第55部分(第2/7 頁)

attention on the spot where the

executioners　were　said　to　be　ever　at　the　ready；　nor　could　I　hide　my　agitation

from　the　keepers　of　the　gate　who　glanced　inquiringly　at　the　bolt　of　upholstery

cloth　I　carried　as　a　prop　so　onlookers　would　assume　I　was　assisting　my　tailor…

cum…guide。

As　soon　as　we　entered　the　Divan　Square；　a　deep　silence　enveloped　us。　I　felt

my　heart　pounding　even　in　the　veins　of　my　forehead　and　neck。　This　area；　so

often described by my Enishte and others who visited the palace； lay before

me　like　a　heavenly　garden　of　unequaled　beauty。　Yet；　I　didn’t　feel　the　elation　of

a man who’d entered Heaven； just trepidation and pious reverence； I felt

myself to be a simple servant of Our Sultan； who； as I now thoroughly

understood；　was　indeed　the　foundation　of　this　worldly　realm。　I　stared　at　the

peacocks roaming through the greenery； the gold cups chained to splashing

fountains　and　the　Grand　Vizier’s　heralds　robed　in　silk　（who　seemed　to　move

about without touching the ground）； and I felt the thrill of serving my

Sovereign。 There was no doubt that I would plete Our Sultan’s secret

book； whose unfinished illustrations I carried under my arm。 Without

knowing　exactly　what　I　was　doing；　I　trailed　behind　the　tailor；　my　eyes　fixed　on

the　Divan　Tower；　spellbound　by　fear　more　than　awe　now　at　its　proximity。

Acpanied by a royal page who’d attached himself to us； we fearfully

and　silently；　as　in　a　dream；　passed　the　Divan　building　and　the　Treasury；　I　felt

that　I’d　seen　this　place　before　and　knew　it　well。

We　entered　through　a　wide　door　into