most quiet and sensitive； but also

the　most　guilty　and　traitorous；　and　by　far　the　most　devious。　When　I　thought

about　the　mander’s　torture　chambers；　he　was　the　first　to　e　to　mind。

（I　both　wanted　and　didn’t　want　him　to　be　tortured。）　He　had　the　eyes　of　a　jinn；

he　noticed　and　took　account　of　everything；　including　my　own　shortings；

however； with the reserve of an exile able to acmodate himself to any

situation；　he’d　rarely　open　his　mouth　to　point　out　mistakes。　He　was　wily；　yes；

but not in my opinion a murderer。 （I didn’t tell Black this。） Olive didn’t

believe　in　anything。　He　had　no　faith　in　money；　but　he’d　nervously　squirrel　it

away。 Contrary to what is monly believed； all murderers are men of

extreme faith rather than unbelievers。 Manuscript illumination leads to

painting； and painting； in turn； leads to—God forbid—challenging Allah。

Everybody knows this。 Therefore； to judge by his lack of faith； Olive is a

genuine artist。 Nevertheless； I believe that his God…given gifts fall short of

Butterfly’s；　or　even　Stork’s。　I　would’ve　wanted　Olive　to　be　my　son。　As　I　said

this；　I　wanted　to　incur　Black’s　jealousy；　but　he　only　responded　by　opening　his

dark eyes and staring with childlike curiosity。 Then I said Olive was

magnificent when he worked in black ink； when