were　chanting　”Black；　Black；　my　ass’s　crack；“　loud

enough　so　I　could　hear。”

“You　should’ve　given　them　a　beating；”　I　said；　at　first　half…wishing　he’d　done

so。　Then　I　added　in　a　panic；　“If　you　raise　a　hand　against　them；　I’ll　kill　you。”

“Get　into　bed；”　he　said。　“Or　you’ll　freeze　to　death。”

“Maybe I’ll never get into your bed。 Maybe we’ve made a mistake by

getting　married。　They　say　our　ceremony　has　no　legitimacy　before　the　law。　Do

you know I heard Hasan’s footsteps before I fell asleep？ It’s not surprising；

when　I　was　living　in　the　house　of　my　late　husband；　I　heard　Hasan’s　footsteps

for years。 The children like him。 And he’s merciless； that one。 He has a red

sword；　take　care　to　guard　yourself　against　it。”

I saw something so weary and so stern in Black’s eyes that I knew I

wouldn’t　be　able　to　scare　him。

“Of　the　two　of　us；　you’re　the　one　with　more　hope　and　the　one　with　more

sadness；” I said。 “I’m just struggling not to be unhappy and to protect my

children；　whereas　you’re　stubbornly　trying　to　prove　yourself。　It’s　not　because

you　love　me。”

He　went　on　at　length　about　how　much　he　loved　me；　how　he　always　thought

only　of　me　in　desolate　caravansaries；　on　barren　mountains　and　during　snowy

nights。 If he hadn’t said these things； I would’ve awakened the children and

returned