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spending the night alone in fear of murderers and ghosts； he sent along
another note through me。”
“What did he write？”
369
Thanks be to God that your unfortunate Esther can’t read or write； because
when irate Effendis and irritable fathers ask this question； she can say： “I
couldn’t read the letter； only the face of the beautiful maiden reading the
letter。”
“What did you read in Shekure’s face？”
“Helplessness。”
For a long time we didn’t speak。 Awaiting nightfall； an owl was perched on
the dome of a small Greek church； runny…nosed neighborhood kids laughed at
my clothes and bundle； and a mangy dog happily scratching himself loped
down from the cemetery lined with cypresses to greet the night。
“Slow down！” I shouted at Black later； “I can’t get up these hills the way
you can。 Where are you taking me with my satchel like this？”
“Before you bring me to Hasan’s house； I’m taking you to some generous
and brave young men so you can spread out your bundle and sell them some
flowery handkerchiefs； silk sashes and purses with silver embroidery for their
secret lovers。”
It was a good sign that Black could still make jokes in his pitiable state； but I
could fathom the seriousness behind his mirth。 “If you’re going to gather a
posse； I’ll never take you to Hasan’s house；” I said。 “I’m frightened to death of
fights and brawls。”
“If you continue to be the intelligent Esther you’ve always been；” he said；
“there’ll be neither fight nor brawl。”
We passed through Aksaray and entered the road heading back； straight
toward the Langa gardens。 On the upper part of the muddy road； in a
neighborhood that had seen happier days； Black walked into a barbershop that
was still open。 I saw him talking to the master barber being shaved by an
honest…looking boy with lovely hands by the light of an oil lamp。 Before long；
the barber； his handsome apprentice； and later； two more of his men joined up
with us at Aksaray。 They carried swords and axes。 At a side street in
Shehzadebash？； a theology student； whom I couldn’t picture involved in such
rough affairs； joined us in the darkness； sword in hand。
“Do you plan on raiding a house in the middle of the city in broad
daylight？” I said。
“It’s not day； it’s night；” said Black in a tone more pleased than joking。
370
“Don’t be so confident just because you’ve put together a gang；” I said。
“Let’s hope the Janissaries don’t catch sight of this fully equipped little army
wandering around。”
“No one will catch sight of us。”
“Yesterday the Erzurumis first raided a tavern and then the dervish house
at Sa？？rkap？； beating up everyone they found in both places。 An elderly man
who took a blow to his head with a stick died。 In this pitch blackness； they
might think you’re of their lot。”
“I hear you went to dearly departed Elegant Effendi’s house； saw his wife；
God bless her； and the horse sketches with the smeared ink before relaying it
all to Shekure。 Had Elegant Effendi been spending a lot of time with the
henchmen of the preacher from Erzurum？”
“If I sounded out Elegant Effendi’s wife； it was because I thought it might
ultimately help my poor Shekure；” I said。 “Anyway； I’d gone there to show her
the latest cloth which had e off the Flemish ship； not to involve myself in
your legal and political affairs—which my poor brain couldn’t fathom
anyway。”
As we entered the street； which ran behind Charsh？kap？； my heart
quickened with fear。 The bare； wet branches of the chestnut and mulberry trees
glimmered in the pale light of the half…moon。 A breeze kicked up by jinns and
the living dead rippled the laced edging of my satchel； whistled through the
trees and carried the scent of our group to neighborhood dogs lying in wait。 As
they began to bark one by one； I pointed out the house to Black。 We stared
quietly at its dark roof and shutters。 Black had the men take positions around
the house： in the empty garden； on either side of the courtyard gate and
behind the fig trees in back。
“In that entryway over there is a vile Tatar beggar；” I said。 “He’s blind； but
he’ll know who’s e and gone along this street better than the
neighborhood headman does。 He continually plays with himself as if he were
one of the Sultan’s vulgar monkeys。 Without letting your hand touch his； give
him eight or ten silver pieces and he’ll tell you everything he knows。”
From a distance； I watched Black hand over the coins； then lay his sword
against the throat of the beggar and begin to pressure him with questions。
Next； I’m not sure how it happened； the barber’s apprentice； who I thought
was simply watching the house； began to beat the Tatar with the butt of his
axe。 I watched for a while； thinking it wouldn’t last； but the Tatar was wailing。
I ran over and pulled the beggar away before they killed him。
371
“He cursed my mother；” said the apprentice。
“He says that Hasan isn’t home；” Black said。 “Can we trust what this blind
man says？” He handed me a note that he’d quickly written。 “Take this； bring it
to the house； give it to Hasan； and if he’s not there； give it to his father；” he
said。
“Haven’t you written anything for Shekure？” I asked as I took the note。
“If I send her a separate note； it’ll incite the men of the house even more；”
Black said。 “Tell her I’ve found her father’s vile murderer。”
“Is this true？”
“Just tell her。”
Chastising the Tatar； who was still crying and plaining； I quieted him
down。 “Don’t forget what I’ve done for you；” I said； ing to the realization
that I’d drawn out the incident so I wouldn’t have to leave。
Why had I stuck my nose into this affair？ Two years ago in the Edirne Gate
neighborhood they’d killed a clothes peddlar—after cutting off her ears—
because the maiden she’d promised to one man married another。 My
grandmother used to tell me that Turks would often kill a man for no reason。 I
longed to be with my dearest Nesim； at home having lentil soup。 Even though
my feet resisted； I thought about how Shekure would be there； and walked to
the house。 Curiosity was eating at me。
“Clothierrr！ I have new Chinese silks for holiday outfits。”
I sensed the orangish light filtering out between the shutters move。 The
door opened。 Hasan’s polite father invited me inside。 The house was warm；
like the houses of the rich。 When Shekure； who was seated at a low dining
table with her boys saw me； she rose to her feet。
“Shekure；” I said； “your husband’s here。”
“Which one？”
“The newer；” I said。 “He’s surrounded the house with his band of armed
men。 They’re prepared to fight Hasan。”
“Hasan isn’t here；” said the polite father…in…law。
“How fortunate。 Take a look at this；” I s