ss aspect of myself。 At these times I remembered the

holiday celebrations of my childhood during which I was able to be myself

along　with　my　kith　and　kin。　Despite　all　these　jokes；　kisses　and　embraces；　there

was　still　a　silence　within　me　that　left　me　suffering　and　isolated　in　the　heart　of

the　crowd。

Who had endowed me with this silent and merciless spirit—it was not a

spirit　but　a　jinn—which　always　chided　me　and　cut　me　off　from　others？　Satan？

But the silence within me was eased； not by the crass mischief instigated by

Satan； on the contrary； by the most pure and simple stories that drove into

one’s soul。 Under the influence of wine； I told two stories； hoping that this

would grant me peace。 A tall； pale； yet pinkish…plected calligrapher’s

apprentice　focused　his　green　eyes　onto　mine　and　was　listening　to　me　with　rapt

attention。

Two　Stories　on　Blindness　and　Style

the　Miniaturist　Told　to　Ease　the　Loneliness　in　His　Soul

ALIF

Contrary　to　what　is　assumed；　making　drawings　of　horses　by　looking　at　actual

horses　wasn’t　a　discovery　of　European　masters。　The　original　idea　belonged　to

the great master Jemalettin of Kazvin。 After Tall Hasan； the Khan of the

Whitesheep；　conquered　Kazvin；　the　old　master　Jemalettin　was　not　content　to

simply　join　the　book…arts　workshop　of　the　victorious　khan；　instead　he　headed

out　on　campaign　with　him；　claiming　that　he　wanted　to　embellish　the　khan’s

309

History　with　scenes　of　war　he’d　witnessed　himself。　So　this　great　master；　who

for sixty…two years had made pictures of horses； cavalry charges