第32部分(第2/7 頁)

et　married。

With dead seriousness； I grabbed the letter。 I warned the idiot to return

home　without　being　seen　by　anyone　and　she　left。　Nesim　cast　a　questioning　eye

at　me。　I　took　up　the　larger；　yet　lighter　decoy　satchel　I　carried　whenever　I　was

out　delivering　my　letters。

“Shekure； the daughter of Master Enishte； is burning with love；” I said。

“She’s　gone　clear　out　of　her　mind；　the　poor　girl。”

I cackled and stepped outside； but then was gripped by pangs of

embarrassment。　If　truth　be　told；　I　longed　to　shed　a　tear　for　Shekure’s　sorrows

instead　of　making　light　of　her　dalliances。　How　beautiful　she　is；　that　dark…eyed

melancholy　girl　of　mine！

I ever so quickly strode past the run…down homes of our Jewish

neighborhood； which looked even more deserted and pitiful in the morning

cold。　Much　later；　when　I　caught　sight　of　that　blind　beggar　who　always　took　up

his spot on the corner of Hasan’s street； I shouted as loud as I could；

“Clothierrr！”

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“Fat　witch；”　he　said。　“Even　if　you　hadn’t　shouted　I　would’ve　recognized　you

by　your　footsteps。”

“You good…for…nothing blind man；” I said。 “You ill…fated Tatar！ Blind men

like　you　are　scourges　forsaken　by　Allah。　May　He　give　you　the　punishment　you

deserve。”

In the past； such exchanges wouldn’t have angered me。 I wouldn’t have

taken　them　seriously。　Hasan’s　father　opened　the　door。　He　was　an　Abkhazian；　a

noble　gentleman　and　polite。

“Let’s have a look； then； what have you brought with you this time？” he

said。

“Is　that　slothful　son　of　yours　still　aslee