第52部分(第2/7 頁)

　spirit began to wail like some ungodly

animal；　my　heart　began　to　pound。

I　awoke　covered　in　sweat。　Had　I　heard　those　sounds　in　my　dream　or　had　I

been awakened by sounds from somewhere in the house？ I couldn’t decide；

and　so　snuggled　up　with　the　children；　and　without　moving；　I　waited。　I’d　nearly

assured　myself　that　the　noises　were　only　in　my　sleep　when　I　heard　the　same

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wail。　Just　then；　something　large　landed　in　the　courtyard　with　a　bang。　Was　this

also　a　rock；　perhaps？

I was paralyzed with terror。 But the situation immediately got worse： I

heard　noises　from　within　the　house。　Where　was　Hayriye？　In　which　room　had

Black fallen asleep？ In what state was my father’s pitiful corpse？ My God； I

prayed；　protect　us。　The　children　were　deep　asleep。

Had this happened before I was married； I’d have risen from bed； and

taking　charge　of　the　situation　like　the　man　of　the　house；　I’d　have　suppressed

my fears and scared away the jinns and spirits。 In my present condition；

however；　I　cowered　and　hugged　the　children。　It　was　as　if　there　were　no　one　else

in　the　world。　Nobody　was　going　to　e　to　the　aid　of　the　children　and　me。

Expecting　something　awful　to　happen；　I　prayed　to　Allah　for　deliverance。　As　in

my　dreams；　I　was　alone。　I　heard　the　courtyard　gate　open。　It　was　the　courtyard

gate；　wasn’t　it？　Yes；　absolutely。

I rose abruptly； grabbed my robe and quitted the room without even

knowing　myself　what　I　was　doing。

“Black！”　I　hissed　from　the　top　of　the　stairs。

After　hastily　donning　shoes；　I　descended　the　stairs。　The　candle　I’d　lit　at　the

brazier　blew　o