harboring　the　enemy。

I　meandered　behind　the　mulberry　bushes　and　the　bay…leaf　trees；　which　had

a pleasant aroma even in the coldest weather； and with my usual

fastidiousness； I straightened up the wall boards between the collapsed

chimney　and　the　window　with　its　dilapidated　shutters。　I　entered　and　drew　the

lingering　scent　of　one…hundred…year…old　incense　and　mold　deep　into　my　lungs。

It　made　me　so　blissful　to　be　here；　I　thought　tears　would　fall　from　my　eyes。

If　I　haven’t　already　said　so；　I’d　like　to　say　that　I　fear　nothing　but　Allah　and

the punishment meted out in this world has no import whatsoever in my

opinion。　What　I　fear　are　the　various　torments　that　murderers　like　myself　will

have　to　endure　on　Judgment　Day；　as　is　clearly　described　in　the　Glorious　Koran；

in the “Criterion” chapter； for example。 In the ancient books； that I quite

rarely　lay　hold　of；　whenever　I　see　this　punishment　in　all　its　colors　and　violence；

recalling　the　simple；　childish；　yet　terrifying　scenes　of　Hell　illustrated　on　calfskin

by　the　old　Arab　miniaturists；　or；　for　whatever　reason；　the　torments　of　demons

depicted by Chinese and Mongol master artists； I can’t keep myself from

drawing this analogy and heeding its logic： What does “The Night Journey”

chapter state in its thirty…third verse？ Is it not written