I AM ESTHER
Oh,howwonderfulitistocryalongwiththerestofthem!WhilethemehefuneralofmydearShekure’sfather,thewomen,kithandkin,spousesandfriends,gatheredinthehouseaheirtears,andI,too,beatmychestinmawiththem.Nowwailinginunisonwiththeprettymaidenbesideme,leaningonherandswayingbadforth;ninapletelydifferentframeofmind,Iwasdeeplytouchedbymyownitifullife.IfIcouldcrylikethisjustonceaweek,Ithought,ImightfethowIhadtoroamthestreetsalldayjusttomakee,fetbeingmockedformyweightandmyJewishnessandberebornanevetermouthEsther.
IlikesocialgatheringsbecauseIeattomyheart’stent,and,atthesametime,fetthatI’mtheblacksheepofthecrowd.Ilovethebaklava,mintdy,marzipanbreadandfruitleatherofholidays;thepilafwithmeataea-cuppastriesofcircumcisionceremonies;drinkingsour-cherrysherbetatcelebrationsheldbytheSultanintheHippodrome;eatihingatweddings;andtossingdownthesesame,honeyorvariouslyflavoreddolencehalvassentbytheneighborsatwakes.
Iquietlyslippedintothehallutonmyshoesadownstairs.BeforeIturothekit,Igrewcuriousaboutanoddnoiseingthroughthehalf-opendooroftheroomothestable.ItookafewstepsinthatdireandglansidetodiscoverthatShevketandOrhanhadtiedupthesonofohewomenmournersandwereinthemidstofpaintinghisfacewiththeirlategrandfather’spaintsandbrushes.“Ifyoutrytoescape,we’llhityoulikethis,”Shevketsaidandslappedtheboy.
“Mydearchild,playnidgentlenow,don’thurteachother,allright?”IsaidinavoiceasvelvetyasIuster.
“Mindyourownaffairs!”Shevketshouted.
Inoticedthesmall,frightened,blond-hairedsisteroftheboytheyweretormentingstandingbesidethem,andforwhateverreasoforherpletely.Fetaboutit,her!
I,Hayriyepeeredatmesuspiciously.
“I’vecriedmyselfdry,Hayriye,”Isaid.“Fod’ssake,plassofwater.”
Shedidso,silently.BeforeIdrankit,Istaredintohereyes,swollenfromweeping.
“PoorEnishteEffendi,theysayhewasalreadydeadbeforeShekure’swedding,”Iented.“People’smouthsaren’tlikebagsthatbechedup,someevenclaimtherewasfoulplayinvolved.”
Inanexaggeratedgesture,shelookeddowoes.Theedherheadandwithoutlookingatmesaid,“MayGodprotectusfrombaselessslander.”
HerfirstgesturefirmedwhatI’dsaid,andmoreovertheceofherwordsveyedthattheywerespokenunderduress—tohidethetruth.
“What’sgoingon?”Iaskedabruptly,whisperingasifIwereherfidant.
IndecisiveHayriyehadofcourseuoodthattherewasnohopeofclaiminganyauthorityoverShekureafterEnishteEffendi’sdeath.Andashortwhileago,shewastheonemwiththemostheartfelttears.
“What’stobee,now?”shesaid.
“Shekureholdsyouinhighregard,”Isaidinmyhabitofgivingnews.Liftingupthelidsofthepotsofhalvalinedupbetweenthelargeclayjarofgrapemolassesandthepicklejar,sneakingafingerfulfromoneorsimplyleaniosmellanother,Iaskedwho’dsenteachofthem.
Hayriyewasrattlingoffwho’dsentwhichpot:“Thisone’sfromKas1mEffendiofKayseri;thisoheassistantfromtheminiaturistsdivisionwholivestwostreetsover;that’sfromthelocksmith,Left-HandedHamdi;thatoheyoungbridefromEdirne—”whenShekureinterruptedher.
“Kalbiye,thelateElegantEffendi’swidow,didn’tetoofferherdolences,didn’tsendwordanddidn’tsendanyhalvaeither!”
Shewasheadingfromthekitdoortothefootofthestairs.Ifollowedher,knowingthatshewaohaveawordwithmeinprivate.
“Therewasnoill-willbetweeEffendiandmyfather.OnthedayofElegant’sfuneral,wepreparedourhalvaatothem.Iwanttoknowwhat’sgoingon,”Shekuresaid.
