ell。　It　smelled　of　rotten　leaves；　dampness　and　death；　yet；　when　I　entered　the

house　of　the　Hanged　Jew；　I　felt　as　though　I　were　in　my　own　home。　They　say

that　jinns　meet　here　at　night；　light　the　stove　and　make　merry。　I　was　startled　to

hear　my　footsteps　in　the　empty　house。　I　waited；　stock…still。　I　heard　a　sound　in

the　garden；　but　then　everything　was　overe　by　silence。　I　heard　a　dog　bark

nearby。 I recognize all the dogs in our neighborhood from their barks； but I

couldn’t　place　this　one。

During　the　next　silence　I　sensed　that　there　was　somebody　else　in　the　house

and I stood dead still so he wouldn’t hear my footsteps。 Strangers talked as

they passed on the street。 I thought of Hayriye and the children。 I hoped to

161

God　that　they　wouldn’t　catch　cold。　In　the　silence　that　followed；　I　was　gradually

overe　by　regret。　Black　wasn’t　ing。　I’d　made　a　mistake；　and　I　ought　to

return　home　before　my　pride　was　damaged　even　further。　Terrified；　I　imagined

that　Hasan　was　watching　me；　and　then　I　heard　movement　in　the　garden。　The

door　opened。

I abruptly changed my position。 I didn’t know why I did so； but when I

stood　to　the　left　of　the　window　through　which　a　faint　light　from　the　garden

was　filtering；　I　realized　that　Black　would　be　able　to　see　me；　to　borrow　a　phrase

from　my　father；　“within　the　mysteries　of　shadow。”　I