第85部分(第1/7 頁)

men。　They’re　prepared　to　fight　Hasan。”

“Hasan　isn’t　here；”　said　the　polite　father…in…law。

“How　fortunate。　Take　a　look　at　this；”　I　said；　giving　him　Black’s　note　like　a

proud　ambassador　of　the　Sultan　executing　His　merciless　will。

As　the　gentlemanly　father…in…law　read　the　note；　Shekure　said；　“Esther；　e

and　let　me　pour　you　a　bowl　of　lentil　soup　to　warm　you　up。”

372

“I　don’t　like　lentil　soup；”　I　said　at　first。　I　didn’t　like　the　way　she　spoke　as　if

she　were　mistress　of　the　house。　But　when　I　understood　that　she　wanted　to　be

alone　with　me；　I　grabbed　the　spoon　and　rushed　after　her。

“Tell Black that it’s all because of Shevket；” she whispered。 “Last night I

waited all night alone with Orhan deathly afraid of the murderer。 Orhan

trembled with fright until morning。 My children had been separated！ What

kind　of　mother　could　remain　apart　from　her　child？　When　Black　failed　to　e

back； they told me that Our Sultan’s torturers had made him talk and that

he’d　a　hand　in　my　father’s　death。”

“Wasn’t　Black　with　you　when　your　father　was　being　killed？”

“Esther；”　she　said；　opening　her　beautiful　black　eyes　wide；　“I　beg　of　you；　help

me。”

“Then　tell　me　why　you’ve　e　back　here　so　I　might　understand　and　help。”

“Do you think I know why I’ve returned？” she said。 She seemed on the

verge　of　tears。　“Black　was　rough　with　my　poor　Shevket；”　she　said。　“And　when

Hasan　said　that　the　children’s　real　father　had　returned；　I　believed　him。”

But　I　could　tell　from　her　eyes　that　she　was　lying；　and　she　knew　I　could　tell。

“I　was　duped　by　Hasan！”　she　whispered；　and　I　sensed　that　she　wanted　me　to