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“I’m not afraid of them；” Enishte said； “because I’m not afraid of death。”
178
Who were “they”？ I nodded as if I understood。 Yet annoyance began to
mount within me。 I noticed that the old volume immediately beside Enishte
was El…Jevziyye’s Book of the Soul。 All dotards who seek death share a love for
this book that recounts the adventures that await the soul。 Since I’d been here
last； I saw only one new item among the objects collected in trays； resting on
the chest； among the pen cases； penknives； nib…cutting boards； inkwells and
brushes： a bronze inkpot。
“Let’s establish； once and for all； that we do not fear them；” I said boldly。
“Take out the last illustration。 Let’s show it to them。”
“But wouldn’t this prove that we minded their slander； at least enough to
take it seriously？ We’ve done nothing of which we ought to be afraid。 What
could justify your being so frightened？”
He stroked my hair like a father。 I was afraid that I might burst into tears
again； I embraced him。
“I know why that unfortunate gilder Elegant Effendi was killed；” I said
excitedly。 “By slandering you； your book and us； Elegant Effendi was planning
to set Nusret Hoja of Erzurum’s men upon us。 He was convinced that we’d
fallen sway to the Devil。 He’d begun spreading such rumors； trying to incite
the other miniaturists working on your book to rebel against you。 I don’t
know why he suddenly began to do this。 Perhaps out of jealousy； perhaps he’d
e under Satan’s influence。 And the other miniaturists also heard how
determined Elegant Effendi was to destroy us all。 You can imagine how each of
them grew frightened and succumbed to suspicions as I myself had。 Because
one of their lot was cornered； in the middle of the night； by Elegant Effendi—
who had incited him against you； us； our book； as well as against illustrating；
painting and all else we believe in—that artist fell into a panic； killing that
scoundrel and tossing his body into a well。”
“Scoundrel？”
“Elegant Effendi was an ill…natured； ill…bred traitor。 Villain！” I shouted as if
he were before me in the room。
Silence。 Did he fear me？ I was afraid of myself。 It was as if I’d succumbed to
somebody else’s will and thoughts； yet； this was not wholly unpleasant。
“Who was this miniaturist who fell into a panic like you and the illustrator
from Isfahan？ Who killed him？”
“I don’t know；” I said。
179
Yet I wanted him to infer from my expression that I was lying。 I realized that
I’d made a grave error in ing here； but I wasn’t going to succumb to
feelings of guilt and regret。 I could see that Enishte Effendi was growing
suspicious of me and this pleased and fortified me。 If he became convinced
that I was a murderer and this knowledge struck terror throughout his soul；
then he wouldn’t dare refuse to show me the final painting。 I was so curious
about that picture； not because of any sin I’d mitted on its account—I
genuinely wanted to see how it’d turned out。
“Is it important who killed that miscreant？” I said。 “Is it not possible that
whoever rid us of him has done a good deed？”
I was encouraged when I saw he could no longer look me directly in the eye。
Magnanimous men； who think themselves better and morally superior to
others； cannot look you in the eye when they are embarrassed on your behalf；
perhaps because they are contemplating reporting you and abandoning you to
a fate of torture and execution。
Outside； just in front of the courtyard gate； the dogs began a frenzied
howling。
“It’s begun to snow again；” I said。 “Where has everyone gone at this late
hour？ Why have they left you here all alone？ They haven’t even lit a candle for
you。”
“It’s quite strange； indeed；” he said。 “I don’t understand it myself。”
He was so sincere that I believed him pletely； and despite ridiculing him
just as the other miniaturists did； I once again knew that I actually loved him
profoundly。 But hoy sudden and great flood of
respect and affection； to which he responded by stroking my hair with
irresistible fatherly concern？ I began to see that Master Osman’s style of
painting； and the legacy of the old masters of Herat； had no future whatsoever。
And this abominable thought frightened me yet again。 After some tragedy； we
all feel the same way： In one last desperate hope； and without caring how
ic and foolish we might appear； we pray that everything might continue as
it always has。
“Let’s continue to illustrate our book；” I said。 “Let everything continue as it
always has。”
“There’s a murderer among the miniaturists。 I am continuing my work
with Black Effendi。”
Was he provoking me to kill him？
180
“Where is Black now？” I asked。 “Where is your daughter and her children？”
I sensed that some other power had placed these words into my mouth； yet
I couldn’t restrain myself。 There was no longer any way for me to be happy
and hopeful。 I could only be smart and sarcastic。 Behind these two always
entertaining jinns—intelligence and sarcasm—I sensed the presence of the
Devil； who controlled them； overing me。 At the same moment； the
accursed dogs beyond the gate began to howl madly as if they’d tracked the
scent of blood。
Had I lived this exact moment long ago？ In a distant city； at a time which
