第98部分(第4/7 頁)

es；　or　were

these rooms and hallways truly this dark？ How many days and weeks； how

much　time　did　I　have　before　going　blind？　My　shadow　and　I　stopped　among

the　ghosts　in　the　kitchen　and　lifted　up　the　pages　from　the　clean　corner　of　a

dusty cabi before quickly heading back。 Black had followed me as a

precaution； but he’d neglected to bring his dagger。 Would I； perchance；

consider　taking　up　that　dagger　and　blinding　him　before　I　myself　went　blind？

“I’m　pleased　that　I　will　see　this　once　again　before　going　blind；”　I　said　with

pride。　“I　want　you　all　to　see　it　as　well。　Look　here。”

Under　the　light　of　the　oil　lamp；　I　showed　them　the　final　picture；　which　I’d

taken from Enishte’s house the day I killed him。 At first； I watched their

curious and timid expressions as they looked at the double…leaf picture。 I

circled　around　and　joined　them；　and　I　was　ever　so　faintly　trembling　as　I　stared。

The　lancing　of　my　eyes；　or　perhaps　a　sudden　rapture；　made　me　feverish。

The pictures we made on various parts of the two pages over the past

year—tree； horse； Satan； Death； dog and woman—were arranged； large and

small；　according　to　Enishte’s　albeit　inept　new　method　of　position；　in　such

a　way　that　the　dearly　departed　Elegant　Effendi’s　gilding　and　borders　made　us

feel　we　were　no　longer　looking　at　a　page　from　a　book　but　at　the　world　seen

through a window。 In the center of this world； where Our Sultan should’ve

been； was my own portrait； which I briefly observed with pride。 I was

somewhat　unsatisfied　with　it　because　after　laboring　in　vain　for　days；　looking