第4部分(第3/7 頁)

assin。　Only　imbeciles　are　innocent。

Tonight； for example； while warming up with a steaming coffee at the

coffeehouse　located　in　the　back　streets　of　the　slave　market；　gazing　at　the　sketch

of a dog hanging on the back wall； I was gradually forgetting my plight and

laughing　with　the　rest　of　them　at　everything　the　dog　recounted。　Then；　I　had

the sensation that one of the men beside me was a mon murderer like

myself。　Though　he　was　simply　laughing　at　the　storyteller　as　I　was；　my　intuition

was sparked； either by the way his arm rested near mine or by the way he

restlessly rapped his fingers on his cup。 I’m not sure how I knew； but I

suddenly turned and looked him directly in the eye。 He gave a start and his

face　contorted。　As　the　crowd　dispersed；　an　acquaintance　of　his　took　him　by　the

arm　and　said；　“Nusret　Hoja’s　men　will　surely　raid　this　place。”

18

Raising　an　eyebrow；　he　signaled　the　man　quiet。　Their　fear　infected　me。　No

one　trusted　anyone；　everyone　expected　to　be　done　in　at　any　moment　by　the

man　next　to　him。

It had bee even colder； and snow had accumulated on street corners

and　at　the　bases　of　walls。　In　the　blindness　of　night；　I　could　find　my　way　along

the　narrow　streets　only　by　groping　with　my　hands。　At　times；　the　dim　light　of

an　oil　lamp　still　burning　somewhere　inside　a　wooden　house　filtered　out　from

behind blackened windows and drawn shutters； reflecting on the snow； but

mostly；　I　could　see　nothing；　and　found　my　way　by　listening　for　the　sounds　of

watchmen　banging　their　sticks　on　stones；　for　the　howling　of　mad　dogs；　or　the