第80部分(第2/7 頁)

ened the lock and the door。 Jezmi Agha changed the chamber pots；

lamps and brazier； brought in fresh bread and dried mulberries and

announced　to　the　others　that　we　would　continue　searching　for　the　horses　with

oddly drawn nostrils within Our Sultan’s books。 What could be more

exquisite　than　looking　at　the　world’s　most　beautiful　pictures　while　trying　to

recollect　God’s　vision　of　the　world？

351

I　AM　CALLED　BLACK

When　the　Head　Treasurer　and　the　chief　officers　opened　the　portal　with　great

ceremony　my　eyes　were　so　accustomed　to　the　velvety　red　aura　of　the　Treasury

rooms　that　the　early　morning　winter　sunlight　filtering　in　from　the　courtyard

of　the　Royal　Private　Quarters　of　the　Enderun　seemed　terrifying。　I　stood　dead

still；　as　did　Master　Osman　himself：　If　I　moved；　it　seemed；　the　clues　we　sought

in　the　moldy；　dusty　and　tangible　air　of　the　Treasury　might　escape。

With　curious　amazement；　as　if　seeing　some　magnificent　object　for　the　first

time； Master Osman stared at the light cascading toward us between the

heads　of　the　Treasury　chiefs　lined　up　in　rows　on　either　side　of　the　open　portal。

The　night　before；　I　watched　him　as　he　turned　the　pages　of　the　Book　of　Kings。

I noticed this same expression of astonishment pass over his face as his

shadow； cast upon the wall； trembled faintly； his head carefully sank down

toward his magnifying lens； and his lips first contorted delicately； as if

preparing　to　reveal　a　pleasant　secret；　then　twitched　as　he　gazed　in　awe　at　an

illustration。

After the portal was shut again； I wandered impatiently betw