quite large if I might add； was awaiting its picture。 Because the objects in the
background were to be smaller； as in the European style； he wanted me to
make the tree smaller。 As the picture developed； it gave the impression of being
a view of this world from a window； nothing like an illustration at all。 It was
then I prehended that in a picture made with the perspectival methods of
the Franks； the borders and gilding took the place of a window frame。”
“Elegant Effendi was responsible for the borders and the gilding。”
“If that’s what you’re asking； I already told you I didn’t murder him。”
“A murderer never admits to his crime；” he said quickly； then asked me
what I was doing at the coffeehouse during the raid。
He placed the oil lamp just beside the cushion upon which I was seated； in
a way that would illuminate my face along with my papers and the pages I was
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illuminating。 He himself was scurrying about the room like a shadow in the
dark。
Besides telling him what I’ve told you； that I actually was an infrequent
visitor to the coffeehouse and just happened to be passing by； I also repeated
that I made two of the pictures which were hung on the wall there—although
I actually disapproved of the goings…on at the coffeehouse。 “Because；” I added；
“the art of painting only ends up condemning and punishing itself when it
derives its strength from the desire to condemn and punish the evils of life
rather than from the painter’s own skill； love of his art and desire to embrace
Allah…regardless of whether it’s the preacher from Erzurum or Satan himself
that’s denounced。 More importantly； if that coffeehouse crowd hadn’t
targeted the Erzurumis； it might not have been raided tonight。”
“Even so； you would go there；” said the wretch。
“Yes； because I enjoyed myself there。” Had he an inkling of how honest I
was being？ I added； “Despite knowing how ugly and wrong something is； we
descendants of Adam might still derive considerable pleasure from it。 And I’m
embarrassed to say I was also entertained by those cheap illustrations； the
mimicry and those stories about Satan； the gold coin and the dog； which the
storyteller told crudely without meter or rhyme。”
“Even so； why would you even step foot in that den of unbelievers？”
“Fine then；” I said resigning myself to an inner voice； “at times there’s also
a worm of doubt that gnaws at me： Ever since I was openly recognized as the
most talented and most proficient among the masters of the workshop； not
only by Master Osman； but by Our Sultan as well； I began to be so terrified of
the envy of the others that I tried； if only at times； to go where they went； to
befriend them and to resemble them so they wouldn’t turn on me in a
sudden fit of vengeance。 Do you understand？ And since they’ve begun labeling
me an ”Erzurumi；“ I’ve been going to that den of vile unbelievers so others
might discount this rumor。”
“Master Osman said you often acted as if apologizing for your talent and
proficiency。”
“What else did he say about me？”
“That you’d paint absurd； minute pictures on grains of rice and fingernails
so that others would be convinced you’d forsaken life for art。 He said you were
always trying to please others because you were embarrassed by the great gifts
Allah had bestowed upon you。”
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“Master Osman is on Bihzad’s level；” I said with sincerity。 “What else？”
“He listed your faults without the slightest hesitation；” said the wretch。
“Let’s hear my faults then。”
“He said that despite your prodigious talent； you painted not for the love of
art but to ingratiate yourself。 Supposedly； what most motivated you while
painting was imagining the pleasure an observer would feel； whereas； you
should’ve painted for the pleasure of painting itself。”
It singed my heart that Master Osman so brazenly revealed what he
thought about me to a man of such diminished spirit； one who devoted his
life； not to art； but to being a clerk； writing letters and hollow flattery。 Black
continued：
“The great masters of old； Master Osman claimed； would never renounce
the styles and methods they cultivated through self…sacrifice to art just for the
sake of a new shah’s authority； the whims of a new prince or the tastes of a
new age； thus； to avoid being forced to alter their styles and methods； they’d
heroically blind themselves。 Meanwhile； you’ve enthusiastically and
dishonorably imitated the European masters for the pages of my Enishte’s
book； with the excuse that it’s the will of Our Sultan。”
“The great Head Illuminator Master Osman most certainly meant no evil by
this；” I said。 “Allow me to put some linden tea on the boil for you； my dear
guest。”
I passed into the adjoining room。 My beloved tossed over my head the
nightgown of Chinese silk she was wearing； which she’d purchased from
Esther the clothier； then mockingly parroted me； “Allow me to put some
linden tea on the boil for you； my dear guest；” and placed her hand on my
cock。
I took out the agate…handled sword hidden among rose…scented sheets at
the bottom of the chest on the floor nearest our roll…up mattress； which she’d
hopefully spread out； and drew the weapon from its sheath。 Its edge was so
sharp that if you tossed a silk handkerchief over it； the sword would easily cut
through it； if you placed a sheet of gold leaf upon it； the edges of the resulting
pieces would be as straight as any cut with a ruler。
Concealing the sword as best I could； I returned to my atelier。 Black Effendi
was so pleased with his interrogation of me that he was still circling the red
cushion； dagger in hand。 I placed a half…finished illustration upon the cushion。
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“Take a look at this；” I said。 He knelt out of curiosity； trying to understand the
picture。
I stepped behind him； drew my sword and in one motion lowered him to
the ground； pinning him with my weight。 His dagger fell away。 Grabbing him
by the hair； I pushed his head against the ground and pressed my sword to his
neck from below。 I flattened out Black’s delicate body and pressed him
facedown beneath my heavy body； using my chin and one free hand to push
his head so it nearly touched the sharp point of the sword。 My one hand was
full of his dirty hair； the other held the sword to the delicate skin of his throat。
Wisely； he didn’t move at all； because I could have finished him then and
there。 Being this close to his curly hair； to the nape of his neck—which
might’ve invited an insulting slap at another time—and to his ugly ears
enraged me all the more。 “I’m using all my restraint to keep from doing away
with you this instant；” I whispered into his ear as if divulging a secret。
That he listened to me like an obedient child without making a peep
pleased me： “You’ll recognize this legend from the Book of Kings；” I whispered。
“Feridun Shah； in error； bequeaths the worst of his lands to his two older sons
and the best； Persia； to Iraj； the youngest。 Tur； bent on revenge； dupes his
younger brother； Iraj； of whom he is jealous； before he cuts Iraj’s throat； he
grabs his hair just as I am doing now and lies on top of him with all his
weight。 Do you feel the weight of my body？”
He gave no answer； but from his eyes； which stared blankly like those of a
sacrificial lamb； I could tell that he was listening； and I was struck with
inspiration： “I’m not only faithful to Persian styles and methods in painting；
but also in beheadings。 I’ve also seen another version of this much loved scene
that describes Shah Siyavush’s death。”
I explained to Black； who listened silently； how Siyavush made preparations
for avenging his brothers； how he burned down his entire palace； all his
belongings and property； how he forgivingly parted from his wife； mounted
his steed and went to war； how he lost the battle and was dragged by his hair
along the ground before being laid out facedown “just as you are now；” and
how a knife was pressed against his throat； how there erupted an argument
between his friends and enemies over whether they should kill him or let him
free and how the defeated king； his face in the dirt； listened to his captors。
Then I asked him； “Are you fond of that illustration？ Geruy es up behind
Siyavush； as I have to you； gets on top of him； rests his sword against his neck；
grabs a fistful of hair and cuts his throat。 Your red blood； soon to flow； makes
black dust rise from the dry earth； where later still； a flower will bloom。”
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I fell quiet and from distant streets we could hear the Erzurumis screaming
as they ran。 The terror outside at once brought the two of us