#balkaria

As he strolled through the garden, a human figure gradually materialized from the obscurity. Its face remained concealed, obscured by tattered rags. This enigmatic silhouette carried a small sack, diligently collecting apples and various fruits.

"A vagabond, a thief!" the master of the house concluded, lifting his revolver and proclaiming in a commanding tone, "Halt, you scoundrel, or I shall fire!"

The man pivoted swiftly, his dull yellow eyes flashing, and with the grace of a wild creature, he ascended a tree and leaped over the fence. The homeowner's astonishment immobilized his trigger finger. However, in the blink of an eye, he recollected himself and, with a resolute cry of "Halt!" rushed after the intruder. Locking the door behind him, he hastened to the point where the trespasser had vanished. Naturally, the intruder was no longer present, leaving the man to scrutinize the footprints under the lamp's gentle glow. These were unusually large, unshod footprints. Before he could fully fathom this revelation, a neighbor, likewise armed with a dagger at his waist and a lamp in hand, arrived.

The man recounted the peculiar incident to his neighbor, and following a brief dialogue, they resolved to pursue the trail together. Recent proclamations by the local bey* had offered a substantial gold reward for the apprehension, dead or alive, of a thief whose description eerily matched the enigmatic figure that had appeared that evening. The exact nature of the vagabond's transgressions remained shrouded in mystery, but the bey was incensed. The two men resolved to divide the bounty equally.

*bey - a Turkic term applied to a noble man

The homeowner carried a rope with him, while his neighbor enlisted the aid of his hunting dog. The canine swiftly detected the trail and guided them deeper into the forest, not far from their village.

They advanced in silence, endeavoring to remain inconspicuous. The dog led them to an oak tree, where discarded rags and a cache of fruit lay strewn about.

- Mustafa, - the neighbor addressed the homeowner, - it appears the dog has picked up the scent once more. Are you ready to proceed?

Mustafa replied tersely, - No. Don't you wonder why he left all this unguarded? I suspect the vagrant has gone somewhere and may return. In the best-case scenario, we shall ensnare him here.

- Your logic rings true. I shan't waste any time then. Should peril befall me, shout out, for if I believe your reasoning, I won't stray far.

The neighbor and his loyal canine departed, while Mustafa, extinguishing his lamp, concealed himself nearby, keeping vigilant watch over the abandoned possessions.

As moments slipped away, he allowed his mind to wander to thoughts of how he might employ his portion of the reward. Yet, an overpowering stench interrupted his daydreams. Could it truly emanate from those discarded rags? No, it seemed improbable at this distance!

The noxious odor intensified, making it arduous to breathe. He attempted to rise and distance himself but found his vision blurred and respiration increasingly labored. After taking a few faltering steps, he espied a tall figure draped in a cloak and hood, concealing part of its visage. The stranger tilted their head slightly, locking eyes with him, their irises a disconcerting shade of yellow. Struggling to summon a cry for help, Mustafa succumbed to dizziness and succumbed to unconsciousness.

When he regained consciousness, he beheld the concerned countenance of his neighbor and the panting visage of the faithful hound. The neighbor explained that their timely arrival, and the dog's vociferous barking, had driven the intruder, or whatever entity it was, away from the unconscious man. However, the neighbor had been unable to apprehend the figure, who had vanished into the surrounding trees, as though a specter.

Upon their return to the village, the neighbor shared a suspicion with Mustafa that they had not encountered an ordinary vagabond thief, but the fabled Agach-kishi. A forest spirit known to purloin fruits and vegetables from the yards of unsuspecting villagers. Relief washed over the neighbor as they realized all was well. Back in the village, they both made their way home.

As Mustafa prepared for bed, he discovered an apple nestled in the generous pocket of his robe. An apple, akin to those from his garden. Or perhaps, it was an apple from his garden.

So, who is Ağac kişi?

Ağac kişi (Aghach kishi) or Meşə adamı in literal translation: 'Tree-Man' or 'Forest-Man.' This is a whimsical spirit of mountain forests, covered in fur and bearing a slight resemblance to a monkey. An intriguing character, as it also appears in the mythology of another neighboring Turkic-Caucasian people - the Balkars who reside in the North Caucasus.

Some scholars believe that the Agach-kishi is a local interpretation of the legend of the 'Snowman.' However, an encounter with it is unlikely to be pleasant. The forest man emits a terrible odor, and he enjoys trespassing into other people's gardens and borrowing unwanted clothing from humans. In the past, clothing was even left out specifically for him.

If we entertain the idea that the Agach kishi is, after all, a type of humanoid or Neanderthal, it becomes more intriguing. In a sense, its actions (such as stealing food from gardens or orchards) represent a form of nature's intrusion into human territory, once inhabited by different beings.