{"id":11592,"date":"2011-08-17T13:55:11","date_gmt":"2011-08-17T10:55:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.kayiprihtim.org\/portal\/"},"modified":"2012-08-21T02:31:32","modified_gmt":"2012-08-20T23:31:32","slug":"dovmeli-adam-on-okuma","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.kayiprihtim.org\/portal\/on-okumalar\/dovmeli-adam-on-okuma\/","title":{"rendered":"D\u00f6vmeli Adam | \u00d6n Okuma"},"content":{"rendered":"

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1<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

SONRASI<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

D.S. 319 <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

B\u00fcy\u00fck borunun sesi duyuldu.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Arlen yapt\u0131\u011f\u0131 i\u015fe ara verdi, g\u00fcndo\u011fumunda eflatuna boyanm\u0131\u015f g\u00f6ky\u00fcz\u00fcne bakt\u0131. Sabah sisi h\u00e2l\u00e2 havaya tutunuyor, nemiyle birlikte bir hayli tan\u0131d\u0131k olan keskin bir tat getiriyordu. Sabah\u0131n durgunlu\u011funda bunun sadece kendi hayal g\u00fcc\u00fcn\u00fcn bir \u00fcr\u00fcn\u00fc oldu\u011funu umar ve beklerken, i\u00e7inde ketum bir korku birikti. On bir ya\u015f\u0131ndayd\u0131.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Boru bir kez daha \u00e7al\u0131nd\u0131, bu ikincisinin sesi daha uzun ve belirgindi. Arlen\u2019\u0131n arkas\u0131nda evin kap\u0131s\u0131 a\u00e7\u0131ld\u0131, annesinin iki eliyle a\u011fz\u0131n\u0131 kapatm\u0131\u015f orada \u00f6ylece durdu\u011funu \u00e7ok iyi biliyordu. Annesinin tepkisini bu kadar net bir \u015fekilde kafas\u0131nda canland\u0131rabildi\u011fine g\u00f6re, ayn\u0131 \u015fey ge\u00e7mi\u015fte kim bilir ka\u00e7 defa daha meydana gelmi\u015fti?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Bir duraksama oldu, sonra boru iki kez h\u0131zl\u0131ca \u00fcflendi. Bir uzun ve iki k\u0131sa, g\u00fcney ve do\u011fu demekti. Orman Boyu Evleri. Babas\u0131n\u0131n, Cutterlar aras\u0131nda arkada\u015flar\u0131 vard\u0131.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Arlen i\u015fine geri d\u00f6nd\u00fc, acele etmesi gerekti\u011finin s\u00f6ylenmesine ihtiyac\u0131 yoktu. Baz\u0131 g\u00fcnl\u00fck i\u015fler bir g\u00fcn bekleyebilirdi ama s\u00fcr\u00fcn\u00fcn h\u00e2l\u00e2 yemlenmesi ve ineklerin sa\u011f\u0131lmas\u0131 gerekiyordu. Hayvanlar\u0131 ah\u0131rda b\u0131rak\u0131p saman ambar\u0131n\u0131 a\u00e7t\u0131, domuzlar\u0131 yemledi ve tahta s\u00fct kovas\u0131n\u0131 gidip getirmek i\u00e7in ko\u015ftu. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Annesi ineklerden ilkinin alt\u0131na \u00e7\u00f6melmi\u015fti bile. Yedek tabureyi kapt\u0131 ve kendisi de i\u015fe koyuldu; beraberce i\u015flerini yaparlarken bir ahenk olu\u015ftu, sa\u011f\u0131lan s\u00fct\u00fcn tahtaya vururken \u00e7\u0131kard\u0131\u011f\u0131 t\u0131k\u0131rt\u0131 sesi bir cenaze mar\u015f\u0131 gibiydi adeta. S\u0131radaki di\u011fer iki ine\u011fe ge\u00e7erlerken, Arlen, babas\u0131n\u0131n en g\u00fc\u00e7l\u00fc atlar\u0131n\u0131 arabalar\u0131na do\u011fru \u00e7eki\u015ftirdi\u011fini g\u00f6rd\u00fc; be\u015f ya\u015f\u0131nda, kestane rengi, Missy ad\u0131nda bir k\u0131srakt\u0131 bu. Babas\u0131n\u0131n y\u00fcz\u00fc ha\u015findi.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Bu kez ne bulacaklard\u0131 acaba?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00c7ok ge\u00e7meden, at arabas\u0131n\u0131n sallant\u0131s\u0131 e\u015fli\u011finde, Orman Boyu Evleri\u2019ne yakla\u015f\u0131yorlard\u0131. Oras\u0131 tehlikeliydi, bir sonraki muhafazal\u0131<\/span><\/span>*<\/span><\/sup><\/span> olan yap\u0131ya en az bir saatlik ko\u015fu mesafesindeydi ama keresteye ihtiya\u00e7 vard\u0131. Eski p\u00fcsk\u00fc \u015fal\u0131na sar\u0131nm\u0131\u015f olan Arlen\u2019\u0131n annesi, o\u011flunu s\u0131k\u0131ca yan\u0131nda tutuyordu.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnne art\u0131k kocaman oldum,\u201d diye sitem etti Arlen. \u201cBana bebekmi\u015fim gibi sar\u0131lmana ihtiyac\u0131m yok. Korkmuyorum ben.\u201d Bu tam olarak do\u011fru de\u011fildi, ancak gidecekleri yere yakla\u015f\u0131rlarken di\u011fer \u00e7ocuklar\u0131n onu anneci\u011fine s\u0131k\u0131 s\u0131k\u0131 sar\u0131lm\u0131\u015f halde g\u00f6rmeleri de olmazd\u0131. Onunla yeterince dalga ge\u00e7iyorlard\u0131 zaten.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Ben<\/em><\/span><\/span> korkuyorum<\/span><\/span>,<\/em><\/span><\/span>\u201d dedi annesi. \u201cSar\u0131lmaya ihtiyac\u0131 olan ya bensem?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Bir anda g\u00f6\u011fs\u00fc kabaran Arlen, annesine tekrar sokuldu. O, Arlen\u2019\u0131 hi\u00e7bir zaman kand\u0131ramazd\u0131 ama yine de ne s\u00f6ylemesi gerekti\u011fini daima \u00e7ok iyi bilirdi.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Daha di\u011ferlerine ula\u015fmalar\u0131na \u00e7ok vard\u0131 ama ileride g\u00f6\u011fe do\u011fru bir s\u00fctun halinde y\u00fckselmekte olan ya\u011fl\u0131 dumanlar, onlara bilmek istediklerinden fazlas\u0131n\u0131 anlat\u0131yordu. \u00d6l\u00fcleri yak\u0131yorlard\u0131. Herkesin gelip dua etmesi i\u00e7in beklemek yerine bu i\u015fe erkenden ba\u015flam\u0131\u015f olmalar\u0131 ise, \u00f6l\u00fclerin say\u0131s\u0131n\u0131n fazla oldu\u011funa i\u015faretti. Zira \u00f6len her insan i\u00e7in dua edilecek olsa, i\u015fin g\u00fcnbat\u0131m\u0131ndan \u00f6nce tamamlanmas\u0131 imk\u00e2ns\u0131z olurdu. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Arlen\u2019\u0131n babas\u0131n\u0131n \u00e7iftli\u011fiyle Orman Boyu Evleri\u2019nin aras\u0131 be\u015f milden fazlayd\u0131. Geldiklerinde, son birka\u00e7 kul\u00fcbe yang\u0131n\u0131 da s\u00f6nd\u00fcr\u00fclm\u00fc\u015ft\u00fc, ger\u00e7i i\u015fin asl\u0131na bak\u0131lacak olursa geriye yanacak pek az \u015fey kalm\u0131\u015ft\u0131. On be\u015f ev. Hepsi moloz ve k\u00fcl y\u0131\u011f\u0131n\u0131na d\u00f6n\u00fc\u015fm\u00fc\u015f on be\u015f ev.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cKereste y\u0131\u011f\u0131nlar\u0131 da yanm\u0131\u015f,\u201d dedi Arlen\u2019\u0131n babas\u0131. Kesim mevsiminden artakalan karar\u0131p k\u00f6m\u00fcrle\u015fmi\u015f keresteleri \u00e7enesiyle g\u00f6sterdikten sonra araban\u0131n kenar\u0131ndan yere t\u00fck\u00fcrd\u00fc. Arlen ise, \u00e7iftliklerindeki k\u0131r\u0131k d\u00f6k\u00fck \u00e7itlerin a\u011f\u0131ldaki hayvanlar\u0131 i\u00e7eride tutmaya bir sene daha nas\u0131l dayanaca\u011f\u0131n\u0131 d\u00fc\u015f\u00fcn\u00fcnce y\u00fcz\u00fcn\u00fc ek\u015fitti ama bunu yapt\u0131\u011f\u0131 i\u00e7in bir anda kendini su\u00e7lu hissetti. Ne de olsa sorun sadece tahtayd\u0131.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

At arabas\u0131 durmak i\u00e7in yana\u015f\u0131rken k\u00f6y s\u00f6zc\u00fcs\u00fc onlara do\u011fru yakla\u015ft\u0131. Uzun boylu, ince yap\u0131l\u0131, derisi me\u015fine benzeyen, ya\u015fl\u0131 ama \u00e7etin bir kad\u0131nd\u0131 Selia. Arlen\u2019\u0131n annesi ondan bahsederken bazen \u00c7orak Selia da derdi. K\u0131rla\u015fm\u0131\u015f uzun sa\u00e7lar\u0131n\u0131 s\u0131k\u0131 bir topuz yapm\u0131\u015ft\u0131 ve \u015fal\u0131n\u0131 \u00fczerinde bir makam i\u015fareti gibi ta\u015f\u0131yordu. Arlen\u2019\u0131n onun sopas\u0131 sayesinde birden fazla kez \u00f6\u011frendi\u011fi \u00fczere, Selia\u2019n\u0131n hi\u00e7bir z\u0131rvaya tahamm\u00fcl\u00fc yoktu, ancak bug\u00fcn onun varl\u0131\u011f\u0131 Arlen\u2019a rahatl\u0131k veriyordu. Nedense Selia\u2019n\u0131n yan\u0131nda g\u00fcvende hissediyordu, t\u0131pk\u0131 babas\u0131n\u0131n yan\u0131nda da oldu\u011fu gibi. Hi\u00e7 \u00e7ocu\u011fu olmamas\u0131na ra\u011fmen Selia, Tibbet Deresi k\u00f6y\u00fcndeki herkese evlad\u0131ym\u0131\u015f gibi davran\u0131rd\u0131. Onun bilgeli\u011fine pek az, inad\u0131na ise \u00e7ok daha az insan eri\u015febilirdi. E\u011fer Selia\u2019n\u0131n g\u00f6z\u00fcne girmi\u015fseniz, onun yan\u0131ndayken d\u00fcnyan\u0131n en g\u00fcvenli yerindesiniz demekti. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c\u0130yi ki geldin Jeph,\u201d dedi Selia, Arlen\u2019\u0131n babas\u0131na. \u201cSilvy\u2019yi ve k\u00fc\u00e7\u00fck Arlen\u2019\u0131 yan\u0131nda getirmen iyi olmu\u015f,\u201d diye devam etti, onlara ba\u015f\u0131yla selam vererek. \u201cHer t\u00fcrl\u00fc yard\u0131ma ihtiyac\u0131m\u0131z var. Ufakl\u0131\u011f\u0131n bile yard\u0131m\u0131 dokunabilir.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Arlen\u2019\u0131n babas\u0131 arabadan homurdanarak indi. \u201cAletlerimi getirdim,\u201d dedi. \u201cNereden ba\u015flayaca\u011f\u0131m\u0131 s\u00f6yle, yeter.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Arlen, babas\u0131n\u0131n s\u00f6z\u00fcn\u00fc etti\u011fi de\u011ferli aletleri araban\u0131n arkas\u0131ndan toparlad\u0131. Tibbet Deresi\u2019nde metal az bulunurdu ve babas\u0131 sahip oldu\u011fu iki k\u00fcre\u011fi, kazmas\u0131 ve testeresiyle gurur duyard\u0131. Bug\u00fcn aletlerden her birine \u00e7ok i\u015f d\u00fc\u015fecekti. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYirmi yedi,\u201d dedi Selia, Arlen\u2019\u0131n anne ve babas\u0131n\u0131n sormaya korktu\u011fu sorunun cevab\u0131n\u0131 vererek. Silvy\u2019nin nefesi kesildi, elini a\u011fz\u0131na g\u00f6t\u00fcrd\u00fc, g\u00f6zleri dolu dolu olmu\u015ftu. Jeph tekrar t\u00fck\u00fcrd\u00fc.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cKurtulan var m\u0131?\u201d diye sordu.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBirka\u00e7\u0131,\u201d diye cevap verdi Selia. \u00d6l\u00fclerin yak\u0131ld\u0131\u011f\u0131 odun y\u0131\u011f\u0131n\u0131na g\u00f6z\u00fcn\u00fc ay\u0131rmadan bakan k\u00fc\u00e7\u00fck bir \u00e7ocu\u011fa sopas\u0131n\u0131n ucunu do\u011frultarak, \u201cManie\u2026\u201d dedi. \u201cGecenin karanl\u0131\u011f\u0131nda ta benim evime kadar ko\u015fmu\u015f.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Silvy bir an nefessiz kald\u0131. \u015eimdiye kadar hi\u00e7 kimse ka\u00e7arak kurtulamam\u0131\u015ft\u0131. \u201cBrine Cutter\u2019\u0131n evindeki muhafazalar gece uzun s\u00fcre dayanm\u0131\u015f,\u201d diye devam etti Selia. \u201cBrine ve ailesi her \u015feyi izlemi\u015f. Di\u011ferlerinden birka\u00e7\u0131 n\u00fcveliklerden<\/span><\/span>* <\/span><\/sup><\/span>ka\u00e7\u0131p onlar\u0131n imdad\u0131na yeti\u015fmi\u015f, fakat alevler yay\u0131l\u0131p \u00e7at\u0131y\u0131 tutu\u015fturmu\u015f. Kiri\u015fler \u00e7atlamaya ba\u015flay\u0131ncaya kadar evin i\u00e7inde bekleyip \u015fafa\u011fa dakikalar kala \u015fanslar\u0131n\u0131 d\u0131\u015far\u0131da denemi\u015fler. N\u00fcvelikler Brine\u2019\u0131n kar\u0131s\u0131 Meena ile o\u011fullar\u0131 Poul\u2019u \u00f6ld\u00fcrm\u00fc\u015f ama di\u011ferleri kurtulmu\u015f. Yan\u0131klar iyile\u015fir, \u00e7ocuklar da zamanla d\u00fczelir ama di\u011ferleri\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

C\u00fcmleyi bitirmesine gerek yoktu. Bir iblis sald\u0131r\u0131s\u0131ndan kurtulanlar\u0131 k\u0131sa s\u00fcrede \u00f6lmek gibi bir kader beklerdi. Belki hepsi de\u011fil, hatta \u00e7o\u011funlu\u011fu bile de\u011fil ancak yeteri kadar\u0131 \u00f6l\u00fcrd\u00fc. Baz\u0131lar\u0131 kendi canlar\u0131na k\u0131yar, di\u011ferleri ise bo\u015f bak\u0131\u015flarla, g\u00f6\u00e7\u00fcp gidecekleri zamana dek yiyip i\u00e7meyi reddederdi. \u201cSald\u0131r\u0131n\u0131n \u00fcst\u00fcnden bir sene bir g\u00fcn ge\u00e7ene kadar sald\u0131r\u0131dan tam olarak kurtulmu\u015f say\u0131lmazs\u0131n\u201d s\u00f6z\u00fc halk aras\u0131nda yayg\u0131nd\u0131.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHalen bir d\u00fczine kay\u0131p var,\u201d dedi Selia. Ama sesinde pek az umut vard\u0131. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHepsini \u00e7\u0131kartaca\u011f\u0131z,\u201d diye onaylad\u0131 Jeph, ha\u015fin bir tav\u0131rla. Duman\u0131 t\u00fcten \u00e7\u00f6km\u00fc\u015f evlere bak\u0131yordu. Cutterlar evlerini ate\u015ften etkilenmesin diye \u00e7o\u011funlukla ta\u015ftan yapard\u0131, ama e\u011fer bir yerde yeterince ate\u015f iblisi toplan\u0131r ve muhafaza sembolleri ba\u015far\u0131s\u0131z olursa, ta\u015f bile dayanamaz yanard\u0131.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Jeph, molozlar\u0131 temizleyen ve \u00f6l\u00fcleri cenaze odunlar\u0131na arabalarla ta\u015f\u0131yan di\u011fer adamlara ve birka\u00e7 g\u00fc\u00e7l\u00fc kad\u0131na kat\u0131ld\u0131. Do\u011fal olarak, cesetler yak\u0131lmal\u0131yd\u0131. Hi\u00e7 kimse iblislerin her gece i\u00e7inden \u00e7\u0131k\u0131p geldi\u011fi topra\u011fa g\u00f6m\u00fclmek istemezdi. C\u00fcbbesinin kollar\u0131n\u0131 s\u0131vayarak kal\u0131n kollar\u0131n\u0131 \u00e7\u0131plak b\u0131rakm\u0131\u015f olan Rahip Harral, her cesedi ate\u015fe kendisi verip dualar m\u0131r\u0131ldan\u0131yor, alevler cesetleri yuttuk\u00e7a havaya muhafaza sembolleri \u00e7iziyordu.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Silvy ise daha k\u00fc\u00e7\u00fck \u00e7ocuklar\u0131 bir araya toplayan ve Tibbet Deresi\u2019nin Otac\u0131s\u0131 Coline Trigg\u2019in g\u00f6zetimi alt\u0131nda yaral\u0131lar\u0131 tedavi eden di\u011fer kad\u0131nlara kat\u0131lm\u0131\u015ft\u0131. Ama hayatta kalanlardan baz\u0131lar\u0131n\u0131n ac\u0131s\u0131n\u0131 dindirebilecek hi\u00e7bir \u015fifal\u0131 ot yoktu. Ailesiyle odun almaya geldiklerinde Arlen\u2019\u0131 havaya f\u0131rlatan ve ayn\u0131 zamanda Geni\u015fomuzlu Brine olarak da bilinen Brine Cutter, g\u00fcr\u00fcl g\u00fcr\u00fcl kahkahalara sahip dev gibi bir adamd\u0131. \u015eimdi ise enkaza d\u00f6nm\u00fc\u015f evinin yan\u0131nda, k\u00fcllerin aras\u0131nda oturmu\u015f, ba\u015f\u0131n\u0131 evinin kararm\u0131\u015f duvarlar\u0131na vuruyor, kendi kendine bir \u015feyler m\u0131r\u0131ldan\u0131yordu. Sanki \u00e7ok \u00fc\u015f\u00fcyormu\u015f gibi de kollar\u0131n\u0131 s\u0131k\u0131 s\u0131k\u0131 kendi v\u00fccuduna dolam\u0131\u015ft\u0131.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Arlen ve di\u011fer \u00e7ocuklara ise su ta\u015f\u0131ma ve yanm\u0131\u015f tahta y\u0131\u011f\u0131nlar\u0131 aras\u0131nda kurtar\u0131labilecek e\u015fyalar\u0131 bulma g\u00f6revi verilmi\u015fti. Il\u0131k ge\u00e7ecek birka\u00e7 ay daha vard\u0131 \u00f6nlerinde, ancak t\u00fcm k\u0131\u015fa yetecek kadar odun kesmek i\u00e7in zamanlar\u0131 olmayabilirdi. Bu sene de g\u00fcbre yakmak zorunda kalabilirlerdi ki bu durumda evler le\u015f gibi kokacakt\u0131.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Arlen bir kez daha su\u00e7luluk duygusuna kap\u0131ld\u0131. Ne cenaze odunlar\u0131n\u0131n aras\u0131nda yan\u0131yordu, ne de hayattaki her \u015feyini kaybetti\u011fi i\u00e7in \u015fok i\u00e7inde kafas\u0131n\u0131 duvarlara vuruyordu. G\u00fcbre kokan bir evde ya\u015famaktan \u00e7ok daha k\u00f6t\u00fc kaderler mevcuttu.