he’d lived for years through thoughts of me; neither in his innocent childlike
expression。
Prodding his shoulder with the edge of my bare foot; I woke him。 When he
saw me; he was startled more than enchanted and excited; if only for a
moment; just as I’d hoped。 Before he’d pletely e to his senses; I said:
“I dreamed I saw my father。 He confided something horrible to me: You
were the one who killed him…”
“Weren’t we together when your father was murdered?”
“I’m aware of this;” I said。 “But you knew that my father would be at home
all alone。”
“I did not。 You were the one who sent the children out with Hayriye。 Only
Hayriye; and perhaps Esther; knew about it。 And as for whoever else might’ve
known; you’d have a better idea than I。”
“There are times I feel an inner voice is about to tell me why everything has
gone so badly; the secret of all of our misfortune。 I open my mouth so that
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voice might speak; but as in a dream; I make no sound。 You’re no longer the
good and naive Black of my childhood。”
“That naive Black was driven away by you and your father。”
“If you’ve married me to take revenge on my father; you’ve acplished
your goal。 Maybe this is why the children don’t like you。”
“I know;” he said without sorrow。 “Before going to bed you were
downstairs for a while。 They were chanting ”Black; Black; my ass’s crack;“ loud
enough so I could hear。”
“You should’ve given them a beating;” I said; at first half…wishing he’d done
so。 Then I added in a panic; “If you raise a hand against them; I’ll kill you。”
“Get into bed;” he said。 “Or you’ll freeze to death。”
“Maybe I’ll never get into your bed。 Maybe we’ve made a mistake by
getting married。 They say our ceremony has no legitimacy before the law。 Do
you know I heard Hasan’s footsteps before I fell asleep? It’s not surprising;
when I was living in the house of my late husband; I heard Hasan’s footsteps
for years。 The children like him。 And he’s merciless; that one。 He has a red
sword; take care to guard yourself against it。”
I saw something so weary and so stern in Black’s eyes that I knew I