第47部分(第5/7 頁)

　something so innocent in crying over one’s troubles； as

though they were another’s； that when Black embraced me； a sense of well…

being　spread　over　us　both。　Yet；　this　time；　as　we　hugged；　this　sense　of　fort

remained　there　between　us；　unable　to　affect　the　adversaries　circling　us。

212

I　AM　CALLED　BLACK

Widowed；　abandoned　and　aggrieved；　my　beloved　Shekure　fled　with　featherlike

steps；　and　I　stood　as　if　stunned　in　the　stillness　of　the　house　of　the　Hanged　Jew；

amid　the　aroma　of　almonds　and　dreams　of　marriage　she’d　left　in　her　wake。　I

was bewildered； but my mind was churning so fast it almost hurt。 Without

even a chance to grieve properly over my Enishte’s death； I swiftly returned

home。　On　the　one　hand；　a　worm　of　doubt　was　gnawing　at　me：　Was　Shekure

using me as a pawn in a grand scheme； was she duping me？ On the other

hand；　fantasies　of　a　blissful　marriage　stubbornly　played　before　my　eyes。

After making conversation with my landlady who interrogated me at the

front door as to where I’d gone and whence I was ing at this morning

hour； I went to my room and removed the twenty…two Veian gold pieces

from the lining of the sash I’d hidden in my mattress； placing them in my

money purse with trembling fingers。 When I returned to the street； I knew

immediately　I’d　see　Shekure’s　dark；　teary；　troubled　eyes　for　the　rest　of　the　day。

I　changed　five　of　the　Veian　Lions　at　a　perpetually　smiling　Jewish　money

changer。　Next；　deep　in　thought；　I　entered　the　neighborhood　whose　name　I’ve

yet to mention because I’m not fond