第8部分(第2/7 頁)

sidered silently quitting my Enishte’s presence and

opening　each　of　the　doors　along　the　wide　hallway—I’d　counted　them　out　of

the　corner　of　my　eye；　five　dark　doors；　one　of　which；　naturally；　opened　onto　the

staircase—until　I　found　Shekure。　But；　I’d　been　separated　from　my　beloved　for

twelve years because I recklessly revealed what lay in my heart。 I decided to

wait discreetly； listening to my Enishte while admiring the objects that

Shekure had touched and the large pillow upon which she’d reclined who

knows　how　many　times。

He　recounted　to　me　that　the　Sultan　wanted　to　have　the　book　pleted　in

time　for　the　thousandth…year　anniversary　of　the　Hegira。　Our　Sultan；　Refuge　of

the　World；　wanted　to　demonstrate　that　in　the　thousandth　year　of　the　Muslim

calendar　He　and　His　state　could　make　use　of　the　styles　of　the　Franks　as　well　as

the　Franks　themselves。　Because　He　was　also　having　a　Book　of　Festivities　made；

the Sultan granted that the master miniaturists； whom He knew were quite

busy；　be　permitted　to　sequester　themselves　at　home　to　work　in　peace　instead

of　among　the　crowds　at　the　workshop。　He　was；　of　course；　also　aware　that　they

all　regularly　paid　clandestine　visits　to　my　Enishte。

36

“You　shall　visit　Head　Illuminator　Master　Osman；”　said　my　Enishte。　“Some

say he’s gone blind； others that he’s lost his senses。 I think he’s blind and

senile　both。”

Despite the fact that my Enishte didn’t have the standing of a master

illustrator　and　that　this　wasn’t　his　field　of　artistic　expertise　at　all；　he　did　have

control　over　an　illustrated　manuscript。　This；　in　fact；