第38部分(第2/7 頁)

　I’d e here with

forethought　and　intent。

The　large　courtyard　gate—that　I　feared　no　one　would　open　for　me—opened

on　its　own　when　I　went　to　knock；　reassuring　me　that　Allah　was　with　me。　The

shiny stone…paved portion of the courtyard that I walked through on those

nights　when　I　came　to　add　new　illustrations　to　Enishte　Effendi’s　magnificent

book　was　empty。　To　the　right　beside　the　well　rested　the　bucket；　and　perched　on

it　a　sparrow　apparently　oblivious　to　the　cold；　a　bit　farther　on　sat　the　open…air

stone　stove；　which　for　some　reason　wasn’t　lit　even　at　this　late　hour；　and　to　the

left；　the　stable　for　visitors’　horses　which　made　up　part　of　the　house’s　ground

floor。 Everything was as I expected it to be。 I entered through the unlocked

door　beside　the　stable；　and　as　an　uninvited　guest　might　do　to　avoid　happening

upon　an　inappropriate　scene；　I　stamped　my　feet　and　coughed　as　I　climbed　the

wooden　staircase　to　the　living　quarters。

My coughing elicited no response。 Nor did the noise of stamping my

muddy　shoes；　which　I　removed　and　left　next　to　those　lined　up　at　the　entrance

of the wide hall which was also used as an anteroom。 As had bee my

custom whenever I visited； I searched for what I assumed to be Shekure’s

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elegant　green　pair　among　the　others；　but　for　naught；　and　the　possibility　that

no　one　was　home　crossed　my　mind。

I　walked　to　the　right　into　the　room—there　was　one　in　each　corner　of　the

second floor—where I imagined Shekure slept cuddled with her children。 I

groped　for　beds　and　mattresses；　and　opened　a　chest　in　the　corner　and　a　tall

armoire