“Do not trouble about it now,” he said, “you shall understand everything when the time comes.”
I could ask no more of my tutor; there was not time enough anyway. I went to the post office immediately, sending a telegram to Turan informing him that Sadan’s mother was dead, but that Sadan had regained her health. A few hours later, Özdemir Bey had revived. He sat me down by his side, took my hand, looked at me, and said:
“Afif, Turan Bey told me everything. One by one we all fell in love with Sadan Hanim and wished to marry her; the lottery chose Turan and they both deserve each other, and may God make them happy. However, I am ever prepared to sacrifice my life for Sadan. Our friendship amid hundreds of deaths has placed this duty on your shoulders and mine. But as I understand, the heroic-looking old Doctor upstairs also gave his blood to Sadan Hanim. Please tell me, what has caused this girl to lose so much blood?”
I did not know myself. I could not speak of the strange things I had seen after Resuhî Bey’s warning, even to Özdemir. I wanted to judiciously deflect the question by using complicated medical terms. I think Özdemir realized this, but he did not press the matter. He shook my hand again and said: “Look at me, Afif; you are all honest, reliable people. I believe you and I am happy that I am your friend. However, one last word: count on me for any
thing, even to put my life on the line. Do not forget that you may share your work and your problems with me!”
I shook the hand of this gold-hearted young Turk with all earnestness; I could not hold back the tears provoked by my intense emotions.
19 September.—Tonight we took turns watching Sadan with Doctor Resuhî. Özdemir was not in the room, but I knew what he was doing. He spent all night walking around the house in the garden. When morning came, we saw how exhausted and haggard the poor girl was. Her gums had receded like a corpse’s; her teeth looked sharper. Although when she awoke, her innocent eyes softened her countenance, when she slept she appeared stronger; and sometimes her features resembled a cruel smile. Doctor Resuhî Bey observed all these changes closely. Frankly, she is becoming disconnected from life. We are losing Sadan. In the afternoon I sent a telegram to Turan and two hours later he had come. Now Doctor Resuhî Bey and Turan are with Sadan and I am writing these lines in my notebook. I shall take over the watch from Resuhî Bey in fifteen minutes.
Letter from Güzin to Sadan.
“17 September.
“Dear Sadan,
“I know how great my faults are, and you have every right to complain, but I have not been able to find a free moment to write. Let me explain. First, I met my dear husband, my Azmi, at the station, and our dear elder Rifat Bey was waiting for us with an automobile. He took us to his home above the office.
“ ‘My children,’ he said, ‘yes, you are indeed my children. You know that although I have wealth, I have no one else except you. I have raised Azmi as my own son. Güzin, I raised you in part as well, as you were entrusted to me by my closest friend, your father. Since you are now husband and wife, you shall live together and make my last days brighter and happier. In my will I have left Azmi everything. Now, is this situation understood?’
“I began to cry before this good, kind-hearted gentleman while Azmi, with tears in his eyes, kissed the old man’s shaking hands. That is how we met with Rifat Bey. Now Rifat Bey has a partner, and the two men are busy at the table all day, examining all sorts of business. However, Azmi is still very weak! My poor husband; can you blame me? He has gone through so much pain. But he does not yet wish to speak about his trip.
“How is your mother? I hope her health is better. Give her my regards and love; and give her love from Azmi as well. I have written that Azmi is very weak. Even as I was writing this letter he started out of his sleep, and I went to him quickly to calm him. Of course, our happiness and comfort will put an end to all of this. But you see, I have talked all about myself again. Now let us speak of your news: When is your wedding? Do you see Turan Bey a great deal? Tell me all about it. With much love, my dearest Sadan.”
Letter from Güzin to Sadan.
(Unopened by her.)
“18 September.
