第37部分(第6/7 頁)

quick　satisfaction　of　his　dark　desires　the　first

time we were alone。 Nizami had pared the mouth of that beauty of

beauties；　Shirin；　to　an　inkwell　filled　with　pearls。

When　the　eager　dogs　began　barking　with　renewed　fervor；　a　restless　Shekure

said； “I ought to go now。” It was at that moment we both realized that the

house　of　the　Jew’s　ghost　had　indeed　bee　quite　dark；　although　there　was

still　time　before　nightfall。　My　body　sprung　up　of　its　own　volition；　to　hug　her

once　again；　but　like　a　wounded　sparrow；　she　quickly　hopped　away。

“Am　I　still　beautiful？　Answer　me　quickly。”

I　told　her。　How　beautifully　she　listened　to　me；　believing　and　agreeing　with

what　I　said。

“And　my　clothes？”

I　told　her。

“Do　I　smell　nice？”

Of　course；　Shekure　also　knew　that　what　Nizami　referred　to　as　“love　chess”

did not consist of such rhetorical games； but of the hidden emotional

maneuvers　between　lovers。

“What　kind　of　living　do　you　expect　to　earn？”　she　asked。　“Will　you　be　able

to　care　for　my　fatherless　children？”

As I talked about my more than twelve years of governmental and

secretarial　experience；　the　vast　knowledge　I’d　acquired　in　battle　and　witnessing

death　and　my　luminous　prospects；　I　embraced　her。

“How　beautifully　we　embraced　each　other　just　now；”　she　said。　“And　already

everything　has　lost　its　primal　mystery。”

To　prove　how　sincere　I　was；　I　hugged　her　even　tighter。　I　asked　her　why；　after

having　kept　it　for　twelve　years；　she’d　had　Esther　return　the　painting　I’d　made

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for　her。　In　her　eyes　I　read　surprise　at　my　weariness　and　an　affection　that　welled

up within