’m　not　only　faithful　to　Persian　styles　and　methods　in　painting；

but　also　in　beheadings。　I’ve　also　seen　another　version　of　this　much　loved　scene

that　describes　Shah　Siyavush’s　death。”

I　explained　to　Black；　who　listened　silently；　how　Siyavush　made　preparations

for avenging his brothers； how he burned down his entire palace； all his

belongings and property； how he forgivingly parted from his wife； mounted

his　steed　and　went　to　war；　how　he　lost　the　battle　and　was　dragged　by　his　hair

along　the　ground　before　being　laid　out　facedown　“just　as　you　are　now；”　and

how a knife was pressed against his throat； how there erupted an argument

between　his　friends　and　enemies　over　whether　they　should　kill　him　or　let　him

free and how the defeated king； his face in the dirt； listened to his captors。

Then　I　asked　him；　“Are　you　fond　of　that　illustration？　Geruy　es　up　behind

Siyavush；　as　I　have　to　you；　gets　on　top　of　him；　rests　his　sword　against　his　neck；

grabs　a　fistful　of　hair　and　cuts　his　throat。　Your　red　blood；　soon　to　flow；　makes

black　dust　rise　from　the　dry　earth；　where　later　still；　a　flower　will　bloom。”

391

I　fell　quiet　and　from　distant　streets　we　could　hear　the　Erzurumis　screaming

as　they　ran。　The　terror　outside　at　once　brought　the　two　of　us；　lying　one　on　top

of　the　other；　closer。

“But　in　all　those　pictures；”　I　adde