you　to　know　which　of　them　was　responsible　for

this　disgrace；　passionately　kissed　me　as　if　he　were　kissing　the　beloved　he’d　long

desired。　The　others　watched　by　the　light　of　the　oil　lamp　that　they　brought　near

to　us。　I　could　not　but　respond　in　kind　to　this　kiss　from　my　beloved　brother。　If

we’re nearing the end of everything； let it be known that I do the best

illuminating。　Find　my　pages　and　see　for　yourselves。

He began to beat me angrily； as if I’d enraged him by answering his kiss

with a kiss。 But the others restrained him。 They experienced a moment of

indecision。　Black　was　upset　that　there　was　a　scuffle　among　them。　It　was　as　if

they　weren’t　angry　with　me；　but　with　the　direction　in　which　their　lives　were

420

headed；　and　as　a　result；　they　wanted　to take their revenge against the entire

world。

Black　removed　an　object　from　his　sash：　a　needle　with　a　sharpened　point。　In

an　instant；　he　brought　it　to　my　face　and　made　a　gesture　as　if　to　plunge　it　into

my　eyes。

“Eighty years ago； the great Bihzad； master of masters； understood that

everything　was　ing　to　an　end　with　the　fall　of　Herat；　and　honorably　blinded

himself　so　nobody　would　force　him　to　paint　in　another　way；”　he　said。　“A　short

while after he deliberately inserted this plume needle into his own eye and

removed it； God’s exquisite darkness slowly descended over His beloved

servant； this artist with the miraculous hand。 This needle which came from

Herat　to　Tabriz　with　the　now　drunk　and　blind　Bihzad；　was　sent　as　a　present　by

Shah　Tahmasp　to　Our　Sultan’s　father；　along　with　that　legend