第47部分(第6/7 頁)

of it： Yakutlar； where my deceased

Enishte　and　Shekure；　along　with　her　children；　awaited　me　at　their　house。　As　I

made my way along the streets almost running； a tall plane tree seemed to

reproach　me　for　being　overjoyed　by　dreams　and　plans　of　marriage　on　the　very

day　my　Enishte　had　passed　away。　Next；　as　the　ice　had　melted；　a　street　fountain

hissed　into　my　ear：　“Don’t　take　matters　too　seriously；　see　to　your　own　affairs

and　your　own　happiness。”　“That’s　all　fine　and　good；”　objected　an　ill…omened

black cat licking himself on the corner； “but everybody； yourself included；

suspects　you　had　a　hand　in　your　uncle’s　murder。”

The　cat　left　off　licking　himself　as　I　suddenly　caught　sight　of　its　bewitching

eyes。 I don’t have to tell you how brazen these Istanbul cats get when the

locals　spoil　them。

I　found　the　Imam　Effendi；　whose　droopy　eyelids　and　large　black　eyes　gave

him a perpetually sleepy look； not at his house； but in the courtyard of the

neighborhood mosque； and there I asked him quite a trivial legal question：

“When　is　one　obligated　to　testify　in　court？”　I　raised　my　eyebrows　as　I　listened

to　his　haughty　answer　as　if　I　were　hearing　this　information　for　the　first　time。

“Bearing witness is optional if other witnesses are present；” explained the

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Imam　Effendi；　“but；　in　situations　where　there　was　only　one　witness；　it　is　the

will　of　God　that　one　bear　witness。”

“That’s just the predicament I find myself in now；” I said； taking up the

conversation。 “In a situation everyone knows about； all the witnesses have

shirked　their　res