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Sabah vakti yava\u015f yava\u015f ilerledik\u00e7e daha \u00e7ok k\u00f6yl\u00fc geldi. Ailelerini ve ay\u0131rabildikleri kadar erzaklar\u0131n\u0131 getirdiler. Bal\u0131k\u00e7\u0131 \u00c7ukuru\u2019ndan, Kasaba Meydan\u0131\u2019ndan, Boggin Tepesi\u2019nden ve Islak Batakl\u0131k\u2019tan geldiler. Hatta baz\u0131lar\u0131 ta G\u00fcneyg\u00f6zeti\u2019nden bile geldi. Ve Selia onlar\u0131 teker teker korkun\u00e7 haberlerle kar\u015f\u0131lay\u0131p i\u015fe koyulmalar\u0131 i\u00e7in \u00e7e\u015fitli g\u00f6revlere y\u00f6nlendirdi.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Say\u0131lar\u0131n\u0131n artmas\u0131yla, erkekler gayretlerini iki kat\u0131na \u00e7\u0131kard\u0131. Yar\u0131s\u0131 kazmaya devam ederken di\u011ferleri k\u00f6yde kurtar\u0131labilecek tek yap\u0131 olan Brine Cutter\u2019\u0131n evinin etraf\u0131nda topland\u0131. Selia omzuyla bu koca adam\u0131 bir \u015fekilde destekleyerek oradan uzakla\u015ft\u0131r\u0131rken, erkekler molozlar\u0131 temizleyip yeni ta\u015flar\u0131 ta\u015f\u0131maya ba\u015flad\u0131. Birka\u00e7\u0131 muhafaza sembol\u00fc i\u00e7in gerekli olan malzemeleri \u00e7\u0131kar\u0131p yeni semboller i\u00e7in gereken boyama i\u015fine ba\u015flarken, \u00e7ocuklar saz ve samanlardan bir dam \u00f6rt\u00fcs\u00fc meydana getirdi. Ev karanl\u0131k \u00e7\u00f6kmeden haz\u0131r duruma gelecekti.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Arlen tahta ta\u015f\u0131ma i\u015finde Cobie Fisher ile e\u015fle\u015fmi\u015fti. Kaybedilenlere oranla \u00e7ok az da olsa, \u00e7ocuklar bir\u00e7ok tahta par\u00e7as\u0131 toplam\u0131\u015ft\u0131. Cobie uzun boylu, yap\u0131l\u0131 bir \u00e7ocuktu. K\u0131ll\u0131 kollar\u0131, koyu k\u0131v\u0131rc\u0131k sa\u00e7lar\u0131 vard\u0131. Di\u011fer \u00e7ocuklar aras\u0131nda pop\u00fcler olsa da bu pop\u00fclaritesi daha \u00e7ok zorbal\u0131\u011f\u0131ndan kaynaklan\u0131yordu. Hakaretlerine maruz kalmayan \u00e7ocuklar\u0131n say\u0131s\u0131 az, dayaklar\u0131na maruz kalmayanlar\u0131n ise daha da azd\u0131.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Arlen\u2019a y\u0131llarca eziyet etmi\u015f ve di\u011fer \u00e7ocuklar buna seslerini \u00e7\u0131karmam\u0131\u015ft\u0131. Jeph\u2019in \u00e7iftli\u011fi, Tibbet Deresi\u2019nin en kuzeyinde kalan \u00e7iftlikti ve \u00e7ocuklar\u0131n oyun oynamak i\u00e7in topland\u0131klar\u0131 Kasaba Meydan\u0131\u2019ndan bir hayli uzakt\u0131. Arlen ise zaman\u0131n\u0131n \u00e7o\u011funu Dere\u2019de ge\u00e7irmeyi tercih ederdi. Bu y\u00fczden onu Cobie\u2019nin gazab\u0131na kurban vermek di\u011fer \u00e7ocuklar\u0131n i\u015fine geliyordu.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Arlen ne zaman bal\u0131k tutmaya gitse veya Kasaba Meydan\u0131\u2019na giderken ne zaman Bal\u0131k\u00e7\u0131 \u00c7ukuru\u2019ndan ge\u00e7se, Cobie ve arkada\u015flar\u0131 bunu i\u015fitir ve eve d\u00f6n\u00fc\u015f yolunda hep ayn\u0131 yerde bekliyor olurlard\u0131. Baz\u0131 zamanlar sadece isim tak\u0131p dalga ge\u00e7mekle ya da itip kakmakla yetinirlerdi. Ama genelde, eve y\u00fcz\u00fc g\u00f6z\u00fc kanay\u0131p morarm\u0131\u015f halde gelen Arlen, annesinden kavga etti\u011fi i\u00e7in azar i\u015fitirdi. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Sonunda bir g\u00fcn tepesi atm\u0131\u015ft\u0131. O ayn\u0131 yere kal\u0131n bir sopa b\u0131rakm\u0131\u015f, Cobie ve arkada\u015flar\u0131n\u0131n \u00fczerine \u00e7ulland\u0131\u011f\u0131 bir dahaki seferde ka\u00e7ar gibi yapm\u0131\u015f, sonra birden sopay\u0131 \u00e7\u0131kar\u0131p onlara do\u011fru sallayarak \u00fczerlerine y\u00fcr\u00fcm\u00fc\u015ft\u00fc. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u0130lk darbeyi Cobie alm\u0131\u015ft\u0131. Bu, yere d\u00fc\u015f\u00fcp g\u00f6zya\u015flar\u0131na bo\u011fulmas\u0131na ve kula\u011f\u0131n\u0131n alt\u0131ndan kan gelmesine neden olan sert bir darbeydi. Sonra Willum\u2019\u0131n parma\u011f\u0131 k\u0131r\u0131lm\u0131\u015f, Gart ise bir hafta boyunca topallayarak y\u00fcr\u00fcmek zorunda kalm\u0131\u015ft\u0131. Ne var ki bu Arlen\u2019\u0131n di\u011fer \u00e7ocuklar aras\u0131ndaki pop\u00fclaritesini artt\u0131rmaya yaramam\u0131\u015ft\u0131. Hatta Arlen babas\u0131ndan bir g\u00fczel sopa bile yemi\u015fti. Ama o olaydan sonra \u00e7ocuklar bir daha ona hi\u00e7 bula\u015fmam\u0131\u015ft\u0131. \u015eimdi bile Cobie, ondan \u00e7ok daha iri olmas\u0131na ra\u011fmen Arlen\u2019a kar\u015f\u0131 mesafesini koruyor, Arlen ani bir hareket yapt\u0131\u011f\u0131nda \u00fcrk\u00fcp s\u0131\u00e7r\u0131yordu. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSa\u011f kalanlar var!\u201d diye birdenbire hayk\u0131rd\u0131 Bil Baker. K\u00f6y\u00fcn d\u0131\u015f s\u0131n\u0131r\u0131na yak\u0131n bir yerde, \u00e7\u00f6km\u00fc\u015f bir evin yan\u0131nda duruyordu. \u201cMahzende s\u0131k\u0131\u015f\u0131p kalm\u0131\u015flar, seslerini duyabiliyorum!\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Herkes u\u011fra\u015ft\u0131\u011f\u0131 i\u015fi hemen b\u0131rak\u0131p oraya ko\u015ftu. Molozlar\u0131 temizlemek \u00e7ok uzun zaman alaca\u011f\u0131ndan t\u00fcm erkekler e\u011filip gayretle kazmaya ba\u015flad\u0131. \u00c7ok ge\u00e7meden mahzenin yan duvarlar\u0131ndan birinden sa\u011f kalanlara ula\u015farak onlar\u0131 d\u0131\u015far\u0131 \u00e7\u0131karmaya ba\u015flad\u0131lar. Hayatta kalanlar aras\u0131nda \u00fc\u00e7 kad\u0131n, alt\u0131 \u00e7ocuk ve bir erkek vard\u0131. Hepsi pislik i\u00e7inde ve deh\u015fete kap\u0131lm\u0131\u015f durumdayd\u0131. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCholie Day\u0131!\u201d diye ba\u011f\u0131rd\u0131 Arlen. Annesi derhal oraya ko\u015fup bir sarho\u015f gibi t\u00f6kezleyen karde\u015fini kucaklad\u0131. Arlen da onlar\u0131n yan\u0131na ko\u015fup day\u0131s\u0131n\u0131n kolunun alt\u0131na girdi ve ayakta durmas\u0131 i\u00e7in ona destek oldu.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCholie, senin burada ne i\u015fin var?\u201d diye sordu Silvy. Cholie, Kasaba Meydan\u0131\u2019ndaki at\u00f6lyesini \u00e7ok nadir terk ederdi. Arlen\u2019\u0131n annesi, evlenmeden \u00f6nce karde\u015fiyle birlikte i\u015flettikleri nalbant d\u00fckk\u00e2n\u0131n\u0131n ve Jeph\u2019in ona kur yapmak i\u00e7in atlar\u0131n\u0131n nallar\u0131n\u0131 nas\u0131l bilerek k\u0131rd\u0131\u011f\u0131n\u0131n hik\u00e2yesini en az bin kere anlatm\u0131\u015ft\u0131.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAna Cutter\u2019a kur yapmak i\u00e7in gelmi\u015ftim,\u201d diye m\u0131r\u0131ldand\u0131 Cholie. Sa\u00e7lar\u0131n\u0131 tutam tutam koparm\u0131\u015f olmas\u0131na ra\u011fmen onlar\u0131 h\u00e2l\u00e2 \u00e7eki\u015ftirip duruyordu. \u201cN\u00fcvelikler muhafazalar\u0131 a\u015ft\u0131\u011f\u0131nda, s\u0131\u011f\u0131nak kap\u0131s\u0131n\u0131 hen\u00fcz a\u00e7m\u0131\u015ft\u0131k…\u201d Bunu s\u00f6ylerken dizleri \u00e7\u00f6z\u00fcld\u00fc. A\u011f\u0131rl\u0131\u011f\u0131yla Arlen ve Silvy\u2019yi de a\u015fa\u011f\u0131ya \u00e7ekti. Yere kapanarak toz toprak i\u00e7inde a\u011flamaya ba\u015flad\u0131.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Arlen kurtulan di\u011fer insanlara bakt\u0131. Ana Cutter onlar aras\u0131nda de\u011fildi. \u00c7ocuklar yan\u0131ndan ge\u00e7erken bo\u011faz\u0131 d\u00fc\u011f\u00fcmlendi. Her birini tan\u0131yordu; ailelerini, evlerinin i\u00e7ini, hayvanlar\u0131n\u0131n isimlerini… Ge\u00e7erlerken bir saniyeli\u011fine de olsa g\u00f6z g\u00f6ze geldiler ve o anda Arlen sald\u0131r\u0131y\u0131 onlar\u0131n g\u00f6z\u00fcnden ya\u015fad\u0131. Kendisini yerdeki dar ve s\u0131k\u0131\u015f\u0131k bir deli\u011fin i\u00e7ine s\u0131\u011f\u0131\u015fmaya \u00e7al\u0131\u015f\u0131rken g\u00f6rd\u00fc. Deli\u011fe s\u0131\u011famayanlar\u0131n ise, iblislerle ve alevlerle y\u00fczle\u015fti\u011fini. Birden nefessiz kal\u0131p t\u0131kand\u0131 ve Jeph s\u0131rt\u0131na vurup da onu kendine getirene kadar sakinle\u015femedi.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

So\u011fumu\u015f bir \u00f6\u011fle yeme\u011fini bitiriyorlard\u0131 ki Dere\u2019nin uzak taraf\u0131ndan bir boru sesi duyuldu.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBir g\u00fcnde iki sald\u0131r\u0131 m\u0131?\u201d diyerek elini a\u011fz\u0131na g\u00f6t\u00fcrd\u00fc Silvy. Bir an nefessiz kalm\u0131\u015ft\u0131.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPeh,\u201d diye homurdand\u0131 Selia. \u201c\u00d6\u011fle vaktinde mi? Biraz kafan\u0131 \u00e7al\u0131\u015ft\u0131rsana be k\u0131z!\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cE peki ne o zaman?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Selia boru sesine cevap vermek i\u00e7in, boru \u00e7alan bir erkek bulmak \u00fczere aya\u011fa kalkarken Silvy\u2019yi duymazl\u0131ktan geldi. Keven Marsh\u2019\u0131n borusu haz\u0131rd\u0131, zira Islak Batakl\u0131k\u2019ta ya\u015fayan herkesin borusu yan\u0131nda olurdu. Batakl\u0131klarda ayr\u0131 d\u00fc\u015f\u00fcp kaybolmak zor bir \u015fey de\u011fildi ve hi\u00e7 kimse batakl\u0131k iblisleri uyan\u0131rken kaybolmu\u015f bir halde etrafta gezinmek istemezdi. Cevap vermek i\u00e7in borusunu art arda \u00fcflerken, Keven\u2019\u0131n yanaklar\u0131 t\u0131pk\u0131 bir kurba\u011fan\u0131n g\u0131rtla\u011f\u0131 gibi \u015fi\u015fti. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUlak borusu,\u201d diyerek bilgi verdi Coran Marsh, Silvy\u2019ye. Coran bir \u2018bozsakal\u2019d\u0131. Ayn\u0131 zamanda Keven\u2019\u0131n babas\u0131 ve Islak Batakl\u0131k\u2019\u0131n da k\u00f6y s\u00f6zc\u00fcs\u00fcyd\u00fc. Arlen onu tan\u0131m\u0131yordu, o halde ya Batakl\u0131k\u2019tan ya da G\u00fcneyg\u00f6zeti\u2019nden olmal\u0131yd\u0131. Onlarsa daha \u00e7ok kendi i\u015flerine bakarlard\u0131. \u201cMuhtemelen duman\u0131 g\u00f6rd\u00fcler. Keven da borusuyla onlara ne oldu\u011funu ve herkesin nerede oldu\u011funu anlat\u0131yor.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c\u0130lkbaharda bir Ulak m\u0131?\u201d diye sordu Arlen. \u201cBen onlar\u0131n sadece sonbaharda, hasattan sonra geldiklerini san\u0131yordum. Ekimleri daha ge\u00e7en ay bitirdik!\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGe\u00e7en sonbahar Ulak hi\u00e7 gelmedi,\u201d dedi Coran, konu\u015furken a\u011fz\u0131nda \u00e7i\u011fnedi\u011fi k\u00f6kten kahverengi t\u00fck\u00fcr\u00fckler sa\u00e7arak. \u201cBi\u015fi oldu sand\u0131kt\u0131. Bir sonraki g\u00fcze kadar bize tuz getirecek Ulak olmaz diye d\u00fc\u015f\u00fcnd\u00fck. Ya da n\u00fcvelikler H\u00fcr \u015eehirler\u2019i ald\u0131lar da yollar kesildi diye.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cN\u00fcvelikler asla H\u00fcr \u015eehirler\u2019e ula\u015famazlar,\u201d dedi Arlen.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cArlen, \u00e7eneni kapatsana sen!\u201d diye \u00f6fkeyle araya girdi Silvy. \u201cO senin b\u00fcy\u00fc\u011f\u00fcn!\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cB\u0131rak \u00e7ocuk konu\u015fsun,\u201d dedi Coran. \u201cHi\u00e7bi H\u00fcr \u015eehir\u2019e gittin mi ki evlat?\u201d diye sordu Arlen\u2019a.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHay\u0131r,\u201d diye itiraf etti Arlen.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGiden birini tan\u0131d\u0131n m\u0131?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHay\u0131r,\u201d dedi Arlen yine.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cE gitmediysen, tan\u0131mad\u0131ysan nas\u0131l b\u00f6yle uzman gibi konu\u015fuyorsun?\u201d diye sordu Coran. \u201cUlaklardan gayr\u0131 oralara giden yoktur. Bir tek onlar geceleri yolculuk etmeye cesaret edip o kadar uza\u011fa gidebilirler. H\u00fcr \u015eehirler\u2019in de ayn\u0131 Dere gibi olmad\u0131\u011f\u0131n\u0131 s\u00f6ylemek kimin harc\u0131? N\u00fcvelikler buraya sald\u0131rabiliyorsa oraya da sald\u0131rabilir.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYa\u015fl\u0131 Hog H\u00fcr \u015eehirler\u2019den,\u201d dedi Arlen, Rusco Hog\u2019u ima ederek. Dere\u2019deki en zengin adam oydu. Tibbet Deresi\u2019ndeki t\u00fcm ticaretin merkezi olan bir d\u00fckk\u00e2n\u0131 vard\u0131.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c\u00d6yle,\u201d dedi Coran , \u201cve Ya\u015fl\u0131 Hog y\u0131llar \u00f6nce bana tek bir yolculu\u011fun ona yetti\u011fini de s\u00f6yledi. Geldikten birka\u00e7 sene sonra geri d\u00f6nmeye yeltenmi\u015f ama sonradan b\u00f6yle bir riske de\u011fmeyece\u011fini anlam\u0131\u015f. \u00d6yleyse ona sor bakal\u0131m H\u00fcr \u015eehirler ba\u015fka yerlerden daha g\u00fcvenli miymi\u015f, de\u011fil miymi\u015f?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Arlen buna inanmak istemedi. D\u00fcnyada g\u00fcvenli yerler olmal\u0131yd\u0131. Ancak zihninde, biraz \u00f6nce kendisini mahzenin i\u00e7ine at\u0131lm\u0131\u015f olarak g\u00f6rd\u00fc\u011f\u00fc ayn\u0131 hayaller belirdi ve o anda geceleyin hi\u00e7bir yerin tam olarak g\u00fcvenli say\u0131lamayaca\u011f\u0131n\u0131 anlad\u0131.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ulak bir saat sonra yanlar\u0131na ula\u015ft\u0131. K\u0131sa, kahverengi sa\u00e7lar\u0131 ve ayn\u0131 k\u0131sal\u0131kta g\u00fcr sakallar\u0131 vard\u0131. Uzun boyluydu ve otuzlu ya\u015flar\u0131n\u0131n ba\u015f\u0131nda g\u00f6steriyordu. Uzun koyu renk bir pelerini, deriden yap\u0131lm\u0131\u015f kal\u0131n bir pantolonu ve yine deriden yap\u0131lma \u00e7izmeleri vard\u0131. Geni\u015f omuzlar\u0131nda metal halkalardan olu\u015fan bir yelek ta\u015f\u0131yordu. K\u0131sra\u011f\u0131, parlak t\u00fcyleri olan kahverengi bir s\u00fcvari at\u0131yd\u0131. At\u0131n semerine tutturulmu\u015f olan ko\u015fum tak\u0131m\u0131na birka\u00e7 de\u011fi\u015fik m\u0131zrak as\u0131l\u0131yd\u0131. Yakla\u015f\u0131rken omuzlar\u0131 dik ve ma\u011frur g\u00f6r\u00fcn\u00fcyordu, y\u00fcz\u00fc ise sertti. Kalabal\u0131\u011f\u0131 g\u00f6zleriyle \u015f\u00f6yle bir tarad\u0131 ve etrafa emirler ya\u011fd\u0131ran S\u00f6zc\u00fc\u2019y\u00fc g\u00f6rd\u00fc. At\u0131n\u0131n ba\u015f\u0131n\u0131 ona do\u011fru \u00e7evirdi.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Birka\u00e7 ad\u0131m gerisindense, a\u011f\u0131r \u015fekilde y\u00fckl\u00fc bir kat\u0131r arabas\u0131 ve onu kullanan Jongl\u00f6r geliyordu. Giysisi parlak renkli yamalardan olu\u015fmu\u015ftu ve oturdu\u011fu yerin yan\u0131nda da bir lavta vard\u0131. Sa\u00e7lar\u0131 Arlen\u2019\u0131n hayat\u0131nda daha \u00f6nce hi\u00e7 g\u00f6rmedi\u011fi bir renkteydi (soluk bir havucun rengine benziyordu), cildi ise sanki hi\u00e7 g\u00fcne\u015fe \u00e7\u0131kmam\u0131\u015f\u00e7as\u0131na soluktu. Omuzlar\u0131 \u00e7\u00f6k\u00fckt\u00fc ve tamamen bitkin g\u00f6r\u00fcn\u00fcyordu. