Ta\u00e7 giyme t\u00f6reni i\u00e7in kararla\u015ft\u0131r\u0131lan g\u00fcn\u00fcn gecesi, Gen\u00e7 Kral s\u00fcsl\u00fc odas\u0131nda yaln\u0131z oturuyordu. B\u00fct\u00fcn saray ileri gelenleri, zaman\u0131n t\u00f6ren g\u00f6reneklerine g\u00f6re yerlere dek e\u011filerek iznini isteyip saray g\u00f6rg\u00fc kurallar\u0131 profes\u00f6r\u00fcnden son bir ders almak \u00fczere saray\u0131n b\u00fcy\u00fck sofas\u0131na \u00e7ekilmi\u015flerdi; i\u00e7lerinde kimilerinin pek do\u011fal davran\u0131\u015flar\u0131 vard\u0131 ki, bir sarayl\u0131da b\u00f6yle bir davran\u0131\u015f\u0131n pek k\u00f6t\u00fc bir eksik say\u0131ld\u0131\u011f\u0131n\u0131 s\u00f6ylememe bile gerek yoktur.<\/p>\n
\u00c7ocuk -evet on alt\u0131 ya\u015f\u0131nda oldu\u011fu i\u00e7in daha \u00e7ocuk say\u0131l\u0131rd\u0131- yaln\u0131z kald\u0131\u011f\u0131na hi\u00e7 \u00fcz\u00fclmeden, derin bir soluk alarak kendisini i\u015flemeli yata\u011f\u0131n\u0131n yumu\u015fak yast\u0131klar\u0131 \u00fcst\u00fcne s\u0131rt \u00fcst\u00fc atm\u0131\u015f, t\u0131pk\u0131 bir koru \u015feytan\u0131\u00a0 ya da avc\u0131 tuza\u011f\u0131na yeni d\u00fc\u015fm\u00fc\u015f gen\u00e7 bir hayvan gibi g\u00f6zleri d\u00f6nm\u00fc\u015f, a\u011fz\u0131 bir kar\u0131\u015f a\u00e7\u0131k yat\u0131yordu.<\/p>\n
Kendisini b\u00fcy\u00fcten, o babas\u0131 sand\u0131\u011f\u0131 yoksul ke\u00e7i \u00e7oban\u0131n\u0131n s\u00fcr\u00fcs\u00fc pe\u015finde kolu, baca\u011f\u0131 \u00e7\u0131plak, elinde kaval, s\u00fcrt\u00fcp dururken, hemen hemen raslant\u0131yla onu bulanlar da zaten avc\u0131lard\u0131. Eski kral\u0131n, kendi d\u00fczeyinden \u00e7ok a\u015fa\u011f\u0131 bir yabanc\u0131yla gizlice evlenen bir tanecik k\u0131z\u0131ndan do\u011fmu\u015f bir \u00e7ocuktu. Bu adam i\u00e7in kimileri, \u00e7ald\u0131\u011f\u0131 lavtan\u0131n b\u00fcy\u00fcleyici ezgileriyle gen\u00e7 prensesin g\u00f6nl\u00fcn\u00fc \u00e7alm\u0131\u015f biri oldu\u011funu s\u00f6ylerken; ba\u015fkalar\u0131 da prensesten \u00e7ok, pek \u00e7ok iltifat g\u00f6rd\u00fc\u011f\u00fc halde, birdenbire b\u00fcy\u00fck kilisedeki i\u015fini y\u00fcz\u00fcst\u00fc b\u0131rak\u0131p kentte s\u0131r olan Riminili bir ressamdan s\u00f6z ederlerdi. \u00c7ocuk daha bir haftal\u0131km\u0131\u015f; annesi uyurken koynundan \u00e7al\u0131p kente atla bir g\u00fcnl\u00fck yolda, orman\u0131n bir buca\u011f\u0131nda \u00e7oluksuz \u00e7ocuksuz oturan, basbaya\u011f\u0131 yoksul bir k\u00f6yl\u00fcyle kar\u0131s\u0131na b\u0131rakm\u0131\u015flar; onu