enHasansawthatShekureendingthenightaloneinfearofmurderersandghosts,hesentalongaethroughme.”

    “Whatdidhewrite?”

    ThaoGodthatyourunfortuher’treadorwrite,becausewhenirateEffendisandirritablefathersaskthisquestion,shesay:“Icouldheletter,onlythefaceofthebeautifulmaidenreadier.”

    “WhatdidyoureadinShekure’sface?”

    “Helplessness.”

    Foralongtimewedidn’tspeak.Awaitingnightfall,anoerchedonthedomeofasmallGreekchurch;runny-nosedneighborhoodkidslaughedatmyclothesandbundle,andamangydoghappilyscratghimselflopeddownfromthecemeterylihcypressestogreetthenight.

    “Slowdown!”IshoutedatBlacklater,“I’tgetupthesehillsthewayyou.Whereareyoutakihmysatchellikethis?”

    “BeforeymetoHasan’shouse,I’mtakingyoutosomegenerousandbraveyoungmensoyouspreadoutyourbundleahemsomefloweryhandkerchiefs,silksashesandpurseswithsilverembroideryfortheirsecretlovers.”

    ItwasagoodsignthatBlackcouldstillmakejokesinhispitiablestate,butIcouldfathomtheseriousnessbehindhismirth.“Ifyoingtogatheraposse,I’llakeyoutoHasan’shouse,”Isaid.“I’mfrighteodeathoffightsandbrawls.”

    “Ifyoutiobetheintelligeheryou’vealwaysbeen,”hesaid,“there’llbeherfightnorbrawl.”

    WepassedthroughAksarayaeredtheroadheadingback,straighttowardtheLangagardens.Ontheupperpartofthemuddyroad,inaneighborhoodthathadseenhappierdays,Blackwalkedintoabarbershopthatwasstillopen.Isawhimtalkingtothemasterbarberbeingshavedbya-lookingboywithlovelyhandsbythelightofanoillamp.Beforelong,thebarber,hishandsomeapprentidlater,twom