e　use　father’s　old　sword？”

“Yes。”

For　some　time；　I　gazed　at　the　ceiling；　listening　to　the　sounds　of　the　boys’

swords　striking　each　other；　as　I　struggled　to　quell　the　fear　and　anxiety　that　was

brewing within me。 I went down to the kitchen and said to Hayriye： “My

father’s　been　asking　for　fish　soup　for　quite　some　time　now。　Maybe　I　ought　to

send you to Galleon Harbor。 Why don’t you take a few strips of that dried

fruit　pulp　that　Shevket　likes　out　of　its　hiding　place　and　let　the　kids　have　some。”

While　Shevket　was　eating　in　the　kitchen；　Orhan　and　I　went　upstairs。　I　lifted

him　onto　my　lap　and　kissed　his　neck。

“You’re　covered　in　sweat；”　I　said。　“What　happened　here？”

“Shevket　hit　me　with　our　uncle’s　red　sword。”

“It’s　bruised；”　I　said　and　touched　the　spot。　“Does　it　hurt？　How　thoughtless

our　Shevket　is。　Listen　to　what　I　have　to　say。　You’re　very　smart　and　sensitive。　I

have　a　request　to　make　of　you。　If　you　do　what　I　say；　I’ll　tell　you　a　secret　that　I

won’t　tell　Shevket　or　anyone　else。”

“What　is　it？”

“Do you see this piece of paper？ You’re to go to your grandfather； and

without　letting　him　see；　you’re　to　place　this　in　Black　Effendi’s　hand。　Do　you

understand？”

“I　understand。”

“Will　you　do　it？”

“What’s　the　secret？”

“Just　take　him　the　paper；”　I　said。　I　once　again　kissed　his　neck；　which　smelled

fragrantly。　And　while　we’re　on　the　subject　of　fragrance；　it’s　been　so　very　long

since　Hayriye　has　taken　these　boys　to　the　public　bath。　They　haven’t　gone　since

Shevket’s thing began to rise in front of the women there。 “I’ll tell you the

secret later。” I k