d\u00fcnyaya getiren o ak pak k\u0131z da uykudan uyand\u0131ktan bir saat sonra, hekimba\u015f\u0131n\u0131n s\u00f6yledi\u011fi gibi, ya \u00fcz\u00fcnt\u00fcn\u00fcn ya da veban\u0131n, ama kimilerine g\u00f6re bir kadeh \u015farapta ezilmi\u015f hemen etkileyen bir \u0130talyan zehirinin kurban\u0131 olmu\u015f. E\u011ferinin h\u00f6rg\u00fcc\u00fc \u00fczerinde \u00e7ocu\u011fu g\u00f6t\u00fcren u\u015fak yorgun at\u0131ndan e\u011filip ke\u00e7i \u00e7oban\u0131n\u0131n \u00e7erden \u00e7\u00f6pten kap\u0131s\u0131n\u0131 \u00e7alarken, prensesin cesedi de, kent kap\u0131lar\u0131n\u0131n d\u0131\u015f\u0131nda, b\u0131rak\u0131lm\u0131\u015f bir kilisenin avlusunda, s\u00f6ylentiye g\u00f6re i\u00e7inde ba\u015fka bir cesedin, d\u00fc\u011f\u00fcml\u00fc bir iple elleri arkas\u0131na ba\u011fl\u0131, g\u00f6\u011fs\u00fc k\u0131pk\u0131rm\u0131z\u0131 yaralarla delik de\u015fik, ola\u011fan\u00fcst\u00fc g\u00fczel, yabanc\u0131 bir delikanl\u0131n\u0131n uzat\u0131lm\u0131\u015f oldu\u011fu a\u00e7\u0131k bir mezara indirilmi\u015fmi\u015f.<\/p>\n
\u0130\u015fte halk\u0131n a\u011fz\u0131nda dola\u015fan f\u0131s\u0131lt\u0131lar\u0131n en hafifi b\u00f6yleydi. Ya\u015fl\u0131 Kral \u00f6l\u00fcm d\u00f6\u015fe\u011finde, belki b\u00fcy\u00fck g\u00fcnah\u0131n\u0131n vicdan azab\u0131yla, belki de yaln\u0131zca krall\u0131\u011f\u0131n kendi soyundan gitmemesini istedi\u011fi i\u00e7in, \u00e7ocu\u011fu \u00e7a\u011f\u0131rt\u0131p taht\u0131n varisi oldu\u011funu meclis \u00f6n\u00fcnde onaylam\u0131\u015f.<\/p>\n
Ya\u015fam\u0131n\u0131 b\u00f6yle derinden etkilemesi ka\u00e7\u0131n\u0131lmaz olan g\u00fczelli\u011fe kar\u015f\u0131 g\u00f6sterdi\u011fi \u015fa\u015f\u0131rt\u0131c\u0131 esrime belirtileri de, belki de bu hakk\u0131n kendisine tan\u0131nd\u0131\u011f\u0131 ilk anda ortaya \u00e7\u0131km\u0131\u015ft\u0131. Kendisine ayr\u0131lan dairedeki odalara girerken pe\u015finden gelenler, kendisi i\u00e7in haz\u0131rlanan zarif giysiyi, de\u011ferli m\u00fccevherleri g\u00f6r\u00fcnce dudaklar\u0131ndan ta\u015fan sevin\u00e7 sesleriyle, yaban\u0131l bir ne\u015fe i\u00e7inde, kaba saba deri g\u00f6mle\u011fini, koyun postundan yam\u00e7\u0131s\u0131n\u0131 \u00fcst\u00fcnden nas\u0131l att\u0131\u011f\u0131n\u0131 anlata anlata bitirememi\u015flerdi. Zaman zaman orman ya\u015fam\u0131n\u0131n g\u00fczel \u00f6zg\u00fcrl\u00fc\u011f\u00fcn\u00fc arar, her g\u00fcn\u00fcn b\u00fcy\u00fck bir b\u00f6l\u00fcm\u00fcn\u00fc dolduran s\u0131k\u0131c\u0131 