第54部分(第3/7 頁)

at the pictures by

candlelight；　hoping　that　my　black…eyed　beauty　would　e　to　me。

In　the　morning；　stirred　from　my　sleep　by　Hayriye’s　shrieks；　I　grabbed　the

candle…holder and rushed into the hallway。 I thought Hasan had raided the

house with his men； and I considered hiding the illustrations； but quickly

realized　that　Hayriye　had　begun　screaming　upon　Shekure’s　mand；　as　a　way

to　announce　Enishte　Effendi’s　death　to　the　children　and　neighbors。

When　I　met　Shekure　in　the　hall；　we　embraced　fondly。　The　children；　who’d

leapt　out　of　bed　when　they’d　heard　Hayriye’s　shouts；　stood　motionless。

“Your grandfather has died；” Shekure said to them。 “I don’t want you to

enter　that　room　anymore　under　any　circumstances。”

241

She freed herself from my arms and； going to her father’s side； began to

weep。

I　herded　the　children　back　into　their　room。　“Change　out　of　your　bedclothes；

you’ll　catch　cold；”　I　said　and　sat　on　the　edge　of　the　bed。

“Grandfather　didn’t　die　this　morning。　He　died　last　night；”　Shevket　said。

A long loose strand of Shekure’s gorgeous hair had coiled into an Arabic

script　“vav”　on　her　pillow。　Her　warmth　hadn’t　yet　dissipated　from　beneath　the

quilt。　We　could　hear　her　sobbing　and　wailing　along　with　Hayriye。　Her　ability　to

shriek　as　though　her　father　had　actually　died　unexpectedly　was　so　shockingly

disingenuous that I felt as if I didn’t know Shekure at all； like she’d been

possessed　by　a　strange　jinn。

“I’m frightened；” said Orhan with a glance that was also a request for

permission　to　cry。

“Don’t　be　afraid；”　I　said。　“Your　mo