“My dear friend Sadan,
“We have suffered a terrible blow. Many cold-hearted people may see this as boon for us, but you know very well that this is not the truth. Our surrogate father, the most generous protector of our life and future, Rifat Bey, passed away suddenly. We do not believe we would be so distraught even if our real fathers were alive and had died. This kind-hearted man left us a fortune that we could never imagine earning. This event has had a terrible effect on Azmi, who was already very weak. I am trying my best to distract him with other, more pleasant things. Oh, dear Sadan; here I am, worrying you with all of my troubles. Forgive me, I cannot help it; I have no one to confide in except you. I will come to see you soon. Goodbye, my beautiful.
“With much love,
“Güzin”
From Doctor Afif’s Diary.
20 September.—Only resolution and the habit of many years allow me to continue writing in this journal. I am too miserable; I have lost all hope. If I were to meet my death today, I would feel not the slightest sorrow for the life I leave behind. Death is already floating all around me. Sadan’s mother died, then Turan’s father; now the unfortunate, sweet Sadan. But let me stop; let me try to record these events while I have them in my mind. As I have said, while Resuhî Bey and Turan were in Sadan’s room, I came in to relieve my old tutor, then attempted to send Turan to his room. At first he did not wish to leave; however, when I explained that we would need him tomorrow, he acquiesced. Doctor Resuhî Bey treated Turan with the compassion of a father. He tried to console him, saying, “Come, my child. Come, my son; you are very tired too. Let us go into the other room; there are two sofas there. We can lie down, and our hearts will comfort and strengthen each other.”
After a last look at Sadan, her face chalky white as she lay on the bed, he left the room with the doctor. I was alone, and when I looked around I saw that the doctor had arranged everything and had put the garlic flowers in place. The window frames were covered with them, and Sadan wore a chaplet of them around her neck. I looked at her; she was having difficulty breathing. Under the frosted lamp her teeth appeared even sharper than they had been in the morning. It must have been some trick of the light, especially as the canine teeth appeared longer and sharper than the rest. I sat down by the patient; she moved uneasily, and at that moment I heard a noise made by something soft flapping against the window. I went over to it and raised one side of the curtain. The moonlight illuminated the entire scene, and there was a large bat outside the window. It flew away, possibly startled by the light. It began flying in circles and striking the window with its wings. When I came back to the bed, I noticed that Sadan had moved and torn away her wreath of garlic flowers. I replaced them as well as I could, according to Doctor Resuhî Bey’s instructions, and observed the patient. Presently Sadan awoke and I gave her food as the doctor had prescribed, but she ate very little. However, it struck me as curious that the moment she became conscious, she pressed the garlic flowers close to her. It was odd: I noticed that whenever she got into that lethargic state, with the stertorous breathing, she put the flowers from her; but when she awoke, she immediately clutched them and put them around her neck. This went on so many times during my watch that there could be no mistake.
At six o’clock Resuhî Bey came to relieve me. When he saw Sadan’s face, I again heard that very familiar sigh. With a sharp whisper, he said, “Turn on the lights!” and examined Sadan carefully. He removed the flowers from around her neck, and as he did so he started back, as though afraid. “Oh my God!” he said. I bent over and looked, too, and as I noticed a chill came over me.
The wounds on her neck had completely disappeared!
My old tutor stared at Sadan’s face carefully for fully five minutes, and then he turned to me and said:
“She is dying. It will not be long. Now listen carefully, there is a great difference whether she dies conscious or in her sleep. Go and wake that poor boy, your unfortunate friend, so that he may see his lover’s final moments. We must let him know!”
I went quickly. I woke Turan, and when he leapt from the sofa and saw the morning light he cried out: “Have I slept too long? My God!” I assured him that Sadan was still asleep, but told him as gently as I could the outcome that both Doctor Resuhî Bey and I feared. Without a word, the poor child put his face in his hands and fell on his knees. His shoulders shook from sobbing. I held his hand gently, saying, “Come, my dear brother; come, we are at a time when we need all of your strength and courage!”
When we entered the room, Sadan opened her eyes, and when she saw Turan she said in a weak voice: