第72部分(第3/7 頁)

er set my candle holder down on the end table nor turn around

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and　head　to　my　room　to　be　with　my　sons。　I　told　myself　that　I　wouldn’t　leave

this　room　until　I　was　absolutely　convinced　that　Black　had　nothing　whatsoever

to　do　with　my　father’s　death。

“You　belittle　us；”　I　said　to　Black。　“You’ve　grown　haughty　since　you　married

me。　You　clearly　looked　down　on　us　because　my　husband　was　missing；　and　now

that　my　father’s　been　killed　you　find　us　even　more　pitiful。”

“My　respected　Shekure；”　he　said　cautiously。　It　pleased　me　that　he’d　begun

this way。 “You yourself know that none of this is true。 I’d do anything for

you。”

“Then　get　out　of　bed；　and　wait　with　me　on　your　feet。”

Why　had　I　said　that　I　was　waiting？

“I cannot；” he said； and in embarrassment； gestured to the quilt and his

nightgown。

He was right； but it annoyed me anyway that he wasn’t heeding my

request。

“Before　my　father　was　murdered；　you　entered　this　house　cowering　like　a　cat

who’d　spilled　milk；”　I　said。　“But　now　when　you　address　me　as　”My　respected

Shekure‘　it　seems　empty—as　though　you　want　us　to　know　it　is。“

I　was　trembling；　not　out　of　anger；　but　because　of　the　icy　cold　that　seized　my

legs；　back　and　neck。

“Get　into　bed　and　be　my　wife；”　he　said。

“How will the villain who killed my father ever be found？” I said。 “If it’s

going　to　take　some　time　before　he’s　found；　it’s　not　right　for　me　to　stay　in　this

house　with　you。”

“Thanks　to　you　and　Esther；　Master　Osman　has　focused　all　his　attention　on

the　horses。”

“Master　Osman　was　the　sworn　enemy　of　my　father；　may　he　rest　in　pea