第43部分(第3/7 頁)

’s　return。

And　thus；　the　deathly　and　gentle　light　before　me　faded　somewhat；　and　my

mind opened itself up to the sounds and noises of the world in which I lay

dying。 I could hear my murderer roaming around the room； opening the

cabi；　rifling　through　my　papers　and　searching　intently　for　the　last　picture。

When　he　came　up　empty…handed；　I　heard　him　pry　open　my　paint　set　and　kick

the　chests；　boxes；　inkpots　and　folding　worktable。　I　sensed　that　I　was　groaning

now　and　then　and　making　odd　twitching　gestures　with　my　old　arms　and　tired

legs。　And　I　waited。

My　pain　was　not　abating　in　the　least。　I　grew　increasingly　silent　and　could　no

longer　stand　to　grit　my　teeth；　but　again；　I　held　on；　waiting。

Then it occurred to me； if Shekure came home； she might encounter my

ruthless murderer。 I didn’t want to even think about this。 At that instant； I

sensed　that　my　murderer　had　exited　the　room。　He’d　probably　found　the　last

painting。

I’d　bee　excessively　thirsty　but　still　I　waited。　e　now；　dear　daughter；

my　pretty　Shekure；　show　yourself。

She　did　not　e。

192

I no longer had strength to withstand the suffering。 I knew I would die

without　seeing　her。　This　seemed　so　bitter　I　wanted　to　die　of　misery。　Afterward；

a　face　I’d　never　seen　before　appeared　to　my　left；　and　smiling　all　the　while；　he

kindly　offered　me　a　glass　of　water。

Forgetting　all　else；　I　greedily　reached　for　the　water。

He　pulled　the　glass　back：　“Denounce　the　Prophet　Muhammad　as　a　liar；”　he

said。　“Deny　all　that　he　has　said。”

It　was　Satan。　I　didn’t　answer；　I　wasn’t　even　afraid　of　him。　Since　I　never　once