“I’llghtawayandfindout,”Isaid,anticipatingShekure’sthoughts.
SinceIkeptourchatbrief,shekissedmeonthecheek.Asthecoldofthecourtyardbitintous,weembradstoodtherewithoutmoving.Afterward,IstrokedmybeautifulShekure’shair.
“Esther,I’mafraid,”shesaid.
“Mydear,don’tbeafraid,”Isaid.“Everycloudhasasilverlining.Look,you’refinallymarried.”
“ButI’mnotsureIdidtherightthing,”shesaid.“That’swhyIhavehimgetnearme.Ispentthenightbesidemyunfortuher.”
Sheopenedhereyeswideandlookedatmeinawaythatsaid,YouuandwhatImean.
“Hasanclaimsthatyourweddingisnullintheeyesofthejudge,”Isaid.“Hesentthistoyou.”
Thoughshesaid,“Nomore,”sheimmediatelyopehesmallnoteandread,butthistimeshedidn’ttellmewhatittained.
Shewasrighttobediscreet;weweren’talohecourtyardwherewe’dstoodembrag:Aboveus,asmirkingcarpenter,reattagtheshutterofthehallwindow,whichfellandbrokeforsomeunknownreasonthatm,wasalsoeyeingbothusandthewomenminside.Meanwhile,Hayriye
cameoutofthehouseandrushedtoopenthedoorforthesonofaloyalneighborwho’dcalledout,“thehalva’shere,”ashekhecourtyardgate.
“It’sbeenquitesometimesinceweburiedhim,”saidShekure.“Iowsemypoorfather’ssoulisleavinghisbodyfoodandrisingintotheheavens.”
Sheremovedherselffrommyarms,andgazingupatthebrightsky,recitedalongprayer.
IsuddesodistantarangedfromShekurethatitwouldn’thavesurprisedmeifIwerethecloudshewasgazingat.Assoonasshefinishedherprayer,prettyShekurekissedmeaffeatelyonbothcheeks.
“Esther,”shesaid,“solongasmyfather’smurdererroamsfree,there’llbenopeathisworldformeormychildren.”
Itpleasedmethatshedidionhernewhusband’sname.
“GotoElegantEffendi’shouse,talkcasuallytohiswidowandlearnwhytheydidn’tsendusanyhalva.Letmeknowimmediatelywhatyoufindout.”
“DoyouhaveanymessagesforHasan?”Isaid.
Ifeltembarrassed,notbecauseI’daskedthisquestion,butbecauseIcouldn’tlookherintheeyeasIdidso.Tocoverupmyembarrassment,IstoppedHayriyeahelidofthepotshewasholding.“Ohh,”Isaid,“semolinahalvawithpistachios,”asIhadataste.“Andthey’veaddedes,too.”
ItmademehappytoseeShekuresmilesweetlyasifeverythingwerehappeningasplanned.
Igrabbedmybundlea.I’dtakennomorethantwostepswhenIsawBlackattheendofthestreet.He’djustefromtheburialofhisfather-in-law,andIcouldtellfromhisbeamingfacethatthisnewhusbandwasquitepleasedwithhislife.Itodampenhisspirits,Ileftthestreet,ehevegetableroassedthroughthegardenofthehousewherethebrotheroftheloverofthefamousJewishdoosheHamonhadlivedbeforehewashahisgarden,whichrecalleddeath,alwaysbroughtsuchgreatsadnessuponmewhenIwalkedthroughitthatIinvariablyfotI’dbeenchargedtofindabuyerfortheproperty.
TheairofdeathwasalsoiEffendi’shouse,thoughformeitprovokednosadness.IwasEsther,awomanwhowentinandoutofthousandsofhomesandwasacquaihhundredsofwidows;Ikhatwomenwholosttheirhusbandsearlywerespellbouherbydefeatandmiseryerandrebellion(althoughShekurehadsufferedalltheseafflis).KalbiyehadpartakenofthepoisonofangerandIfastrealizedthatthiswouldservetohastenmywork.
