第36部分(第2/7 頁)

；　stock…still。　I　heard　a　sound　in

the　garden；　but　then　everything　was　overe　by　silence。　I　heard　a　dog　bark

nearby。 I recognize all the dogs in our neighborhood from their barks； but I

couldn’t　place　this　one。

During　the　next　silence　I　sensed　that　there　was　somebody　else　in　the　house

and I stood dead still so he wouldn’t hear my footsteps。 Strangers talked as

they passed on the street。 I thought of Hayriye and the children。 I hoped to

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God　that　they　wouldn’t　catch　cold。　In　the　silence　that　followed；　I　was　gradually

overe　by　regret。　Black　wasn’t　ing。　I’d　made　a　mistake；　and　I　ought　to

return　home　before　my　pride　was　damaged　even　further。　Terrified；　I　imagined

that　Hasan　was　watching　me；　and　then　I　heard　movement　in　the　garden。　The

door　opened。

I abruptly changed my position。 I didn’t know why I did so； but when I

stood　to　the　left　of　the　window　through　which　a　faint　light　from　the　garden

was　filtering；　I　realized　that　Black　would　be　able　to　see　me；　to　borrow　a　phrase

from　my　father；　“within　the　mysteries　of　shadow。”　I　covered　my　face　with　my

veil　and　waited；　listening　to　his　footsteps。

Black　passed　through　the　doorway　and　saw　me；　then　took　a　few　more　steps

and stopped。 We stood five paces apart and beheld each other。 He looked

healthier　and　stronger　than　he’d　appeared　through　the　peephole。　There　was　a

silence。

“Remove　your　veil；”　he　said　in　a　whisper。　“Please。”

“I’m　married。　I’m　awaiting　my　husband’s　return。”

“Remove your veil；” he said in the same tone。 “Your husband won’t ever

e　back。”

“Have　you　arranged　to　meet