saray t\u00f6renlerine hep i\u00e7in i\u00e7in bozulurmu\u015f. Ama art\u0131k t\u00fcm\u00fcyle kendi buyru\u011funda g\u00f6rd\u00fc\u011f\u00fc, ad\u0131na Joyeuse dedikleri bu saray, sanki keyfi i\u00e7in yeni d\u00f6\u015fenmi\u015f, yepyeni bir d\u00fcnya gibi geldi\u011finden; divan tart\u0131\u015fmalar\u0131yla sunum odas\u0131ndan kurtulur kurtulmaz, yald\u0131zl\u0131 tun\u00e7 aslanl\u0131, parlak somaki basamakl\u0131 koca merdivenlerden a\u015fa\u011f\u0131 ko\u015far, g\u00fczellikte ac\u0131y\u0131 uyu\u015fturacak bir ila\u00e7, sanki hastal\u0131ktan kurtar\u0131c\u0131 bir ila\u00e7 arayan biri gibi, oda oda, aral\u0131k aral\u0131k dola\u015f\u0131rm\u0131\u015f.<\/p>\n
Kendi dedi\u011fince, bu ke\u015fif gezintilerinde -do\u011frusu bunlar onun i\u00e7in ola\u011fan\u00fcst\u00fc bir d\u00fcnyada ger\u00e7ek gezilermi\u015f de- etekleri dalga dalga u\u00e7u\u015fan harmaniyeli, k\u0131vr\u0131m k\u0131vr\u0131m parlak kurdeleli, sar\u0131\u015f\u0131n, solgun saray i\u00e7o\u011flanlar\u0131n\u0131n da arkas\u0131ndan gelmesini ister; ama \u00e7o\u011funlukla sanat gizlerinin en iyi \u0131ss\u0131z yerlerde \u00f6\u011frenilebilece\u011fini, g\u00fczelli\u011fin de t\u0131pk\u0131 ak\u0131l gibi tek ba\u015f\u0131na kalmaktan ho\u015fland\u0131\u011f\u0131n\u0131 nerdeyse do\u011fa\u00fcst\u00fc bir olay gibi ani bir i\u00e7g\u00fcd\u00fcyle duyumsay\u0131p, yaln\u0131z kalmak istermi\u015f.<\/p>\n
Bu d\u00f6nemiyle ilgili pek \u00e7ok \u00f6yk\u00fc anlat\u0131l\u0131rd\u0131. Kentliler, ad\u0131na parlak bir s\u00f6ylev vermek \u00fczere gelen bir belediye ba\u015fkan\u0131n\u0131n, onu, birtak\u0131m yeni tanr\u0131lara tap\u0131nmay\u0131 betimleyen, Venedik’ten hen\u00fcz getirilmi\u015f b\u00fcy\u00fck bir resmin \u00f6n\u00fcnde tam bir tap\u0131nmayla diz \u00e7\u00f6kerken g\u00f6r\u00fcverdi\u011fini s\u00f6ylerlerdi. Ba\u015fka bir sefer saatlerce ortadan yitmi\u015f, uzun bir aramadan sonra saray\u0131n y\u0131ld\u0131z semti bur\u00e7lar\u0131ndan birinde, k\u00fc\u00e7\u00fck bir odada esrime i\u00e7inde bir insan gibi, \u00fcst\u00fcne Adonis’in \u00e7ehresi kaz\u0131lm\u0131\u015f bir Yunan m\u00fccevherine dalm\u0131\u015f bir durumda bulunmu\u015ftu. Bir kez de ta\u015f k\u00f6pr\u00fc kurulurken bulunup \u00fcst\u00fcnde Hadrian’\u0131n Bithynial\u0131 k\u00f6lesinin ad\u0131 bulunan antika bir yontunun mermer aln\u0131na s\u0131cak dudaklar\u0131n\u0131 de\u011fdirirken g\u00f6r\u00fclm\u00fc\u015f. Endimion’un g\u00fcm\u00fc\u015f bir resmi \u00fcst\u00fcnde ay \u0131\u015f\u0131\u011f\u0131n\u0131n izini aramak i\u00e7in tam bir gece ge\u00e7irmi\u015f diye \u00f6yk\u00fc s\u00fcrer gider.<\/p>\n
