第9部分(第7/7 頁)

　me that ivory…handled

knife；”　he’d　say；　for　example；　looking　at　the　knife　but　unable　to　look　at　me。　If　I

asked him； for instance； “Is the cherry sherbet to your liking？” he couldn’t

simply　indicate　so　with　a　delicate　smile　or　nod；　as　we　do　when　our　mouths　are

full；　you　see。　Instead；　he’d　scream　“Yes”　at　the　top　of　his　lungs；　as　if　trying　to

municate with a deaf man。 He feared looking me in the face。 I was a

maiden　of　striking　beauty　then。　Any　man　who　caught　sight　of　me　even　once；

from　afar；　or　from　between　parted　curtains　or　yawning　doors；　or　even　through

the　layers　of　my　modest　head　coverings；　immediately　became　enamored　of　me。

I’m not being a braggart； I’m explaining this so you’ll understand my story

and　be　better　able　to　share　in　my　grief。

In　the　well…known　tale　of　Hüsrev　and　Shirin；　there’s　a　moment　that　Black

and　I　had　discussed　at　length。　Hüsrev’s　friend；　Shapur；　intends　to　make　Hüsrev

and　Shirin　fall　in　love。　One　day　Shirin　embarks　on　a　countryside　outing　with

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her ladies o