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knows the locations of books and all else better than anyone。”
The aging dwarf displayed no pride in this。 He was running an eye over the
silver…legged heating brazier； the chamber pot with a mother…of…pearl inlaid
handle； the oil lamp and the candlesticks that the palace pages were carrying。
The Head Treasurer announced that the door would again be locked behind
us and sealed with the seventy…year…old sig of Sultan Selim the Grim。 After
the evening prayers； at sunset； the seal would again be broken； before the
witness of the attendant crowd of Treasury chiefs。 Moreover； we should
exercise great caution that nothing whatsoever “mistakenly” found its way
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into our clothes； pockets or sashes： we would be searched down to our
undergarments upon exiting。
We entered； passing between chiefs standing at either side。 Inside； it was ice
cold。 When the door closed behind us； we were enveloped in blackness。 I
smelled a bination of mildew； dust and humidity that drove deep into my
nasal passages。 Everywhere the clutter of objects； chests and helmets
intermingled in a huge chaotic jumble。 I had the feeling that I was witness to a
great battle。
My eyes adjusted to the odd light that fell over the entire space； which
filtered through the thick bars of the high windows； through the balustrades
of the stairs along the high walls and the railing of the second…floor wooden
walkways。 This chamber was red； tinged with the color of the velvet cloth；
carpets and kilims hanging on the walls。 With due reverence； I considered how
the accumulation of all this wealth was the consequence of wars waged； blood
spilt and cities and treasuries plundered。
“Frightened？” asked the elderly dwarf； giving voice to my feelings。
“Everybody is frightened on their first visit。 At night the spirits of these objects
whisper to each other。”
What was frightening was the silence in which this abundance of incredible
objects was interred。 Behind us we heard the clattering of the seal being
affixed to the lock on the door； and we looked around in awe； motionless。
I saw swords； elephant tusks； caftans； silver candlesticks and satin banners。 I
saw mother…of…pearl inlaid boxes； iron trunks； Chinese vases； belts； long…necked
lutes； armor； silk cushions； model globes； boots； furs； rhinoceros horns；
ornamented ostrich eggs； rifles； arrows； maces and cabis。 There were heaps
of carpets； cloth and satin everywhere； seemingly cascading over me from the
wood…paneled upper floors； from the balustrades； the built…in closets and
small storage cells built into the walls。 A strange light； the likes of which I’d
never seen； shone on the cloth； the boxes； the caftans of sultans； swords； the
huge pink candles； the wound turbans； pillows embroidered with pearls； gold
filigree saddles； diamond…handled scimitars； ruby…handled maces； quilted
turbans； turban plumes； curious clocks； ewers and daggers； ivory statues of
horses and elephants； narghiles with diamond…studded tops； mother…of…pearl
chests of drawers； horse aigrettes； strands of large prayer beads； and helmets
adorned with rubies and turquoise。 This light； which filtered faintly down
from the high windows； illuminated floating dust particles in the half…
darkened room like the summer sunlight that streams in from the glass
skylight atop the dome of a mosque—but this wasn’t sunlight。 In this peculiar
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light； the air had bee palpable and all the objects appeared as if made from
the same material。 After we apprehensively experienced the silence in the
room for a while longer； I knew it was as much the light as the dust covering
everything that dimmed the red color reigning in the cold room； melding all
the objects into an arcane sameness。 And as the eye swam over these strange
and indistinct items； unable to distinguish one from another at even the
second or third glance； this great profusion of objects became even more
terrifying。 What I thought was a chest； I later decided was a folding worktable；
and later still； some strange Frankish device。 I saw that the mother…of…pearl
inlaid chest among the caftans and plumes pulled out of their boxes and
hastily tossed hither and yon was actually an exotic cabi sent by the
Muscovite Czar。
Jezmi Agha placed the brazier in the fire niche that had been cut into the
wall。
“Where are the books located？” whispered Master Osman。
“Which books？” said the dwarf。 “The ones from Arabia； the Kufic Korans；
those that His Excellency Sultan Selim the Grim； Denizen of Paradise； brought
back from Tabriz； the books of pashas whose property was seized when they
were condemned to death； the gift volumes brought by the Veian
ambassador to Our Sultan’s grandfather； or the Christian books from the time
of Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror？”
“The books that Shah Tahmasp sent His Excellency Sultan Selim； Denizen of
Paradise； as a present twenty…five years ago；” said Master Osman。
The dwarf brought us to a large wooden cabi。 Master Osman grew
impatient as he opened the doors and cast his eyes on the volumes before him。
He opened one； read its colophon and leafed through its pages。 Together； we
gazed in astonishment at the carefully drawn illustrations of khans with
slightly slanted eyes。
“”Genghis Khan； Chagatai Khan； Tuluy Khan and Kublai Khan the Ruler of
China；“” read Master Osman before closing the book and taking up another。
We came across an incredibly beautiful illustration depicting the scene in
which Ferhad； empowered by love； carries his beloved Shirin and her horse
away on his shoulder。 To convey the passion and woe of the lovers； the rocks
on the mountain； the clouds and the three noble cypresses witnessing
Ferhad’s act of love were drawn with a trembling grief…stricken hand in such
agony that Master Osman and I were instantly affected by the taste of tears
and sorrow in the falling leaves。 This touching moment had been depicted—as
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the great masters intended—not to signify Ferhad’s muscular strength； but
rather to convey how the pain of his love was felt at once throughout the
entire world。
“A Bihzad imitation made in Tabriz eighty years ago；” Master Osman said
as he replaced the volume and opened another。
This was a picture that showed the forced friendship between the cat and
the mouse from Kelile and Dimne。 Out in the fields； a poor mouse； caught
between the attacks of a marten on the ground and a hawk in the air； finds his
salvation in an unfortunate cat caught in a hunter’s trap。 They e to an
agreement： The cat； pretending to be the mouse’s friend； licks him； thereby
scaring away the marten and the hawk。 In turn； the mouse cautiously frees the
cat from the snare。 Even before I cou