dy　ensuring　that　he　does　so；　dear　Father；”　she　said。　“You　have

no　need　for　me。”

“Agreed；　but　he’s　giving　in　to　me　because　of　you。　If　they　kill　me；　he　might

be　afraid　to　continue　on。”

“In that case； he won’t be able to marry me；” said my clever daughter；

smiling。

126

Where　did　I　e　up　with　the　detail　about　her　smiling？　During　the　entire

conversation；　I　noticed　nothing　except　an　occasional　glimmer　in　her　eyes。　We

were　standing　tensely　facing　one　another　in　the　middle　of　the　room。

“Do　you　municate　with　each　other；　exchange　signals？”　I　asked；　unable

to　contain　myself。

“How　could　you　even　think　such　a　thing？”

A　long　agonizing　silence　passed。　A　dog　barked　in　the　distance。　I　was　slightly

cold　and　shuddered。　The　room　was　so　black　now　that　we　could　no　longer　see

each other； we could each only sense the other’s presence。 We abruptly

embraced　with　all　our　might。　She　began　to　cry；　and　said　that　she　missed　her

mother。　I　kissed　and　stroked　her　head；　which　indeed　smelled　like　her　mother’s

hair。　I　walked　her　to　her　bedchamber　and　put　her　to　bed　next　to　the　children

who　were　sleeping　side　by　side。　And　as　I　reflected　back　over　the　last　two　days；　I

was　certain　that　Shekure　had　corresponded　with　Black。

127

I　AM　CALLED　BLACK

When I returned home that night； ably evading my landlady—who was

beginning