I AM A CORPSE
I AM A CORPSE (第1/3页)
Iamnothingbutacorpsenow,abodyatthebottomofawell.ThoughIdrewmylastbreathlongagoandmyhearthasstoppedbeating,noone,apartfromthatvilemurderer,knowswhat’shappenedtome.Asforthatwretch,hefeltformypulseandlistenedformybreathtobesureIwasdead,thenkickedmeinthemidriff,carriedmetotheedgeofthewell,raisedmeupanddroppedmebelow.AsIfell,myhead,whichhe’dsmashedwithastone,brokeapart;myface,myforeheadandcheeks,werecrushed;mybonesshattered,andmymouthfilledwithblood.
FornearlyfourdaysIhavebeenmissing:Mywifeandchildrenmustbesearchingforme;mydaughter,spentfromcrying,mustbestaringfretfullyatthecourtyardgate.Yes,Iknowthey’reallatthewindow,hopingformyreturn.
But,aretheytrulywaiting?Ican’tevenbesureofthat.Maybethey’vegottenusedtomyabsence—howdismal!Forhere,ontheotherside,onegetsthefeelingthatone’sformerlifepersists.Beforemybirththerewasinfinitetime,andaftermydeath,inexhaustibletime.Ineverthoughtofitbefore:I’dbeenlivingluminouslybetweentwoeternitiesofdarkness.
Iwashappy;IknownowthatI’dbeenhappy.ImadethebestilluminationsinOurSultan’sworkshop;noonecouldrivalmymastery.ThroughtheworkIdidprivately,Iearnedninehundredsilvercoinsamonth,which,naturally,onlymakesallofthisevenhardertobear.
Iwasresponsibleforpaintingandembellishingbooks.Iilluminatedtheedgesofpages,coloringtheirborderswiththemostlifelikedesignsofleaves,branches,roses,flowersandbirds.IpaintedscallopedChinese-styleclouds,clustersofoverlappingvinesandforestsofcolorthathidgazelles,galleys,sultans,trees,palaces,horsesandhunters.Inmyyouth,Iwoulddecorateaplate,orthebackofamirror,orachest,orattimes,theceilingofamansionorofaBosphorusmanor,oreven,awoodenspoon.Inlateryears,however,IonlyworkedonmanuscriptpagesbecauseOurSultanpaidwellforthem.Ican’tsayitseemsinsignificantnow.Youknowthevalueofmoneyevenwhenyou’redead.
Afterhearingthemiracleofmyvoice,youmightthink,“Whocareswhatyouearnedwhenyouwerealive?Telluswhatyousee.Istherelifeafterdeath?
Where’syoursoul?WhataboutHeavenandHell?What’sdeathlike?Areyouinpain?”You’reright,thelivingareextremelycuriousabouttheAfterlife.
Maybeyou’veheardthestoryofthemanwhowassodrivenbythiscuriositythatheroamedamongsoldiersinbattlefields.Hesoughtamanwho’ddiedandreturnedtolifeamidthewoundedstrugglingfortheirlivesinpoolsofblood,asoldierwhocouldtellhimaboutthesecretsoftheOtherworld.ButoneofTamerlane’swarriors,takingtheseekerfortheenemy,
（本章未完，请点击下一页继续阅读）