at　us　by　the

light of his lamp as if we were the living dead； gave us directions to the

deserted　dervish　lodge　without　even　sticking　his　nose　out　into　the　quickening

rain—merrily adding that once there； we’d have no peace from the evils of

jinns；　demons　and　ghosts。

In the garden of the dervish lodge we were greeted by the calm of proud

cypresses；　indifferent　to　the　rain　and　the　stench　of　rotting　leaves。　I　brought　my

eye　up　to　one　of　the　cracks　between　the　wooden　planks　of　the　dervish…lodge

walls；　and　later；　to　the　shutter　of　a　small　window；　whereupon；　by　the　light　of

an　oil　lamp；　I　saw　the　menacing　shadow　of　a　man　performing　his　prayers—or

perhaps；　a　man　pretending；　for　our　sake；　to　pray。

405

I　AM　CALLED　“OLIVE”

Was　it　more　fitting　for　me　to　abandon　my　prayers；　spring　to　my　feet　and　open

the door for them or to keep them waiting in the rain until I’d finished？

When I realized they were watching me； I pleted my prayers in a

somewhat　distracted　state。　I　opened　the　door；　and　there　they　were—Butterfly；

Stork　and　Black。　I　gave　a　cry　of　joy　and　embraced　Butterfly。

“Alas；　what　we’ve　had　to　bear　of　late！”　I　lamented；　burying　my　head　into

his　shoulder。　“What　do　they　want　from　us？　Why　are　they　killing　us？”

Each　of　them　displayed　the　panic　of　being　separated　from　the　herd；　which