第33部分(第3/7 頁)

d。

“Just beyond these houses there’s a yellow one。 They say that Moshe

Hamon；　the　beloved　doctor　of　the　previous　Sultan　and　the　wealthiest　of　men；

had　for　years　hidden　his　Jewish　mistress　from　Amasya　and　her　brother　there。

Years　ago　in　Amasya；　on　the　eve　of　Passover；　when　a　Greek　youth　supposedly

”disappeared‘　in　the　Jeed　that　he’d　been　strangled

so　unleavened　bread　could　be　made　from　his　blood。　When　false　witnesses　were

brought forward； an execution of Jews began； however； the Sultan’s beloved

doctor helped this beautiful woman and her brother escape； and hid them

with　the　permission　of　the　Sultan。　After　the　Sultan　died；　His　enemies　couldn’t

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find the beautiful woman； but they hanged her brother； who’d been living

alone。“

“If　Shekure　doesn’t　wait　for　my　brother　to　e　back　from　the　front；　they’ll

punish　her；”　said　Hasan；　handing　me　the　letters。

No anger or wrath could be seen on his face； just the misfortune and

sorrow　particular　to　the　love…stricken。　I　suddenly　saw　in　his　eyes　how　fast　love

had aged him。 The money he’d begun to earn working in customs hadn’t

made　him　more　youthful　at　all。　After　all　his　offended　grimaces　and　threats；　it

dawned　on　me　that　he　might　once　again　ask　me　how　Shekure　could　be　won

over。 But he’d e so close to being thoroughly evil that he could no

longer　ask。　Once　one　accepts　evil—and　rejection　in　love　is　a　significant　cause

for　doing　so—cruelty　folloe　afraid　of　my　thoughts　and　that

terrible　red　sword　the　boys　talked　about；　which　severed　whatever　it　touched；

in　my　desperation　to　leave；　in　a　near　fre