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Y\u0131lda bir kez gelen Ulak yan\u0131nda hep bir Jongl\u00f6r getirirdi. \u00c7ocuklar ve baz\u0131 b\u00fcy\u00fckler i\u00e7in Jongl\u00f6r, Ulak\u2019tan bile daha \u00f6nemliydi. <\/span><\/span>Bu seferki sonuncusundan daha gen\u00e7mi\u015f<\/em><\/span><\/span>, diye d\u00fc\u015f\u00fcnd\u00fc Arlen. Ayr\u0131ca bu seferkinin surat\u0131, \u00f6nceki Jongl\u00f6rlerin aksine enikonu as\u0131kt\u0131. \u00c7ocuklar onu g\u00f6rd\u00fckleri gibi ko\u015fmaya ba\u015flay\u0131nca gen\u00e7 Jongl\u00f6r kafas\u0131n\u0131 kald\u0131rd\u0131. Asabiyeti, y\u00fcz\u00fcnden o kadar \u00e7abuk eriyip gitti ki Arlen, o asabiyetin daha \u00f6nce orada oldu\u011fundan \u015f\u00fcphelendi. Jongl\u00f6r bir anda at arabas\u0131ndan indi ve renkli toplar\u0131n\u0131 \u00e7ocuklar\u0131n sevin\u00e7 tezah\u00fcratlar\u0131 e\u015fli\u011finde havaya f\u0131rlat\u0131p tutmaya ba\u015flad\u0131.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Aralar\u0131nda Arlen\u2019\u0131n da bulundu\u011fu di\u011ferleri ise i\u015flerini unutup dikkatlerini yeni gelenlere \u00e7evirdi. Selia h\u0131zla onlara d\u00f6nd\u00fc, tahamm\u00fcl nedir bilmezdi. \u201cUlak geldi diye g\u00fcn bitmedi!\u201d diye ba\u011f\u0131rd\u0131. \u201c\u0130\u015finizin ba\u015f\u0131na!\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Baz\u0131 homurdanmalar olduysa da herkes i\u015fine geri d\u00f6nd\u00fc. \u201cSen de\u011fil Arlen,\u201d dedi Selia, \u201csen buraya gel.\u201d Arlen g\u00f6zlerini Jongl\u00f6r\u2019den ay\u0131rd\u0131 ve Ulak yakla\u015f\u0131rken Selia\u2019n\u0131n yan\u0131na gitti.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c\u00c7orak Selia?\u201d diye sordu Ulak.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSadece Selia demen yeterli,\u201d diye \u00e7ok ciddi bir \u015fekilde yan\u0131tlad\u0131 Selia. Ulak\u2019\u0131n g\u00f6zleri b\u00fcy\u00fcy\u00fcp y\u00fcz\u00fc k\u0131zard\u0131, solgun yanaklar\u0131n\u0131n \u00fcst\u00fc koyu bir k\u0131rm\u0131z\u0131ya d\u00f6n\u00fc\u015ft\u00fc. At\u0131ndan atlad\u0131 ve ba\u015f\u0131n\u0131 e\u011ferek selam verdi.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c\u00d6z\u00fcrlerimi kabul edin,\u201d dedi. \u201cD\u00fc\u015f\u00fcnemedim. Daha \u00f6nceki Ulak\u2019\u0131n\u0131z Graig bana isminizin bu oldu\u011funu s\u00f6ylemi\u015fti.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBu kadar sene sonra Graig\u2019in benim hakk\u0131mda ne d\u00fc\u015f\u00fcnd\u00fc\u011f\u00fcn\u00fc bilmek memnun edici,\u201d dedi Selia, ger\u00e7i hi\u00e7 de memnun bir hali yoktu.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cD\u00fc\u015f\u00fcn\u00fcyor<\/span><\/span>du<\/em><\/span><\/span>,\u201d diye d\u00fczeltti Ulak. \u201cGraig \u00f6ld\u00fc efendim.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c\u00d6ld\u00fc m\u00fc?\u201d diye sordu Selia, birden y\u00fcz\u00fcne h\u00fcz\u00fcn \u00e7\u00f6km\u00fc\u015ft\u00fc. \u201cSald\u0131r\u0131 y\u00fcz\u00fcnden mi?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ulak kafas\u0131n\u0131 hay\u0131r anlam\u0131nda sallad\u0131. \u201c\u0130blisler y\u00fcz\u00fcnden de\u011fil, so\u011fuktan \u00f6ld\u00fc. \u0130smim Ragen, bu sene Ulak\u2019\u0131n\u0131z benim, Graig\u2019in dul e\u015fine bir iyilik olarak. Lonca size bir sonraki sonbahar i\u00e7in bir Ulak atayacak.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBir sonraki Ulak i\u00e7in bir bu\u00e7uk y\u0131l daha m\u0131 bekleyece\u011fiz yani?\u201d diye sordu Selia, birilerini ha\u015flayaca\u011fa benziyordu. \u201cGe\u00e7en k\u0131\u015f\u0131 sonbaharda gelen tuz olmadan zar zor ge\u00e7irdik zaten,\u201d dedi. \u201cSizlerin Miln\u2019de b\u00f6yle bir sorununuz olmad\u0131\u011f\u0131n\u0131 biliyorum ama burada salamura edemedi\u011fimiz i\u00e7in etlerimizin ve bal\u0131klar\u0131m\u0131z\u0131n yar\u0131s\u0131 mahvoldu. Ayr\u0131ca g\u00f6nderdi\u011fimiz mektuplardan ne haber?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c\u00dczg\u00fcn\u00fcm efendim,\u201d dedi Ragen. \u201cSizin kasabalar\u0131n\u0131z ana yollara \u00e7ok uzak. Ayr\u0131ca bir Ulak\u2019\u0131n her sene bir ay\u0131 a\u015fk\u0131n bir s\u00fcre seyahat etmesi de olduk\u00e7a masrafl\u0131 bir i\u015f. Ulaklar Loncas\u0131\u2019nda yeterince insan yok, \u00f6zellikle de Graig\u2019in so\u011fu\u011fa yakalan\u0131p \u00f6lmesinden sonra…\u201d Sessiz bir bi\u00e7imde g\u00fcl\u00fcmseyip kafas\u0131n\u0131 sallad\u0131, ama buna cevap olarak Selia\u2019n\u0131n kararm\u0131\u015f \u00e7ehresiyle kar\u015f\u0131la\u015ft\u0131.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cL\u00fctfen \u00fczerinize al\u0131nmay\u0131n efendim,\u201d dedi Ragen. \u201cO benim de arkada\u015f\u0131md\u0131. Sadece… Biz Ulaklar olarak ba\u015f\u0131m\u0131z\u0131 sokabilece\u011fimiz bir \u00e7at\u0131, ba\u015f\u0131m\u0131z\u0131n alt\u0131na yerle\u015ftirece\u011fimiz bir yast\u0131k veya kolumuza takabilece\u011fimiz bir e\u015f bulma \u015fans\u0131na sahip olam\u0131yoruz. \u2018Gece\u2019 bizi bunlardan \u00f6nce avlay\u0131veriyor, anl\u0131yorsunuz de\u011fil mi?\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnl\u0131yorum,\u201d dedi Selia. \u201cE\u015fin var m\u0131 Ragen?\u201d diye sordu.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEvet,\u201d dedi Ulak, \u201cger\u00e7i k\u0131sra\u011f\u0131m\u0131 kar\u0131mdan daha s\u0131k g\u00f6r\u00fcyorum. Bana dert olsa da kar\u0131m halinden gayet memnun.\u201d Ragen g\u00fcld\u00fc. Evde kendisini \u00f6zlemeyen bir e\u015fe sahip olman\u0131n neresinin komik oldu\u011funu anlayamayan Arlen\u2019\u0131n ise kafas\u0131 kar\u0131\u015fm\u0131\u015ft\u0131.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Selia buna dikkat ediyor g\u00f6r\u00fcnmedi. \u201cYa onu hi\u00e7 g\u00f6remeseydin?\u201d diye sordu. \u201cYa seni ona ba\u011flayan tek \u015fey y\u0131lda bir kez g\u00f6nderebildi\u011fin mektuplar olsayd\u0131 ve yar\u0131m sene daha mektup g\u00f6nderemeyecek oldu\u011funu s\u00f6yleselerdi, sen nas\u0131l hissederdin? Bu kasabada H\u00fcr \u015eehirler\u2019de akrabas\u0131 olan insanlar var. Tek sahip olduklar\u0131 bir Ulak veya bir ba\u015fkas\u0131, hatta baz\u0131lar\u0131 iki nesildir b\u00f6yle. Bu insanlar evlerine geri d\u00f6nemeyecekler Ragen. Onlar\u0131n bize dair, bizlerin de onlara dair sahip oldu\u011fumuz tek \u015fey mektuplar.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSize tamamen kat\u0131l\u0131yorum efendim,\u201d dedi Ragen, \u201cancak bu karar\u0131 almak benim yetkimde de\u011fil. D\u00fck\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAma geri d\u00f6nd\u00fc\u011f\u00fcnde D\u00fck ile konu\u015facaks\u0131n de\u011fil mi?\u201d diye sordu Selia.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cKonu\u015faca\u011f\u0131m,\u201d dedi Ulak.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMesaj\u0131 senin i\u00e7in bir k\u00e2\u011f\u0131da yazay\u0131m m\u0131?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ragen g\u00fcl\u00fcmsedi. \u201cSan\u0131r\u0131m hat\u0131rlayabilirim efendim.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEvet, kesinlikle hat\u0131rla.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ragen yine yerlere kadar e\u011filerek selam verdi. \u201cB\u00f6ylesi kara bir g\u00fcnde geldi\u011fim i\u00e7in \u00f6zr\u00fcm\u00fc kabul edin,\u201d dedi, g\u00f6zlerini cenazelerin yak\u0131ld\u0131\u011f\u0131 odun y\u0131\u011f\u0131n\u0131na \u00e7evirerek.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYa\u011fmurun ne zaman ya\u011faca\u011f\u0131na, r\u00fczg\u00e2r\u0131n ne zaman esece\u011fine, so\u011fu\u011fun ne zaman gelece\u011fine biz karar vermiyoruz,\u201d dedi Selia. \u201cAyn\u0131 \u015fey n\u00fcvelikler i\u00e7in de ge\u00e7erli. Hayat bunlara ra\u011fmen devam etmeli.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHayat devam ediyor,\u201d diye onaylad\u0131 Ragen, \u201cama e\u011fer benim veya Jongl\u00f6r\u2019\u00fcm\u00fcn yard\u0131m etmek i\u00e7in yapabilece\u011fi en ufak bir \u015fey bile varsa l\u00fctfen s\u00f6yleyin. S\u0131rt\u0131m g\u00fc\u00e7l\u00fcd\u00fcr ve n\u00fcveliklerin a\u00e7t\u0131\u011f\u0131 yaralar\u0131 tedavi etmi\u015fli\u011fim de \u00e7oktur.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJongl\u00f6r\u2019\u00fcn zaten yard\u0131m ediyor,\u201d dedi Selia, \u015fark\u0131lar s\u00f6yleyip hokkabazl\u0131k yapan gen\u00e7 adama do\u011fru kafas\u0131n\u0131 sallayarak, \u201canne babalar\u0131 i\u015flerini yaparken k\u00fc\u00e7\u00fckleri oyalamas\u0131 \u00e7ok iyi. Sana gelince, e\u011fer bu kay\u0131plardan sonra toparlanacaksak \u00f6n\u00fcm\u00fczdeki birka\u00e7 g\u00fcn yapacak \u00e7ok i\u015fim var. Mektuplar\u0131 da\u011f\u0131tacak ve harflerle aras\u0131 olmayanlara mektuplar\u0131 okuyacak zaman\u0131m yok.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkuma bilmeyenlere mektuplar\u0131n\u0131 okuyabilirim,\u201d dedi Ragen, \u201cama da\u011f\u0131tma i\u015fi i\u00e7in kasaban\u0131z\u0131 yeterince iyi tan\u0131m\u0131yorum.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGerek yok,\u201d dedi Selia, Arlen\u2019\u0131 \u00f6ne \u00e7ekerek. \u201cBu Arlen. Seni Kasaba Meydan\u0131\u2019ndaki Genel \u0130htiya\u00e7 D\u00fckk\u00e2n\u0131\u2019na ve oran\u0131n sahibi Rusco Hog\u2019a g\u00f6t\u00fcrecek. Tuzu ona teslim ederken mektuplar\u0131 ve paketleri de verirsin. Tuz geldi\u011fi i\u00e7in herkes ko\u015fa ko\u015fa oraya gider ve Rusco da, kasabada harfler ve say\u0131larla aras\u0131 iyi olan \u00e7ok az ki\u015fiden biridir. Ya\u015fl\u0131 sahtek\u00e2r a\u011flay\u0131p s\u0131zlanacak ve ona \u00f6deme yapman\u0131 isteyecek. Ona, zor zamanlarda t\u00fcm kasaba sakinlerinin birbirine yard\u0131mc\u0131 olmas\u0131 gerekti\u011fini s\u00f6yle. Mektuplar\u0131 gelenlere da\u011f\u0131tmas\u0131n\u0131 ve okuyamayanlara okumas\u0131n\u0131, yoksa bir dahaki sefer kasaba onun boynuna ipi ge\u00e7irmeye \u00e7al\u0131\u015ft\u0131\u011f\u0131 zaman ona yard\u0131m etmek i\u00e7in parma\u011f\u0131m\u0131 bile k\u0131p\u0131rdatmayaca\u011f\u0131m\u0131 s\u00f6yle.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ragen, Selia\u2019ya \u015faka yap\u0131p yapmad\u0131\u011f\u0131n\u0131 anlamaya \u00e7al\u0131\u015farak dikkatlice bakt\u0131, ama Selia\u2019n\u0131n ta\u015f gibi sert y\u00fcz\u00fc pek bir \u015fey belli etmiyordu. Ulak yine e\u011filerek selam verdi.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c\u00d6yleyse acele edin,\u201d dedi Selia. \u201cH\u0131zla gider gelirseniz, ak\u015famleyin herkes buradan ayr\u0131lmaya haz\u0131rlan\u0131rken geri d\u00f6nm\u00fc\u015f olursunuz. E\u011fer sen ve Jongl\u00f6r\u2019\u00fcn Rusco\u2019ya oda i\u00e7in para \u00f6demek istemezseniz buradaki herkes sizi kendi evinde a\u011f\u0131rlamaktan mutluluk duyar.\u201d Bunlar\u0131 dedikten sonra ikisini de k\u0131\u015fk\u0131\u015flad\u0131 ve yeni gelenlere bakmak i\u00e7in i\u015fine ara vermi\u015f olanlar\u0131 ha\u015flamak \u00fczere arkas\u0131n\u0131 d\u00f6nd\u00fc. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHer zaman bu kadar\u2026 \u015fiddetli midir?\u201d diye sordu Ragen, Arlen\u2019a, \u00e7ocuklar\u0131n en k\u00fc\u00e7\u00fcklerinin kar\u015f\u0131s\u0131nda pantomim yapan Jongl\u00f6r\u2019\u00fcn oldu\u011fu tarafa do\u011fru y\u00fcr\u00fcrlerken. Geri kalan \u00e7ocuklar i\u015fe geri \u00e7a\u011fr\u0131lm\u0131\u015ft\u0131.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Arlen homurdand\u0131. \u201cBir de onu bozsakallarla konu\u015furken g\u00f6rmelisin. Ona \u2018\u00c7orak\u2019 dedikten sonra pa\u00e7ay\u0131 kurtard\u0131\u011f\u0131n i\u00e7in \u015fansl\u0131s\u0131n.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGraig herkesin ona \u00f6yle hitap etti\u011fini s\u00f6ylemi\u015fti bana,\u201d dedi Ragen.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOras\u0131 \u00f6yle,\u201d diye onaylad\u0131 Arlen, \u201cama surat\u0131na kar\u015f\u0131 de\u011fil, tabii bir n\u00fcveli\u011fi boynuzlar\u0131ndan yakalam\u0131\u015f gibi m\u00fccadele etmek istiyorlarsa o ba\u015fka. Selia konu\u015ftu\u011funda yer yerinden oynar.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ragen k\u0131k\u0131r k\u0131k\u0131r g\u00fcld\u00fc. \u201c\u00dcstelik yaln\u0131zca \u2018ya\u015fl\u0131 bir k\u0131z\u2019<\/span><\/span>*<\/span><\/sup><\/span>,\u201d diyerek d\u00fc\u015f\u00fcncelere dald\u0131. \u201cBenim geldi\u011fim yerde sadece \u2018Analar\u0131n\u2019<\/span><\/span>**<\/span><\/sup><\/span> emirleri kar\u015f\u0131s\u0131nda yer yerinden oynar.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cArada ne fark var ki?\u201d diye sordu Arlen.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ragen omuz silkti. \u201cBilemiyorum,\u201d dedi. \u201cMiln\u2019de \u00f6yledir i\u015fte. D\u00fcnyay\u0131 insanlar d\u00f6nd\u00fcr\u00fcyor, insanlar\u0131 da Analar do\u011fruyor, b\u00f6yle olunca dans\u0131 da onlar y\u00f6netiyor.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBurada \u00f6yle de\u011fil,\u201d dedi Arlen.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cK\u00fc\u00e7\u00fck kasabalarda hi\u00e7 \u00f6yle olmaz ki,\u201d dedi Ragen. \u201c\u00c7ok fazla insan yoktur. Ama H\u00fcr \u015eehirler farkl\u0131d\u0131r. Miln d\u0131\u015f\u0131nda, di\u011fer \u015fehirlerde kad\u0131nlara neredeyse hi\u00e7 s\u00f6z hakk\u0131 verilmez.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBu da kula\u011fa \u00e7ok aptalca geliyor,\u201d diye m\u0131r\u0131ldand\u0131 Arlen.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c\u00d6yle,\u201d diye kat\u0131ld\u0131 Ragen.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ulak durdu ve s\u00fcvari at\u0131n\u0131n dizginlerini Arlen\u2019a devretti. \u201cBurada bir dakika bekle,\u201d dedi Jongl\u00f6r\u2019\u00fcn oldu\u011fu tarafa y\u00f6nelirken. \u0130ki adam bir kenara \u00e7ekilip konu\u015fmaya ba\u015flad\u0131lar ve Arlen, Jongl\u00f6r\u2019\u00fcn y\u00fcz\u00fcn\u00fcn yine de\u011fi\u015fti\u011fini g\u00f6rd\u00fc. \u0130lk \u00f6nce k\u0131zg\u0131n, sonra huysuz ve son olarak da kaderine boyun e\u011fmi\u015f. Bu tart\u0131\u015fma s\u0131ras\u0131nda Ragen\u2019\u0131n ise y\u00fcz\u00fc gayet kat\u0131yd\u0131. Ulak, sert bak\u0131\u015flar\u0131n\u0131 Jongl\u00f6r\u2019den ay\u0131rmadan Arlen\u2019a eliyle at\u0131 getirmesi i\u00e7in i\u015faret etti.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c… ne kadar yorgun oldu\u011fun umrumda de\u011fil,\u201d diyordu Ragen sert bir f\u0131s\u0131lt\u0131yla, \u201cbu insanlar\u0131n yapmalar\u0131 gereken korkun\u00e7 bir i\u015f var ve onlar bunu yaparken \u00e7ocuklar\u0131n\u0131 oyalamak i\u00e7in t\u00fcm \u00f6\u011fleden sonra dans edip hokkabazl\u0131k yapman gerekiyorsa bunu yapacaks\u0131n! \u015eimdi tekrar o ne\u015feli surat\u0131n\u0131 tak\u0131n ve i\u015fine geri d\u00f6n!