Aswithallceitedwomentowhomlifehasbeencruel,Kalbiyequiterightlysuspectedthatallhervisitorscametopityherinherdarkesthour,orevenworse,towitnessheragonyalyrejoitheirowersituations;thus,sheengagedinnopleasahherguests,butwentstraighttotheheartofthematterfoinganyflowerysmalltalk.WhyhadEstherethisafternoon,justasKalbiyewasabouttotakeasolingnapwithhergrief?Wellawareshe’dtakenoiiestsilksfromaorhandkerchiefsfromBursa,Ididn’teveendtoopenmybucamerighttothepointanddescribedteary-eyedShekure’s.“IthasheightenedShekure’smiserytothinkthatshehassomehowhurtyourfeelings,withwhomshesharesthesamesorrow,”Isaid.
Arrogantly,Kalbiyefirmedthatshehadn’taskedafterShekure’swell-being,hadn’tvisitedtoexpressherdolenournwithher,norcouldshebringherselftoprepareandsendanyhalva.Behindherpride,therealsolurkedagleethatshecouldn’tceal:Thedelightthatherresehadbeenreized.Itwasfromthispoirythatyoursharp-wittedEstherattemptedtodiscoverthereasonsforandcircumstancesofKalbiye’sanger.
Itdidn’ttakelongforKalbiyetoadmitthatshe’dbeehthelateEnishteEffendiduetotheillustratedmanuscripthereparing.Shesaidherhusband,mayherestinpeace,hadn’tagreedtoworkonthebookforthesakeofahandfulofextrasilvers,butbecauseEnishteEffendivincedhimtheprojectwasauthorizedbytheSultan.However,wheehusbandbecameawarethattheilluminationsEnishteEffendihiredhimtogildwereslowlyevolvingfromsimpleoredpagesintofull-blownillustrations,picturesmoreoverthatborethemarksofFrankishblasphemy,atheismandevenheresy,hegrewuneasyaolosesighthtandwrong.BeingamuchmorereasonableandprudentpersonthaEffendi,shecautiouslyaddedthatallthesedoubtsarosegraduallyratherthanatondsincepantEffendineverfoundanythingthatwouldbesideredblatantsacrilege,hewasabletodismisshisworriesasunfounded.Besides,hefortedhimselfbynevermissingasermongivenbyHojaofErzurum,andifheskippedoneofhisfivedailyprayersituledhim.Justashekhatcertainsdrelsattheworkshopridiculedhispletedevotiontothefaith,soheuoodverywellthattheirbrazenjokesaroseoutofenvyofhistalentandartistry.
Alarge,glimmeringtearslidfromKalbiye’sgleamingeyedownhercheek,andatthefirstopportunity,yood-heartedEstherdecidedtofindKalbiyeabetterhusbandthantheoneshe’dretlylost.
“Mylatehusbanddidn’toftensharethesesofhiswithme,”Kalbiyesaidcautiously.“BasedonwhateverIcouldrememberaogetherI’vecludedthateverythinghappenedonatoftheillustrationsthattookhimtoEnishteEffendi’shouseonhisverylastnight.”
Thiswassomemannerofapology.Inresponse,IremindedherhowherfateandShekure’s,nottomentiontheirenemies,werethesameifonesideredthatEnishteEffendihadperhapsbeenkilledbythesame“sdrel.”Thetwe-headedfatherlesswaifsstaringatmefromtheersuggestedanothersimilaritybetweewowomen.Butmymercilessmatchmaker’slogicquicklyremihatShekure’ssituationwasmuchmorebeautiful,ridmysterious.IletKalbiyeklywhatIfelt:
“Shekuretoldmetotellyouthatifshehaswrongedyou,she’ssorry,”Isaid.“Shewantstosaythatshelovesyouasasisterandasawomanwhosharesherfate.Shewantsyoutothinkaboutthisandhelpher.WheeElegantEffehereonhislastnight,didhementionhe’dbeseeinganyonebesidesEnishteEffendi?Didyoueversiderthathemight’vebeengoingtomeetsomebodyelse?”
“Thiswasfoundonhisperson,”shesaid.
Sheremovedafoldedpieceofpaperfromaliddedwickerbox,whitainedembroideryneedles,piecesofclothandalargewalnut.
WhenItookupthecrumpledpiecehpaperandexami,Isawavarietyofshapesdrawnininkthathadrunandsmudgedinthewellwater.I’djustdeterminedwhattheformswerewhenKalbiyevoicedmythoughts.
“Horses,”shesaid.“ButlateElegantEffendionlydidgildingwork.Heneverdrewhorses.Andnoonewould’veeveraskedhimtorenderahorse.”
YourelderlyEstherwaslookingatthehorseswhichhadbeenquicklysketched,butshecouldn’tquitemakeanythingofthem.
“IfIweretotakethispieceofpapertoShekure,she’dbequitepleased,”Isaid.
“IfShekuredesirestoseethesesketches,letheregetthemherself,”saidKalbiyewithnosmallhintofceit.松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读
IlikesocialgatheringsbecauseIeattomyheart’stent,and,atthesametime,fetthatI’mtheblacksheepofthecrowd.Ilovethebaklava,mintdy,marzipanbreadandfruitleatherofholidays;thepilafwithmeataea-cuppastriesofcircumcisionceremonies;drinkingsour-cherrysherbetatcelebrationsheldbytheSultanintheHippodrome;eatihingatweddings;andtossingdownthesesame,honeyorvariouslyflavoreddolencehalvassentbytheneighborsatwakes.
Iquietlyslippedintothehallutonmyshoesadownstairs.BeforeIturothekit,Igrewcuriousaboutanoddnoiseingthroughthehalf-opendooroftheroomothestable.ItookafewstepsinthatdireandglansidetodiscoverthatShevketandOrhanhadtiedupthesonofohewomenmournersandwereinthemidstofpaintinghisfacewiththeirlategrandfather’spaintsandbrushes.“Ifyoutrytoescape,we’llhityoulikethis,”Shevketsaidandslappedtheboy.
“Mydearchild,playnidgentlenow,don’thurteachother,allright?”IsaidinavoiceasvelvetyasIuster.
“Mindyourownaffairs!”Shevketshouted.
Inoticedthesmall,frightened,blond-hairedsisteroftheboytheyweretormentingstandingbesidethem,andforwhateverreasoforherpletely.Fetaboutit,her!
I,Hayriyepeeredatmesuspiciously.
“I’vecriedmyselfdry,Hayriye,”Isaid.“Fod’ssake,plassofwater.”
Shedidso,silently.BeforeIdrankit,Istaredintohereyes,swollenfromweeping.
“PoorEnishteEffendi,theysayhewasalreadydeadbeforeShekure’swedding,”Iented.“People’smouthsaren’tlikebagsthatbechedup,someevenclaimtherewasfoulplayinvolved.”
Inanexaggeratedgesture,shelookeddowoes.Theedherheadandwithoutlookingatmesaid,“MayGodprotectusfrombaselessslander.”
HerfirstgesturefirmedwhatI’dsaid,andmoreovertheceofherwordsveyedthattheywerespokenunderduress—tohidethetruth.
“What’sgoingon?”Iaskedabruptly,whisperingasifIwereherfidant.
IndecisiveHayriyehadofcourseuoodthattherewasnohopeofclaiminganyauthorityoverShekureafterEnishteEffendi’sdeath.Andashortwhileago,shewastheonemwiththemostheartfelttears.
“What’stobee,now?”shesaid.
“Shekureholdsyouinhighregard,”Isaidinmyhabitofgivingnews.Liftingupthelidsofthepotsofhalvalinedupbetweenthelargeclayjarofgrapemolassesandthepicklejar,sneakingafingerfulfromoneorsimplyleaniosmellanother,Iaskedwho’dsenteachofthem.
Hayriyewasrattlingoffwho’dsentwhichpot:“Thisone’sfromKas1mEffendiofKayseri;thisoheassistantfromtheminiaturistsdivisionwholivestwostreetsover;that’sfromthelocksmith,Left-HandedHamdi;thatoheyoungbridefromEdirne—”whenShekureinterruptedher.
“Kalbiye,thelateElegantEffendi’swidow,didn’tetoofferherdolences,didn’tsendwordanddidn’tsendanyhalvaeither!”
Shewasheadingfromthekitdoortothefootofthestairs.Ifollowedher,knowingthatshewaohaveawordwithmeinprivate.
“Therewasnoill-willbetweeEffendiandmyfather.OnthedayofElegant’sfuneral,wepreparedourhalvaatothem.Iwanttoknowwhat’sgoingon,”Shekuresaid.
“I’llghtawayandfindout,”Isaid,anticipatingShekure’sthoughts.
SinceIkeptourchatbrief,shekissedmeonthecheek.Asthecoldofthecourtyardbitintous,weembradstoodtherewithoutmoving.Afterward,IstrokedmybeautifulShekure’shair.
