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that is everyone； knows that Shekure has long been divorced and properly
remarried in keeping with the dictates of the Koran；” I said。 “Even if your son；
who has long since passed away； came back to life and returned here to you
from Heaven in the pany of the Prophet Moses； it’d be of no use for he’s
divorced from Shekure。 You’ve abducted a married woman and are holding
her here against her will。 Black requested that I tell you he and his men will see
to your punishment for this crime before the judge can。”
“Then he will have made a grave mistake；” said the father…in…law delicately。
“We didn’t abduct Shekure at all！ I’m the grandfather of these children； praise
be to God。 Hasan is their uncle。 When Shekure was left all alone； what choice
did she have but to seek shelter here？ If she wants； she can leave now and take
her children with her。 But never forget that this is her first home； where she
gave birth to her children and happily raised them。”
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“Shekure；” I said unthinkingly； “do you want to return to your father’s
house？”
She’d begun to cry on account of the “happy hearth” speech。 “I have no
father；” she said； or was that how I heard it？ Her children first embraced her
legs； then sat her down and hugged her； the three of them hugged one another
in a large ball and wept。 But Esther is no idiot： I knew full well that Shekure’s
tears were meant to appease both sides without her having to make a decision。
But I also knew they were genuine tears； because they moved me to cry； too。 A
while later； I noticed that Hayriye； that snake； was also crying。
As if to pay back the green…eyed father…in…law for being the sole person in
the room who wasn’t crying； Black and his men began their attack on the
house that very moment by banging on the shutters and forcing the door。 Two
men were at the front door with a battering ram whose blows sounded like
cannonfire through the house。
“You’re an experienced and dignified man；” I said； encouraged by my own
tears； “open the door and tell those rabid mongrels out there that Shekure is
on her way。”
“Would you send an unprotected woman； your daughter…in…law no less；
who’d taken refuge in your house； out onto the streets with those dogs？”
“She herself wants to go；” I said。 With my purple handkerchief I wiped my
nose； which had stuffed up from crying。
“In that case she’s free to open the door and leave；” he said。
I sat down beside Shekure and her children。 At each new blow； the
terrifying noise made by the men forcing the door became yet another excuse
for yet more tears； the children began to cry louder； which in turn increased
Shekure’s wailing and mine as well。 Still； even taking into account the
threatening cries from outside and the blows of the battering ram that seemed
on the verge of destroying the house； both of us knew we were crying to gain
time。
“My beautiful Shekure；” I said； “your father…in…law has given you
permission and your husband Black has accepted all of your terms； he’s
waiting for you lovingly； you no longer have any business in this house。 Put on
your cloak； don your veil； take your belongings and your children； and open
the door so we can go quietly back to your house。”
This statement of mine made the children wail even more； and caused
Shekure to open her eyes in shock。
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“I’m afraid of Hasan；” she said； “his revenge will be horrible。 He’s wild。
Remember； I came here on my own。”
“This doesn’t cancel out your new marriage；” I said。 “You were left helpless；
of course you were going to take refuge somewhere。 Your husband’s forgiven
you； he’s prepared to take you back。 As for Hasan； we’ll deal with him the way
we have for years。” I smiled。
“But I’m not going to open the door；” she said； “because then I’ll have
returned to him of my own free will。”
“My dearest Shekure； I cannot open the door either；” I said。 “You know as
well as I that this would mean I’ve meddled in your affairs。 They’d bitterly
avenge such meddling。”
I could see from her eyes that she understood。 “Then no one will open the
door；” she said。 “Let’s wait for them to break it down and take us by force。”
I knew at once this would be the best alternative for Shekure and her
children； and I was afraid。 “But that means blood will be spilled；” I said。 “If the
judge isn’t involved in this affair； blood will flow； and a blood feud will last for
years。 No honorable man could stand by and watch as his house was broken
into and raided to abduct a woman residing there。”
I once again understood regretfully how deceptive and calculating this
Shekure was as she embraced her two boys and wailed with all her being
rather than answer。 A voice was telling me to forget everything and leave； but I
could no longer walk back through the door； which was being battered to the
breaking point。 Actually； I was afraid of both what would happen if they broke
down the door and came through and what would happen if they didn’t； I
kept thinking that Black’s men； who trusted in me； were worried about going
too far and might retreat at any moment； which would； in turn； embolden the
father…in…law。 When he went to Shekure’s side； I knew he’d begun to cry fake
tears； but what’s worse； he was trembling in a way that couldn’t be feigned。
Stepping toward the door； I screamed with all my strength； “Stop； that’s
enough！”
The motion outside and the wailing inside ended in a heartbeat。
“Mother； have Orhan open the door；” I said in a moment of inspiration and
in a sweet voice； as if I were speaking to the boy。 “He wants to go home； no
one will take issue with that。”
The words had hardly left my mouth when Orhan freed himself from his
mother’s loosening arms； and like somebody who’d lived here for years； slid
377
open the bolt； lifted the wooden bar； then unfastened the latch； and moved
backward two steps。 The cold from outside entered as the door yawned open。
There was such a silence that all of us heard a lazy dog bark off in the distance。
Shekure kissed Orhan； who was back in his mother’s lap； and Shevket said；
“I’m going to tell Uncle Hasan。”
I saw Shekure stand； take up her cloak and prepare her bundle to leave； and
I was so greatly relieved； I was afraid I might laugh。 I seated myself and had
two more spoonfuls of the lentil soup。
Black was intelligent enough not to e anywhere near the door of the
house。 For a time； Shevket locked himself in his late father’s room； and even
though we called for Black’s help； neither he nor his men came。 After Shekure
agreed to let Shevket take along his Uncle Hasan’s ruby…handled dagger； the
boy was willing to leave the house with us。
“Be afraid of Hasan and his red sword；” said the father…in…law with genuine
worry r