\u201d Dizginleri Arlen\u2019dan kapt\u0131\u011f\u0131 gibi \u015fiddetle adama uzatt\u0131.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Arlen, fark edilmeden gen\u00e7 Jongl\u00f6r\u2019\u00fcn korku ve i\u00e7erlemeyle kar\u0131\u015f\u0131k duygular i\u00e7erisindeki y\u00fcz\u00fcne iyice bir bakt\u0131. \u0130zlendi\u011fini anlad\u0131\u011f\u0131 saniyedeyse adam y\u00fcz\u00fcn\u00fc k\u0131r\u0131\u015ft\u0131rd\u0131 ve sonra birden \u00e7ocuklar i\u00e7in dans edip ne\u015fe sa\u00e7an o e\u011flenceli adama d\u00f6n\u00fc\u015f\u00fcverdi.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ragen, Arlen\u2019\u0131 at arabas\u0131na g\u00f6t\u00fcrd\u00fc ve ikisi t\u0131rman\u0131p arabaya atlad\u0131lar. Ulak, dizginleri \u015faklatt\u0131 ve at arabas\u0131n\u0131n \u00f6n\u00fcn\u00fc, ana yola \u00e7\u0131kan toprak yola \u00e7evirdi.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTart\u0131\u015ft\u0131\u011f\u0131n\u0131z \u015fey neydi?\u201d diye sordu Arlen, at arabas\u0131 hoplaya z\u0131playa yol al\u0131rken. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ulak bir an i\u00e7in ona bak\u0131p omuzlar\u0131n\u0131 silkti. \u201cBu Keerin\u2019\u0131n \u015fehirden bu kadar uzaktaki ilk i\u015fi,\u201d dedi. \u201cGrup halinde yolculuk ederken ve \u00fcst\u00fc kapal\u0131 bir at arabas\u0131nda uyurken yeterince cesaretliydi, ama kervan\u0131n geri kalan\u0131n\u0131 Angiers\u2019ta b\u0131rakt\u0131\u011f\u0131m\u0131zdan beri o cesaretten pek eser kalmad\u0131. N\u00fcvelikler y\u00fcz\u00fcnden a\u015f\u0131r\u0131 tedirginli\u011fe ve korkuya kap\u0131ld\u0131. Bu da onu k\u00f6t\u00fc bir yol arkada\u015f\u0131 haline getirdi.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPek belli olmuyor,\u201d dedi Arlen, at arabas\u0131n\u0131 s\u00fcren Ulak\u2019a tekrar bakarak.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJongl\u00f6rlerin pantomim numaralar\u0131 vard\u0131r,\u201d dedi Ragen. \u201cKendilerini olmad\u0131klar\u0131 bir \u015feye d\u00f6n\u00fc\u015ft\u00fcrmek i\u00e7in o kadar iyi rol yaparlar ki bazen belli bir s\u00fcre boyunca buna kendileri bile inanabilirler. Keerin sadece cesur rol\u00fc yapt\u0131. Lonca onu yolculuklar i\u00e7in s\u0131navdan ge\u00e7irdi tabii, ama insanlar\u0131n iki hafta boyunca a\u00e7\u0131k yolda seyahat ettikten sonra bu duruma dayan\u0131p dayanamayacaklar\u0131n\u0131 \u00f6nceden anlaman imk\u00e2ns\u0131zd\u0131r.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Nas\u0131l<\/em><\/span><\/span> oluyor da geceleri yollarda kalabiliyorsunuz?\u201d diye sordu Arlen. \u201cBabam topra\u011fa muhafaza sembolleri \u00e7izmenin bela aramak oldu\u011funu s\u00f6yler.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBaban hakl\u0131,\u201d dedi Ragen. \u201cAya\u011f\u0131n\u0131n dibindeki b\u00f6lmeye bir bak.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Arlen b\u00f6lmeye bakt\u0131 ve yumu\u015fak deriden yap\u0131lma b\u00fcy\u00fck bir \u00e7anta \u00e7\u0131kard\u0131. \u00c7antan\u0131n i\u00e7inde d\u00fc\u011f\u00fcml\u00fc bir ip vard\u0131 ve \u00fczerine elinden bile daha b\u00fcy\u00fck olan cilal\u0131 tahta levhalar dizilmi\u015fti. Bu tahta levhalar\u0131n \u00fczerine oyulmu\u015f ve boyanm\u0131\u015f muhafaza sembollerini g\u00f6rd\u00fc\u011f\u00fc zaman g\u00f6zleri fal ta\u015f\u0131 gibi a\u00e7\u0131ld\u0131.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ama bunun ne oldu\u011funu hemen anlad\u0131: at arabas\u0131n\u0131, hatta daha fazlas\u0131n\u0131 \u00e7ember i\u00e7ine alabilecek ta\u015f\u0131nabilir bir muhafaza \u00e7emberi. \u201cHi\u00e7 b\u00f6yle bir \u015fey g\u00f6rmemi\u015ftim,\u201d dedi.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYap\u0131lmalar\u0131 kolay de\u011fildir,\u201d dedi Ulak, \u201c\u00e7o\u011fu Ulak, \u00e7\u0131rakl\u0131\u011f\u0131n\u0131 bu zanaatta ustala\u015fmakla ge\u00e7irir. Bu muhafazalar\u0131 ne r\u00fczg\u00e2r ne de ya\u011fmur bozabilir. Ama \u00f6yle bile olsa, muhafaza sembolleriyle korunan duvarlara ve kap\u0131lara sahip olmakla ayn\u0131 \u015fey de\u011fil.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBir n\u00fcvelikle y\u00fcz y\u00fcze geldi\u011fin oldu mu hi\u00e7 evlat?\u201d diye sordu, d\u00f6n\u00fcp Arlen\u2019a sert bir bak\u0131\u015f atarak. \u201cKa\u00e7acak hi\u00e7bir yerin yokken ve seni koruyan tek \u015fey, g\u00f6remedi\u011fin bir b\u00fcy\u00fcden ibaretken, bir n\u00fcveli\u011fin sana sald\u0131rmas\u0131n\u0131 seyrettin mi?\u201d Arlen hay\u0131r anlam\u0131nda kafas\u0131n\u0131 sallad\u0131. \u201cBelki de Keerin\u2019a fazla y\u00fckleniyorum. Bu s\u0131nav\u0131 iyi idare etti say\u0131l\u0131r. Biraz \u00e7\u0131\u011fl\u0131k att\u0131\u011f\u0131 oldu ama bu beklenen bir \u015feydi. Geceler boyu ayn\u0131 \u015feyi yapmaksa ba\u015fka bir mesele. Bu baz\u0131 insanlar\u0131 \u00e7ok k\u00f6t\u00fc etkiler, ba\u015f\u0131bo\u015f bir yapra\u011f\u0131n muhafaza i\u015faretinin \u00fczerine d\u00fc\u015febilece\u011finden endi\u015fe edip dururlar ve bazen\u2026\u201d Birden t\u0131slay\u0131p Arlen\u2019a pen\u00e7e haline getirdi\u011fi elini savurdu; \u00e7ocuk korkusundan hoplay\u0131nca da kahkahalara bo\u011fuldu.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Arlen ba\u015fparma\u011f\u0131n\u0131 cilal\u0131 ve p\u00fcr\u00fczs\u00fcz olan muhafaza sembollerinin \u00fczerinde dola\u015ft\u0131rarak g\u00fc\u00e7lerini hissetti. Bu k\u00fc\u00e7\u00fck levhalar, herhangi bir muhafaza d\u00fczene\u011finde olaca\u011f\u0131 gibi her otuz santimde bir ipe dizilmi\u015fti. Arlen k\u0131rk taneden fazla saym\u0131\u015ft\u0131. \u201cPeki r\u00fczg\u00e2r iblisleri bu kadar b\u00fcy\u00fck bir \u00e7emberin i\u00e7ine yukar\u0131dan giremezler mi?\u201d diye sordu. \u201cBabam onlar tarlalara inmesinler diye topra\u011fa direkler diker.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Adam g\u00f6zlerini \u00e7ocu\u011fun \u00fczerinde gezdirdi, biraz \u015fa\u015f\u0131rm\u0131\u015f g\u00f6r\u00fcnd\u00fc. \u201cBaban muhtemelen zaman\u0131n\u0131 bo\u015fa harc\u0131yor,\u201d dedi. \u201cR\u00fczg\u00e2r iblisleri u\u00e7ma konusunda g\u00fc\u00e7l\u00fcd\u00fcr ama havalanmak i\u00e7in ya uzun bir ko\u015fma alan\u0131na ya da t\u0131rman\u0131p atlayabilecekleri y\u00fcksek bir \u015feye ihtiya\u00e7 duyarlar. Bir m\u0131s\u0131r tarlas\u0131nda ikisine de pek rastlamazs\u0131n o y\u00fczden inmekten ka\u00e7\u0131n\u0131rlar, tabii dayanamayacaklar\u0131 bir \u015fey g\u00f6rmedilerse; mesela, tarlan\u0131n ortas\u0131nda uyumaya c\u00fcret eden k\u00fc\u00e7\u00fck bir o\u011flan…\u201d Arlen\u2019a aynen Jeph\u2019in onu n\u00fcveliklerin hafife al\u0131nmamas\u0131 gereken \u015feyler oldu\u011fu konusunda uyard\u0131\u011f\u0131 zamanki gibi bakt\u0131. Sanki o bilmiyormu\u015f gibi.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAyr\u0131ca r\u00fczg\u00e2r iblisleri d\u00f6nerken geni\u015f kavisler \u00e7izerler,\u201d diye devam etti Ragen, \u201cve \u00e7o\u011funun kanat geni\u015fli\u011fi bu \u00e7emberden b\u00fcy\u00fckt\u00fcr. Birinin i\u00e7ine girmesi olas\u0131d\u0131r ama daha \u00f6nce b\u00f6yle bir \u015fey g\u00f6rmedim. Yine de girerse\u2026\u201d Eliyle yan\u0131ndaki uzun ve kal\u0131n m\u0131zra\u011f\u0131 i\u015faret etti.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBir n\u00fcvelik m\u0131zrakla \u00f6ld\u00fcr\u00fclebilir mi?\u201d diye sordu Arlen.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMuhtemelen hay\u0131r,\u201d diye cevaplad\u0131 Ragen, \u201cama onlar\u0131 muhafazalar\u0131n\u0131n \u00fczerine \u00e7ivileyebilirsen sersemletebilirsin diye duymu\u015ftum.\u201d G\u00fcld\u00fc. \u201cUmar\u0131m asla \u00f6\u011frenmek zorunda kalmam.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Arlen, ona g\u00f6zlerini sonuna kadar a\u00e7arak bakt\u0131.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ragen da ona bakt\u0131, birden ciddiyete b\u00fcr\u00fcnm\u00fc\u015ft\u00fc. \u201cUlakl\u0131k tehlikeli i\u015ftir evlat,\u201d dedi.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Arlen uzun s\u00fcre g\u00f6zlerini ona dikti. \u201cH\u00fcr \u015eehirler\u2019i g\u00f6rmek buna de\u011fer herhalde,\u201d dedi sonunda. \u201cAnlatsana, Miln Kalesi nas\u0131l bir yer?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cD\u00fcnya\u2019n\u0131n en zengin ve en g\u00fczel \u015fehridir,\u201d diye cevaplad\u0131 Ragen, kolundaki zincirli z\u0131rh\u0131 s\u0131y\u0131rarak \u00f6nkolundaki d\u00f6vmeyi a\u00e7\u0131\u011fa \u00e7\u0131kard\u0131. D\u00f6vme, iki da\u011f\u0131n aras\u0131na s\u0131\u011f\u0131nm\u0131\u015f bir \u015fehrin resmiydi. \u201cD\u00fck\u2019\u00fcn Madenleri tuz, k\u00f6m\u00fcr ve metaller a\u00e7\u0131s\u0131ndan zengindir. Surlar\u0131 ve \u00e7at\u0131lar\u0131 \u00f6yle iyi muhafaza edilir ki; evlerdeki muhafazalara \u00e7ok nadir ihtiya\u00e7 duyulur. G\u00fcne\u015f, surlar\u0131 \u00fczerinde parlad\u0131\u011f\u0131nda da\u011flar\u0131n ihti\u015fam\u0131 bile onun g\u00f6lgesinde kal\u0131r.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHi\u00e7 da\u011f g\u00f6rmedim,\u201d dedi Arlen, parma\u011f\u0131n\u0131 d\u00f6vmenin \u00fczerinde gezdirirken hayret i\u00e7erisindeydi. \u201cBabam da\u011flar\u0131n b\u00fcy\u00fck tepeler oldu\u011funu s\u00f6yler.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c\u015euradaki tepeyi g\u00f6r\u00fcyor musun?\u201d diye sordu Ragen, yolun kuzeyine i\u015faret ederek.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Arlen evet anlam\u0131nda ba\u015f\u0131n\u0131 sallad\u0131. \u201cBoggin Tepesi. Oradan t\u00fcm Dere\u2019yi g\u00f6rebilirsin.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ragen da ba\u015f\u0131n\u0131 sallad\u0131. \u201cY\u00fcz say\u0131s\u0131n\u0131n anlam\u0131n\u0131 biliyor musun Arlen?\u201d diye sordu.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Arlen onaylad\u0131. \u201cOn \u00e7ift elin parmaklar\u0131.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cK\u00fc\u00e7\u00fck bir da\u011f bile sizin o Boggin Tepesi\u2019nin y\u00fcz tane \u00fcst \u00fcste konmu\u015f halinden b\u00fcy\u00fckt\u00fcr. Miln\u2019in da\u011flar\u0131 da pek \u00f6yle k\u00fc\u00e7\u00fck de\u011fildir hani.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Arlen\u2019\u0131n g\u00f6zleri, b\u00f6ylesine bir y\u00fcksekli\u011fi kafas\u0131nda canland\u0131rmaya \u00e7al\u0131\u015f\u0131rken fal ta\u015f\u0131 gibi a\u00e7\u0131ld\u0131. \u201cG\u00f6ky\u00fcz\u00fcne dokunuyor olmal\u0131lar,\u201d dedi.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBaz\u0131lar\u0131 g\u00f6ky\u00fcz\u00fcn\u00fc bile ge\u00e7er\u201d diye \u00f6v\u00fcnd\u00fc Ragen. \u201cOnlar\u0131n \u00fcst\u00fcne \u00e7\u0131karsan, bulutlara yukar\u0131dan bakabilirsin.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBir g\u00fcn g\u00f6rmek isterim,\u201d dedi Arlen.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeterince b\u00fcy\u00fcd\u00fc\u011f\u00fcnde Ulaklar Loncas\u0131\u2019na kat\u0131labilirsin,\u201d dedi Ragen.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Arlen ba\u015f\u0131n\u0131 olumsuz anlamda sallad\u0131. \u201cBabam buray\u0131 terk edenlerin firari olduklar\u0131n\u0131 s\u00f6yler,\u201d dedi. \u201cS\u00f6ylerken de t\u00fck\u00fcr\u00fcr.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBaban neden bahsetti\u011fini bilmiyor,\u201d dedi Ragen. \u201cT\u00fck\u00fcrmesi de dedi\u011fini ger\u00e7ek k\u0131lmaz. Ulaklar olmasa, H\u00fcr \u015eehirler bile \u00e7\u00f6ker.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cH\u00fcr \u015eehirler\u2019in g\u00fcvenli oldu\u011funu zannediyordum,\u201d dedi Arlen.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHi\u00e7bir yer ger\u00e7ekten g\u00fcvenli de\u011fildir Arlen. Miln\u2019deki \u00f6l\u00fcmler Tibbet Deresi\u2019ndeki kadar etki yaratmaz belki ama n\u00fcvelikler her sene belli say\u0131da kay\u0131p verdirir.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMiln\u2019de ka\u00e7 insan var?\u201d diye sordu Arlen. \u201cBizim Tibbet Deresi\u2019nde \u00fc\u00e7 y\u00fcz ki\u015fi ya\u015far, yolun yukar\u0131s\u0131ndaki G\u00fcne\u015fli \u00c7ay\u0131r\u2019\u0131n da en az o kadar b\u00fcy\u00fck oldu\u011funu s\u00f6ylerler.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBiz Miln\u2019de otuz bin ki\u015fiden biraz fazlay\u0131z,\u201d dedi Ragen gururla.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Kafas\u0131 kar\u0131\u015fm\u0131\u015f olan Arlen ona bakt\u0131.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBin, on tane y\u00fczd\u00fcr,\u201d diye bilgi verdi Ulak.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Arlen biraz d\u00fc\u015f\u00fcnd\u00fc, sonra kafas\u0131n\u0131 sallad\u0131. \u201cD\u00fcnya\u2019da <\/span><\/span>o kadar<\/em><\/span><\/span> insan yok ki,\u201d dedi.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDaha da fazlas\u0131 var,\u201d dedi Ragen. \u201cKaranl\u0131\u011fa meydan okumaya cesareti olanlar i\u00e7in d\u0131\u015far\u0131da kocaman bir d\u00fcnya var.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Arlen cevap vermedi ve sessizlik i\u00e7inde yola devam ettiler.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Kasaba Meydan\u0131\u2019na, sallana sallana giden at arabas\u0131yla ula\u015fmalar\u0131 bir bu\u00e7uk saat kadar s\u00fcrd\u00fc. Dere\u2019nin merkezi olan Kasaba Meydan\u0131\u2019nda, i\u015fi pirin\u00e7 veya bu\u011fday tarlas\u0131nda olmayan, ge\u00e7imini bal\u0131k\u00e7\u0131l\u0131kla ya da a\u011fa\u00e7 kesmekle sa\u011flamayanlar i\u00e7in iki d\u00fczineden fazla muhafazal\u0131 ev vard\u0131. E\u011fer birinin f\u0131r\u0131nc\u0131ya, terziye, nalbanda, f\u0131\u00e7\u0131c\u0131ya ve benzerine ihtiyac\u0131 varsa; buraya gelirdi.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Kasaban\u0131n merkezinde, insanlar\u0131n bir araya geldikleri bir meydan ve Dere\u2019deki en b\u00fcy\u00fck yap\u0131 olan Genel \u0130htiya\u00e7 D\u00fckk\u00e2n\u0131 bulunurdu. Bu yap\u0131n\u0131n \u00f6n taraf\u0131ndaki b\u00fcy\u00fck ve a\u00e7\u0131k odada masalar ve bir i\u00e7ki tezg\u00e2h\u0131; arka tarafta daha da b\u00fcy\u00fck bir depo ve a\u015fa\u011f\u0131da bir mahzen vard\u0131; Dere\u2019de parasal de\u011feri olan \u015feylerin \u00e7o\u011funun tutuldu\u011fu yer bu mahzendi.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Mutfa\u011f\u0131, Hog\u2019un k\u0131zlar\u0131 Dasy ve Catrin y\u00f6netirdi. \u0130ki kredi kar\u015f\u0131l\u0131\u011f\u0131nda midenizi dolduracak kadar yemek alabilirdiniz. Ancak Silvy, Hog\u2019a \u00fc\u00e7k\u00e2\u011f\u0131t\u00e7\u0131 derdi \u00e7\u00fcnk\u00fc iki kredi, bir haftal\u0131k bu\u011fday sat\u0131n almaya yetecek bir parayd\u0131. Yine de bir s\u00fcr\u00fc bek\u00e2r erkek bu paray\u0131 \u00f6derdi. Bu sadece yemek i\u00e7in de de\u011fildi ayr\u0131ca. Dasy sade g\u00f6r\u00fcn\u00fcml\u00fcyd\u00fc, Catrin ise \u015fi\u015fman, ama Cholie Day\u0131, onlarla evlenenlerin hayat boyu maddi y\u00f6nden s\u0131k\u0131nt\u0131 \u00e7ekmeyece\u011finden bahsederdi.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

