men。 They’re prepared to fight Hasan。”
“Hasan isn’t here；” said the polite father…in…law。
“How fortunate。 Take a look at this；” I said； giving him Black’s note like a
proud ambassador of the Sultan executing His merciless will。
As the gentlemanly father…in…law read the note； Shekure said； “Esther； e
and let me pour you a bowl of lentil soup to warm you up。”
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“I don’t like lentil soup；” I said at first。 I didn’t like the way she spoke as if
she were mistress of the house。 But when I understood that she wanted to be
alone with me； I grabbed the spoon and rushed after her。
“Tell Black that it’s all because of Shevket；” she whispered。 “Last night I
waited all night alone with Orhan deathly afraid of the murderer。 Orhan
trembled with fright until morning。 My children had been separated！ What
kind of mother could remain apart from her child？ When Black failed to e
back； they told me that Our Sultan’s torturers had made him talk and that
he’d a hand in my father’s death。”
“Wasn’t Black with you when your father was being killed？”
“Esther；” she said； opening her beautiful black eyes wide； “I beg of you； help
me。”
“Then tell me why you’ve e back here so I might understand and help。”
“Do you think I know why I’ve returned？” she said。 She seemed on the
verge of tears。 “Black was rough with my poor Shevket；” she said。 “And when
Hasan said that the children’s real father had returned； I believed him。”
But I could tell from her eyes that she was lying； and she knew I could tell。
“I was duped by Hasan！” she whispered； and I sensed that she wanted me to
infer from this that she loved Hasan。 But did Shekure realize that she was
thinking more and more about Hasan because she had married Black？
The door opened and Hayriye entered carrying freshly baked bread whose
aroma was irresistible。 When she caught sight of me； I could tell from her
expression of displeasure that after the death of Enishte Effendi； the poor
thing—she couldn’t be sold； couldn’t be dismissed—had bee a legacy of
misery for Shekure。 The scent of fresh bread filled the room； and I understood
the truth of the matter as Shekure faced the children： Whether it be their real
father； Hasan or Black； her problem wasn’t finding a husband she could love；
her challenge was to find a father who would love these boys； both of whom
were wide…eyed with fear。 Shekure was ready； with the best of intentions； to
love any good husband。
“You’re seeking what you want with your heart；” I said unthinkingly；
“whereas you need to be making decisions with your mind。”
“I’m prepared to go back to Black immediately with the children；” she said；
“but I have certain conditions！” She fell quiet。 “He must treat Shevket and
Orhan y reasons for ing here。 Above all； he
must abide by our original conditions of marriage—he’ll know what I’m
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talking about。 He left me all alone to fend for myself last night against
murderers； thieves and Hasan。”
“He hasn’t yet found your father’s murderer； but he told me to tell you he
has。”
“Should I go to him？”
Before I could answer； the former father…in…law； who’d long since finished
reading the note； said； “Tell Black Effendi I can’t take the responsibility of
handing over my daughter…in…law without my son being present。”
“Which son？” I said for the sake of being shrewish； but softly。
“Hasan；” he said。 Since he was a man of etiquette； he blushed。 “My oldest
son is on his way back from Persia； there are witnesses。”
“Where’s Hasan？” I asked。 I ate two spoonfuls of the soup Shekure had
offered me。
“He went to gather the clerks； porters and other men of the Customs
Office；” he said in the childish manner of decent yet dull men who cannot lie。
“After what the Erzurumis did yesterday； the Janissaries are certain to be on
the streets tonight。”
“We didn’t see anything of the sort；” I said as I walked toward the door。 “Is
this all you have to say？”
I asked this question of the father…in…law to intimidate him； but Shekure
knew full well that I was really addressing her。 Was her head truly this
befuddled or was she hiding something； for example； was she awaiting the
return of Hasan and his men？ Oddly； I sensed that I liked her indecisiveness。
“We don’t want Black；” Shevket said confidently。 “And make this your last
visit； fat lady。”
“But then who’ll bring around the lace tablecloths； the handkerchiefs
embroidered with flowers and birds that your pretty mother likes； and your
favorite red shirt cloth？” I said； leaving my bundle in the middle of the room。
“Until I return； you can open it up and take a look； try on； alter and sew
whatever you like。”
I was saddened as I left。 I’d never seen Shekure’s eyes so wet with tears。 As
soon as I adjusted to the cold outside； Black stopped me on the muddy road；
sword in hand。
“Hasan’s not home；” I said。 “Perhaps he’s gone to the market to buy wine
to celebrate Shekure’s return。 Perhaps he’ll soon be back with his men。 In that
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case you’ll e to blows； because he’s crazy。 And if he takes up that red
sword of his； there’s no telling what he’ll do。”
“What did Shekure say？”
“The father…in…law said absolutely not； I won’t give up my daughter…in…law；
