An Evil Eye

116

Kadri opened his eyes in the dark and wondered what had woken him.

He glanced at the window; it was a dark night, and he could not tell what time it was.

He pushed his blanket aside and swung his bare feet onto the floor, cocking his head, listening to a faint murmur from somewhere downstairs.

Perhaps Yashim had come?

He was about to get back into bed when he realized that he was thirsty.

He would go down to the kitchen and fetch a glass of water without disturbing the two men.

He pulled on a woollen coat the ambassador had lent him, and padded to the stairs.

Somewhere below, a floorboard creaked.

Kadri had lived wild in the hills of Cappadocia, and he was not afraid of the dark, but he paused at the sound.

“All ready?”

Kadri was suddenly alert.

Someone had whispered on the landing below.

He bent over the banister, listening.