M\u0131s\u0131rd\u0131, etti, \u00e7anak \u00e7\u00f6mlekti, k\u00fcrkt\u00fc, kuma\u015ft\u0131, aletti, e\u015fyayd\u0131, herkes her \u015feyini Hog\u2019a getirirdi. Hog bunlar\u0131 al\u0131r, sayar ve onlara d\u00fckk\u00e2ndan bir \u015feyler sat\u0131n almalar\u0131 i\u00e7in \u2018krediler\u2019 verirdi.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ama nedense, d\u00fckk\u00e2ndaki mallar, Hog\u2019un bu mallara \u00f6demi\u015f oldu\u011fu mebla\u011fdan genelde daha pahal\u0131 oluyordu. Arlen\u2019\u0131n rakamlarla aras\u0131 iyi oldu\u011fu i\u00e7in bunu rahatl\u0131kla g\u00f6rebiliyordu. \u0130nsanlar buraya bir \u015feyler satmak i\u00e7in geldiklerinde me\u015fhur tart\u0131\u015fmalar ya\u015fan\u0131rd\u0131, ancak fiyatlar\u0131 Hog belirler ve \u00e7o\u011fu zaman, bu, onun yan\u0131na kal\u0131rd\u0131. Neredeyse herkes Hog\u2019dan nefret etmesine ra\u011fmen ona bir o kadar ihtiya\u00e7lar\u0131 vard\u0131. Bu y\u00fczden Hog yanlar\u0131ndan ge\u00e7erken yere t\u00fck\u00fcrmek yerine, gidip adam\u0131n paltosunu f\u0131r\u00e7alamaya veya ge\u00e7ece\u011fi kap\u0131lar\u0131 onun i\u00e7in \u00f6nceden a\u00e7maya daha meyilliydiler.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Dere\u2019de di\u011fer herkesin g\u00fcne\u015f batana kadar \u00e7al\u0131\u015fmas\u0131na ve ihtiya\u00e7lar\u0131n\u0131 zar zor kar\u015f\u0131lamas\u0131na ra\u011fmen, Hog ve k\u0131zlar\u0131n\u0131n her zaman etli yanaklar\u0131, dolgun g\u00f6bekleri, yeni ve temiz giysileri olurdu. Arlen ise; annesi y\u0131kamak i\u00e7in tulumunu ne zaman alsa, kendisini bir hal\u0131ya sarmak zorunda kal\u0131rd\u0131.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ragen ve Arlen, kat\u0131rlar\u0131 d\u00fckk\u00e2n\u0131n \u00f6n\u00fcne ba\u011flay\u0131p i\u00e7eri girdiler. \u0130\u00e7ki tezg\u00e2h\u0131na bakan kimse yoktu. Genelde meyhanenin i\u00e7indeki havaya yo\u011fun bir domuz ya\u011f\u0131 kokusu h\u00e2kim olurdu ancak o an mutfaktan yemek kokusu gelmiyordu.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Arlen, Ulak\u2019\u0131n \u00f6n\u00fcnden i\u00e7ki tezg\u00e2h\u0131na ko\u015fturdu. Tezg\u00e2h\u0131n \u00fcst\u00fcnde Rusco\u2019nun H\u00fcr \u015eehirler\u2019den gelirken getirdi\u011fi bronz bir zil vard\u0131 ve Arlen ona bay\u0131l\u0131rd\u0131. Zile vurdu ve \u00e7\u0131kard\u0131\u011f\u0131 temiz sesi duydu\u011funda s\u0131r\u0131tmadan edemedi.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Arka taraftan a\u011f\u0131r bir \u015feyin yere d\u00fc\u015fme sesi duyuldu ve Rusco tezg\u00e2h\u0131n arkas\u0131ndaki perdelerin aras\u0131ndan i\u00e7eri girdi. \u0130riyar\u0131, altm\u0131\u015f\u0131nda olmas\u0131na ra\u011fmen h\u00e2l\u00e2 dimdik ve g\u00fc\u00e7l\u00fc bir adamd\u0131 ancak v\u00fccudunun orta b\u00f6l\u00fcm\u00fcnden yumu\u015fak bir g\u00f6bek sark\u0131yor, ak sa\u00e7lar\u0131 da \u00e7izgili aln\u0131n\u0131n \u00fczerinden arkaya do\u011fru seyreliyordu. \u00dczerinde hafif bir pantolon, deri ayakkab\u0131lar ve temiz, pamuklu bir g\u00f6mlek vard\u0131. G\u00f6mle\u011finin kollar\u0131n\u0131, kal\u0131n \u00f6nkollar\u0131ndan dirse\u011fine kadar s\u0131y\u0131rm\u0131\u015ft\u0131. Beyaz \u00f6nl\u00fc\u011f\u00fc ise her zamanki gibi lekesizdi.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cArlen Bales,\u201d dedi \u00e7ocu\u011fu g\u00f6rd\u00fc\u011f\u00fcnde, y\u00fcz\u00fcnde sab\u0131rl\u0131 bir tebess\u00fcm vard\u0131. \u201cSadece zille oynamaya m\u0131 geldin yoksa g\u00f6r\u00fclecek bir i\u015fin mi var?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cG\u00f6r\u00fclecek i\u015f bana ait,\u201d dedi Ragen, \u00f6ne \u00e7\u0131karak. \u201cSen Rusco Hog musun?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRusco demen yeterli,\u201d dedi adam. \u201c\u2018Hog\u2019<\/span><\/span>*<\/span><\/sup><\/span> ismini kasabal\u0131lar takt\u0131, tabii y\u00fcz\u00fcme kar\u015f\u0131 s\u00f6ylemezler. Bir insan\u0131n refaha ermesine dayanam\u0131yorlar nedense.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBu iki oldu,\u201d diye d\u00fc\u015f\u00fcnceye dald\u0131 Ragen.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNas\u0131l?\u201d dedi Rusco, Ragen\u2019\u0131n ne dedi\u011fini anlamayarak.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c\u0130kidir Graig\u2019in seyahat g\u00fcnl\u00fc\u011f\u00fc beni yanl\u0131\u015f y\u00f6nlendiriyor,\u201d dedi Ragen. \u201cDaha bu sabah Selia\u2019n\u0131n y\u00fcz\u00fcne kar\u015f\u0131 \u2018\u00c7orak\u2019 dedim.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHah!\u201d diye g\u00fcld\u00fc Rusco. \u201cDemek \u00f6yle? E\u011fer m\u00fcesseseden bir i\u00e7kiyi hak ettirecek bir \u015fey varsa o da budur. \u0130smin ne demi\u015ftin?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRagen,\u201d dedi Ulak, omzundaki \u00e7antay\u0131 yere b\u0131rak\u0131p bar tezg\u00e2h\u0131n\u0131n kenar\u0131ndaki bir sandalyeye oturarak. Rusco bir f\u0131\u00e7\u0131n\u0131n t\u0131pas\u0131n\u0131 a\u00e7t\u0131 ve pervazdaki kancalardan birine as\u0131lm\u0131\u015f kulplu, tahta bir bardak kapt\u0131.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Bira k\u0131vam a\u00e7\u0131s\u0131ndan yo\u011fundu, bal rengiydi ve bardaktan ta\u015fan beyaz bir k\u00f6p\u00fc\u011f\u00fc vard\u0131. Rusco kendine ve Ragen\u2019a birer bardak doldurdu. Sonra Arlen\u2019a bir g\u00f6z att\u0131 ve onun i\u00e7in daha k\u00fc\u00e7\u00fck bir kupa doldurdu. \u201cBununla bir masaya ge\u00e7 ve b\u00fcy\u00fcklerinin bar tezg\u00e2h\u0131nda konu\u015fmas\u0131na izin ver,\u201d dedi. \u201cVe e\u011fer kendi iyili\u011fini d\u00fc\u015f\u00fcn\u00fcyorsan bundan annene s\u00f6z etmezsin.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Arlen mutlulukla g\u00fcl\u00fcmsedi ve Rusco\u2019nun bu karar\u0131 g\u00f6zden ge\u00e7irmesine f\u0131rsat vermeden \u00f6d\u00fcl\u00fcn\u00fc al\u0131p oradan ka\u00e7t\u0131. \u015eenlik zamanlar\u0131nda babas\u0131n\u0131n barda\u011f\u0131ndan biran\u0131n tad\u0131na bakt\u0131\u011f\u0131 olmu\u015ftu ama daha \u00f6nce bir kupa dolusuna hi\u00e7 sahip olmam\u0131\u015ft\u0131.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Rusco\u2019nun Ragen\u2019a, \u201cBundan sonra kimse gelmeyecek diye endi\u015felenmeye ba\u015flam\u0131\u015ft\u0131m,\u201d dedi\u011fini duydu.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGraig ge\u00e7en sonbahar gelmeye haz\u0131rlan\u0131rken so\u011fu\u011fa yakaland\u0131,\u201d dedi Ragen, biras\u0131ndan koca bir yudum al\u0131rken. \u201cOna bakan Otac\u0131, iyile\u015fene kadar yolculu\u011fu ertelemesini s\u00f6yledi, ama sonra k\u0131\u015f bast\u0131rd\u0131 ve hastal\u0131\u011f\u0131 gittik\u00e7e daha da k\u00f6t\u00fcle\u015fti. Sonunda Lonca ba\u015fka bir Ulak bulana kadar, Graig bana onun g\u00fczerg\u00e2h\u0131n\u0131 devral\u0131p alamayaca\u011f\u0131m\u0131 sordu. Zaten bir y\u00fck arabas\u0131 dolusu tuzu Angiers\u2019a g\u00f6t\u00fcrmem gerekiyordu; ben de fazladan bir araba ekledim ve kuzeye d\u00f6nmeden \u00f6nce rotam\u0131 buraya \u00e7evirdim.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Rusco kupas\u0131n\u0131 al\u0131p tekrar doldurdu. \u201cGraig\u2019e,\u201d dedi, \u201ciyi bir Ulak ve tehlikeli bir pazarl\u0131k\u00e7\u0131ya.\u201d Ragen g\u00fcl\u00fcmsedi ve iki adam kupalar\u0131n\u0131 toku\u015fturduktan sonra i\u00e7kilerini kafalar\u0131na diktiler.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBir tane daha?\u201d diye sordu Rusco, Ragen kupas\u0131n\u0131 tezg\u00e2ha vurdu\u011funda.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGraig, g\u00fcnl\u00fc\u011f\u00fcnde senin de tehlikeli bir pazarl\u0131k\u00e7\u0131 oldu\u011funu yazm\u0131\u015ft\u0131,\u201d dedi Ragen g\u00fcl\u00fcmseyerek. \u201cAyr\u0131ca beni i\u015f yapmadan \u00f6nce sarho\u015f edece\u011fini de.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Rusco k\u0131k\u0131rdad\u0131 ve kupay\u0131 yeniden doldurdu. \u201cPazarl\u0131ktan sonra biralar m\u00fcesseseden olmayacak,\u201d dedi, Ragen\u2019a taze bira k\u00f6p\u00fc\u011f\u00fcyle dolu barda\u011f\u0131 uzatarak.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMektuplar\u0131n\u0131n Miln\u2019e ula\u015fmas\u0131n\u0131 istiyorsan m\u00fcesseseden olmaya devam ederler,\u201d diyerek g\u00fcl\u00fcmsedi Ragen, kupay\u0131 kabul ederken.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cG\u00f6r\u00fcyorum ki Graig\u2019den bile daha \u00e7etin bir pazarl\u0131k\u00e7\u0131 olacaks\u0131n,\u201d diye s\u00f6ylendi Rusco, kendi barda\u011f\u0131n\u0131 doldururken. \u201c\u0130\u015fte,\u201d dedi, biran\u0131n k\u00f6p\u00fckleri kabard\u0131\u011f\u0131nda, \u201cb\u00f6ylece ikimiz de sarho\u015f olarak pazarl\u0131k edebiliriz.\u201d G\u00fcld\u00fcler ve kupalar\u0131n\u0131 bir kez daha toku\u015fturdular.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cH\u00fcr \u015eehirler\u2019den ne haber?\u201d diye sordu Rusco. \u201cKrasia\u2019l\u0131lar h\u00e2l\u00e2 kendilerini yok etmeye kararl\u0131 m\u0131?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ragen omuz silkti. \u201cT\u00fcm haberler o y\u00f6nde. Birka\u00e7 sene \u00f6nce evlendi\u011fimde Krasia\u2019ya gitmeyi b\u0131rakt\u0131m. Hem fazla uzak hem fazla tehlikeli.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYani kad\u0131nlar\u0131n\u0131 \u2018battaniyelere\u2019 sarmalar\u0131n\u0131n bununla hi\u00e7 alakas\u0131 yok \u00f6yle mi?\u201d diye sordu Rusco g\u00fcl\u00fcmseyerek.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ragen g\u00fcld\u00fc. \u201cO da var tabii,\u201d dedi, \u201cama daha \u00e7ok kuzeylileri, hatta Ulaklar\u0131 bile, gecelerimizi kendimizi <\/span><\/span>n\u00fcvelendirmeye<\/em><\/span><\/span> \u00e7al\u0131\u015fmakla harcamad\u0131\u011f\u0131m\u0131z i\u00e7in birer korkak olarak g\u00f6rmeleri y\u00fcz\u00fcnden.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBelki de kad\u0131nlar\u0131na bakmakla daha fazla zaman ge\u00e7irseler sava\u015fmaya bu kadar hevesli olmazlard\u0131,\u201d diyerek d\u00fc\u015f\u00fcncelere dald\u0131 Rusco. \u201cPeki Angiers ve Miln? D\u00fckler h\u00e2l\u00e2 birbirleriyle at\u0131\u015fmakla m\u0131 me\u015fgul?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHer zamanki gibi,\u201d dedi Ragen. \u201cEuchor\u2019un rafinerileri \u00e7al\u0131\u015ft\u0131rmak i\u00e7in Angiers\u2019tan gelecek oduna ve halk\u0131 besleyebilmek i\u00e7in de tah\u0131la ihtiyac\u0131 var. Rhinebeck\u2019in de Miln\u2019den gelecek metallere ve tuza. Hayatta kalabilmek i\u00e7in ticaret yapmalar\u0131 gerekli ama uyumlu olmak yerine t\u00fcm zamanlar\u0131n\u0131 birbirlerini doland\u0131rmaya \u00e7al\u0131\u015fmakla ge\u00e7iriyorlar; \u00f6zellikle de sevk edilen mallar yolda n\u00fcveliklere kaybedildi\u011fi zaman. Ge\u00e7en yaz n\u00fcvelikler \u00e7elik ve tuz ta\u015f\u0131yan bir kervana sald\u0131rm\u0131\u015ft\u0131. S\u00fcr\u00fcc\u00fcleri \u00f6ld\u00fcrm\u00fc\u015flerdi ama mallar\u0131n \u00e7o\u011funa dokunulmam\u0131\u015ft\u0131. Rhinebeck mallar\u0131 ele ge\u00e7irdi ve bunlar\u0131n enkazdan kurtar\u0131lan ganimet mallar\u0131 oldu\u011funu s\u00f6yleyerek \u00f6deme yapmay\u0131 reddetti.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cD\u00fck Euchor k\u00fcplere binmi\u015f olmal\u0131,\u201d dedi Rusco.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c\u00c7ok k\u0131zd\u0131,\u201d diye onaylad\u0131 Ragen. \u201cOna haberleri getiren bendim. Y\u00fcz\u00fc k\u0131zard\u0131 ve Rhinebeck ona \u00f6deme yap\u0131ncaya kadar Angiers\u2019\u0131n bir gram tuz ya da maden g\u00f6remeyece\u011fini s\u00f6yledi.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRhinebeck \u00f6deme yapt\u0131 m\u0131?\u201d diye sordu Rusco, daha fazlas\u0131n\u0131 duyma iste\u011fiyle e\u011filerek.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ragen kafas\u0131n\u0131 sallad\u0131. \u201cBirka\u00e7 ay boyunca birbirlerini a\u00e7l\u0131ktan \u00f6ld\u00fcrmek i\u00e7in ellerinden geleni yapt\u0131lar ama sonra T\u00fcccarlar Loncas\u0131 kendi mallar\u0131n\u0131 k\u0131\u015f gelmeden ve mallar depoda \u00e7\u00fcr\u00fcmeden sevk ettirmek i\u00e7in \u00f6deme yapt\u0131. Rhinebeck, Euchor\u2019a teslim olduklar\u0131 i\u00e7in onlara kar\u015f\u0131 \u015fu anda \u00f6fkeli tabii ama halk\u0131n g\u00f6z\u00fcnde k\u00fc\u00e7\u00fck d\u00fc\u015fmekten kurtuldu ve sevkiyatlar yeniden ba\u015flad\u0131. O iki it d\u0131\u015f\u0131nda herkesin umursad\u0131\u011f\u0131 tek \u015fey de buydu zaten. \u201c<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cD\u00fcklere nas\u0131l hitap etti\u011fine dikkat edersen yine de iyi olur senin i\u00e7in,\u201d diye uyard\u0131 Rusco, ama yine de g\u00fcl\u00fcms\u00fcyordu.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cKim onlara s\u00f6yleyecek ki?\u201d diye sordu Ragen. \u201cSen mi? \u015eu k\u00fc\u00e7\u00fck \u00e7ocuk mu?\u201d dedi Arlen\u2019\u0131 i\u015faret ederek. \u0130kisi de g\u00fcld\u00fc.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cVe \u015fimdi de Euchor\u2019a Nehirk\u00f6pr\u00fc\u2019den haber g\u00f6t\u00fcrece\u011fim ve bu, sorunlar\u0131 daha da b\u00fcy\u00fctecek,\u201d dedi Ragen.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMiln s\u0131n\u0131r\u0131ndaki kasaba,\u201d dedi Rusco, \u201cAngiers\u2019tan bir g\u00fcn uzakl\u0131kta. Orada tan\u0131d\u0131klar\u0131m var.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cArt\u0131k yok,\u201d dedi Ragen a\u00e7\u0131ks\u00f6zl\u00fcl\u00fckle ve belli bir s\u00fcre iki adam da sessiz kald\u0131.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cK\u00f6t\u00fc haberlerden yeterince konu\u015ftuk,\u201d dedi Ragen, \u00e7antas\u0131n\u0131 tezg\u00e2h\u0131n \u00fcst\u00fcne koyarak. Rusco \u00e7antaya \u015f\u00fcpheyle bakt\u0131.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBu, tuza benzemiyor,\u201d dedi, \u201cayr\u0131ca bana o kadar mektup gelece\u011finden de \u015f\u00fcpheliyim.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAlt\u0131 mektubun ve tam bir d\u00fczine paketin var,\u201d dedi Ragen, Rusco\u2019ya bir demet katlanm\u0131\u015f k\u00e2\u011f\u0131t uzatarak. \u201cHepsi, arabadaki da\u011f\u0131t\u0131lacak paketler ve \u00e7antadaki di\u011fer mektuplarla birlikte burada listelenmi\u015f durumda. Ayr\u0131ca Selia\u2019ya da listenin bir kopyas\u0131n\u0131 verdim,\u201d diye uyard\u0131.