distinct　from　others；　and　does　he　attempt　to　prove

this　by　signing　his　name　somewhere　in　his　work　like　the　Frankish　masters？　To

determine　precisely　these　things；　I’d　first　ask　him　a　question　about　”style‘　and

“signature。”“

“And　then？”　I　asked　respectfully。

“Then； I’d want to learn how this illustrator felt about volumes changing

hands； being unbound； and our pictures being used in other books and in

other　eras　after　the　shahs　and　sultans　who’d　missioned　them　have　died。

This　is　a　subtle　issue　demanding　a　response　beyond　one’s　being　simply　upset

or pleased by it。 Thus； I’d ask the illustrator a question about ”time‘—an

illustrator’s　time　and　Allah’s　time。　Do　you　follow　me；　my　child？“

Nay。　But　that’s　not　what　I　said。　Instead；　I　asked；　“And　the　third　question？”

“The　third　would　be　”blindness‘！“　said　the　great　master　Head　Illuminator

Osman；　who　then　fell　silent　as　if　this　required　no　explication。

“What　is　it　about　”blindness‘？“　I　said　with　embarrassment。

“Blindness　is　silence。　If　you　bine　what　I’ve　just　now　said；　the　first　and

the　second　questions；　”blindness’　will　emerge。　It’s　the　farthest　one　can　go　in

illustrating；　it　is　seeing　what　appears　out　of　Allah’s　own　blackness。“

I said no more。 I walked outside。 I descended the icy stairs without

hurrying。　I　knew　that　I　would　ask　the　great　master’s　three　gre