第26部分(第6/7 頁)

ut　over　a　stunning　landscape；　and　the　gilder；　no　longer　among　us—

no need to name names—who spent his evenings arranging us into various

designs。　I’ve　traveled　in　mahogany　skiffs；　I’ve　visited　the　Sultan’s　palace；　I’ve

hidden　within　Herat…made　bindings；　in　the　heels　of　rose…scented　shoes　and　in

the　covers　of　packsaddles。　I’ve　known　hundreds　of　hands：　dirty；　hairy；　plump；

oily； trembling and old。 I’ve been redolent of opium dens； candle…makers’

shops；　dried　mackerel　and　the　sweat　of　all　of　Istanbul。　After　experiencing　such

excitement　and　motion；　a　base　thief　who　had　slit　his　victim’s　throat　in　the

blackness of night and tossed me into his purse； once back in his accursed

house；　spat　in　my　face　and　grunted；　“Damn　you；　it’s　all　because　of　you。”　I　was

so　offended；　so　hurt；　that　I　wanted　nothing　more　than　to　disappear。

If　I　didn’t　exist；　however；　no　one　would　be　able　to　distinguish　a　good　artist

from　a　bad　one；　and　this　would　lead　to　chaos　among　the　miniaturists；　they’d

all　be　at　each　other’s　throats。　So　I　haven’t　vanished。　I’ve　entered　the　purse　of

the　most　talented　and　intelligent　of　miniaturists　and　made　my　way　here。

If　you　think　you’re　better　than　Stork；　then　by　all　means；　get　hold　of　me。

118

I　AM　CALLED　BLACK

I　wondered　whether　Shekure’s　father　was　aware　of　the　letters　we　exchanged。　If

I　were　to　consider　her　tone；　which　bespoke　a　timid　maiden　quite　afraid　of　her

father； I’d have to conclude that not a single word about me had passed

between　them。　Yet；　I　sensed　that　this　was　not　the　case。　The　slyness　in　Esther’s

looks；　Shekure’s　enchanting　appearance　at　the　window；　the　deci