Read Online Farewell: A Mansion in Occupied Istanbul (Turkish Literature) by Ayse Kulin - Free Book Online Page A

the open air. But when they stepped outside, things were even worse. Hundreds of policemen and firemen swarmed the street. Mahir was holding Mehpare’s wrist so tightly that her hand had become numb.
    “What are you doing here, Mehpare Hanım?”
    “I . . . I was just passing through.”
    “I found you inside. What were you doing there?”
    “Looking for my shopping bag . . .”
    “What bag?”
    “My bag. It’s still inside. Please, can we go get it? I’ve got to have it. Please.”
    “Were you carrying so much money?”
    “No. There were some periodicals.”
    “It’s just as well you lost them. Keep walking . . . Over here . . .. Come on, quickly. Don’t let go of my hand.”
    “You’re hurting my wrist, Mahir Bey.”
    “You’ll be fine. If the police stop us, say nothing. You’re with me. My nurse. Understood?”
    “But I’m not . . .”
    “You’re caring for Kemal Bey, aren’t you? He’s my patient; you’re my nurse.”
    “What’s going on, Mahir Bey? For the love of God, what’s happening here?
    “A bomb was tossed into our building.”
    “A bomb? Why? Who did it?”
    “You came to a dangerous place. Kemal should never have sent you.”
    “No one sent me. I was passing through.”
    “Fine. It’s best you stick to that version of events.”
    “I was passing through, looking for a tobacconist.”
    “And that’s exactly what you’ll tell anyone who asks, Mehpare Hanım!”
    At the sight of a pair of approaching policeman, Mahir released Mehpare’s wrist and they accelerated their pace.
    “Hey . . . Hey you . . . Stop right there.”
    They stopped and a military policeman came up to them. “Go stand with the others, right over there,” he ordered them. Not far from the bombed building a few municipal police were forcing a crowd of people into an orderly line.
    “Where are we going?” Mehpare asked.
    “To the police station.”
    “Oh God!” For the first time that day, Mehpare lost her composure. As darkness descended she felt her legs giving way beneath her. Mahir slid his hands under her arms for support.
    “You can take me in, but let this young lady go.”
    “That’s out of the question. She was in the building.”
    “She was not; she was outside.”
    “And just how do you know that?” the policeman asked.
    “I was inside. I saw her when I got outside.”
    “You can explain all of that at headquarters. Stop wasting my time and start walking.”
    Mahir propped his semi-conscious companion against the wall. She was weeping, she could barely stand.
    “Look here, sir. I’m a doctor. I was summoned here because of a serious heart attack. As you can see, the only woman you’ve detained is this poor young lady . . . She’s nearly fainted. She’s terrified . . . She told me she was walking past the building when the explosion happened . . . I found her crawling on the ground.”
    “Do you know her?”
    “Yes, I do. She lives in Beyazit. She’s a relative of Undersecretary of the Treasury Ahmet Re ş at Bey, a member of his household. She can’t possibly have any connection to today’s incident. Let her go or you’ll be responsible for her when she faints.”
    “What was she doing here all alone?”
    Mehpare’s face was ashen and her entire body trembled. “I came here to visit relatives,” she sobbed.
    “Her handbag was stolen in all the confusion,” Mahir interjected. “The poor thing was looking for it. A black patent leather handbag. Have you seen it?
    “That’s enough out of you! People are dying and she’s asking after her bag! The lady can go, but you’re coming with me,” the policemen said.
    “How will you get home?” Mahir asked Mehpare as she immediately began moving away. “Would you allow me to give you the fare?”
    As the policeman pushed Mahir into a police van, Mehpare called out, “My aunt lives nearby. She’ll help me. Thank you, sir.”
    Terrified that the police would change their minds, Mehpare found the strength to dash down