第86部分(第1/7 頁)

“My　dearest　Shekure；　I　cannot　open　the　door　either；”　I　said。　“You　know　as

well as I that this would mean I’ve meddled in your affairs。 They’d bitterly

avenge　such　meddling。”

I　could　see　from　her　eyes　that　she　understood。　“Then　no　one　will　open　the

door；”　she　said。　“Let’s　wait　for　them　to　break　it　down　and　take　us　by　force。”

I knew at once this would be the best alternative for Shekure and her

children；　and　I　was　afraid。　“But　that　means　blood　will　be　spilled；”　I　said。　“If　the

judge　isn’t　involved　in　this　affair；　blood　will　flow；　and　a　blood　feud　will　last　for

years。　No　honorable　man　could　stand　by　and　watch　as　his　house　was　broken

into　and　raided　to　abduct　a　woman　residing　there。”

I once again understood regretfully how deceptive and calculating this

Shekure was as she embraced her two boys and wailed with all her being

rather　than　answer。　A　voice　was　telling　me　to　forget　everything　and　leave；　but　I

could　no　longer　walk　back　through　the　door；　which　was　being　battered　to　the

breaking　point。　Actually；　I　was　afraid　of　both　what　would　happen　if　they　broke

down the door and came through and what would happen if they didn’t； I

kept　thinking　that　Black’s　men；　who　trusted　in　me；　were　worried　about　going

too　far　and　might　retreat　at　any　moment；　which　would；　in　turn；　embolden　the

father…in…law。　When　he　went　to　Shekure’s　side；　I　knew　he’d　begun　to　cry　fake

tears；　but　what’s　worse；　he　was　trembling　in　a　way　that　couldn’t　be　feigned。

Stepping toward the door； I screamed with all my strength； “Stop； that’s

enough！”

The　motion　outside　and　the　wailing　inside　en