第1部分(第4/7 頁)

rivers　of　Heaven。

In　short；　I；　who　am　known　as　Master　Elegant　Effendi；　am　dead；　but　I　have

not　been　buried；　and　therefore　my　soul　has　not　pletely　left　my　body。　This

extraordinary　situation；　although　naturally　my　case　isn’t　the　first；　has　inflicted

horrible suffering upon the immortal part of me。 Though I cannot feel my

crushed skull or my deposing body covered in wounds； full of broken

bones　and　partially　submerged　in　ice…cold　water；　I　do　feel　the　deep　torment　of

my soul struggling desperately to escape its mortal coil。 It’s as if the whole

world；　along　with　my　body；　were　contracting　into　a　bolus　of　anguish。

I　can　only　pare　this　contraction　to　the　surprising　sense　of　release　I　felt

during　the　unequaled　moment　of　my　death。　Yes；　I　instantly　understood　that

the wretch wanted to kill me when he unexpectedly struck me with a stone

and cracked my skull； but I didn’t believe he’d follow through。 I suddenly

realized　I　was　a　hopeful　man；　something　I　hadn’t　been　aware　of　while　living

my　life　in　the　shadows　between　workshop　and　household。　I　clung　passionately

to life with my nails； my fingers and my teeth； which I sank into his skin。 I

won’t　bore　you　with　the　painful　details　of　the　subsequent　blows　I　received。

When　in　the　course　of　this　agony　I　knew　I　would　die；　an　incredible　feeling

of　relief　filled　me。　I　felt　this　relief　during　the　moment　of　departure；　my　arrival

to　this　side　was　soothing；　like　the　dream　of　seeing　oneself　asleep。　The　snow…

and　mud…covered　shoes　of　my　murderer　were　the　last　things　I　noticed。　I　closed

my　eyes　as　if　I　were　going　to　sleep；　a