迪文小说

第100部分（第3页）

437

I；　SHEKURE

Black　had　hidden　us　away　in　the　house　of　a　distant　relative；　where　I　spent　a

sleepless　night。　In　the　bed　where　I　curled　up　with　Hayriye　and　the　children；　I

was　occasionally　able　to　nod　off　amid　the　sounds　of　snoring　and　coughing；　but

in　my　restless　dreams；　I　saw　strange　creatures　and　women　whose　arms　and　legs

had　　been　　severed　　and　　randomly　　reattached；　　they　　wouldn’t　　stop　　chasing　　me

and　continually　woke　me。　Toward　morning；　the　cold　roused　me　and　I　covered

Shevket　and　Orhan；　embracing　them；　kissing　their　heads　and　begging　Allah　for

pleasant　dreams；　such　as　I’d　enjoyed　during　the　blissful　days　when　I　slept　in

peace　under　my　late　father’s　roof。

I　　couldn’t　　sleep；　　however。　　After　　the　　morning　　prayers；　　looking　　out　　on　　the

street　through　the　shutters　of　the　window　in　the　small；　dark　room；　I　saw　what

I’d　always　seen　in　my　happy　dreams：　A　ghostly　man；　exhausted　from　warring

and　　the　　wounds　　he’d　　received；　　brandishing　　a　　stick　　as　　if　　it　　were　　a　　sword；

longingly　approach　me　with　familiar　steps。　In　my　dream；　whenever　I　was　on

the　verge　of　embracing　this　man；　I’d　awake　in　tears。　When　I　saw　the　man　in

the　street　was　Black；　the　scream　that　would　never　leave　my　throat　in　dreams

sounded。

I　ran　and　opened　the　door。

His　　face　　was　　swollen　　and　　bruised　　purple　　from　　fighting。　　His　　nose　　was

mangled　and　covered　in　blood。　He　had　a　large　gash　from　his　shoulder　to　his

neck。　His　shirt　had　turned　bright　red　from　the　blood。　Like　the　husband　of　my

dreams；　　Black　　smiled　　at　　me　　faintly　　because　　he　　had；　　in　　the　　end；　　successfully

returned。

“Get　inside；”　I　said。

“Call　for　the　children；”　he　said。　“We’re　going　home。”

“You’re　in　no　condition　to　return　home。”

“There’s　no　reason　to　fear　him　anymore；”　he　said。　“The　murderer　is　Velijan

Effendi；　the　Persian。”

“Olive…”　I　said。　“Did　you　kill　that　miserable　rogue？”

“He’s　fled　to　India　on　the　ship　that　departed　from　Galleon　Harbor；”　he　said

and　avoided　my　eyes；　knowing　that　he　hadn’t　properly　acplished　his　task。