第84部分(第4/7 頁)

you　bring　me　to　Hasan’s　house；　I’m　taking　you　to　some　generous

and　brave　young　men　so　you　can　spread　out　your　bundle　and　sell　them　some

flowery　handkerchiefs；　silk　sashes　and　purses　with　silver　embroidery　for　their

secret　lovers。”

It　was　a　good　sign　that　Black　could　still　make　jokes　in　his　pitiable　state；　but　I

could fathom the seriousness behind his mirth。 “If you’re going to gather a

posse；　I’ll　never　take　you　to　Hasan’s　house；”　I　said。　“I’m　frightened　to　death　of

fights　and　brawls。”

“If　you　continue　to　be　the　intelligent　Esther　you’ve　always　been；”　he　said；

“there’ll　be　neither　fight　nor　brawl。”

We passed through Aksaray and entered the road heading back； straight

toward the Langa gardens。 On the upper part of the muddy road； in a

neighborhood　that　had　seen　happier　days；　Black　walked　into　a　barbershop　that

was still open。 I saw him talking to the master barber being shaved by an

honest…looking　boy　with　lovely　hands　by　the　light　of　an　oil　lamp。　Before　long；

the　barber；　his　handsome　apprentice；　and　later；　two　more　of　his　men　joined　up

with us at Aksaray。 They carried swords and axes。 At a side street in

Shehzadebash？；　a　theology　student；　whom　I　couldn’t　picture　involved　in　such

rough　affairs；　joined　us　in　the　darkness；　sword　in　hand。

“Do you plan on raiding a house in the middle of the city in broad

daylight？”　I　said。

“It’s　not　day；　it’s　night；”　said　Black　in　a　tone　more　pleased　than　joking。

370

“Don’t be so confident just because you’ve put together a gang；” I said。

“Let’s　hope　the　Janissaries　don’t　catch　sight　of　th