第26部分(第2/7 頁)

erfeit。

115

We　were　loaded　into　iron　chests；　hauled　onto　ships　and　pitching　to　and　fro

traveled　from　Venice　to　Istanbul。　I　found　myself　in　a　money　changer’s　shop；　in

the garlicky mouth of its proprietor。 We waited for a while； and a simple…

minded peasant entered； hoping to exchange some gold。 The master money

changer；　who　was　a　genuine　trickster；　declared　that　he　needed　to　bite　the　gold

piece　to　see　if　it　was　counterfeit。　So　he　took　the　peasant’s　coin　and　tossed　it

into　his　mouth。

When we met inside his mouth； I realized that the peasant’s coin was a

genuine Ottoman Sultani。 He saw me within that stench of garlic and said；

“You’re nothing but a counterfeit。” He was right； but his arrogant manner

offended my pride and I lied to him： “Actually； my brother； you’re the one

who’s　counterfeit。”

Meanwhile； the peasant was proudly insisting； “How could my gold coin

possibly　be　counterfeit？　I　buried　it　in　the　ground　twenty　years　ago；　did　a　vice

like　counterfeiting　exist　back　then？”

I was wondering what the oute would be when the money changer

took　me　out　of　his　mouth　instead　of　the　peasant’s　gold　coin。　“Take　your　gold

coin；　I　don’t　want　any　vile　Veian　infidel’s　fake　money；”　he　said；　“have　you

no　shame？”　The　peasant　responded　with　some　biting　words　of　his　own；　then

took　me　with　him　out　the　door。　After　hearing　the　same　pronouncement　from

other money changers； the peasant’s spirit broke and he exchanged me as a

debased coin for only niy silver pieces。 This is how my seven…year saga of

endless　wanderi