第84部分(第5/7 頁)

is　fully　equipped　little　army

wandering　around。”

“No　one　will　catch　sight　of　us。”

“Yesterday　the　Erzurumis　first　raided　a　tavern　and　then　the　dervish　house

at　Sa？？rkap？；　beating　up　everyone　they　found　in　both　places。　An　elderly　man

who took a blow to his head with a stick died。 In this pitch blackness； they

might　think　you’re　of　their　lot。”

“I　hear　you　went　to　dearly　departed　Elegant　Effendi’s　house；　saw　his　wife；

God　bless　her；　and　the　horse　sketches　with　the　smeared　ink　before　relaying　it

all to Shekure。 Had Elegant Effendi been spending a lot of time with the

henchmen　of　the　preacher　from　Erzurum？”

“If　I　sounded　out　Elegant　Effendi’s　wife；　it　was　because　I　thought　it　might

ultimately　help　my　poor　Shekure；”　I　said。　“Anyway；　I’d　gone　there　to　show　her

the　latest　cloth　which　had　e　off　the　Flemish　ship；　not　to　involve　myself　in

your legal and political affairs—which my poor brain couldn’t fathom

anyway。”

As we entered the street； which ran behind Charsh？kap？； my heart

quickened　with　fear。　The　bare；　wet　branches　of　the　chestnut　and　mulberry　trees

glimmered　in　the　pale　light　of　the　half…moon。　A　breeze　kicked　up　by　jinns　and

the living dead rippled the laced edging of my satchel； whistled through the

trees　and　carried　the　scent　of　our　group　to　neighborhood　dogs　lying　in　wait。　As

they　began　to　bark　one　by　one；　I　pointed　out　the　house　to　Black。　We　stared

quietly　at　its　dark　roof　and　shutters。　Black　had　the　men　take　positions　around

the house： in the empty garden； on either side of the courtyard gate and

behind　the　fig　trees　in　back。