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to the judge my husband is still alive。 It was only because Hasan tried to take
advantage of me during his older brother’s absence; a failed assault that
embarrassed my father…in…law; that I was allowed to return to my father’s
home though not officially a widow。 But now that my father is dead and I am
without even a brother; there is no question that my only possible guardians
are my husband’s brother and my father…in…law。 They’ve already been
scheming to have me returned to their home; coercing my father; and
threatening me。 Once they hear my father is dead; they won’t hesitate to take
official action。 My only hope to prevent this is to conceal my father’s death。
Perhaps in vain; for they may be the ones behind the crime。”
At that very moment; a thin beam of light gracefully filtered through the
broken shutters and fell between Black and me; illuminating the ancient dust
inside the room。
“This isn’t the only reason I’m hiding my father’s death;” I said; fixing my
gaze into Black’s eyes; in which I was gladdened to see attentiveness more than
love。 “I’m also afraid of being unable to prove my whereabouts at the time of
my father’s murder。 Though she’s a slave and her word might be discounted;
I’m afraid that Hayriye is involved in these machinations; if not against me;
then against my father’s book。 And as long as I remain without a protector;
the announcement of my father’s murder; while initially simplifying matters
at home; might well; solely for the reasons I’ve enumerated; cause me great
misfortune at her hand; for instance; what if Hayriye is aware that my father
didn’t want me to marry you?”
“Your father didn’t want you to marry me?” asked Black。
“No; he didn’t; he was worried that you’d take me away from him。 Since
there’s no longer any danger of you doing such evil to him; let’s assume my
dear unfortunate father has no further objection。 Do you have any?”
“None at all; my darling。”
“Fine; then。 My guardian has no claims of money or gold on you。 Please
excuse the impropriety of my discussing marital circumstances on my own
209
behalf; but I have certain prerequisites that I must; unfortunately; explain to
you。”
As I fell silent for a while; Black said; “Yes;” in a manner that suggested an
apology for his hesitation。
“First;” I began; “you must swear before two witnesses that if you behave
badly toward me in our marriage; to a degree that I find unbearable; or if you
take a second wife; you will grant me a divorce with alimony。 Second; you
must swear before two witnesses that if for whatever reason you are absent
from the house for more than a six…month period without a visit; I will also be
granted a divorce with alimony。 Third; after we are married; you will of course
move into my home; however; until the villain who has murdered my father
has been caught or until you find him—how I’d love to torture him myself!—
and until Our Sultan’s book; pleted under the guidance of your talents
and efforts; has been honorably presented to Him; you will not share my bed。
Fourth; you will love my sons; who do share my bed with me; as if they were
your own children。”
“I agree。”
“Good。 If all of the obstacles that still lie before us disappear this quickly;
we’ll soon be wed。”
“Yes; wed; but not in the same bed。”
“The first step is marriage;” I said。 “Let’s see to that first。 Love es after
marriage。 Don’t forget: Marriage douses love’s flame; leaving nothing but a
barren and melancholy blackness。 Of course; after marriage; love itself will
vanish anyway; but happiness fills the void。 Still; there are those hasty fools
who fall in love before marrying and; burning with emotion; exhaust all their
feeling; believing love to be the highest goal in life。”
“What; then; is the truth of the matter?”
“The truth is contentment。 Love and marriage are but a means to obtaining
it: a husband; a house; children; a book。 Can’t you see that even in my state;
with a missing husband and a deceased father; I’m better off than you in your
isolation? I’d die without my sons; with whom I spend my days laughing;
tussling and loving。 Moreover; since you long for me even in my present
predicament; since you secretly ache to spend the night with me—even if not
in the same bed—under the same roof with my father’s body and my unruly
children; you’re pelled to listen with all your heart to what I now have to
say。”
210
“I’m listening。”
“There are various ways that I might secure a divorce。 False witnesses could
swear that before my husband set out on campaign; they witnessed him grant
me a conditional divorce; for example; that he’d pledged that if he didn’t
return within two years; I should be considered free。 Or; more simply; they
might swear they’d seen my husband’s corpse in the field of battle; citing
various convincing and descriptive details。 But taking my father’s body and
the objections of my in…laws into consideration; to rely on false witnesses
would be an unsound way to proceed; as no judge of any intelligence or
caution would be persuaded。 Considering that my husband left me without
alimony and hasn’t returned from war for four years; even judges of our
Hanefi creed couldn’t grant me a divorce。 The üsküdar judge; however;
knowing how the number of women in my situation is increasing each day; is
more sympathetic and so—with a nod from Our Excellency the Sultan and the
Sheikhulislam—the judge occasionally allows his proxy of the Shafü creed to
rule in his place; thereby granting divorces left and right to women like me;
including conditions of alimony。 Now; if you can find two witnesses to testify
openly to my predicament; pay them off; cross the Bosphorus with them to
the üsküdar side; arrange for the judge; making certain that his proxy will sit
in for him so the divorce might be granted by virtue of the witnesses; register
the divorce in the judge’s ledger; obtain a certificate testifying to the
proceeding; obtain written permission for my immediate remarriage; and if
you can acplish all of this and get back to this side of the Bosphorus by the
afternoon; then—assuming no difficulty in finding a preacher who might
marry us this evening—then; as my husband; you could spend this night with
me and my children。 Thereby; you’ll also spare us a sleepless night of hearing
in every creaking of the house the steps of that devilish murderer。 Moreover;
you’ll save me from the wretchedness of being a poor unprotected woman
when we announce the death of my father in the morning。”
“Yes;” said Black with good humor and somewhat childishly。 “Yes。 I agree to
make you mine。”
You remember