would　always　draw　the　same　horse　because　there　was　as　yet

no such thing as the Frankish innovation called “style。” The horses made by

the　great　master　Black　Veli　have　been　imitated　by　all　Muslim　miniaturists　for

110 years。 As for Black Veli himself； after the defeat of Abu Said and the

dispersal of his workshop； he moved from Samarkand to Kazvin； where two

years　later　he　was　condemned　for　his　spiteful　attempts　to　refute　the　verse　in

the　Glorious　Koran　that　declares；　“The　blind　and　the　seeing　are　not　equal。”　For

this；　he　was　first　blinded；　then　killed　by　young　Nizam　Shah’s　soldiers。

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I was on the verge of telling a third story； describing to the pretty…eyed

calligrapher’s apprentice how the great master Bihzad had blinded himself；

how　he　never　wanted　to　leave　Herat；　why　he　never　painted　again　after　being

taken forcibly to Tabriz； how a miniaturist’s style was really the style of the

workshop　in　which　he　worked　and　other　tales　I’d　heard　from　Master　Osman；

but　I　became　preoccupied　with　the　storyteller。　How　had　I　known　that　he　was

going　to　tell　Satan’s　story　tonight？

I had the urge to say； “It was Satan who first said ”I‘！ It was Satan who

adopted　a　style。　It　was　Satan　who　separated　East　from　West。“

I　closed　my　eyes　and　drew　Satan　on　the　storyteller’s　rough　sheet　of　paper　as

my　heart　desired。　As　I　drew；　the　storyteller　and　his　assistant；　other　artists　and

curious　onlookers　giggled　and　goaded　me　on。

Pray；　do　you　think　I　have　my　own　style；　or　do　I　owe　it　to　the　wine？

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I；　SATAN

I　am　fond　of　the　smell　of　red　peppers　fryi