dfather。　It　turns　out　he　was　a　jinn。”　They　asked　me　where

the jinn came from。 “From the other side of the river；” I said。 “Where our

father is？” asked Shevket。 “Yes； from there；” I said。 “The jinn came to take a

look　at　the　pictures　in　your　grandfather’s　books。　They　say　that　a　sinner　who

looks　at　those　pictures　immediately　dies。”

A　silence。

198

“Listen； I’m going downstairs to be with Hayriye；” I said。 “I’m going to

carry　the　brazier　in　here；　as　well　as　the　dinner　tray。　Don’t　even　think　of　leaving

the　room　or　you’ll　die。　The　jinn　is　still　in　the　house。”

“Mama；　Mama；　don’t　go；”　Orhan　said。

I　squared　myself　to　Shevket。　“You’re　responsible　for　your　brother；”　I　said。　“If

you　leave　the　room　and　the　jinn　doesn’t　get　you；　I’ll　be　the　one　who　kills　you。”

I　put　on　the　frightening　expression　that　I　made　before　slapping　them。　“Now

pray　that　your　ill　grandfather　doesn’t　die。　If　you’re　good；　God　will　grant　you

your　prayers　and　no　one　will　be　able　to　harm　you。”　Without　giving　themselves

over　to　it　too　much；　they　began　to　pray。　I　went　downstairs。

“Somebody knocked over the pot of orange jam；” said Hayriye。 “The cat

couldn’t　have　done　it；　not　strong　enough；　a　dog　couldn’t　have　gotten　into　the

house…”

She　abruptly　saw　the　terror　on　my　face　and　stopped：　“What’s　the　matter；

then；” she said； “what