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPeki o listeyle ya da mektup \u00e7antas\u0131yla benim ne i\u015fim olur ki?\u201d diye sordu Rusco.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cS\u00f6zc\u00fc bir hayli me\u015fgul oldu\u011fu i\u00e7in mektuplar\u0131 da\u011f\u0131tmaya veya okumas\u0131 olmayanlara okumaya zaman\u0131 yok. O y\u00fczden seni g\u00f6n\u00fcll\u00fc yapt\u0131.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPeki kasabadakilere mektup okumakla harcayaca\u011f\u0131m i\u015f saatlerimin maddi zarar\u0131n\u0131 nas\u0131l telafi edece\u011fim?\u201d diye sordu Rusco.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cKom\u015fular\u0131na yapaca\u011f\u0131n iyili\u011fin tatmini ve ho\u015fnutlu\u011fu yetmez mi?\u201d diye sordu Ragen.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Rusco homurdand\u0131. \u201cTibbet Deresi\u2019ne arkada\u015f edinmeye gelmedim,\u201d dedi. \u201cBen bir i\u015fadam\u0131y\u0131m ve bu kasaba i\u00e7in az \u015fey yapmad\u0131m.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c\u00d6yle mi?\u201d diye sordu Ragen.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHerhalde \u00f6yle!\u201d dedi Rusco. \u201cBen bu kasabaya gelmeden \u00f6nce tek yapt\u0131klar\u0131 \u015fey <\/span><\/span>takas<\/em><\/span><\/span>t\u0131<\/span><\/span>.\u201d <\/em><\/span><\/span>Kelimeyi sanki bir lanetmi\u015f gibi s\u00f6yleyip yere t\u00fck\u00fcrd\u00fc. \u201cEmeklerinin meyvelerini toparlay\u0131p her Yedincig\u00fcn\u2019de<\/span><\/span>*<\/span><\/sup><\/span> meydanda toplan\u0131rlar, ka\u00e7 tane baklan\u0131n ka\u00e7 tane m\u0131s\u0131r ba\u015fa\u011f\u0131na say\u0131laca\u011f\u0131 veya f\u0131\u00e7\u0131c\u0131ya verilecek ne kadar pirincin, sahip olduklar\u0131 pirin\u00e7leri i\u00e7ine koyabilecekleri bir f\u0131\u00e7\u0131 yap\u0131lmas\u0131na yeterli olaca\u011f\u0131 konusunda b\u00fct\u00fcn g\u00fcn tart\u0131\u015f\u0131rlard\u0131. E\u011fer ihtiyac\u0131n olan\u0131 yedincig\u00fcnde alamazsan, bir sonraki haftay\u0131 beklemen ya da kap\u0131 kap\u0131 dola\u015fman gerekirdi. \u015eimdi ise herkes, herhangi bir g\u00fcnde, g\u00fcnbat\u0131m\u0131ndan g\u00fcndo\u011fumuna kadar herhangi bir zamanda gelip, ihtiya\u00e7lar\u0131 olan \u015feyler i\u00e7in kredilerle ticaret yapabiliyor.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cKasaban\u0131n kurtar\u0131c\u0131s\u0131,\u201d dedi Ragen alayc\u0131 bir ifadeyle. \u201cKar\u015f\u0131l\u0131\u011f\u0131nda da hi\u00e7bir \u015fey talep etmez tabii.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOlduk\u00e7a dolgun bir k\u00e2r d\u0131\u015f\u0131nda hi\u00e7bir \u015fey,\u201d dedi Rusco s\u0131r\u0131tarak.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPeki k\u00f6yl\u00fcler ne s\u0131kl\u0131kla seni doland\u0131r\u0131c\u0131l\u0131ktan ipe \u00e7ekmeye \u00e7al\u0131\u015f\u0131yor?\u201d diye sordu Ragen.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Rusco g\u00f6zlerini k\u0131st\u0131. \u201cK\u00f6yl\u00fclerin yar\u0131s\u0131n\u0131n sadece ellerindeki parmaklar\u0131n say\u0131s\u0131 kadar saymay\u0131 bildiklerini ve di\u011fer yar\u0131s\u0131n\u0131n da buna sadece ayak parmaklar\u0131n\u0131 ekleyebildiklerini g\u00f6z \u00f6n\u00fcnde bulundurursan, bir hayli s\u0131k,\u201d dedi.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSelia, bir dahaki sefer ayn\u0131 \u015fey oldu\u011funda tek ba\u015f\u0131na kalaca\u011f\u0131n\u0131 s\u00f6yledi.\u201d Ragen\u2019\u0131n samimi ses tonu birden sertle\u015fmi\u015fti. \u201cTabii \u00fczerine d\u00fc\u015feni yapmazsan\u2026 Kasaban\u0131n di\u011fer taraf\u0131nda, mektup okumak zorunda kalmaktan \u00e7ok daha k\u00f6t\u00fc durumda olan insanlar var.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Rusco ka\u015flar\u0131n\u0131 \u00e7att\u0131, ama yine de listeyi ald\u0131 ve a\u011f\u0131r mektup \u00e7antas\u0131n\u0131 depoya ta\u015f\u0131d\u0131.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGer\u00e7ekten ne kadar k\u00f6t\u00fc?\u201d diye sordu geri d\u00f6nd\u00fc\u011f\u00fcnde.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cK\u00f6t\u00fc,\u201d dedi Ragen. \u201c\u015eimdiye kadar yirmi yedi. Birka\u00e7\u0131 h\u00e2l\u00e2 bulunamad\u0131.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUlu yarat\u0131c\u0131,\u201d dedi Rusco, \u00f6n\u00fcndeki havaya bir muhafaza \u00e7izerek. \u201cEn k\u00f6t\u00fc ihtimalle bir ailedir diye d\u00fc\u015f\u00fcnm\u00fc\u015ft\u00fcm.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cKe\u015fke \u00f6yle olsa,\u201d dedi Ragen.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u0130kisi de bir an i\u00e7in terbiyenin gerektirdi\u011fi \u015fekilde sessizli\u011fe g\u00f6m\u00fcld\u00fcler. Sonra ikisi de birbirlerine ayn\u0131 anda kafalar\u0131n\u0131 \u00e7evirdiler.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBu senenin tuzu yan\u0131nda m\u0131?\u201d diye sordu Rusco.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cD\u00fck\u2019\u00fcn pirinci sende mi?\u201d diye cevaplad\u0131 Ragen.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cT\u00fcm k\u0131\u015f boyunca saklad\u0131m, gecikti\u011fin i\u00e7in,\u201d dedi Rusco.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ragen g\u00f6zlerini k\u0131st\u0131.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAh, h\u00e2l\u00e2 iyi durumdalar tabii!\u201d dedi Rusco, elleri birdenbire sanki yalvar\u0131yormu\u015f gibi havaya kalkt\u0131. \u201cM\u00fch\u00fcrl\u00fc ve kuru bir \u015fekilde muhafaza ettim. Ayr\u0131ca benim mahzenimde hi\u00e7 ha\u015farat olmaz!\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAma benim bundan emin olmam gerekli, anl\u0131yorsundur,\u201d dedi Ragen.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTabii ki, tabii ki!\u201d dedi Rusco. \u201cArlen, oradan lambay\u0131 kap!\u201d diye emretti, o\u011flan\u0131 tezg\u00e2h\u0131n k\u00f6\u015fesine do\u011fru y\u00f6nlendirerek.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Arlen, fenerin oldu\u011fu yere do\u011fru ko\u015fup ate\u015fleme \u00e7ubu\u011funu ald\u0131. Fitili yakt\u0131 ve camdan feneri sayg\u0131yla a\u015fa\u011f\u0131 indirdi. Daha \u00f6nce camdan bir e\u015fyay\u0131 tutma i\u015fi ona hi\u00e7 emanet edilmemi\u015fti. Fenerin y\u00fczeyi hayal etti\u011finden daha so\u011fuktu ancak alevler cam\u0131 yalad\u0131k\u00e7a \u0131s\u0131nd\u0131.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBizim i\u00e7in onu mahzene kadar ta\u015f\u0131,\u201d diye emretti Rusco. Arlen heyecan\u0131n\u0131 bast\u0131rmaya \u00e7al\u0131\u015ft\u0131. Tezg\u00e2h\u0131n arka taraf\u0131nda neler oldu\u011funu hep g\u00f6rmek istemi\u015fti. Denilirdi ki; Dere\u2019deki herkes t\u00fcm e\u015fyalar\u0131n\u0131 bir y\u0131\u011f\u0131n haline getirse, o y\u0131\u011f\u0131n yine de Hog\u2019un mahzenindeki harikalarla boy \u00f6l\u00e7\u00fc\u015femezdi.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Rusco yerdeki demir bir halkay\u0131 tutup \u00e7ekti ve yer kap\u0131s\u0131n\u0131 a\u00e7t\u0131. Arlen, ya\u015fl\u0131 Hog\u2019un fikrini de\u011fi\u015ftirece\u011finden endi\u015felenip aceleyle \u00f6ne at\u0131ld\u0131 ve yolu ayd\u0131nlatmas\u0131 i\u00e7in feneri yukar\u0131da tutarak, g\u0131c\u0131rdayan basamaklardan a\u015fa\u011f\u0131ya indi. O indik\u00e7e, fenerin \u0131\u015f\u0131\u011f\u0131, \u00e7ift s\u0131ralar halinde yerden tavana kadar y\u00fckselen k\u00fcfe ve f\u0131\u00e7\u0131 y\u0131\u011f\u0131nlar\u0131na dokundu. Zemin, n\u00fcvelikler N\u00fcve\u2019den direkt mahzene \u00e7\u0131kamas\u0131nlar diye tahtadan yap\u0131lm\u0131\u015ft\u0131 ama yine de duvarlardaki raflara muhafaza sembolleri oyulmu\u015ftu. Ya\u015fl\u0131 Hog, hazineleri s\u00f6z konusu oldu\u011funda bir hayli temkinliydi.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

D\u00fckk\u00e2n sahibi, ge\u00e7itlerden ge\u00e7erek arka tarafta tutulan m\u00fch\u00fcrl\u00fc f\u0131\u00e7\u0131lara kadar yolu g\u00f6sterdi. \u201c\u00c7\u00fcr\u00fcm\u00fc\u015f g\u00f6z\u00fckm\u00fcyorlar,\u201d dedi Ragen, f\u0131\u00e7\u0131lar\u0131n tahtas\u0131n\u0131 incelerken. K\u0131sa bir s\u00fcreli\u011fine d\u00fc\u015f\u00fcnd\u00fc, sonra rasgele se\u00e7ti. \u201c\u015euradaki,\u201d dedi, bir f\u0131\u00e7\u0131y\u0131 i\u015faret ederek.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Rusco homurdand\u0131 ve s\u00f6z konusu f\u0131\u00e7\u0131y\u0131 ta\u015f\u0131y\u0131p getirdi. Baz\u0131lar\u0131 onun i\u015fine kolay derdi; ama Rusco\u2019nun kollar\u0131 en az balta veya orak sallayanlar kadar g\u00fc\u00e7l\u00fc ve kal\u0131nd\u0131. M\u00fchr\u00fc k\u0131rd\u0131, f\u0131\u00e7\u0131n\u0131n kapa\u011f\u0131n\u0131 \u00e7abucak s\u00f6kt\u00fc ve Ragen incelesin diye pirin\u00e7leri s\u0131\u011f bir le\u011fene bo\u015faltt\u0131.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHas Batakl\u0131k pirinci,\u201d dedi Ulak\u2019a. \u201cVe tek bir ekinbiti ya da \u00e7\u00fcr\u00fcme emaresi g\u00f6remezsin. Miln\u2019de iyi bir has\u0131lat getirecektir, \u00f6zellikle de bu kadar uzun zamandan sonra.\u201d Ragen homurdan\u0131p olumlu anlamda ba\u015f\u0131n\u0131 sallad\u0131, b\u00f6ylece f\u0131\u00e7\u0131 tekrar m\u00fch\u00fcrlendi ve \u00fcst kata geri d\u00f6nd\u00fcler.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Uzun bir s\u00fcre arabadaki a\u011f\u0131r tuz \u00e7uvallar\u0131n\u0131n ka\u00e7 f\u0131\u00e7\u0131 pirince kar\u015f\u0131l\u0131k geldi\u011fi konusunda tart\u0131\u015ft\u0131lar. \u0130\u015fin sonunda, ikisi de pek mutlu g\u00f6r\u00fcnmedi ama yine de anla\u015f\u0131p el s\u0131k\u0131\u015ft\u0131lar.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Rusco, k\u0131zlar\u0131n\u0131 \u00e7a\u011f\u0131rd\u0131 ve hepsi birden tuz \u00e7uvallar\u0131n\u0131 indirmek i\u00e7in y\u00fck arabas\u0131na y\u00f6neldiler. Arlen, birini kald\u0131rmaya \u00e7al\u0131\u015ft\u0131ysa da \u00e7uval onun i\u00e7in fazla a\u011f\u0131rd\u0131. Sendeledi ve hem \u00e7uval\u0131n hem de kendisinin d\u00fc\u015fmesine engel olamad\u0131. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDikkatli ol!\u201d diye azarlad\u0131 Dasy, \u00e7ocu\u011fun ba\u015f\u0131n\u0131n arkas\u0131na tokad\u0131 indirerek.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cE\u011fer \u00e7uval kald\u0131ram\u0131yorsan, kap\u0131y\u0131 tut bari!\u201d diye \u00e7\u0131k\u0131\u015ft\u0131 Catrin. Biri omzunun \u00fcst\u00fcnde, di\u011feri de etli kolunun alt\u0131nda olmak \u00fczere iki \u00e7uval ta\u015f\u0131yordu. Arlen aya\u011fa kalkt\u0131 ve giri\u015f kap\u0131s\u0131n\u0131 tutmak \u00fczere ko\u015fturdu.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFerd Miller\u2019\u0131 al\u0131p buraya getir ve ona de\u011firmeninde i\u015fleyece\u011fi her bir \u00e7uval i\u00e7in be\u015f kredi\u2026 yok yok d\u00f6rt olsun, d\u00f6rt kredi \u00f6deyece\u011fimizi s\u00f6yle,\u201d dedi Rusco, Arlen\u2019a. Dere\u2019deki \u00e7o\u011fu insan \u015fu ya da bu \u015fekilde Hog i\u00e7in \u00e7al\u0131\u015f\u0131rd\u0131. Bunlar\u0131n da b\u00fcy\u00fck \u00e7o\u011funlu\u011funu Meydan ahalisi olu\u015ftururdu. \u201cE\u011fer kuru tutmak i\u00e7in f\u0131\u00e7\u0131 i\u00e7inde pirin\u00e7le birlikte paketlerse be\u015f kredi olaca\u011f\u0131n\u0131 s\u00f6yle.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFerd, ta Orman Boyu\u2019nda,\u201d dedi Arlen. \u201cNeredeyse herkes orada.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Rusco homurdand\u0131 ama cevap vermedi. Araba, i\u00e7inde tuz olmayan birka\u00e7 kutu ve \u00e7uval d\u0131\u015f\u0131nda k\u0131sa zamanda bo\u015fald\u0131. Rusco\u2019nun k\u0131zlar\u0131 geri kalan e\u015fyalara a\u00e7 g\u00f6zlerle bakt\u0131lar ama bir \u015fey demediler.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBu ak\u015fam, sen Miln\u2019e geri d\u00f6nmeye haz\u0131r oluncaya kadar, pirin\u00e7 f\u0131\u00e7\u0131lar\u0131n\u0131 mahzenden yukar\u0131, arka odaya ta\u015f\u0131m\u0131\u015f oluruz,\u201d dedi Rusco, son tuz \u00e7uval\u0131 da i\u00e7eri ta\u015f\u0131nd\u0131\u011f\u0131nda.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTe\u015fekk\u00fcr ederim,\u201d dedi Ragen.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cD\u00fck\u2019\u00fcn i\u015fi tamamd\u0131r o zaman de\u011fil mi?\u201d diye sordu Rusco. Y\u00fcz\u00fcnde naho\u015f bir s\u0131r\u0131t\u0131\u015f vard\u0131, g\u00f6zleriyse kat\u0131r arabas\u0131nda kalan e\u015fyalara kay\u0131p duruyordu.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cD\u00fck\u2019\u00fcn i\u015fi tamamd\u0131r,\u201d dedi Ragen, o da bir s\u0131r\u0131t\u0131\u015fla kar\u015f\u0131l\u0131k verdi. Arlen, onlar pazarl\u0131k yaparlarken bir bira daha alaca\u011f\u0131n\u0131 umut etti. Bira i\u00e7ti\u011fi zaman sanki \u00fc\u015f\u00fctm\u00fc\u015f gibi ba\u015f\u0131 d\u00f6n\u00fcyordu; tabii \u00f6ks\u00fcrme, burun ak\u0131nt\u0131s\u0131 ve herhangi bir a\u011fr\u0131 olmadan. Bu duyguyu sevmi\u015fti ve bir kez daha denemek i\u00e7in can at\u0131yordu.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Geri kalan e\u015fyalar\u0131 meyhaneye ta\u015f\u0131maya yard\u0131m etti ve Catrin ona i\u00e7i et dolu birka\u00e7 sandvi\u00e7in oldu\u011fu bir tabak getirdi. \u00d6\u011fle yeme\u011fini daha kolay mideye indirebilmesi i\u00e7in birayla dolu ikinci bir kupa da verildi ve ya\u015fl\u0131 Hog, yapt\u0131\u011f\u0131 i\u015flerin kar\u015f\u0131l\u0131\u011f\u0131nda iki kredi alabilece\u011fini s\u00f6yledi. \u201cAnnenle babana s\u00f6ylemeyece\u011fim,\u201d dedi Hog, \u201cama hepsini biraya harcarsan ve yakalan\u0131rsan, anan\u0131n benim ba\u015f\u0131m\u0131n etini yemesini, \u00e7al\u0131\u015farak \u00f6demek zorunda kal\u0131rs\u0131n.\u201d Arlen hevesle ba\u015f\u0131n\u0131 sallad\u0131. Daha \u00f6nce d\u00fckk\u00e2nda harcayabilece\u011fi kendi kredileri olmam\u0131\u015ft\u0131 hi\u00e7.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00d6\u011fle yeme\u011finden sonra, Rusco ve Ragen tezg\u00e2ha gidip, Ulak\u2019\u0131n getirmi\u015f oldu\u011fu di\u011fer e\u015fyalar\u0131 a\u00e7t\u0131lar. Her a\u00e7\u0131lan hazineden sonra Arlen\u2019\u0131n g\u00f6zleri parl\u0131yordu. Hayat\u0131nda daha \u00f6nce hi\u00e7 g\u00f6rmedi\u011fi kalitede top top kuma\u015flar, metal aletler, toplu i\u011fneler, seramik e\u015fyalar ve egzotik baharatlar vard\u0131. Hatta par\u0131ldayan camlardan yap\u0131lma birka\u00e7 bardak bile a\u00e7\u0131ld\u0131.