“Esther,I’mafraid,”shesaid.
“Mydear,don’tbeafraid,”Isaid.“Everycloudhasasilverlining.Look,you’refinallymarried.”
“ButI’mnotsureIdidtherightthing,”shesaid.“That’swhyIhavehimgetnearme.Ispentthenightbesidemyunfortuher.”
Sheopenedhereyeswideandlookedatmeinawaythatsaid,YouuandwhatImean.
“Hasanclaimsthatyourweddingisnullintheeyesofthejudge,”Isaid.“Hesentthistoyou.”
Thoughshesaid,“Nomore,”sheimmediatelyopehesmallnoteandread,butthistimeshedidn’ttellmewhatittained.
Shewasrighttobediscreet;weweren’talohecourtyardwherewe’dstoodembrag:Aboveus,asmirkingcarpenter,reattagtheshutterofthehallwindow,whichfellandbrokeforsomeunknownreasonthatm,wasalsoeyeingbothusandthewomenminside.Meanwhile,Hayriye
cameoutofthehouseandrushedtoopenthedoorforthesonofaloyalneighborwho’dcalledout,“thehalva’shere,”ashekhecourtyardgate.
“It’sbeenquitesometimesinceweburiedhim,”saidShekure.“Iowsemypoorfather’ssoulisleavinghisbodyfoodandrisingintotheheavens.”
Sheremovedherselffrommyarms,andgazingupatthebrightsky,recitedalongprayer.
IsuddesodistantarangedfromShekurethatitwouldn’thavesurprisedmeifIwerethecloudshewasgazingat.Assoonasshefinishedherprayer,prettyShekurekissedmeaffeatelyonbothcheeks.
“Esther,”shesaid,“solongasmyfather’smurdererroamsfree,there’llbenopeathisworldformeormychildren.”
Itpleasedmethatshedidionhernewhusband’sname.
“GotoElegantEffendi’shouse,talkcasuallytohiswidowandlearnwhytheydidn’tsendusanyhalva.Letmeknowimmediatelywhatyoufindout.”
“DoyouhaveanymessagesforHasan?”Isaid.
Ifeltembarrassed,notbecauseI’daskedthisquestion,butbecauseIcouldn’tlookherintheeyeasIdidso.Tocoverupmyembarrassment,IstoppedHayriyeahelidofthepotshewasholding.“Ohh,”Isaid,“semolinahalvawithpistachios,”asIhadataste.“Andthey’veaddedes,too.”
ItmademehappytoseeShekuresmilesweetlyasifeverythingwerehappeningasplanned.
Igrabbedmybundlea.I’dtakennomorethantwostepswhenIsawBlackattheendofthestreet.He’djustefromtheburialofhisfather-in-law,andIcouldtellfromhisbeamingfacethatthisnewhusbandwasquitepleasedwithhislife.Itodampenhisspirits,Ileftthestreet,ehevegetableroassedthroughthegardenofthehousewherethebrotheroftheloverofthefamousJewishdoosheHamonhadlivedbeforehewashahisgarden,whichrecalleddeath,alwaysbroughtsuchgreatsadnessuponmewhenIwalkedthroughitthatIinvariablyfotI’dbeenchargedtofindabuyerfortheproperty.
TheairofdeathwasalsoiEffendi’shouse,thoughformeitprovokednosadness.IwasEsther,awomanwhowentinandoutofthousandsofhomesandwasacquaihhundredsofwidows;Ikhatwomenwholosttheirhusbandsearlywerespellbouherbydefeatandmiseryerandrebellion(althoughShekurehadsufferedalltheseafflis).KalbiyehadpartakenofthepoisonofangerandIfastrealizedthatthiswouldservetohastenmywork.
Aswithallceitedwomentowhomlifehasbeencruel,Kalbiyequiterightlysuspectedthatallhervisitorscametopityherinherdarkesthour,orevenworse,towitnessheragonyalyrejoitheirowersituations;thus,sheengagedinnopleasahherguests,butwentstraighttotheheartofthematterfoinganyflowerysmalltalk.WhyhadEstherethisafternoon,justasKalbiyewasabouttotakeasolingnapwithhergrief?Wellawareshe’dtakenoiiestsilksfromaorhandkerchiefsfromBursa,Ididn’teveendtoopenmybucamerighttothepointanddescribedteary-eyedShekure’s.“IthasheightenedShekure’smiserytothinkthatshehassomehowhurtyourfeelings,withwhomshesharesthesamesorrow,”Isaid.
