We are at the peak of our hike up in the Gissar Mountains. We stopped while our local guides cooked us some tea and gave us some local nuts and fruits. But while the fire was getting started we had some time. Our two local guides asked if anyone wanted to play a game called (something like) Ehil Like – which we were told meant “Two Sticks”. Another of our tour group, Roger, and I volunteered to give it a go.

The game went like this. One person (Roger) put one stick down on the ground. Then, with a second stick, he put his second stick underneath the first stick and flung the first stick. My job was to try and catch the stick. But if I didn’t catch the stick (and Roger’s job was to fling it so that I couldn’t catch it), then I had another task. I couldn’t catch the stick. So then, Roger flicked the stick again as far as he could. After that, I had to hold my breath and making sounds with my mouth, run to get the flung stick and run back to the first stick – all in one breath. Only I held my breath and did it, but since I didn’t make a sound, they made me do it again. So I held my breath, made a loud sound, and ran and got the stick and ran back again to the first stick in time. That gave me a turn at flinging the stick.

In the first photo, Roger was thinking of throwing the stick downhill since he could throw it farther and I couldn’t possibly catch it. But they said no, he had to throw it in my direction.

Roger is getting some advice on pitching the stick in the second photo. I’m waiting to try and catch the stick.

Roger pitched the stick a long way and I ran and got it and am on my way back in the third photo, still holding my breath.

I’m hurrying to get back in the fourth photo but also trying to slow myself down as I’m running downhill and need to stop at the exact right spot.

I’m considering my options on pitching the stick in the last photo.

This game was made up to give the shepherds something to do while out watching their grazing animals. They had time on their hands but not much else, so they invented the game of two sticks.