forlornly　at　each　other　from　a　distance　when　they　pass　on　the　street。　Dogs　who

roam　the　streets　of　Istanbul　freely　in　packs　and　munities；　the　way　we　do；

dogs　who　threaten　people　if　necessary；　who　can　curl　up　in　a　warm　corner　or

stretch　out　in　the　shade　and　sleep　peacefully；　and　who　can　shit　wherever　they

want and bite whomever they want； such dogs are beyond the infidels’

conception。 It’s not that I haven’t thought that this might be why the

followers　of　the　Erzurumi　oppose　praying　for　dogs　and　feeding　them　meat　on

the　streets　of　Istanbul　in　exchange　for　divine　favors　and　even　why　they　oppose

the　establishment　of　charities　that　perform　such　services。　If　they　intend　both

16

to　treat　us　as　enemies　and　make　infidels　of　us；　let　me　remind　them　that　being

an　enemy　to　dogs　and　being　an　infidel　are　one　and　the　same。　At　the；　I　hope；

not too distant executions of these disgraceful men； I pray our executioner

friends invite us to take a bite； as they sometimes do to set a deterring

example。

Before I finish； let me say this： My previous master was a very just man。

When we set out at night to thieve； we’d cooperate： I’d begin to bark； and

he’d　cut　the　throat　of　our　victim　whose　screams　would　be　drowned　out　by　my

barking。　In　return　for　my　help；　he’d　cut　up　the　guilty　men　that　he’d　punish