第24部分(第3/7 頁)

　held　me　in　his　embrace　for　a

while； then the ignoramus said the following： “Were you ”Saturday‘ or

“Wednesday’？”

“”Wednesday‘　was　the　workshop　name　of　the　dearly　departed　for　a　time；“　I

said。　He　fell　silent。

The　story　behind　these　workshop　names；　which　bound　us　to　one　another

like a secret pact； was simple： During our apprenticeships； when Osman the

miniaturist　had　newly　graduated　from　assistant　master　to　the　level　of　master；

we　all　shared　a　great　respect；　admiration　and　love　for　him。　He　was　a　virtuoso

and he taught us everything； for God had blessed him with an enchanting

artistic　gift　and　the　intellect　of　a　jinn。　Early　each　morning；　as　was　demanded　of

apprentices； one of us would go to the master’s home； and following

respectfully　behind　him　on　the　way　to　the　workshop；　carry　his　pen　and　brush

box；　his　bag　and　his　portfolio　full　of　papers。　So　desperate　were　we　to　be　near

him　that　we’d　argue　and　fight　among　ourselves　to　determine　who　would　go

that　day。

Master　Osman　had　a　favorite。　But　if　he　were　always　to　go；　it　would　fan　the

flames　of　the　never…ending　gossip　and　tasteless　jokes　that　inevitably　filled　the

workshop；　and　so　the　great　master　decided　that　each　of　us　would　be　assured　a

specified　day　of　the　week。　The　great　master　worked　on　Fridays　and　stayed　at

home　Saturdays。　His　son；　whom　he　loved　dearly—who　later　betrayed　him　and

us by quitting the trade—would acpany his father on Mondays like a

mon apprentice。 There was also a tall thin brother of ours known as

“Thursday；” a miniaturist more gifted than any of us； who passed away at a