第26部分(第5/7 頁)

and in their underwear； they even fondle me in their sleep to

make　certain　I’m　still　there。　I’ve　been　stored　next　to　the　furnace　in　a　public

bath；　in　a　boot；　at　the　bottom　of　a　small　bottle　in　a　wonderful…smelling　musk

seller’s shop and in the secret pocket sewn into a chef’s lentil sack。 I’ve

wandered　through　Istanbul　in　belts　made　of　camel　leather；　jacket　linings　made

from checkered Egyptian cloth； in the thick fabric of shoe lining and in the

hidden　corners　of　multicolored　shalwars。　The　master　watchmaker　Petro　hid　me

in　a　secret　partment　of　a　grandfather　clock；　and　a　Greek　grocer　stuck　me

directly　into　a　wheel　of　kashari　cheese。　I　hid　together　with　jewelry；　seals　and

keys wrapped in pieces of thick cloth stowed away in chimneys； in stoves；

beneath windowsills； inside cushions stuffed with rough straw； in

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underground　chambers　and　in　the　hidden　partments　of　chests。　I’ve　known

fathers the　dinner　table　to　check　whether　I　was

still　where　I　was　supposed　to　be；　women　who　sucked　on　me　like　candy　for　no

reason； children who sniffed at me as they stuck me up their noses and old

people　with　one　foot　in　the　grave　who　couldn’t　relax　unless　they　removed　me

from　their　sheepskin　purses　at　least　seven　times　a　day。　There　was　a　meticulous

Circassian　woman　who；　after　spending　the　whole　day　cleaning　the　house；　took

us　coins　out　of　her　purse　and　scrubbed　us　with　a　coarse　brush。　I　remember　the

one…eyed　money　changer　who　constantly　stacked　us　up　into　towers；　the　porter

who　smelled　of　morning　glories　and　who；　along　with　his　family；　watched　us　as

if　looking　o