issed him。 “You’re very bright and very pretty。 Shevket’s a

nuisance。　He’d　even　have　the　audacity　to　lift　a　hand　against　his　mother。”

“I’m　not　going　to　deliver　this；”　he　said。　“I’m　afraid　of　Black　Effendi。　He’s

the　one　who　killed　my　father。”

“Shevket told you this； didn’t he？” I said。 “Quick； go downstairs and tell

him　to　e　here。”

158

Orhan　could　see　the　rage　in　my　face。　Terrified；　he　slid　off　my　lap　and　ran

out of the room。 Maybe he was even slightly pleased that Shevket was in

trouble。 A while later； both of them returned flushed and blushing。 Shevket

was　holding　a　strip　of　dried　fruit　in　one　hand　and　a　sword　in　the　other。

“You’ve　told　your　brother　that　Black　was　the　one　who　killed　your　father；”　I

said。　“I　don’t　ever　want　you　to　say　such　a　thing　in　this　house　again。　You　should

both show respect and affection to Black。 Do we understand each other？ I

won’t　allow　you　to　live　your　entire　lives　without　a　father。”

“I　don’t　want　him。　I’d　rather　return　to　our　house；　where　Uncle　Hasan　lives；

and　wait　for　my　father；”　Shevket　said　brazenly。

This　made　me　so　irate　that　I　slapped　him。　He　hadn’t　put　the　sword　down；　it

fell　from　his　hand。

“I　want　my　father；”　he　said　through　his　tears。

But　I　was　crying　more　than　he　was。

“You have no father anymore； he won’t be ing back；” I said tearfully。

“You’re　fatherless；　don’t　you　understand；　you　bastards。”　I　was　crying　so　much

that　I　was　afraid　they’d　heard　me　from　within。

“We　aren’t　bastards；”　said　Shevket；　crying。

We　all　cried　long　and　hard。　Weeping　softened　my　heart　and　I　sensed　that　I

was　crying