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ask me whether all of this was indeed correct； whether there wasn’t any

recourse and whether we’d truly burn in Hell。 He suffered fits of regret and

beat　his　breast　in　remorse；　but　I　was　unpersuaded。　He　was　an　imposter　who

feigned　regret。“

“How　did　you　know　this？”

“We’ve known Elegant Effendi since childhood。 He’s very orderly； quiet；

ordinary　and　colorless；　like　his　gilding。　It　was　as　if　the　man　standing　before　me

then was dumber； more naive； more devout； yet more superficial than the

Elegant　we　knew。”

“I　hear　he’d　also　bee　quite　close　to　the　Erzurumis；”　said　Black。

“No Muslim would ever feel such torment and regret for inadvertently

mitting　a　sin；”　I　said。　“A　good　Muslim　knows　God　is　just　and　reasonable

enough　to　consider　the　intent　of　His　servants。　Only　pea…brained　ignoramuses

believe　they’ll　go　to　Hell　for　eating　pork　unawares。　Anyway；　a　genuine　Muslim

knows the fear of damnation serves to frighten others； not himself。 This is

what　Elegant　Effendi　was　doing；　you　see；　he　wanted　to　scare　me。　It　was　your

Enishte　who　taught　him　that　he　might　do　such　a　thing；　and　it　was　then　I　knew

that this was indeed the case。 Now； tell me in plete honesty； my dear

illuminator　brethren；　has　the　blood　begun　to　clot　in　my　eyes；　have　my　eyes　lost

their　color？”

They　brought　the　lamp　toward　my　face　and　gazed　at　it；　displaying　the　care

and　passion　of　surgeons。

“Nothing　seems　to　have　changed。”

Were　these　three；　staring　into　my　eyes；　the　last　sight　I’d　see　in　this　world？　I

knew I’d never forget these moments until the end of my life；