第88部分(第2/7 頁)

　after　the　pictures

and　held　the　lamp　he’d　taken　from　me　to　my　face：　Yes；　of　course　I’d　drawn

two　of　them　out　of　a　sense　of　fraternity。　We　could　find　nothing　but　the　Persian

skullcap　that　the　deceased　wore　over　his　perfectly　shaved　head。

Seeing　no　one　else；　we　exited　into　the　blackness　of　night　through　a　narrow

passageway that led away from the back door。 During the raid much of the

crowd and the artists within probably escaped through this door； but the

knocked…over planters and bags of coffee strewn everywhere indicated that

there　was　a　struggle　here　as　well。

The fact that the coffeehouse was raided and the master storyteller

murdered；　coupled　with　the　terrifying　blackness　of　night；　brought　Black　and　I

closer　together。　This　was　also　what　caused　the　silence　between　us。　We　passed

two　more　streets。　Black　handed　the　lamp　back　to　me；　then　he　drew　his　dagger

and　pressed　it　to　my　throat。

“We’re　going　to　your　house；”　he　said。　“I　want　to　search　it　so　I　can　put　my

mind　at　ease。”

“It’s　already　been　searched。”

Rather　than　be　offended　by　him；　I　had　the　urge　to　tease　him。　Didn’t　Black’s

belief　in　the　disgraceful　rumors　about　me　simply　prove　he　was　also　jealous　of

me？　He　held　the　dagger　without　much　confidence。

My house was opposite the direction we were heading along the road

leading away from the coffeehouse。 We tacked right and left down

neighborhood streets and passed through empty gardens that bore the

depressing　scent　of　damp　and　lonely　trees　as　we　traced　a　wide　arc　back　toward

my house。 We’d covered more than half the rou