第84部分(第3/7 頁)

de　went　to　pieces。

“Hasan　wrote　a　note　and　gave　it　to　me　to　deliver　to　Shekure。　It　described

how　Shevket　had　e　home　to　await　the　return　of　his　father；　how　Shekure

had　been　married　in　an　illegitimate　ceremony；　how　Shevket　was　very　unhappy

on　account　of　the　false　husband　who　was　supposed　to　be　his　new　father　and

how　he　was　never　going　back。”

“How　did　Shekure　respond？”

“She　waited　for　you　all　through　the　night　with　poor　Orhan。”

“What　about　Hayriye？”

“Hayriye’s been waiting for years for the opportunity to drown your

beautiful wife in a spoonful of water。 This was why she began sleeping with

your Enishte； may he rest in peace。 When Hasan saw that Shekure was

spending the night alone in fear of murderers and ghosts； he sent along

another　note　through　me。”

“What　did　he　write？”

369

Thanks　be　to　God　that　your　unfortunate　Esther　can’t　read　or　write；　because

when irate Effendis and irritable fathers ask this question； she can say： “I

couldn’t read the letter； only the face of the beautiful maiden reading the

letter。”

“What　did　you　read　in　Shekure’s　face？”

“Helplessness。”

For　a　long　time　we　didn’t　speak。　Awaiting　nightfall；　an　owl　was　perched　on

the　dome　of　a　small　Greek　church；　runny…nosed　neighborhood　kids　laughed　at

my clothes and bundle； and a mangy dog happily scratching himself loped

down　from　the　cemetery　lined　with　cypresses　to　greet　the　night。

“Slow down！” I shouted at Black later； “I can’t get up these hills the way

you　can。　Where　are　you　taking　me　with　my　satchel　like　this？”

“Before