第54部分(第6/7 頁)

caftan and hastily fled the house。 I headed directly for the neighborhood

mosque；　pretending　not　to　see　one　of　the　neighbors—an　elderly　woman　with

a　snot…nosed　grandchild　who　was　clearly　jubilant　about　all　the　sudden　activity：

They’d　heard　our　cries　and　had　eagerly　e　to　enjoy　our　pain。

The tiny hole in the wall that the preacher called his “house” was

embarrassingly small next to the ostentatious structure with its enormous

domes and expansive courtyard； typical of the mosques that were being

constructed lately。 The preacher； in what I’d observed as a custom of

increasing　frequency；　was　extending　the　boundaries　of　his　cold；　little　rat　hole

of　a　“home；”　and　had　usurped　the　entire　mosque；　without　the　least　concern

over　the　faded　and　dingy　wash　his　wife　had　hung　between　two　chestnut　trees

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at　the　edge　of　the　courtyard。　We　avoided　the　attacks　of　two　brutish　dogs　that

had　claimed　the　courtyard；　just　like　the　Imam　Effendi　and　his　family；　and　after

the　preacher’s　sons　chased　the　beasts　away　with　sticks　and　excused　themselves；

the　preacher　and　I　retired　to　a　private　corner。

After　yesterday’s　divorce　proceedings；　and　in　light　of　the　fact　that　we　hadn’t

asked　him　to　perform　the　wedding　ceremony；　which　I　was　certain　had　upset

him；　I　could　read　a　“For　goodness　sake；　what　brings　you　here　now？”　upon　his

face。

“Enishte　Effendi　passed　away　this　morning。”

“May　God　have　mercy　upon　him。　May　he　find　a　home　in　Heaven！”　he　said

benevolently。 Why had I senselessly implicated myself by tacking the words

“this morning” onto my statement？ I dropped another g