第75部分(第2/7 頁)

that I’d been

loath　to　believe　that　the　great　master　might　want　to　stay　in　the　icy　Treasury　as

long　as　possible。

Thus　did　we　persist　in　opening　other　cabis；　other　chests　shown　us　by　the

aged　dwarf；　to　examine　the　pictures　therein。　Periodically；　I’d　get　fed　up　with

the　pictures；　which　all　looked　alike；　and　wish　never　again　to　watch　Hüsrev　visit

Shirin　under　the　castle　window；　I’d leave the master’s　side—without even a

glance　at　the　nostrils　of　the　horse　Hüsrev　rode—and　try　to　warm　myself　at　the

brazier　or　I’d　walk　respectfully　and　awestruck　among　the　heaps　of　cloth；　gold；

weapons；　armor　and　plunder　in　the　adjacent　rooms　of　the　Treasury。　At　times；

prompted　by　an　abrupt　cry　and　hand　gesture　by　Master　Osman；　I’d　imagine

that　a　new　masterpiece　had　been　found　or；　yes；　at　last　a　horse　with　a　curious

nose；　and　running　to　his　side；　I’d　look　at　the　picture　the　master　was　holding

with　his　hand　slightly　atremble　as　he　sat　curled　up　on　an　Ushak　carpet　dating

from the time of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror； only to encounter an

illustration；　the　likes　of　which　I’d　never　before　seen；　depicting；　say；　Satan　slyly

boarding　Noah’s　ark。

We　watched　as　hundreds　of　shahs；　kings；　sultans　and　khans—who’d　ruled

from　the　thrones　of　various　kingdoms　and　empires　from　the　time　of　Tamerlane

to Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent—happily and excitedly hunted gazelles；

lions and rabbits。 We saw how even the Devil bit his finger and recoiled in

embarrassment　at　the　shameless　man　who　stood　upon　scraps　of　wood　tied　to

the　back　legs　of　a　camel　so　he　could　violate　the　poor　animal。　In　an　Arabic　book

that　had　e　by　wa