f　listening　to

me。 They were panicked。 If they could only decide quickly； before morning；

right　or　wrong；　which　of　their　lot　was　guilty；　they　were　convinced　they　could

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save themselves； be delivered from torture and that everything having to do

with　the　workshop　would　persist　for　years　to　e　as　it　always　had。

Nevertheless； what Black threatened to do didn’t please the other two。

What if it became evident that somebody else was guilty and Our Sultan

learned　they　blinded　me　for　no　reason　whatsoever？　They　were　terrified　both　of

Black’s　closeness　to　Master　Osman　and　his　insolence　toward　him。　They　tried

to　pull　back　the　needle　which　Black；　in　blind　rage；　persisted　in　holding　before

my　eyes。

Black fell into a panic； as if they were taking the plume needle from his

hand；　as　if　we’d　taken　sides　against　him。　There　was　another　scuffle。　All　I　could

do　was　tilt　my　head　upward　to　escape　the　struggle　over　the　needle；　which　was

happening　perilously　close　to　my　eyes。

Everything occurred so fast that I couldn’t make out what happened at

first。　I　felt　a　sharp　but　limited　pain　in　my　right　eye；　a　passing　numbness　seized

my forehead。 Then everything was as it had been； yet a horror had already

taken root within me。 The oil lamp had been withdrawn； but I could still

clearly　see　the　figure　before　me　decisively　thrust　the　needle；　this　time　into　my

left　eye。　He’d　taken　the　needle　from　Black　only　moments　before；　and　was　more

careful and meticulous now。 When I understood that the needle effortlessly

perated　my　eye；　I　lay　dead　still；