迪文小说

第7部分（第4页）

“Mother；　what　are　you　writing？”

“Be　quick；　now。　Didn’t　I　tell　you　to　go　downstairs　and　call　for　Hayriye？”

I　went　down　to　the　kitchen。　My　brother；　Shevket；　was　back。　Hayriye　had　put

before　him　a　plate　of　the　pilaf　meant　for　the　guest。

“Traitor；”　my　brother　said。　“You　just　went　off　and　left　me　with　the　Master。　I

did　all　the　folding　for　the　bindings　myself。　My　fingers　are　bruised　purple。”

“Hayriye；　my　mother　wants　to　see　you。”

“When　I’m　done　here；　I’m　going　to　give　you　such　a　beating；”　my　brother

said。　“You’ll　pay　for　your　laziness　and　treachery。”

When　Hayriye　left；　my　brother　stood　and　came　after　me　threateningly；　even

before　he’d　finished　his　pilaf。　I　couldn’t　get　away　in　time。　He　grabbed　my　arm

at　the　wrist　and　began　twisting　it。

“Stop；　Shevket；　don’t；　you’re　hurting　me。”

“Are　you　ever　going　to　shirk　your　duties　again　and　leave？”

“No；　I　won’t　ever　leave。”

“Swear　to　it。”

“I　swear。”

“Swear　on　the　Koran。”

“…on　the　Koran。”

He　didn’t　let　go　of　my　arm。　He　dragged　me　to　the　large　copper　tray　that　we

used　as　a　table　for　eating　and　forced　me　to　my　knees。　He　was　strong　enough　to

eat　his　pilaf　as　he　continued　to　twist　my　arm。

“Quit　torturing　your　brother；　tyrant；”　said　Hayriye。　She　covered　herself　and

was　heading　outside。　“Leave　him　be。”

“Mind　your　own　affairs；　slave　girl；”　my　brother　said。　He　was　still　twisting

my　arm。　“Where　are　you　off　to？”

“To　buy　lemons；”　Hayriye　said。

“You’re　a　liar；”　my　brother　said。　“The　cupboard　is　full　of　lemons。”

As　he　had　eased　up　on　my　arm；　I　was　suddenly　able　to　free　myself。　I　kicked

him　　and　　grabbed　　a　　candleholder　　by　　its　　base；　　but　　he　　pounced　　on　　me；

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smothering　　me。　　He　　knocked　　the　　candleholder　　away；　　and　　the　　copper　　tray　　fell

over。

“You　two　scourges　of　God！”　my　mother　said。　She　kept　her　voice　lowered　so

the　　guest　　wouldn’t　　hear。　　How　　had　　she　　passed　　before　　the　　open　　door　　of　　the

workshop；　through　the　hallway；　and　e　downstairs　without　being　seen　by