第75部分(第1/7 页)

“—or　the　nostrils　of　a　horse；”　said　a　stone…faced　Master　Osman；　“not　the

way　it’s　been　ingrained　in　the　depths　of　his　soul；　but　according　to　the　custom

of the workshop where he presently finds himself； just like the others there。

Do　you　understand　me？”

From　a　page　in　Nizami’s　Hüsrev　and　Shirin；　quite　a　few　versions　of　which

we’d thumbed through already； in a picture depicting Shirin seated on her

throne；　Master　Osman　read　aloud　an　inscription　engraved　on　two　stone　plates

above the palace walls： EXALTED ALLAH PRESERVE THE POWER OF THE

VICTORIOUS SON OF TAMERLANE KHAN； OUR NOBLE SULTAN； OUR JUST

KHAN；　PROTECT　HIS　SOVEREIGNTY　AND　DOMAINS　SO　HE　MAY　FOREVER　BE

CONTENTED （the leftmost stone read） AND WEALTHY （the rightmost stone

read）。

Later；　I　asked；　“Where　might　we　find　illustrations　wherein　the　miniaturist

has rendered a horse’s nostrils in the same way they were etched upon his

memory？”

“We must locate the legendary Book of Kings volume that Shah Tahmasp

sent　as　a　gift；”　said　Master　Osman。　“We　must　revisit　those　glorious　old　days　of

legend；　when　Allah　had　a　hand　in　the　painting　of　miniatures。　We　have　many

more　books　yet　to　examine。”

It　crossed　my　mind　that；　just　perhaps；　Master　Osman’s　main　goal　was　not

to find horses with peculiarly drawn noses； but to scrutinize as much as

possible these spectacular pictures that had slept quietly for years in this

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Treasury safe from prying eyes。 I grew so impatient to find the clues that

would unite me with Shekure； who awaited me at the house；