第98部分(第3/7 頁)

because he’d prematurely expressed his love for the daughter of the shah。

Since he didn’t have a portrait of his beloved； of whom he dreamed for a

dozen years； he forgot her face amid the Chinese beauties； and his lovelorn

suffering　was　transformed　into　a　profound　trial　willed　by　Allah。

“Thanks to your Enishte； we’ve all learned the meaning of ”portrait；“” I

said。　“God　willing；　one　day；　we’ll　fearlessly　tell　the　story　of　our　own　lives　the

way　we　actually　live　them。”

“All　fables　are　everybody’s　fables；”　said　Black。

“All　illumination　is　God’s　illumination　too；”　I　said；　pleting　the　verse　by

the poet Hatifi of Herat。 “But as the methods of the Europeans spread；

everyone　will　consider　it　a　special　talent　to　tell　other　men’s　stories　as　if　they

were　one’s　own。”

“This　is　nothing　but　the　will　of　Satan。”

“Unhand　me　now；”　I　shouted。　“Let　me　look　upon　the　world　one　last　time。”

They　were　terrified；　and　a　new　confidence　rose　within　me。

“Will　you　take　out　the　final　picture？”　Black　said。

I　gave　Black　such　a　look　that　he　was　quick　to　understand　I’d　do　so　and　he

released　me。　My　heart　began　to　beat　rapidly。

I’m　certain　you’ve　long　ago　discovered　my　identity；　which　I’ve　been　trying

to　conceal。　Even　so；　don’t　be　surprised　that　I’m　behaving　like　the　old　masters

of　Herat；　for　they　would　conceal　their　signatures　not　to　hide　their　identities；

but　out　of　principle　and　respect　for　their　masters。　Excitedly；　I　walked　through

the　pitch…black　rooms　of　the　lodge；　oil　lamp　in　hand；　making　way　for　my　own

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pale　shadow。　Had　the　curtain　of　blackness　begun　to　fall　over　my　ey