第9部分(第6/7 頁)

he　shutters　intuitively　at　that　exact　moment　and　stare

at him so long from behind the snowy branches of the pomegranate tree？ I

can’t tell you for sure。 I’d sent word to Esther by way of Hayriye。 I was； of

course；　well　aware　that　Black　would　take　that　route。　Meanwhile；　I’d　gone　up

alone to the room with the built…in closet and the window facing the

pomegranate　tree　to　inspect　the　sheets in　the　chest。　On　a　whim；　and　at　just

the right moment； I pushed the shutters open with all my strength and

sunlight　flooded　the　room：　Standing　at　the　window；　I　came　face…to…face　with

Black；　who；　like　the　sun；　dazzled　me。　Oh；　it　was　quite　lovely。

He’d　grown　and　matured　and；　having　lost　his　awkward　youthful　lankiness；

he　turned　out　to　be　a　ely　man。　Listen　Shekure；　my　heart　did　tell　me；　he’s

not only handsome； look into his eyes； he possesses the heart of a child； so

pure；　so　alone：　Marry　him。　I；　however；　sent　him　a　letter　wherein　I’d　given　him

quite　the　opposite　message。

Though　he　was　twelve　years　my　elder；　when　I　was　twelve；　I　was　more　mature

than　he。　Back　then；　instead　of　standing　straight　and　tall　before　me　in　a　fashion

befitting a man and announcing that he was going to do this or that； jump

from　this　spot　or　climb　onto　that　thing；　he’d　just　bury　his　face　in　some　book

or　picture；　hiding　as　if　everything　embarrassed　him。　In　time；　he　also　fell　in　love

with　me。　He　made　a　painting　declaring　his　love。　We’d　both　matured　by　then。

When　I　turned　twelve；　I　sensed　that　Black　could　no　longer　look　into　my　eyes；

as if he were afraid I’d discover he loved me。 “Hand