ed；

boil　them　and　feed　them　to　me。　I　don’t　like　raw　meat。　God　willing；　the　would…

be executioner of that cleric from Erzurum will take this into account so I

won’t　upset　my　stomach　with　that　scoundrel’s　raw　flesh。

17

I　WILL　BE　CALLED　A　MURDERER

Nay；　I　wouldn’t　have　believed　I　could　take　anyone’s　life；　even　if　I’d　been　told

so　moments　before　I　murdered　that　fool；　and　thus；　my　offense　at　times　recedes

from　me　like　a　foreign　galleon　disappearing　on　the　horizon。　Now　and　again；　I

even feel as if I haven’t mitted any crime at all。 Four days have passed

since　I　was　forced　to　do　away　with　hapless　Elegant；　who　was　a　brother　to　me；

and　only　now　have　I；　to　some　extent；　accepted　my　situation。

I　would’ve　preferred　to　resolve　this　unexpected　and　awful　dilemma　without

having to do away with anybody； but I knew there was no other choice。 I

handled the matter then and there； assuming the burden of responsibility。 I

couldn’t let the false accusations of one foolhardy man endanger the entire

society　of　miniaturists。

Nevertheless； being a murderer takes some getting used to。 I can’t stand

being　at　home；　so　I　head　out　to　the　street。　I　can’t　stand　my　street；　so　I　walk　on

to　another；　and　then　another。　As　I　stare　at　people’s　faces；　I　realize　that　many　of

them　believe　they’re　innocent　becau