第48部分(第6/7 頁)

eding　as　planned。

I was acting intuitively in a great haste。 I tossed a stone at the courtyard

gate but missed！ I tossed another at the house。 It landed on the roof。

Frustrated； I began pelting the house with stones。 A window opened。 It was

the second…story window where four days ago； on Wednesday； I’d first seen

Shekure　through　the　branches　of　the　pomegranate　tree。　Orhan　appeared；　and

from　the　gap　in　the　shutters　I　could　hear　Shekure　scolding　him。　Then　I　saw　her。

For　a　moment；　we　gazed　hopefully　at　each　other；　my　fair　lady　and　I。　She　was　so

beautiful　and　being。　She　made　a　gesture　that　I　took　to　mean　“wait”　and

shut　the　window。

There was still plenty of time before evening。 I waited hopefully in the

empty　garden；　awestruck　by　the　beauty　of　the　world；　the　trees　and　the　muddy

street。　Before　long；　Hayriye　came　in；　dressed　and　covered　not　like　a　servant；　but

rather； like a lady of the house。 Without nearing each other； we removed

ourselves　to　the　cover　of　the　fig　trees。

217

“Everything is progressing as planned；” I said to her。 I showed her the

document I’d obtained from the proxy。 “Shekure is divorced。 As for the

preacher　from　another　neighborhood…”　I　was　going　to　add；　“I’ll　see　to　that；”

but　instead　blurted　out；　“He’s　on　his　way。　Shekure　should　be　ready。”

“No　matter　how　small；　Shekure　wants　a　bride’s　procession；　followed　by　a

neighborhood　reception　with　a　wedding　repast。　We’ve　prepared　a　stewpot　of

pilaf　with　almonds　and　dried　apricots。”

In her excitement； she seemed prepared to tell me everything else she’d