ortraits　could　never　stop　time。　He’s　been　insisting

for　years　that　my　picture　of　bliss　could　never　be　painted　anyhow。

Perhaps　he’s　right。　In　actuality；　we　don’t　look　for　smiles　in　pictures　of　bliss；

but rather； for the happiness in life itself。 Painters know this； but this is

precisely　what　they　cannot　depict。　That’s　why　they　substitute　the　joy　of　seeing

for　the　joy　of　life。

In　the　hopes　that　he　might　pen　this　story；　which　is　beyond　depiction；　I’ve

told　it　to　my　son　Orhan。　Without　hesitation　I　gave　him　the　letters　Hasan　and

Black　sent　me；　along　with　the　rough　horse　illustrations　with　the　smeared　ink；

which were found on poor Elegant Effendi。 Above all； don’t be taken in by

Orhan if he’s drawn Black more absentminded than he is； made our lives

harder than they are； Shevket worse and me prettier and harsher than I am。

For the sake of a delightful and convincing story； there isn’t a lie Orhan

wouldn’t　deign　to　tell。

1990–92；　1994–98

445

336–330 B。C。： Darius ruled in Persia。 He was the last king of the

Achaemenids；　losing　his　empire　to　Alexander　the　Great。

336–323　B。C。：　Alexander　the　Great　established　his　empire。　He　conquered

Persia and invaded India。 His exploits as hero and monarch were legendary

throughout　the　Islamic　world　even　until　modern　times。