neighbors at the last minute; that’s all。 While you’re inviting them; say that
this was Enishte Effendi’s last wish…It won’t be a joyous wedding; but a
melancholy one。 If we don’t see ourselves through this affair; they’ll destroy
us; and they’ll punish you as well。 You understand; don’t you?”
She nodded as she wept。 Mounting my white horse; I said I’d secure the
witnesses and return before long; that Shekure ought to be ready; that
hereafter; I would be master of the house; and that I was going to the barber。 I
hadn’t thought through any of this beforehand。 As I spoke; the details came to
me; and just as I’d felt during battles from time to time; I had the conviction
that I was a cherished and favored servant of God and He was protecting me;
thus; everything was going to turn out fine。 When you feel this trust; do
whatever es to mind; follow your intuition and your actions will prove
correct。
I rode four blocks toward the Golden Horn from the Yakutlar neighborhood
to find the black…bearded; radiant…faced preacher of the mosque in Yasin Pasha;
the adjacent neighborhood; broom in hand; he was shooing shameless dogs
218
out of the muddy courtyard。 I told him about my predicament。 By the will of
God; I explained; my Enishte’s time was upon him; and according to his last
wish; I was to marry his daughter; who; by decision of the üsküdar judge; had
just been granted a divorce from a husband lost at war。 The preacher objected
that by the dictates of Islamic law a divorced woman must wait a month
before remarrying; but I countered by explaining that Shekure’s former
husband had been absent for four years; and so; there was no chance she was
pregnant by him。 I hastened to add that the üsküdar judge granted a divorce
this morning to allow Shekure to remarry; and I showed him the certifying
document。 “My exalted Imam Effendi; you may rest assured that there’s no
obstacle to the marriage;” I said。 True; she was a blood relation; but being
maternal cousins is not an obstacle; her previous marriage had been nullified;
there were no religious; social or moary differences between us。 And if he
accepted the gold pieces I offered him up front; if he performed the ceremony
at the wedding scheduled to take place before the entire neighborhood; he’d
also be acplishing a pious act before God for the fatherless children of a
widowed woman。 Did the Imam Effendi; I inquired; enjoy pilaf with almonds
and dried apricots?
He did; but he was still preoccupied with the dogs at the gate。 He took the
gold coins。 He said he’d don his wedding robes; straighten up his appearance;
see to his turban and arrive in time to perform the nuptials。 He asked the way
https://www.du8.org https://www.shuhuangxs.com www.baquge.ccabxsw.net dingdianshu.com bxwx9.net
kenshu.tw pashuba.com quanshu.la
tlxsw.cc qudushu.net zaidudu.org
duyidu.org baquge.cc kenshuge.cc
qushumi.com xepzw.com 3dllc.net