Arrogantly,Kalbiyefirmedthatshehadn’taskedafterShekure’swell-being,hadn’tvisitedtoexpressherdolenournwithher,norcouldshebringherselftoprepareandsendanyhalva.Behindherpride,therealsolurkedagleethatshecouldn’tceal:Thedelightthatherresehadbeenreized.Itwasfromthispoirythatyoursharp-wittedEstherattemptedtodiscoverthereasonsforandcircumstancesofKalbiye’sanger.
Itdidn’ttakelongforKalbiyetoadmitthatshe’dbeehthelateEnishteEffendiduetotheillustratedmanuscripthereparing.Shesaidherhusband,mayherestinpeace,hadn’tagreedtoworkonthebookforthesakeofahandfulofextrasilvers,butbecauseEnishteEffendivincedhimtheprojectwasauthorizedbytheSultan.However,wheehusbandbecameawarethattheilluminationsEnishteEffendihiredhimtogildwereslowlyevolvingfromsimpleoredpagesintofull-blownillustrations,picturesmoreoverthatborethemarksofFrankishblasphemy,atheismandevenheresy,hegrewuneasyaolosesighthtandwrong.BeingamuchmorereasonableandprudentpersonthaEffendi,shecautiouslyaddedthatallthesedoubtsarosegraduallyratherthanatondsincepantEffendineverfoundanythingthatwouldbesideredblatantsacrilege,hewasabletodismisshisworriesasunfounded.Besides,hefortedhimselfbynevermissingasermongivenbyHojaofErzurum,andifheskippedoneofhisfivedailyprayersituledhim.Justashekhatcertainsdrelsattheworkshopridiculedhispletedevotiontothefaith,soheuoodverywellthattheirbrazenjokesaroseoutofenvyofhistalentandartistry.
Alarge,glimmeringtearslidfromKalbiye’sgleamingeyedownhercheek,andatthefirstopportunity,yood-heartedEstherdecidedtofindKalbiyeabetterhusbandthantheoneshe’dretlylost.
“Mylatehusbanddidn’toftensharethesesofhiswithme,”Kalbiyesaidcautiously.“BasedonwhateverIcouldrememberaogetherI’vecludedthateverythinghappenedonatoftheillustrationsthattookhimtoEnishteEffendi’shouseonhisverylastnight.”
Thiswassomemannerofapology.Inresponse,IremindedherhowherfateandShekure’s,nottomentiontheirenemies,werethesameifonesideredthatEnishteEffendihadperhapsbeenkilledbythesame“sdrel.”Thetwe-headedfatherlesswaifsstaringatmefromtheersuggestedanothersimilaritybetweewowomen.Butmymercilessmatchmaker’slogicquicklyremihatShekure’ssituationwasmuchmorebeautiful,ridmysterious.IletKalbiyeklywhatIfelt:
“Shekuretoldmetotellyouthatifshehaswrongedyou,she’ssorry,”Isaid.“Shewantstosaythatshelovesyouasasisterandasawomanwhosharesherfate.Shewantsyoutothinkaboutthisandhelpher.WheeElegantEffehereonhislastnight,didhementionhe’dbeseeinganyonebesidesEnishteEffendi?Didyoueversiderthathemight’vebeengoingtomeetsomebodyelse?”
“Thiswasfoundonhisperson,”shesaid.
Sheremovedafoldedpieceofpaperfromaliddedwickerbox,whitainedembroideryneedles,piecesofclothandalargewalnut.
WhenItookupthecrumpledpiecehpaperandexami,Isawavarietyofshapesdrawnininkthathadrunandsmudgedinthewellwater.I’djustdeterminedwhattheformswerewhenKalbiyevoicedmythoughts.
“Horses,”shesaid.“ButlateElegantEffendionlydidgildingwork.Heneverdrewhorses.Andnoonewould’veeveraskedhimtorenderahorse.”
YourelderlyEstherwaslookingatthehorseswhichhadbeenquicklysketched,butshecouldn’tquitemakeanythingofthem.
“IfIweretotakethispieceofpapertoShekure,she’dbequitepleased,”Isaid.
“IfShekuredesirestoseethesesketches,letheregetthemherself,”saidKalbiyewithnosmallhintofceit.松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读