One morning, when they woke up, Alp’s sister was lifeless in her bed.

  His mother wept and wailed for days.

  Alp went to the Shaman and asked, “How can I ease my mother’s pain?”

  “Nothing can ease your mother’s pain,” the Shaman said.

  “Erlik has taken your sister’s soul.”

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  Alp begged the Shaman for a long time.

  At last, the Shaman led him to the underworld, to Erlik himself.

  Seated on his golden throne, Erlik asked, “What do you want?”

  “You took my sister’s soul. I want you to give her back.”

  Erlik laughed.

  “Do you know why I took her?”

  “Your father once begged me for a son.”

  “I promised him a son—but in return, I would take his second child.”

  Upon hearing this, Alp gave Erlik his own soul.

  And his sister returned to their mother.