now seemed far from me； as a snow that I couldn’t see fell； by the light of a
candle； I was attempting to explain through tears that I was entirely innocent
to a crotchety old dotard； who’d accused me of stealing paint。 Back then； just
as now； dogs began to howl as if they’d smelled blood。 And I understood from
Enishte Effendi’s great chin； befitting an evil old man； and from his eyes；
which he was finally able to fix mercilessly into mine； that he intended to
crush me。 I recalled this tattered memory from when I was a ten…year…old
miniaturist’s apprentice like a picture whose outlines are clear but whose
colors have faded。 Thus was I living the present as though it were a distinct but
faded memory。
So； as I arose and circled behind Enishte Effendi； lifting that new； huge and
heavy bronze inkpot from among the familiar glass； porcelain and crystal ones
that rested on his worktable； the hardworking miniaturist within me—that
Master Osman had instilled in us all—was illustrating what I did and what I
saw in distinct yet faded colors； not as something I was experiencing now but
as if it were a memory from long ago。 You know how in dreams we shudder to
see ourselves as if from the outside； with the same sensation； holding the large
yet small…mouthed bronze inkpot； I said：
“When I was a ten…year…old apprentice； I saw just such an inkpot。”
“It’s a three…hundred…year…old Mongol inkpot；” said Enishte Effendi。 “Black
brought it all the way from Tabriz。 It’s for red。”
At that very moment； it was of course the Devil prodding me to drive that
inkpot down with all my might onto this conceited old man’s faulty brain。 But
I didn’t give in to the Devil； and with false hope； I said； “It is I； I’m the one
who murdered Elegant Effendi。”
You understand why I said this hopefully； don’t you？ I trusted that Enishte
would understand； and in turn； forgive me—that he would fear and help me。
181
I AM YOUR BELOVED UNCLE
A silence filled the room when he confessed he’d murdered Elegant Effendi。 I
assumed he’d kill me as e here to end
my life or to confess and terrify me？ Did he himself know what he wanted？ I
was afraid； realizing how absolutely unacquainted I was with the inner world
of this magnificent artist whose splendid lines and magical use of color had
been familiar to me for years。 I could sense him standing stiffly behind me；
there at the nape of my neck； holding that large inkpot reserved for red； but I
didn’t turn to face him。 I knew my silence would make him uneasy。 “The dogs
haven’t yet quieted down；” I said。
We fell silent again。 This time； I knew that my death； or my somehow
avoiding this misfortune； would depend on what I told him。 All I knew aside
from his work was that he was quite intelligent； and if you grant that an
illustrator must never reveal his soul in his work； intelligence is； of course； an
asset。 How had he cornered me at home when no one else was here？ My aged
mind was furiously preoccupied with this question； but I was too confused to
see myself out of this game。 Where was Shekure？
“You knew it was me； didn’t you？” he asked。
I hadn’t known at all； not until he told me。 In the back of my mind； I was
even wondering whether he hadn’t done well by killing Elegant Effendi； and
that the late miniaturist might’ve actually succumbed to his anxieties and
made trouble for the rest of us。
I was ever so slightly grateful to this murderer； with whom I was alone in
the empty house。
“I’m not surprised you killed him；” I said。 Men like us who live with books
and dream eternally of their pages fear only one thing in this world。 What’s
more； we’re struggling with something more forbidden and dangerous； that is；
we’re struggling to make pictures in a Muslim city。 As with Sheikh
Muhammad of Isfahan； we miniaturists are inclined to feel guilty and
regretful； we’re the first to blame ourselves before others do； to be ashamed
and beg pardon of God and the munity。 We make our books in secret like
shameful sinners。 I know too well how submission to the endless attacks of
hojas； preachers； judges and mystics who accuse us of blasphemy； how the
endless guilt both deadens and nourishes the artist’s imagination。“
“You don’t fault me for murdering that idiotic miniaturist； do you then？”
182
“What attracts us to writing； illustrating and painting is bound up in this
fear of retribution。 It’s not only for money and favor that we kneel before our
work from morning to evening； continuing by candlelight through the night to
the point of blindness and sacrifice ourselves for pictures and books； it’s to
escape the prattle of others； to escape the munity； but in contrast to this
passion to create； we also want those we’ve forsaken to see and appreciate the
inspired pictures we’ve made—and if they should call us sinners？ Oh； the
suffering this brings upon the illustrator of genuine talent！ Yet； genuine
painting is hidden in the agony no one sees and no one creates。 It’s contained
in the picture； which on first sight； they’ll say is bad； inplete； blasphemous
or heretical。 A genuine miniaturist knows he must reach that point； yet at the
same time； he fears the loneliness that awaits him there。 Who would accede to
such a frightful； nerve…wracking existence？ By blaming himself before anyone
else does；