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。
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“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。
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“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 said； giving him Black’s note like a
proud ambassador of the Sultan executing His merciless will。
As the gentlemanly father…in…law read the note； Shekure said； “Esther； e
and let me pour you a bowl of lentil soup to warm you up。”
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“I don’t like lentil soup；” I said at first。 I didn’t like the way she spoke as if
she were mistress of the house。 But when I understood that she wanted to be
alone with me； I grabbed the spoon and rushed after her。
“Tell Black that it’s all because of Shevket；” she whispered。 “Last night I
waited all night alone with Orhan deathly afraid of the murderer。 Orhan
trembled with fright until morning。 My children had been separated！ What
kind of mother could remain apart from her child？ When Black failed to e
back； they told me that Our Sultan’s torturers had made him talk and that
he’d a hand in my father’s death。”
“Wasn’t Black with you when your father was being killed？”
“Esther；” she said； opening her beautiful black eyes wide； “I beg of you； help
me。”
“Then tell me why you’ve e back here so I might understand and help。”
“Do you think I know why I’ve returned？” she said。 She seemed on the
verge of tears。 “Black was rough with my poor Shevket；” she said。 “And when
Hasan said that the children’s real father had returned； I believed him。”
But I could tell from her eyes that she was lying； and she knew I could tell。
“I was duped by Hasan！” she whispered； and I sensed that she wanted me to
infer from this that she loved Hasan。 But did Shekure realize that she was
thinking more and more about Hasan because she had married Black？
The door opened and Hayriye entered carrying freshly baked bread whose
aroma was irresistible。 When she caught sight of me； I could tell from her
expression of displeasure that after the death of Enishte Effendi； the poor
thing—she couldn’t be sold； couldn’t be dismissed—had bee a legacy of
misery for Shekure。 The scent of fresh bread filled the room； and I understood
the truth of the matter as Shekure faced the children： Whether it be their real
father； Hasan or Black； her problem wasn’t finding a husband she could love；
her challenge was to find a father who would love these boys； both of whom
were wide…eyed with fear。 Shekure was ready； with the best of intentions； to
love any good husband。
“You’re seeking what you want with your heart；” I said unthinkingly；
“whereas you need to be making decisions with your mind。”
“I’m prepared to go back to Black immediately with the children；” she said；
“but I have certain conditions！” She fell quiet。 “He must treat Shevket and
Orhan y reasons for ing here。 Above all； he
must abide by our original conditions of marriage—he’ll know what I’m
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talking about。 He left me all alone to fend for myself last night against
murderers； thieves and Ha