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ne var ki Hog o kadar da etkilenmi\u015f g\u00f6z\u00fckmedi. \u201cGraig\u2019in ge\u00e7en sene getirdikleri bunlardan daha iyiydi,\u201d dedi. \u201cSana\u2026 hepsi i\u00e7in y\u00fcz kredi veririm.\u201d Arlen\u2019\u0131n \u00e7enesi yere d\u00fc\u015ft\u00fc. Y\u00fcz kredi! Ragen o parayla Dere\u2019nin yar\u0131s\u0131n\u0131 sat\u0131n alabilirdi.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ragen, teklifle pek ilgilenmedi. G\u00f6zlerindeki ifade yeniden sertle\u015fti ve masaya elini vurdu. Dasy ve Catrin temizlik i\u015flerinden ba\u015flar\u0131n\u0131 kald\u0131r\u0131p sesin \u00e7\u0131k\u0131\u015f nedenine bakt\u0131lar.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cKredilerinin N\u00fcve\u2019ye kadar yolu var!\u201d diye k\u00fckredi Ragen. \u201cBen senin her g\u00fcn i\u015f yapt\u0131\u011f\u0131n o ta\u015fral\u0131 h\u00f6d\u00fcklerden biri de\u011filim ve e\u011fer Lonca\u2019n\u0131n seni bir \u00fc\u00e7k\u00e2\u011f\u0131t\u00e7\u0131 olarak tan\u0131mas\u0131n\u0131 istemiyorsan, beni bir daha o h\u00f6d\u00fcklerle kar\u0131\u015ft\u0131rmazs\u0131n.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBozulmaca yok!\u201d diyerek g\u00fcld\u00fc Rusco, ellerini yine yat\u0131\u015ft\u0131r\u0131c\u0131 bir havayla kald\u0131rarak. Kurnaz bir g\u00fcl\u00fcmsemeyle, \u201cDenemek zorundayd\u0131m\u2026 anl\u0131yorsun ya? Miln\u2019de h\u00e2l\u00e2 alt\u0131n\u0131 severler de\u011fil mi?\u201d diye sordu.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHer yerde oldu\u011fu gibi,\u201d dedi Ragen. H\u00e2l\u00e2 ka\u015flar\u0131 \u00e7at\u0131kt\u0131, ama sesindeki \u00f6fke yat\u0131\u015fm\u0131\u015ft\u0131.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBurada sevmiyorlar,\u201d dedi Rusco perdenin arkas\u0131na ge\u00e7erken. Bir \u015feyler ar\u0131yor ve bunu yaparken bir yerlerin alt\u0131n\u0131 \u00fcst\u00fcne getiri\u015finin sesi geliyordu. Kendini duyurabilmek i\u00e7in sesini y\u00fckseltti. \u201cBurada, e\u011fer bir \u015feyi yiyemiyorsan, giyemiyorsan, o \u015feyle muhafaza sembol\u00fc \u00e7izemiyor veya tarlan\u0131 s\u00fcremiyorsan, o \u015feyin neredeyse hi\u00e7bir de\u011feri yoktur.\u201d \u00c7ok ge\u00e7meden dolaptan \u00e7\u0131kard\u0131\u011f\u0131 b\u00fcy\u00fck bir \u00e7uvalla geri d\u00f6nd\u00fc ve tezg\u00e2h\u0131n \u00fczerine koyarken \u00e7uval \u015f\u0131ng\u0131rdad\u0131.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBuradaki insanlar d\u00fcnyay\u0131 d\u00f6nd\u00fcrenin alt\u0131n oldu\u011funu unutmu\u015flar,\u201d diye devam etti. \u00c7uval\u0131n i\u00e7ine elini soktu ve iki sar\u0131 sikke \u00e7\u0131kar\u0131p Ragen\u2019\u0131n surat\u0131na do\u011fru sallad\u0131. \u201cDe\u011firmencinin \u00e7ocuklar\u0131 bunlarla oyun oynuyorlard\u0131! Oyun! Onlara alt\u0131n\u0131, arka tarafta duran ah\u015fap bir oyun setiyle takas edebilece\u011fimi s\u00f6yledi\u011fimde, kendilerine iyilik yapt\u0131\u011f\u0131m\u0131 d\u00fc\u015f\u00fcnd\u00fcler! Hatta ertesi g\u00fcn Ferd bana te\u015fekk\u00fcr etmeye bile geldi!\u201d G\u00fc\u00e7l\u00fc bir kahkaha savurdu. Arlen, bu kahkahaya al\u0131nmas\u0131 gerekti\u011fini hissetti ama neden b\u00f6yle oldu\u011fundan emin olamad\u0131. Millerlar\u0131n bu ah\u015fap oyun setiyle pek \u00e7ok kez oynam\u0131\u015ft\u0131. Ne kadar parlak olursa olsun iki metal tekerden neden daha az de\u011ferli oldu\u011funu anlayam\u0131yordu.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBen sana iki g\u00fcne\u015f paran\u0131n \u00f6deyebilece\u011finden \u00e7ok daha fazla mal getirdim,\u201d dedi Ragen ba\u015f\u0131yla sikkeleri g\u00f6sterip sonra da \u00e7uvala do\u011fru bakarak.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Rusco g\u00fcl\u00fcmsedi. \u201cSorun de\u011fil,\u201d dedi, \u00e7uval\u0131 tamamen a\u00e7arken. Kuma\u015f tezg\u00e2h\u0131n \u00fczerinde d\u00fczle\u015ftik\u00e7e, i\u00e7inden parlak sikkelerle beraber, \u00fczerlerine \u0131\u015f\u0131l \u0131\u015f\u0131l ta\u015flar\u0131n i\u015flendi\u011fi zincirler, y\u00fcz\u00fckler, kolyeler d\u00f6k\u00fcld\u00fc. Arlen hepsinin \u00e7ok g\u00fczel oldu\u011funu d\u00fc\u015f\u00fcnd\u00fc, ama Ragen\u2019\u0131n g\u00f6zlerinin yerinden f\u0131rlay\u0131p a\u00e7g\u00f6zl\u00fcl\u00fckle parlamas\u0131na da \u015fa\u015f\u0131rd\u0131.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Pazarl\u0131\u011fa yeniden ba\u015flad\u0131lar. Ragen ta\u015flar\u0131 \u0131\u015f\u0131\u011fa tutup alt\u0131n sikkeleri \u0131s\u0131r\u0131rken Rusco kuma\u015flar\u0131 eliyle yoklay\u0131p baharatlar\u0131n tad\u0131na bakt\u0131. Biradan ba\u015f\u0131 d\u00f6nen Arlen ise olan biteni bulan\u0131k g\u00f6r\u00fcyordu. Catrin, tezg\u00e2htaki adamlar\u0131n kupalar\u0131n\u0131 bo\u015f b\u0131rakmasa da, onlar i\u00e7tikleri biradan Arlen kadar etkilenmi\u015f g\u00f6r\u00fcnm\u00fcyordu.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c\u0130ki y\u00fcz yirmi be\u015f alt\u0131n g\u00fcne\u015f, iki g\u00fcm\u00fc\u015f ay, bir zincir ve \u00fc\u00e7 g\u00fcm\u00fc\u015f y\u00fcz\u00fck,\u201d dedi Rusco sonunda. \u201cVe bir bak\u0131r fazlas\u0131 de\u011fil.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cB\u00f6ylesine uzak ve \u0131ss\u0131z bir yerde \u00e7al\u0131\u015ft\u0131\u011f\u0131na \u015fa\u015f\u0131rmamal\u0131,\u201d dedi Ragen. \u201cSeni kesinlikle \u00fc\u00e7k\u00e2\u011f\u0131t\u00e7\u0131l\u0131\u011f\u0131ndan dolay\u0131 \u015fehirden kovmu\u015f olmal\u0131lar.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHakaretler seni daha zengin yapmayacak,\u201d dedi Hog, \u00fcst\u00fcnl\u00fc\u011f\u00fcn kendisinde oldu\u011fundan emindi.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBu sefer para kazanma amac\u0131nda de\u011filim,\u201d dedi Ragen. \u201cSeyahat masraflar\u0131n\u0131 \u00e7\u0131kt\u0131ktan sonra son kuru\u015funa kadar hepsi Graig\u2019in dul kar\u0131s\u0131na gidecek.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAh, Jenya,\u201d dedi Rusco i\u00e7 ge\u00e7irerek. \u201cMiln\u2019de, benim aptal ye\u011fenimin de aralar\u0131nda bulundu\u011fu okuma yazma bilmeyen birka\u00e7\u0131 i\u00e7in mektup yazard\u0131. Ne olacak ona?\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ragen kafas\u0131n\u0131 olumsuz anlamda sallad\u0131. \u201cGraig evinde \u00f6ld\u00fc\u011f\u00fc i\u00e7in, Lonca ona \u00f6l\u00fcm-paras\u0131 \u00f6demedi,\u201d dedi. \u201cVe bir Ana olmad\u0131\u011f\u0131 i\u00e7in de \u00e7o\u011fu i\u015fte \u00e7al\u0131\u015fmas\u0131 imk\u00e2ns\u0131z.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBunu duydu\u011fuma \u00fcz\u00fcld\u00fcm,\u201d dedi Rusco<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGraig ona biraz para b\u0131rakt\u0131,\u201d dedi Ragen. \u201c\u00c7ok fazla bir \u015fey de\u011fildi tabii. Ama Lonca ona mektup i\u015fi i\u00e7in \u00f6deme yapmaya devam edecek. Bu seyahatten gelecek parayla da belirli bir zaman ge\u00e7inmesine yetecek kadar\u0131na sahip olacakt\u0131r. Ama h\u00e2l\u00e2 gen\u00e7 ve e\u011fer eninde sonunda yeniden evlenmez veya daha iyi bir i\u015f bulmazsa paras\u0131 kalmayacak.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYa sonra?\u201d diye sordu Rusco.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ragen omuz silkti. \u201cDaha \u00f6nce evlendi\u011fi ve \u00e7ocuk sahibi olmay\u0131 ba\u015faramad\u0131\u011f\u0131 i\u00e7in yeni bir koca bulmak onun i\u00e7in zor olacak ama yine de bir Dilenci olmayacak. Lonca\u2019daki karde\u015flerim ve ben bu u\u011furda yemin ettik. B\u00f6yle bir \u015feyin olaca\u011f\u0131n\u0131 g\u00f6r\u00fcrsek, aram\u0131zdan biri onu evine Hizmetk\u00e2r olarak alacak.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Rusco kafas\u0131n\u0131 sallad\u0131. \u201cYine de, T\u00fcccar s\u0131n\u0131f\u0131ndan Hizmetk\u00e2r s\u0131n\u0131f\u0131na d\u00fc\u015fmek\u2026\u201d \u00c7ok daha hafif bir keseye uzand\u0131 ve i\u00e7inden temiz, parlak bir ta\u015fa sahip bir y\u00fcz\u00fck \u00e7\u0131kard\u0131. \u201cBu y\u00fcz\u00fc\u011f\u00fcn ona ula\u015ft\u0131\u011f\u0131ndan emin ol,\u201d dedi y\u00fcz\u00fc\u011f\u00fc ona uzatarak.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ancak Ragen almak i\u00e7in uzand\u0131\u011f\u0131nda, Rusco y\u00fcz\u00fc\u011f\u00fc aniden geri \u00e7ekti. \u201cOndan bir mektup bekleyece\u011fim, anl\u0131yorsun ya,\u201d dedi. \u201cJenya\u2019n\u0131n mektuplar\u0131n\u0131 nas\u0131l yazd\u0131\u011f\u0131n\u0131 biliyorum.\u201d Ragen bir an ona bak\u0131nca, Hog hemen ekledi. \u201cSak\u0131n yanl\u0131\u015f anlama ama tabii.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ragen g\u00fcl\u00fcmsedi. \u201cC\u00f6mertli\u011fin, hakaretini g\u00f6lgede b\u0131rak\u0131yor,\u201d dedi, y\u00fcz\u00fc\u011f\u00fc al\u0131rken. \u201cBu y\u00fcz\u00fck, Jenya\u2019n\u0131n karn\u0131n\u0131 aylarca doyuracak.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEvet, \u015fey,\u201d dedi Rusco bo\u011fuk bir sesle. \u00c7uvaldan artakalanlar\u0131 toparlay\u0131p kald\u0131rd\u0131. \u201cBu iyili\u011fimi kasabal\u0131lar duymasa iyi olur, yoksa bir doland\u0131r\u0131c\u0131 olarak sahip oldu\u011fum b\u00fct\u00fcn itibar\u0131 kaybederim.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cS\u0131rr\u0131n benimle g\u00fcvende,\u201d dedi Ragen kahkahayla.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBelki de onun i\u00e7in biraz daha fazla para kazanabilirsin,\u201d dedi Rusco.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c\u00d6yle mi?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSahip oldu\u011fumuz mektuplar Miln\u2019e alt\u0131 ay \u00f6nce gidecekti. Biz daha fazla mektup yaz\u0131p toplayana kadar birka\u00e7 g\u00fcnl\u00fc\u011f\u00fcne daha buralarda kal, hatta birka\u00e7\u0131n\u0131 da yazmaya yard\u0131m et. Ben de sana kar\u015f\u0131l\u0131\u011f\u0131n\u0131 vereyim.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGer\u00e7i ba\u015fka alt\u0131n yok,\u201d diye a\u00e7\u0131klamada bulundu, \u201cama eminim, bir f\u0131\u00e7\u0131 pirin\u00e7 veya salamura edilmi\u015f bal\u0131k ya da ba\u015fka bir yiyecek Jenya\u2019n\u0131n i\u015fini g\u00f6r\u00fcr.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHakikaten de g\u00f6r\u00fcr,\u201d dedi Ragen.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAyr\u0131ca Jongl\u00f6r\u2019\u00fcn i\u00e7in de i\u015f bulabilirim,\u201d diye ekledi Rusco. \u201cBurada, Meydan\u2019da, \u00e7iftlikten \u00e7iftli\u011fe gezerek bulaca\u011f\u0131ndan daha fazla m\u00fc\u015fteri bulacakt\u0131r.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnla\u015ft\u0131k,\u201d dedi Ragen. \u201cFakat Keerin\u2019\u0131n alt\u0131na ihtiyac\u0131 olacak.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Rusco ona alayc\u0131 bir bak\u0131\u015f att\u0131 ve Ragen g\u00fcld\u00fc. \u201cDenemek zorundayd\u0131m\u2026 anl\u0131yorsun ya!\u201d dedi, Hog\u2019un daha \u00f6nceki s\u00f6zlerini tekrarlayarak. \u201cG\u00fcm\u00fc\u015f olsun o zaman.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Rusco onaylayarak ba\u015f\u0131n\u0131 sallad\u0131. \u201cHer g\u00f6sterisi i\u00e7in halktan birer g\u00fcm\u00fc\u015f ay tahsil edece\u011fim ve her ay i\u00e7in, bir y\u0131ld\u0131z\u0131 bende, di\u011fer \u00fc\u00e7\u00fc onda kalacak.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHani kasabal\u0131lar\u0131n hi\u00e7 paras\u0131 yoktu?\u201d diye sordu Ragen.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c\u00c7o\u011funun yok,\u201d dedi Rusco. \u201cG\u00fcm\u00fc\u015fleri onlara ben sataca\u011f\u0131m\u2026 mesela be\u015f krediye.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cB\u00f6ylece Rusco Hog anla\u015fman\u0131n iki taraf\u0131ndan da k\u00e2rl\u0131 \u00e7\u0131kacak, \u00f6yle mi?\u201d diye sordu Ragen.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Hog g\u00fcl\u00fcmsedi.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Arlen geri d\u00f6n\u00fc\u015f yolunda heyecanl\u0131yd\u0131. Ya\u015fl\u0131 Hog ona, Keerin\u2019\u0131n \u00f6\u011fle vakti Meydan\u2019da g\u00f6steri yapaca\u011f\u0131 haberini insanlara yayd\u0131\u011f\u0131 takdirde be\u015f kredi veya Miln\u2019den gelmi\u015f bir g\u00fcm\u00fc\u015f ayla \u00f6d\u00fcllendirece\u011finin s\u00f6z\u00fcn\u00fc vermi\u015fti. Ragen\u2019le birlikte geri d\u00f6nd\u00fcklerinde ailesi evlerine geri d\u00f6nmek i\u00e7in haz\u0131rlan\u0131yor olaca\u011f\u0131ndan pek fazla zaman\u0131 olmayacakt\u0131; ama onu at arabas\u0131na \u00e7eki\u015ftirmelerinden \u00f6nce bu haberi yayabilece\u011finden emindi. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBana H\u00fcr \u015eehirler\u2019i anlat,\u201d diye yalvard\u0131 Arlen, yol al\u0131rlarken. \u201cKa\u00e7 tanesini g\u00f6rd\u00fcn?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBe\u015f,\u201d dedi Ragen. \u201cMiln, Angiers, Lakton, Rizon ve Krasia. Da\u011flar\u0131n veya \u00e7\u00f6l\u00fcn \u00f6tesinde ba\u015fka \u015fehir de olabilir ama benim tan\u0131d\u0131\u011f\u0131m hi\u00e7 kimse onlar\u0131 g\u00f6rmemi\u015f.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNas\u0131l yerler?\u201d diye sordu Arlen.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOrmandaki m\u00fcstahkem mevkii olu\u015fturan Angiers Kalesi, Miln\u2019in g\u00fcneyinde, B\u00f6len Nehir\u2019in kar\u015f\u0131 yakas\u0131nda kal\u0131r,\u201d dedi Ragen. \u201cAngiers, \u00f6teki \u015fehirlerin tahta ihtiyac\u0131n\u0131 kar\u015f\u0131lar. Daha da g\u00fcneyde b\u00fcy\u00fck g\u00f6l ve onun y\u00fczeyinde Lakton yer al\u0131r.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cG\u00f6l nedir? Su birikintisi gibi bir \u015fey mi?\u201d diye sordu Arlen.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBir da\u011f, bir tepeye g\u00f6re nas\u0131lsa, bir g\u00f6l de, bir su birikintisine g\u00f6re \u00f6yledir,\u201d dedi Ragen, bu d\u00fc\u015f\u00fcnceyi sindirmesi i\u00e7in Arlen\u2019a zaman tan\u0131yarak. \u201cSuyun \u00fczerinde olduklar\u0131 i\u00e7in, Laktonlular ate\u015f, kaya ve orman iblislerine kar\u015f\u0131 g\u00fcvendedir. Muhafaza a\u011flar\u0131 r\u00fczg\u00e2r iblislerine kar\u015f\u0131 \u00e7ok dayan\u0131kl\u0131d\u0131r ve ba\u015fka hi\u00e7bir halk, su iblislerine kar\u015f\u0131 daha iyi bir muhafaza bilmez veya olu\u015fturamaz. Onlar bal\u0131k\u00e7\u0131 bir halkt\u0131r ve g\u00fcneydeki \u015fehirlerde ya\u015fayan binlerce insan onlar\u0131n tutaca\u011f\u0131 bal\u0131\u011fa muhta\u00e7t\u0131r.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLakton\u2019un bat\u0131s\u0131nda ise Rizon Kalesi yer al\u0131r. Teknik olarak bir hisar say\u0131lmaz, \u00e7\u00fcnk\u00fc surlar\u0131n\u0131n \u00fcst\u00fcnden neredeyse atlayarak ge\u00e7ebilirsin ancak bu surlar g\u00f6rebilece\u011fin en b\u00fcy\u00fck tar\u0131m arazilerini korur. Rizon olmasa, di\u011fer H\u00fcr \u015eehirler a\u00e7l\u0131ktan \u00f6l\u00fcrlerdi.