lustrate a dog； another a tree； a

third　I’ve　charged　with　making　border　designs　and　clouds　on　the　horizon；　and

yet another is responsible for the horses。 I wanted the things I depicted to

represent Our Sultan’s entire world； just as in the paintings of the Veian

masters。　But　unlike　the　Veians；　my　work　would　not　merely　depict　material

objects； but naturally the inner riches； the joys and fears of the realm over

which　Our　Sultan　rules。　If　I　ended　up　including　the　picture　of　a　gold　coin；　it

was to belittle money； I included Death and Satan because we fear them。 I

don’t know what the rumors are about。 I wanted the immortality of a tree；

the　weariness　of　a　horse　and　the　vulgarity　of　a　dog　to　represent　His　Excellency

Our Sultan and His worldly realm。 I also wanted my cadre of illustrators；

nicknamed ”Stork；“ ”Olive；“ ”Elegant‘ and “Butterfly；” to select subjects of

their own choosing。 On even the coldest； most forbidding winter evenings；

one of my Sultan’s illustrators would secretly visit to show me what he’d

prepared　for　the　book。

“What　kind　of　pictures　were　we　making？　Why　were　we　illustrating　them　in

that　way？　I　can’t　really　answer　you　at　present。　Not　because　I’m　withholding　a

secret　from　you；　and　not　because　I　won’t　eventually　tell　you。　It’s　as　though　I

myself　don’t　quite　know　what　the　pictures　mean。　I　do；　however；　know　what

kind　of　paintings　they　ought　to　be。”

Four　months　after　I　sent　my　letter；　I　heard　from　the　barber　located　on　the

street　where　we　used　to　live　that　Black　had　returned　to　Istanbul；　and；　in　turn；　I