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第53部分（第1页）

and　that　he　was　now　mocking　us；　perhaps。　This　Hasan　was　the　Devil　incarnate。

But　I　couldn’t　be　certain　of　anything。

“Listen　to　me；　Hasan　Effendi；”　Black　called　out　to　the　darkness。　“My　father…

in…law　　was　　murdered；　　this　　much　　is　　true。　　The　　most　　despicable　　of　　men　　killed

him。”

“He’d　been　murdered　before　the　wedding；　isn’t　that　so？”　said　Hasan。　“You

two　killed　him　because　he　opposed　this　marriage　sham；　this　fake　divorce；　the

false　witnesses　and　all　your　deceits。　If　he’d　considered　Black　to　be　appropriate；

he’d　have　given　his　daughter　to　him　years　ago。”

Having　lived　for　years　with　my　late　husband；　with　us；　Hasan　knew　our　past

as　　well　　as　　we　　ourselves　　did。　　And　　with　　the　　passion　　of　　a　　spurned　　lover；　　he

remembered　every　last　detail　of　everything　I’d　discussed　with　my　husband　at

home；　　but　　had　　subsequently　　forgotten；　　or　　now　　wanted　　to　　forget。　　Over　　the

years；　we’d　shared　so　many　memories—he；　his　brother　and　I—that　I　worried

how　strange；　new　and　distant　Black　would　seem　to　me　if　Hasan　were　to　begin

recounting　the　past。

“We　suspect　that　you　were　the　one　who　killed　him；”　Black　said。

235

“On　the　contrary；　you　were　the　ones　who　killed　him　so　you　could　marry。

This　is　evident。　As　for　me；　I　have　no　motive。”

“You　　killed　　him　　so　　we　　wouldn’t　　get　　married；”　　said　　Black。　　“When　　you

learned　that　he’d　permitted　Shekure’s　divorce　and　our　marriage；　you　lost　your

mind。　Besides；　you　were　furious　with　Enishte　Effendi　because　he’d　encouraged

Shekure　to　return　home　to　live　with　him。　You　wanted　revenge。　As　long　as　he

remained　alive；　you　knew　you’d　never　get　your　hands　on　Shekure。”

“Be　done　with　your　stalling；”　Hasan　said　decisively。　“I　refuse　to　listen　to　this

prattle。　It’s　very　cold　here。　I　froze　out　here　trying　to　get　your　attention　with

the　rocks—didn’t　you　hear　them？”

“Black　had　lost　himself　in　my　father’s　illustrations；”　I　said。

Had　I　done　wrong　in　saying　this？

Hasan　spoke　in　precisely　the　same　false　tone　that　I　sometimes　resorted　to

with　Black：　“Shekure；　as　you　are　my　brother’s　wife；　your　best　course　of　action

is　to　return　now　with　your　children　to　the　house　of　the　hero　spahi　cavalryman

to　whom　you’re　still　wed　according　to　the　Koran。”

“I　refuse；”　I　said；　as　if　hissing　into　the　heart　of　the　night。　“I　refuse；　Hasan。

No。”

“Then；　my　responsibility　and　devotion　to　my　brother　forces　me　to　alert　the

judge　　first　　thing　　tomorrow　　morning　　of　　what　　I’ve　　heard　　here。　　Otherwise；

they’ll　call　me　to　account。”

“They’re　　going　　to　　call　　you　　to　　account　　anyway；”　　said　　Black。　　“The　　moment