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPeki ya Krasia?\u201d diye sordu Arlen.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cKrasia Kalesi\u2019ni sadece bir kere ziyaret ettim,\u201d dedi Ragen. \u201cKrasial\u0131lar yabanc\u0131lara pek ho\u015fg\u00f6r\u00fcyle bakmazlar, ayr\u0131ca oraya ancak iki haftal\u0131k bir \u00e7\u00f6l yolculu\u011fu sonunda ula\u015fabilirsin.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c\u00c7\u00f6l m\u00fc?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cKum,\u201d diye a\u00e7\u0131klad\u0131 Ragen. \u201cHer y\u00f6nde millerce kumdan ba\u015fka hi\u00e7bir \u015fey yoktur. Ta\u015f\u0131yabildi\u011finden ba\u015fka ne yiyecek, ne su vard\u0131r. Ayr\u0131ca seni kavurucu s\u0131caktan ve g\u00fcne\u015ften koruyabilecek tek bir g\u00f6lge bile bulamazs\u0131n.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBuna ra\u011fmen orada insanlar m\u0131 ya\u015f\u0131yor?\u201d diye sordu Arlen.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAh, evet,\u201d dedi Ragen. \u201cKrasial\u0131lar bir zamanlar Milnlilerden bile daha n\u00fcfusluydu. Ama \u015fimdi \u00f6l\u00fcp gidiyorlar.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNeden?\u201d diye sordu Arlen.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c\u00c7\u00fcnk\u00fc n\u00fcveliklerle sava\u015f\u0131yorlar,\u201d dedi Ragen.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Arlen\u2019\u0131n g\u00f6zleri b\u00fcy\u00fcd\u00fc. \u201cN\u00fcveliklerle sava\u015fabilir misin?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHer \u015feyle sava\u015fabilirsin Arlen,\u201d dedi Ragen. \u201cFakat sorun \u015fu ki, n\u00fcveliklerle sava\u015ft\u0131\u011f\u0131nda \u00e7o\u011funlukla kaybeden sen olursun. Krasial\u0131lar kendi paylar\u0131na d\u00fc\u015fenleri \u00f6ld\u00fcr\u00fcyor, ama n\u00fcvelikler onlara g\u00f6rd\u00fckleri zarardan daha fazlas\u0131n\u0131 veriyor. Krasial\u0131lar her ge\u00e7en sene azal\u0131yor.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBabam n\u00fcveliklerin bir insan\u0131 haklad\u0131klar\u0131 zaman o insan\u0131n ruhunu yediklerini s\u00f6yler,\u201d dedi Arlen.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPeh!\u201d Ragen araban\u0131n yan\u0131ndan t\u00fck\u00fcrd\u00fc. \u201cBat\u0131l sa\u00e7mal\u0131klar.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Orman Boyu Evleri\u2019nden \u00e7ok da uzak olmayan bir d\u00f6n\u00fc\u015ften ge\u00e7tikleri s\u0131rada Arlen, \u00f6nlerindeki a\u011fa\u00e7ta as\u0131l\u0131 durumda sallanan bir \u015fey g\u00f6rd\u00fc. \u201cO da ne?\u201d diye sordu, i\u015faret ederek.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLanet gece,\u201d diye k\u00fcfretti Ragen. Dizginleri \u015faklatt\u0131 ve kat\u0131rlar\u0131 d\u00f6rtnala ko\u015fturdu. Araban\u0131n sars\u0131nt\u0131s\u0131yla Arlen oturdu\u011fu yerde arkaya do\u011fru t\u00f6kezledi ve kendisini d\u00fczeltmek i\u00e7in u\u011fra\u015fmak zorunda kald\u0131. Sonunda d\u00fczg\u00fcn oturmay\u0131 ba\u015fard\u0131\u011f\u0131nda, h\u0131zla yakla\u015fmakta olduklar\u0131 a\u011faca bakt\u0131.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCholie Day\u0131!\u201d diye hayk\u0131rd\u0131, boynunun etraf\u0131ndaki ipi pen\u00e7elerken ayaklar\u0131n\u0131 rastgele bo\u015flu\u011fa savuran adam\u0131 g\u00f6r\u00fcnce.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c\u0130mdat! \u0130mdat!\u201d diye \u00e7\u0131\u011fl\u0131k att\u0131 Arlen. Hareket halindeki arabadan atlad\u0131 ve sert\u00e7e yere d\u00fc\u015ft\u00fc. Ama ayaklar\u0131n\u0131n \u00fczerine do\u011frulup Cholie\u2019ye do\u011fru ok gibi f\u0131rlad\u0131. Day\u0131s\u0131n\u0131n alt\u0131nda durdu ancak o anda, Cholie\u2019nin savrulan ayaklar\u0131ndan biri a\u011fz\u0131na gelerek onu yere devirdi. A\u011fz\u0131na kan tad\u0131 geldiyse de garip bir \u015fekilde ac\u0131 hissetmiyordu. Yeniden do\u011fruldu; Cholie\u2019nin bacaklar\u0131n\u0131 yakalad\u0131 ve ipi gev\u015fetsin diye onu yukar\u0131 do\u011fru itti. Ancak boyu k\u0131sayd\u0131 ve Cholie onun i\u00e7in fazla a\u011f\u0131rd\u0131. Adam \u00f6\u011f\u00fcrmeye ve titremeye devam ediyordu.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ragen\u2019a, \u201cOna yard\u0131m et!\u201d diye hayk\u0131rd\u0131. \u201cBo\u011fuluyor! \u0130mdat!\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ba\u015f\u0131n\u0131 kald\u0131r\u0131nca, Ragen\u2019\u0131n araban\u0131n arkas\u0131ndan bir m\u0131zrak \u00e7\u0131kartt\u0131\u011f\u0131n\u0131 g\u00f6rd\u00fc. Ulak geri \u00e7ekildi ve ni\u015fan almakla neredeyse hi\u00e7 zaman kaybetmeden m\u0131zra\u011f\u0131 f\u0131rlatt\u0131. Ama hedefi tutturarak ipi kopard\u0131, zavall\u0131 Cholie de ipin kopmas\u0131yla birlikte Arlen\u2019\u0131n \u00fczerine d\u00fc\u015ft\u00fc. \u0130kisi de kendini yerde bulmu\u015ftu.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ragen hemen oraya ula\u015ft\u0131 ve Cholie\u2019nin bo\u011faz\u0131ndan ipi \u00e7\u0131kard\u0131. Ama bunun pek bir yarar\u0131 olmam\u0131\u015ft\u0131 sanki, zira adam h\u00e2l\u00e2 \u00f6\u011f\u00fcr\u00fcyor ve bo\u011faz\u0131n\u0131 pen\u00e7elemeye devam ediyordu. G\u00f6zleri yuvalar\u0131ndan f\u0131rlayacak gibiydi. Y\u00fcz\u00fc de o kadar k\u0131zarm\u0131\u015ft\u0131 ki, adeta mor g\u00f6r\u00fcn\u00fcyordu. Korkun\u00e7 bir \u015fekilde \u00e7\u0131rp\u0131n\u0131p bir anda hareketsiz kal\u0131nca Arlen \u00e7\u0131\u011fl\u0131k att\u0131.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ragen, Cholie\u2019nin g\u00f6\u011fs\u00fcne vurarak adama suni teneff\u00fcs yapt\u0131 ama bu hi\u00e7bir \u015feye yaramad\u0131. Sonunda Ulak u\u011fra\u015fmay\u0131 b\u0131rakt\u0131 ve k\u00fcf\u00fcr ederek yere y\u0131\u011f\u0131ld\u0131.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Arlen, \u00f6l\u00fcme yabanc\u0131 de\u011fildi. Tibbet Deresi\u2019nde bu g\u00f6r\u00fcnt\u00fc al\u0131\u015f\u0131lm\u0131\u015f bir \u015feydi. Ama n\u00fcvelikler veya so\u011fuk y\u00fcz\u00fcnden \u00f6lmek ba\u015fka bir \u015fey, bu ba\u015fka bir \u015feydi. Arlen\u2019\u0131n, birisinin ona Cholie Day\u0131\u2019s\u0131n\u0131n kendi can\u0131n\u0131 ald\u0131\u011f\u0131n\u0131n s\u00f6ylemesine ihtiyac\u0131 yoktu. Bunu i\u00e7g\u00fcd\u00fcsel bir \u015fekilde anlayabiliyordu. Anlayamad\u0131\u011f\u0131 \u015fey ise\u2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNeden?\u201d diye sordu Ragen\u2019a. \u201cD\u00fcn gece hayatta kalmak i\u00e7in bu kadar sava\u015ft\u0131ktan sonra \u015fimdi neden kendini \u00f6ld\u00fcrd\u00fc?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSava\u015ft\u0131 m\u0131?\u201d diye sordu Ragen. \u201cOnlardan herhangi biri ger\u00e7ekten sava\u015ft\u0131 m\u0131? Yoksa ka\u00e7\u0131p sakland\u0131lar m\u0131?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBen bilmi\u2026\u201d diye ba\u015flad\u0131 Arlen.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSaklanmak her zaman yeterli olmuyor Arlen,\u201d dedi Ragen. \u201cBazen saklanmak insan\u0131n i\u00e7inde bir \u015feyi \u00f6ld\u00fcr\u00fcr; iblislerden sonra hayatta kalsan bile, asl\u0131nda ger\u00e7ekten hayatta kalm\u0131\u015f olmazs\u0131n.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBa\u015fka ne yapabilirdi ki?\u201d diye sordu Arlen. \u201cBir iblisle d\u00f6v\u00fc\u015femezsin.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBunu yapaca\u011f\u0131ma bir ay\u0131yla kendi ma\u011faras\u0131nda d\u00f6v\u00fc\u015f\u00fcr\u00fcm daha iyi,\u201d dedi Ragen, \u201cama yine de bu yap\u0131labilir.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAma Krasial\u0131lar\u0131n bu y\u00fczden \u00f6l\u00fcp gittiklerini s\u00f6ylemi\u015ftin,\u201d diye kar\u015f\u0131 \u00e7\u0131kt\u0131 Arlen.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c\u00d6yle,\u201d dedi Ragen. \u201cAma onlar y\u00fcreklerinin sesini dinliyorlar. Kula\u011fa \u00e7\u0131lg\u0131nca geldi\u011finin fark\u0131nday\u0131m Arlen, ama ruhlar\u0131n\u0131n derinliklerinde, insanlar sava\u015fmay\u0131 <\/span><\/span>istiyorlar<\/em><\/span><\/span>, ayn\u0131 eski hik\u00e2yelerde oldu\u011fu gibi. Kad\u0131nlar\u0131n\u0131 ve \u00e7ocuklar\u0131n\u0131, bir erke\u011fin korumas\u0131 gerekti\u011fi gibi korumak istiyorlar. Ama yapam\u0131yorlar \u00e7\u00fcnk\u00fc b\u00fcy\u00fck muhafazalar kay\u0131p, bu y\u00fczden kendilerini kafesteki tav\u015fanlar gibi hapsediyorlar, t\u00fcm gece deh\u015fetten titreyerek oturuyorlar. Ama bazen, \u00f6zellikle sevdiklerinin \u00f6ld\u00fc\u011f\u00fcn\u00fc g\u00f6rd\u00fckleri zaman, art\u0131k buna dayanam\u0131yor ve kopuyorlar.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Elini Arlen\u2019\u0131n omzuna koydu. \u201cBunu g\u00f6rmek zorunda kald\u0131\u011f\u0131n i\u00e7in \u00fczg\u00fcn\u00fcm evlat,\u201d dedi. \u201c\u015eu anda sana \u00e7ok anlam ifade etmedi\u011finin fark\u0131nday\u0131m\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHay\u0131r,\u201d dedi Arlen, \u201cediyor.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ve Arlen bunun do\u011fru oldu\u011funu d\u00fc\u015f\u00fcnd\u00fc. Sava\u015fman\u0131n gereklili\u011fini anl\u0131yordu. O g\u00fcn Cobie ve arkada\u015flar\u0131na sald\u0131rd\u0131\u011f\u0131 zaman kazanmay\u0131 beklememi\u015fti. Hatta hi\u00e7 olmad\u0131\u011f\u0131 kadar k\u00f6t\u00fc bir \u015fekilde dayak yemeyi bekliyordu. Ama o sopay\u0131 kavrad\u0131\u011f\u0131 anda art\u0131k hi\u00e7bir \u015fey umurunda de\u011fildi. Tek bildi\u011fi, onlar\u0131n yapt\u0131\u011f\u0131 eziyetten b\u0131km\u0131\u015f oldu\u011fu ve bunun, \u015fu ya da bu \u015fekilde bitmesini istedi\u011fiydi.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Yaln\u0131z olmad\u0131\u011f\u0131n\u0131 bilmek onu rahatlat\u0131yordu.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Arlen, toz toprak i\u00e7inde yatan, g\u00f6zleri korkuyla b\u00fcy\u00fcm\u00fc\u015f day\u0131s\u0131na bakt\u0131. Diz \u00e7\u00f6k\u00fcp, day\u0131s\u0131n\u0131n g\u00f6zlerini parmak u\u00e7lar\u0131yla kapatmak i\u00e7in uzand\u0131. Cholie\u2019nin art\u0131k hi\u00e7bir \u015feyden korkmas\u0131 gerekmiyordu.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDaha \u00f6nce hi\u00e7 n\u00fcvelik \u00f6ld\u00fcrd\u00fcn m\u00fc?\u201d diye sordu Ulak\u2019a.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHay\u0131r,\u201d dedi Ragen, kafas\u0131n\u0131 sallayarak. \u201cAma birka\u00e7\u0131yla sava\u015ft\u0131m. Kan\u0131tlamak i\u00e7in yara izlerim de var. Ne var ki \u00f6ld\u00fcrmekten daha \u00e7ok ka\u00e7makla veya onlar\u0131 ba\u015fka birinden uzak tutmakla daha fazla ilgilendim.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Cholie\u2019yi bir tenteye sar\u0131p y\u00fck arabas\u0131n\u0131n arka taraf\u0131na koyduktan sonra h\u0131zla Orman Boyu Evleri\u2019ne giderlerken Arlen bunu d\u00fc\u015f\u00fcnd\u00fc. Jeph ve Silvy her \u015feyi \u00e7oktan arabaya toparlam\u0131\u015f, oray\u0131 terk etmek i\u00e7in sab\u0131rs\u0131zca Arlen\u2019\u0131 bekliyorlard\u0131. Ama cesedi g\u00f6rd\u00fcklerinde Arlen\u2019\u0131n gecikmesine olan \u00f6fkeleri da\u011f\u0131ld\u0131.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Silvy feryat edip erkek karde\u015finin \u00fczerine at\u0131ld\u0131, ama kaybedilecek zaman yoktu, \u00f6zellikle de karanl\u0131k \u00e7\u00f6kmeden \u00e7iftliklerine ula\u015fmalar\u0131 gerekiyorsa. Rahip Harral cesedin sar\u0131l\u0131 oldu\u011fu tentenin \u00fczerine bir muhafaza sembol\u00fc \u00e7izip Cholie\u2019yi cenaze ate\u015fine atarken, Jeph kar\u0131s\u0131n\u0131 geride tutmak zorunda kald\u0131. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Hayatta kalanlar aras\u0131nda, Brine Cutter\u2019\u0131n evinde kalmayacak olanlar di\u011ferlerinin evinde kalmak i\u00e7in gruplara ayr\u0131ld\u0131. Jeph ve Silvy iki kad\u0131na kendi evlerinde kalmay\u0131 teklif etmi\u015fti. Norine Cutter elli yaz g\u00f6rm\u00fc\u015f bir kad\u0131nd\u0131. Kocas\u0131 birka\u00e7 sene \u00f6nce \u00f6lm\u00fc\u015ft\u00fc ve sald\u0131r\u0131da k\u0131z\u0131yla torununu kaybetmi\u015fti. Marea Bales de ya\u015fl\u0131yd\u0131; neredeyse k\u0131rk\u0131ndayd\u0131. Di\u011ferleri \u015fanslar\u0131n\u0131 mahzende denemek i\u00e7in ka\u00e7t\u0131klar\u0131nda, Marea\u2019n\u0131n kocas\u0131 d\u0131\u015far\u0131da kalm\u0131\u015ft\u0131. Silvy gibi, ikisi de Jeph\u2019in at arabas\u0131n\u0131n arkas\u0131na \u00f6ylece y\u0131\u011f\u0131l\u0131p dizlerine bakt\u0131lar. Babas\u0131 dizginleri \u015faklatt\u0131\u011f\u0131nda Arlen, Ragen\u2019a el sallad\u0131. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Orman Boyu Evleri g\u00f6zden kaybolurken, Arlen kimseye gelip Jongl\u00f6r\u2019\u00fc izlesinler diye haber vermedi\u011fini fark etti.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Kitap k\u00fcnye bilgileri i\u00e7in buraya<\/a> t\u0131klay\u0131n.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

1 SONRASI D.S. 319 B\u00fcy\u00fck borunun sesi duyuldu. Arlen yapt\u0131\u011f\u0131 i\u015fe ara verdi, g\u00fcndo\u011fumunda eflatuna boyanm\u0131\u015f g\u00f6ky\u00fcz\u00fcne bakt\u0131. Sabah sisi h\u00e2l\u00e2 havaya tutunuyor, nemiyle birlikte bir hayli tan\u0131d\u0131k olan keskin bir tat getiriyordu. Sabah\u0131n durgunlu\u011funda bunun sadece kendi hayal g\u00fcc\u00fcn\u00fcn bir \u00fcr\u00fcn\u00fc oldu\u011funu umar ve beklerken, i\u00e7inde ketum bir korku birikti. On bir ya\u015f\u0131ndayd\u0131. Boru […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":4833,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"fullwidth.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-11592","page","type-page","status-publish"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kayiprihtim.org\/portal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11592","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kayiprihtim.org\/portal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kayiprihtim.org\/portal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kayiprihtim.org\/portal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kayiprihtim.org\/portal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11592"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.kayiprihtim.org\/portal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11592\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kayiprihtim.org\/portal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4833"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kayiprihtim.org\/portal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11592"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}