第99部分(第3/7 頁)

oins；　and

under　my　other　arm；　the　portfolio　filled　with　pictures。　Taking　care　to　protect

my　belongings；　I　failed　to　protect　myself。　I　couldn’t　prevent　him　from　grabbing

the forearm of the hand that held the dagger。 But luck did not shine upon

him；　either；　he　tripped　slightly　over　a　low　worktable　and　momentarily　lost　his

balance。 Instead of taking control of my arm； he ended up hanging by it。

Kicking him with all my might and biting his fingers； I freed myself。 He

howled； fearing for his life。 Then； I stepped on the same hand； causing him

great　pain。　Brandishing　the　dagger　before　the　other　two；　I　shouted：

“Halt！”

They　stayed　seated　where　they　were。　I　stuck　the　point　of　the　dagger　into　one

of　Black’s　nostrils；　the　way　Keykavus　had　done　in　the　legend。　When　it　began　to

bleed；　bitter　tears　flowed　from　his　imploring　eyes。

“Now；　tell　me　then；”　I　said；　“shall　I　go　blind？”

“According　to　legend；　blood　clots　in　the　eyes　of　some　and　not　in　others。　If

Allah　is　pleased　with　your　artistry；　he’ll　bestow　His　own　magnificent　blackness

upon　you　and　take　you　under　His　care。　In　that　case；　you　shall　behold　not　this

wretched　world；　but　the　exquisite　vistas　that　He　sees。　If　He　is　displeased；　you

shall　continue　to　see　the　world　the　way　you　now　do。”

“I　shall　practice　genuine　artistry　in　Hindustan；”　I　said。　“I’ve　yet　to　make　the

picture　Allah　will　judge　me　by。”

“Don’t nourish the illusion over much that you’ll be able to escape

Frankish　methods；”　said　Black。　“Did　you　know　that　Akbar　Khan　encourages　all

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his　artists　to　sign　their　work？　The　Jesuit　priests　of　Portugal