第13部分(第3/7 頁)

walked　swiftly；　listening　to　my　steps　in　the　snow　and　watching　the　fog　of　my

breath。　I　grew　excited；　expecting　the　palace　workshop　that　my　Enishte　wanted

me　to　visit　to　be　as　silent　as　the　streets。　Before　I　entered　the　Jewish　quarter；　I

sent　word　by　way　of　a　little　street　urchin　to　Esther；　who’d　be　able　to　deliver　my

letter　to　Shekure；　telling　her　where　to　meet　me　before　the　noontime　prayers。

I arrived early at the royal artisans’ workshop located behind the Hagia

Sophia。　Except　for　the　icicles　hanging　from　the　eaves；　there　was　no　change　in

the building where I’d often visited my Enishte and for a time worked as a

child　apprentice。

Following a handsome young apprentice； I walked past elderly master

binders dazed from the smell of glue and bookbinder’s paste； master

miniaturists　whose　backs　had　hunched　at　an　early　age　and　youths　who　mixed

paints without even looking into the bowls perched on their knees； so

sorrowfully　were　they　absorbed　by　the　flames　of　the　stove。　In　a　corner；　I　saw

an old man meticulously painting an ostrich egg on his lap； another elder

enthusiastically embellishing a drawer and a young apprentice graciously

watching　them　both。　Through　an　open　door；　I　witnessed　young　students　being

reprimanded as they leaned forward； their noses almost touching the pages

spread before their reddened faces； as they tried to understand the mistakes

they’d　made。　In　another　room；　a　mournful　and　melancholy　apprentice；　having

forgotten momentarily about colors； papers and painting； stared into the

street　I’d　just　now　eagerly　w