lthoughIactuallydisapprovedofthegoings-onatthecoffeehouse.“Because,”Iadded,“theartofpaintingonlyendsupningandpunishingitselfwhenitderivesitsstrengthfromthedesiretonandpunishtheevilsofliferatherthanfromthepainter’sownskill,loveofhisartanddesiretoembraceAllah…regardlessofwhetherit’sthepreacherfromErzurumorSatanhimselfthat’sdenounced.Moreimportantly,ifthatcoffeehousecrowdhadn’ttargetedtheErzurumis,itmightnothavebeenraidedtonight.”

    “Evenso,youwouldgothere,”saidthewretch.

    “Yes,becauseIenjoyedmyselfthere.”HadheaninklingofhowhoIwasbeing?Iadded,“Despiteknowinghowuglyandwrongsomethingis,wedesdantsofAdammightstillderivesiderablepleasurefromit.AndI’membarrassedtosayIwasalsoeaihosecheapillustrations,themimidthosestoriesaboutSatan,thegoldandthedog,whichthestorytellertoldcrudelywithoutmeterorrhyme.”

    “Evenso,whywouldyouevenstepfootinthatdenofunbelievers?”

    “Fihen,”Isaidresigningmyselftoaninnervoice,“attimesthere’salsoawormofdoubtthatgnawsatme:EversinceIenlyreizedasthemosttalentedandmostprofitamoersoftheworkshop,notonlybyMasterOsman,butbyOurSultanaswell,IbegaerrifiedoftheenvyoftheothersthatItried,ifonlyattimes,togowheretheywent,tobefriendthemandtoresemblethemsotheywouldn’tturnonmeinasuddenfitofvengeance.Doyouuand?Andsihey’vebegunlabelingmean”Erzurumi,“I’vebeengoingtothatdenofvileunbelieverssohtdistthisrumor.”

    “MasterOsmansaidyouoftenactedasifapologizingforyourtalentandproficy.”

    “Whatelsedidhesayaboutme?”

    “Thatyou’dpaintabsurd,miuresongrainsofri