nightgown of Chinese silk she was wearing； which she’d purchased from

Esther the clothier； then mockingly parroted me； “Allow me to put some

linden tea on the boil for you； my dear guest；” and placed her hand on my

cock。

I took out the agate…handled sword hidden among rose…scented sheets at

the　bottom　of　the　chest　on　the　floor　nearest　our　roll…up　mattress；　which　she’d

hopefully spread out； and drew the weapon from its sheath。 Its edge was so

sharp　that　if　you　tossed　a　silk　handkerchief　over　it；　the　sword　would　easily　cut

through　it；　if　you　placed　a　sheet　of　gold　leaf　upon　it；　the　edges　of　the　resulting

pieces　would　be　as　straight　as　any　cut　with　a　ruler。

Concealing　the　sword　as　best　I　could；　I　returned　to　my　atelier。　Black　Effendi

was　so　pleased　with　his　interrogation　of　me　that　he　was　still　circling　the　red

cushion；　dagger　in　hand。　I　placed　a　half…finished　illustration　upon　the　cushion。

390

“Take　a　look　at　this；”　I　said。　He　knelt　out　of　curiosity；　trying　to　understand　the

picture。

I　stepped　behind　him；　drew　my　sword　and　in　one　motion　lowered　him　to

the　ground；　pinning　him　with　my　weight。　His　dagger　fell　away。　Grabbing　him

by　the　hair；　I　pushed　his　head　against　the　ground　and　pressed　my　sword　to　his

neck from below。 I flattened out Black’s delicate body and pressed him