第54部分(第7/7 頁)

old piece into his

hand；　identical　to　the　ones　I’d　given　him　yesterday。　I　requested　that　he　recite

the　death　prayer　before　the　azan　and　appoint　his　brother　as　crier　to　go　around

announcing　the　death　to　the　entire　neighborhood。

“My　brother　has　a　dear　friend　who　is　half　blind；　together；　we　are　expert　at

carrying　out　the　final　ablutions　of　the　deceased；”　he　said。

What　could　be　more　suitable　than　having　a　blind　man　and　a　half…wit　wash

Enishte　Effendi’s　body？　I　explained　to　him　that　the　ritual　funeral　prayer　would

be　performed　in　the　afternoon　and　that　notables　and　crowds　from　the　palace；

the guilds and theological schools would be attending。 I didn’t attempt to

explain the state of Enishte Effendi’s face and battered head； having long

decided　that　the　matter　needed　to　be　addressed　at　a　higher　level。

Since　Our　Sultan　had　entrusted　the　balance　of　the　funds　for　the　book　that

He’d missioned from my Enishte to the Head Treasurer； I had to report

the　death　to　him　before　anyone　else。　To　this　end；　I　sought　out　an　upholsterer；　a

relative on my late father’s