me。 They were panicked。 If they could only decide quickly； before morning；
right or wrong； which of their lot was guilty； they were convinced they could
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save themselves； be delivered from torture and that everything having to do
with the workshop would persist for years to e as it always had。
Nevertheless； what Black threatened to do didn’t please the other two。
What if it became evident that somebody else was guilty and Our Sultan
learned they blinded me for no reason whatsoever？ They were terrified both of
Black’s closeness to Master Osman and his insolence toward him。 They tried
to pull back the needle which Black； in blind rage； persisted in holding before
my eyes。
Black fell into a panic； as if they were taking the plume needle from his
hand； as if we’d taken sides against him。 There was another scuffle。 All I could
do was tilt my head upward to escape the struggle over the needle； which was
happening perilously close to my eyes。
Everything occurred so fast that I couldn’t make out what happened at
first。 I felt a sharp but limited pain in my right eye； a passing numbness seized
my forehead。 Then everything was as it had been； yet a horror had already
taken root within me。 The oil lamp had been withdrawn； but I could still
clearly see the figure before me decisively thrust the needle； this time into my
left eye。 He’d taken the needle from Black only moments before； and was more
careful and meticulous now。 When I understood that the needle effortlessly
perated my eye； I lay dead still； though I felt the same burning sensation。
The numbness in my forehead seemed to spread over my entire head； but
ceased when the needle was removed。 They were looking at the needle and
then at my eyes in turn。 It was as if they weren’t certain what had transpired。
When everybody fully understood the misfortune that had befallen me； the
motion stopped and the weight upon my arms eased。
I began to scream； nearly howling。 Not from the pain； but from the terror
of prehending fully what had been done to me。
At first； I sensed that my wailing put not only me at ease； but them as well。
My voice brought us together。
Even so； as my screaming persisted； their nervousness increased。 I could no
longer feel any pain。 All I could think was that my eyes had been pierced with a
needle。
I was not yet blind。 Thank goodness I could still see them watching me in
terror and sorrow； I could still see their shadows moving aimlessly on the
ceiling of the lodge。 This at once pleased and alarmed me。 “Unhand me；” I
screamed。 “Unhand me so I can see everything once more； I implore you。”
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“Quickly； tell us；” said Black。 “How did you meet up with Elegant Effendi
that night？ Then we’ll unhand you。”
“I was returning home from the coffeehouse。 Poor Elegant Effendi accosted
me。 He was frenzied and very agitated。 I pitied him at first。 But leave me be
now and I shall later recount it all。 My eyes are fading。”
“They won’t fade right away；” said Black with determination。 “Believe me；
Master Osman could still identify the horses with cut…open nostrils after his
eyes had been pierced。”
“Hapless Elegant Effendi said he wanted to talk to me and that I was the
only person he could trust。”
Yet it wasn’t him I pitied； but myself now。
“If you tell us before the blood clots in your eyes； in the morning you can
look upon the world to your heart’s content one last time；” said Black。 “See；
the rain has eased。”
“”Let’s go back to the coffeehouse；“ I said to Elegant； but sensed at once
that he didn’t like it there； and even that it frightened him。 This was how I
first knew Elegant Effendi had broken from us pletely and had gone his
separate way after painting with us for twenty…five years。 In the last eight or
ten years； after he married； I’d see him at the workshop； but I didn’t even
know what he was occupied with…He told me he saw the last picture； how it
contained a sin so grave we’d never live it down。 As a consequence； he
maintained； we’d all burn in Hell。 He was agitated and possessed by fear；
overe with the sense of devastation felt by a man who’d unwittingly
mitted heresy。”
“What heresy？”
“When I asked him this very question； he opened his eyes wide in surprise
as if to say； You mean you don’t know？ It was then I thought how our friend
had aged； as have we all。 He said unfortunate Enishte had brazenly used the
perspectival method in the last picture。 In this picture； objects weren’t
depicted according to their importance in Allah’s mind； but as they appeared
to the naked eye—the way the Franks painted。 This was the first transgression。
The second was depicting Our Sultan； the Caliph of Islam； the same size as a
dog。 The third transgression also involved rendering Satan the same size； and
in an endearing light。 But what surpassed them all—a natural result of
introducing this Frankish understanding into our painting—was drawing Our
Sultan’s picture as large as life and his face in all its detail！ Just like the
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idolators do…Or just like the ”portraits’ that Christians； who couldn’t save
themselves from their inherent idolatrous tendencies； painted upon their
church walls and worshiped。 Elegant Effendi； who learned of portraits from
your Enishte； knew this quite well； and believed correctly that portraiture was
the greatest of sins； and would be the downfall of Muslim painting。 As we
hadn’t gone to the coffeehouse； where； he claimed； our exalted Preacher
Effendi and our religion were being maligned； he explained all this to me while
we walked down the street。 Occasionally； he’d stop； as though seeking help；
ask me whether all of this was indeed correct； whether there wasn’t any
recourse and whether we’d truly burn in Hell。 He suffered fits of regret and
beat his breast in remorse； but I was unpersuaded。 He was an imposter who
feigned regret。“
“How did you know this？”
“We’ve known Elegant Effendi since childhood。 He’s very orderly； quiet；
ordinary and colorless； like his gilding。 It was as if the man standing before me
then was dumber； more naive； more devout； yet more superficial than the
Elegant we knew。”
“I hear he’d also bee quite close to the Erzurumis；” said Black。
“No Muslim would ever feel such torment and regret for inadvertently
mitting a sin；” I said。 “A good Muslim knows God is just and reasonable
enough to consider the intent of His servants。 Only pea…brained ignoramuses
believe they’ll go to Hell for eating pork unawares。 Anyway； a genuine Muslim
knows the fear of damnation serves to frighten others； not himself。 This is
what Elegant Effendi was doing； you see； he wanted to scare