sh　illustrations　inspired

by　European　masters　lower　us　to　the　level　of　traitors？　Once　again；　I　thought

that　behind　Elegant’s　death　stood　Stork　and　Olive　and　their　schemes　against

me。　I　removed　the　sword　from　Black’s　throat。

“Let’s go to Olive’s house together； and search it from top to bottom；” I

said。　“If　the　last　picture　is　with　him；　at　least　we’ll　know　whom　to　fear。　If　not；

we’ll　take　him　with　us　as　support　and　go　on　to　raid　Stork’s　house。”

I　told　him　to　trust　me　and　that　his　dagger　was　enough　weaponry　for　the

two　of　us。　I　apologized　for　not　even　having　offered　him　a　glass　of　linden　tea。　As

I　lifted　the　oil　lamp　from　the　floor；　we　both　stared　meaningfully　at　the　cushion

upon　which　I’d　flattened　him。　I　approached　him　with　the　lamp　in　my　hand

and　told　him　how　the　ever…so…faint　cut　on　his　throat　would　be　a　mark　of　our

friendship。　He　bled　only　slightly。

The motion made by the Erzurumis and those pursuing them could

still　be　heard　on　the　streets；　but　no　one　noticed　us。　We　were　quick　to　arrive　at

Olive’s　house。　We　knocked　on　the　courtyard　door；　the　door　of　the　house；　and

impatiently upon the shutters。 Nobody was home； we made so much noise

that　we　were　certain　he　wasn’t　sleeping。　Black　gave　voice　to　what　we　both　were

thinking：　“Shall　we　go　inside？”

I twisted the metal loop of the door lock using the blun