but if I were you I wouldn’t worry about him； worry about Shekure。 Your wife
is confused。 If you ask me； she took refuge here two days after her father
perished for fear of the murderer； because of Hasan’s threats and your
disappearance without a word。 She knew she couldn’t spend another night in
that same house plagued by the same fears。 They also told her that you had a
hand in her father’s death。 But her first husband hasn’t e back or
anything like that。 Shevket； and it seems the father…in…law； believed Hasan’s lie。
She wants to return to you； but she has certain conditions。”
Staring directly into Black’s eyes； I listed her conditions。 He accepted at
once with an official air as if he were speaking with a genuine ambassador。
“I； too； have a condition；” I said。 “I’m heading back into the house again。” I
pointed out the shutters of the window behind which the father…in…law sat。
“In a little while attack from there and the front door。 When I scream； that’ll
be the signal for you to stop。 If Hasan arrives； don’t hesitate to attack him。”
My words； of course； did not befit an ambassador； to whom no harm
should e； but I let myself get carried away； you see。 This time； as soon as I
yelled “Clothierrr；” the door opened。 I went directly to the father…in…law。
“The entire neighborhood； and the judge who presides over these parts；
that is everyone； knows that Shekure has long been divorced and properly
remarried in keeping with the dictates of the Koran；” I said。 “Even if your son；
who has long since passed away； came back to life and returned here to you
from Heaven in the pany of the Prophet Moses； it’d be of no use for he’s
divorced from Shekure。 You’ve abducted a married woman and are holding
her here against her will。 Black requested that I tell you he and his men will see
to your punishment for this crime before the judge can。”
“Then he will have made a grave mistake；” said the father…in…law delicately。
“We didn’t abduct Shekure at all！ I’m the grandfather of these children； praise
be to God。 Hasan is their uncle。 When Shekure was left all alone； what choice
did she have but to seek shelter here？ If she wants； she can leave now and take
her children with her。 But never forget that this is her first home； where she
gave birth to her children and happily raised them。”
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“Shekure；” I said unthinkingly； “do you want to return to your father’s
house？”
She’d begun to cry on account of the “happy hearth” speech。 “I have no
father；” she said； or was that how I heard it？ Her children first embraced her
legs； then sat her down and hugged her； the three of them hugged one another
in a large ball and wept。 But Esther is no idiot： I knew full well that Shekure’s
tears were meant to appease both sides without her having to make a decision。
But I also knew they were genuine tears； because they moved me to cry； too。 A
while later； I noticed that Hayriye； that snake； was also crying。
As if to pay back the green…eyed father…in…law for being the sole person in
the room who wasn’t crying； Black and his men began their attack on the
house that very moment by banging on the shutters and forcing the door。 Two
men were at the front door with a battering ram whose blows sounded like
cannonfire through the house。
“You’re an experienced and dignified man；” I said； encouraged by my own
tears； “open the door and tell those rabid mongrels out there that Shekure is
on her way。”
“Would you send an unprotected woman； your daughter…in…law no less；
who’d taken refuge in your house； out onto the streets with those dogs？”
“She herself wants to go；” I said。 With my purple handkerchief I wiped my
nose； which had stuffed up from crying。
“In that case she’s free to open the door and leave；” he said。
I sat down beside Shekure and her children。 At each new blow； the
terrifying noise made by the men forcing the door became yet another excuse
for yet more tears； the children began to cry louder； which in turn increased
Shekure’s wailing and mine as well。 Still； even taking into account the
threatening cries from outside and the blows of the battering ram that seemed
on the verge of destroying the house； both of us knew we were crying to gain
time。
“My beautiful Shekure；” I said； “your father…in…law has given you
permission and your husband Black has accepted all of your terms； he’s
waiting for you lovingly； you no longer have any business in this house。 Put on
your cloak； don your veil； take your belongings and your children； and open
the door so we can go quietly back to your house。”
This statement of mine made the children wail even more； and caused
Shekure to open her eyes in shock。
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“I’m afraid of Hasan；” she said； “his revenge will be horrible。 He’s wild。
Remember； I came here on my own。”
“This doesn’t cancel out your new marriage；” I said。 “You were left helpless；
of course you were going to take refuge somewhere。 Your husband’s forgiven
you； he’s prepared to take you back。 As for Hasan； we’ll deal with him the way
we have for years。” I smiled。
“But I’m not going to open the door；” she said； “because then I’ll have
returned to him of my own free will。”
“My dearest Shekure； I cannot open the door either；” I said。 “You know as
well