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the nicknames I’d affectionately given to them； “we intend to b their
homes； haunts； places of work and； if applicable； shops； leaving no stone
unturned。 And that includes Black…” His expression bespoke resignation：
“Given such troublesome circumstances； thank God； the judge has granted us
permission to resort to torture if necessary during the interrogation of Black
Effendi。 Torture was deemed lawfully permissible because a second murder
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had been mitted against someone with a link to the miniaturists guild；
making suspects of them all； from apprentice to master。”
I mulled this over silently： 1。 The phrase “lawfully permissible” made clear
that Our Sultan wasn’t the one who’d granted the permission for torture。 2。
Because all the miniaturists were under suspicion of double murder in the eyes
of the judge； and because I； though Head Illuminator； had been unable to
identify the criminal in our midst； I； too； was suspect。 3。 I understood that
they wanted my explicit or implicit approval to go ahead with the torture of
my beloved Butterfly； Olive； Stork and the others； all of whom； in recent years；
had betrayed me。
“Since Our Sultan desires both the satisfactory pletion of the Book of
Festivities and this book—which is evidently only half finished；” said the Head
Treasurer； “we’re worried that torture might damage the masters’ hands and
eyes； destroying their agility。” He faced me。 “Isn’t this so？”
“There was similar worry over another incident recently；” said the
mander brusquely。 “A goldsmith and a jeweler who did repairs fell sway
to the Devil。 They were childishly enchanted with a ruby…handled coffee cup
belonging to Our Sultan’s younger sister Nejmiye Sultan； and ended up
stealing it。 Since the theft of the cup； which overwhelmed Our Sultan’s sister
with grief—she was quite fond of the piece—occurred in the üsküdar Palace；
the Sovereign appointed me to investigate。 It became apparent that both Our
Sultan and Nejmiye Sultan wanted no harm to e to the eyes and fingers of
the master gold… and jewelry smiths lest their skills be affected。 So； I had all
the master jewelry smiths stripped naked and thrown into the freezing pool in
the yard among pieces of ice and frogs。 Periodically； I’d have them taken out
and lashed forcefully； taking care that their faces and hands remained
unharmed。 Within a short period； the jeweler who’d been duped by the Devil
confessed and accepted his punishment。 Despite the ice…cold water； the frozen
air and all the lashings； no lasting injury came to the eyes and fingers of the
master jewelers because they were pure of heart。 Even the Sultan mentioned
that His sister was quite pleased with my work and that the jewelers were
working with more zeal now that the bad apple was out of the barrel。”
I was certain that the mander would treat my master illustrators more
severely than he had the jewelers。 Though he had respect for Our Sultan’s
enthusiasm for illuminated manuscripts； like many others； he deemed
calligraphy the only respectable art form； belittling embellishment and
illustration as flirtations with heresy； fit for women and deserving of nothing
but rebuke。 In order to provoke me； he said； “While you’ve been absorbed in
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your work； your beloved miniaturists have already begun scheming to see
who’ll bee Head Miniaturist upon your death。”
Was this gossip I hadn’t already heard？ Had he informed me of something
new？ Restraining myself； I didn’t respond。 The Head Treasurer was more than
aware of the fury I felt toward him for missioning a manuscript from that
deceased half…wit behind my back； and toward my ingrate miniaturists； who’d
secretly prepared these illustrations to curry favor and earn a few extra silver
coins。
I caught myself pondering the methods of torture that might be inflicted。
They wouldn’t resort to flaying during the interrogation； because that
inevitably leads to death。 They wouldn’t impale anyone； either； as they do with
rebels； because that’s used as a deterrent。 Cracking and splintering the fingers；
arms or legs of these miniaturists was also out of the question。 Of course； the
removal of an eye—which I gathered was a measure of increasing frequency
these days； to judge by the growing numbers of one…eyed people on the streets
of Istanbul—would be inappropriate for master artists。 So； as I imagined my
dear miniaturists in a secluded corner of the Royal Private Garden； there in the
ice…cold pool among the water lilies； shivering violently and glaring hatefully at
one another； I had the passing urge to laugh。 Nevertheless； it caused me agony
to imagine how Olive would shriek when his hindquarters were branded with
a hot iron and how dear Butterfly’s skin would pale when he was shackled。 I
couldn’t bear to conjure the scene of dear Butterfly—whose skill and love for
illumination brought tears to my eyes—as he was given the bastinado like a
mon thieving apprentice。 I just stood there dumbfounded and hollow。
My elderly mind was mute under the spell of its own internal silence。 There
was a time when we’d paint together with a passion that made us forget
everything。
“These men are the most expert miniaturists serving Our Sultan；” I said。
“Make certain no harm befalls them。”
Pleased； the Head Treasurer rose； grabbed a number of pages from the
worktable at the other end of the room and arranged them in front of me。
Next； as if the room were dark； he placed beside me two large candle holders
whose portly tapers burned with bobbing and twittering flames so I could
study the paintings in question。
How might I explain what I saw as I moved the magnifying lens over them？
I felt like laughing—and not because they were humorous。 I was incensed—it
seemed that Enishte Effendi had instructed my masters as follows： “Don’t
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paint like yourselves； paint as if you were someone else。” He’d forced them to
recall nonexistent memories； to conjure and paint a future； which they’d never
want to live。 What was even more incredible was that they were killing each
other over this nonsense。
“By looking at these illustrations； can you tell me which miniaturist worked
on which picture？” asked the Head Treasurer。
“Yes；” I said angrily。 “Where did you find these paintings？”
“Black brought them of his own accord and left them with me；” said the
Head Treasurer。 “He’s bent on proving that he and his late Enishte are
innocent。”
“During the interrogation； torture him；” I said。 “That way we’ll learn what
other secrets our late Enishte was harboring。”
“We’ve sent for him；” said the mander of the Imperial Guard。
“Afterward； we’ll thoroughly search the house of that newlywed。”
Both their faces were strangely illuminated； a flicker of fear and awe
overcame them； and they snapped to their feet。
Without having to turn around I knew we were in the presence of His
Excellency； Our Sultan； the Refuge of the World。
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I AM ESTHER
Oh； how wonderful it is to cry along with the rest of them！ While the men
were at the funeral of my dear Shekure’s father； the women； kith and kin；
spouses and friends； gathered in the house and shed their tears； and I； too；
beat my chest in mourning and wept with them。 Now wailing in unison with
the pretty maiden beside me； leaning on her and swaying back and forth； now
crying in a pletely different frame of mind； I was deeply touched by my
own woes and pitiful life。 If I could cry like this just once a week； I thought； I
might forget how I had to roam the streets all day just to make ends meet；
forget being mocked for my weight and my Jewishness and be reborn an even
more chattermouth Esther。
I