before. I wondered whether he could possibly be human, for he looked more like a small mountain that had arms and legs sprouting from it. His face looked like a cliff sheared off by a landslide. Strapped to his side he wore a sword as large as the oar of a boat. Behind him came a woman dressed in leather armor sewn from the skins of both land and sea animals. She walked toward Shipish-un-mat with a red knife poised in her hand. As Shipish-un-mat had foretold, the storm demon fiercely attacked me, and his younger sister fiercely attacked her. I did my best to hold onto my life. I flew here and there like a light breeze, avoiding the storm demon's sword-thrusts. Then I discovered how his armor was tied together. Holding my father's wondrous sword like a spear, I stabbed the storm god through those ties. Good fortune smiled upon my blade, for the tip went right into his flesh, and he fell flat upon the earth. "He must be human after all!" I thought. To my surprise, a handsome young boy jumped out from beneath the storm god's armor! He looked at me and said, "You amaze me, young Yaunkur! Even the greatest gods cannot destroy my armor, and yet you have succeeded. But great warriors should fight without armor. I must see how we compare with one another. Even if we k** each other, our hearts will be content, for everyone will speak of our fame. Now show me your courage, strength, and sk**!" He drew his sword and thrust it at me. Again I flew here and there like a light breeze, avoiding his sword-thrusts. Finally good fortune smiled upon my blade, for the tip of my father's wondrous sword slashed right into his flesh, and I heard his spirit leave his body and fly up with a loud roar. Meanwhile, Shipish-un-mat and the storm demon's younger sister were also fighting fiercely. I discovered how the demon's armor was tied together. Holding my father's wondrous sword like a spear, I stabbed the goddess through those ties. Good fortune smiled upon my blade, for the tip went right into her flesh, and she fell flat upon the earth. "She must be human after all!" I thought. To my surprise, a beautiful young woman jumped out from beneath the leather armor! . She looked at me and said, "You amaze me, young Yaunkur! Even the greatest gods cannot destroy my armor, and yet you have succeeded. But do not let Shipish-un-mat hurt me!" Shipish-un-mat angrily replied, "I must see how we compare with one another. Even if we k** each other, our hearts will be content, for everyone will speak of our fame. Now show me your courage, strength, and sk**!" Shipish-un-mat drew her sword and thrust it at the demon. Good fortune smiled upon her blade, for the tip of her sword slashed right into the goddess' flesh, and I heard her spirit leave her body and fly up with a loud roar. Her living spirit rumbled as it traveled to the east. Shipish-un-mat said to me, "! know that after we left them, Kamui-otopush and my brother fought one another until your older brother k**ed mine. Because my brother was your enemy, perhaps you think of me as your enemy also. If you choose to k** me right now, my heart will be content. Or you may choose to pity me and take me to your country. Either way, it is time to stop fighting." I chose to take Shipish-un-mat with me, for I knew that no other woman could ever compare with her. We traveled to my country, the land of the Yaunkur, which I had never seen. When we dropped down at the majestic house of my father, I called out to the herald, "Have my older brother and my sister who reared me arrived? If not, I will leave right now to fight the Repunkur." The herald replied, "Kamui-otopush has finished fighting ·and has returned. The gods have restored your older sister to life, and she is here also." It was as he said. My older sister had indeed been restored to life, and she was now more beautiful than ever. In gratitude for saving my life, my oldest brother gave my older sister to Kamui-otopush in marriage. In gratitude for saving my life, he gave Shipish-un-mat to me in marriage. From that time until this, we have lived in peace.