第72部分(第2/7 頁)

reeze　to　death。”

“Maybe I’ll never get into your bed。 Maybe we’ve made a mistake by

getting　married。　They　say　our　ceremony　has　no　legitimacy　before　the　law。　Do

you know I heard Hasan’s footsteps before I fell asleep？ It’s not surprising；

when　I　was　living　in　the　house　of　my　late　husband；　I　heard　Hasan’s　footsteps

for years。 The children like him。 And he’s merciless； that one。 He has a red

sword；　take　care　to　guard　yourself　against　it。”

I saw something so weary and so stern in Black’s eyes that I knew I

wouldn’t　be　able　to　scare　him。

“Of　the　two　of　us；　you’re　the　one　with　more　hope　and　the　one　with　more

sadness；” I said。 “I’m just struggling not to be unhappy and to protect my

children；　whereas　you’re　stubbornly　trying　to　prove　yourself。　It’s　not　because

you　love　me。”

He　went　on　at　length　about　how　much　he　loved　me；　how　he　always　thought

only　of　me　in　desolate　caravansaries；　on　barren　mountains　and　during　snowy

nights。 If he hadn’t said these things； I would’ve awakened the children and

returned to my former husband’s house。 Because I had the urge； I said the

following：

“Sometimes　it　seems　that　my　former　husband　might　return　at　any　time。　It’s

not that I fear being caught in the middle of the night with you or being

caught by the children； I’m afraid that as soon as we embrace he’ll e

knocking　on　the　door。”

We heard the wailing of cats fighting for their lives just outside the

courtyard gate。 This was followed by a long silence。 I thought I might sob。 I

could neith