第44部分(第3/7 頁)

ck　each　step。　At　the　base　of　the　stairs；　I　turned

his　body；　which　now　seemed　to　have　grown　lighter；　and　with　one　great　effort；

dragging him across the stone floor； I took him into the summer painting

room。　In　order　to　see　within　the　pitch…black　room；　I　hastened　back　out　to　the

stove　in　the　kitchen。　When　I　returned　with　a　candle　I　saw　how　thoroughly　the

room　where　I’d　dragged　my　father　had　been　pillaged。　I　was　dumbstruck。

Who　is　it；　my　God；　which　one　of　them？

My mind was churning。 Closing the door tightly； I left my father in the

demolished　room。　I　grabbed　a　bucket　from　the　kitchen；　and　filled　it　with　water

from　the　well。　I　climbed　the　stairs；　and　by　the　light　of　an　oil　lamp；　I　quickly

wiped　away　the　blood　in　the　hallway；　on　the　staircase　and　everywhere　else。　I

went back upstairs to my room； removed my bloodied clothes and put on

clean　clothes。　Carrying　the　bucket　and　rag；　I　was　about　to　enter　the　room　with

the　blue　door　when　I　heard　the　courtyard　gate　swing　open。　The　evening　call　to

prayer　had　begun。　I　mustered　all　my　strength；　and　holding　the　oil　lamp　in　my

hand；　I　waited　for　them　at　the　top　of　the　stairs。

“Mother；　we’re　back；”　Orhan　said。

“Hayriye！ Where have you been！” I said forcefully； but as if I were

whispering；　not　shouting。

“But　Mother；　we　didn’t　stay　out　past　the　evening　call　to　prayer…”　Shevket

had　begun　to　say。

197

“Quiet！　Your　grandfather　is　ill；　he’s　sleeping。”

“Ill？” said Hayriye from below。 She could tell from my silence that I was

angry： “Shekure； we waited for Kosta。 After the gray mullet arrived； without

tar