Belki de \u00fczerinde, b\u00fct\u00fcn az g\u00f6r\u00fcl\u00fcr ve de\u011ferli \u015feylerin b\u00fcy\u00fcleyen bir etkisi varm\u0131\u015f; bunlar\u0131 elde etmek \u00f6zlemiyle t\u00fcccarlar\u0131 d\u00f6rt bir y\u00f6ne g\u00f6ndermi\u015f; kimini kehribar pe\u015finden, kuzey denizlerinin kaba saba bal\u0131k\u00e7\u0131lar\u0131yla kayna\u015fmaya; kimini ancak firavunlar\u0131n mezarlar\u0131nda bulundu\u011fu s\u00f6ylenen t\u0131ls\u0131ml\u0131, \u015fa\u015f\u0131rt\u0131c\u0131 ye\u015fil firuzeyi aramak \u00fczere M\u0131s\u0131r’a; kimini ipek seccadeleriyle nak\u0131\u015fl\u0131 \u00e7anaklar\u0131 i\u00e7in \u0130ran’a; daha ba\u015fkalar\u0131n\u0131 da b\u00fcr\u00fcmc\u00fck, renkli fildi\u015fi, ayta\u015flar\u0131, ye\u015fim bilezikler, sandal a\u011fac\u0131, mavi mine ve halis y\u00fcnden \u015fal almak \u00fczere Hindistan’a yollam\u0131\u015ft\u0131.<\/p>\n
Ama onu en \u00e7ok u\u011fra\u015ft\u0131ran \u015fey, ta\u00e7 giyme g\u00fcn\u00fcnde giyece\u011fi giysiler; s\u0131rma i\u015flemeli ku\u015famla yakut kakmal\u0131 tac\u0131, bir de s\u0131ra s\u0131ra, halka halka incili asas\u0131yd\u0131. Do\u011frusu bu gece g\u00f6rkemli yata\u011f\u0131nda s\u0131rt \u00fcst\u00fc yatt\u0131\u011f\u0131 yerden geni\u015f ocakta yan\u0131p yan\u0131p k\u00fcl olan \u00e7am k\u00fct\u00fc\u011f\u00fcne dalm\u0131\u015f bakarken i\u015fte, bunu d\u00fc\u015f\u00fcn\u00fcyordu. Zaman\u0131n en \u00fcnl\u00fc ressamlar\u0131n\u0131n elinden \u00e7\u0131kan taslaklar aylarca \u00f6nce kendisine sunulmu\u015f, o da sanat\u00e7\u0131lar\u0131n gece g\u00fcnd\u00fcz u\u011fra\u015f\u0131p t\u0131pk\u0131s\u0131n\u0131 yapmalar\u0131n\u0131, bir yandan da yap\u0131tlar\u0131na uygun m\u00fccevherler bulmak i\u00e7in b\u00fct\u00fcn d\u00fcnyay\u0131 aramalar\u0131n\u0131 buyurmu\u015ftu. Bir d\u00fc\u015flem evreninde kendisini g\u00fczel bir kral olarak, krall\u0131\u011f\u0131n\u0131 da b\u00fcy\u00fck kilisenin y\u00fcksek mahfilinde g\u00f6r\u00fcrken, koyu renk g\u00f6zlerini par\u0131l par\u0131l parlatan bir g\u00fcl\u00fcmseme \u00e7ocuk dudaklar\u0131nda tutu\u015fup titriyordu.<\/p>\n
Biraz sonra yerinden kalkt\u0131, oca\u011f\u0131n oymal\u0131 sa\u00e7a\u011f\u0131na dayanarak solgun \u0131\u015f\u0131kl\u0131 odaya bakt\u0131. Duvarlar g\u00fczelli\u011fin utkusunu g\u00f6steren de\u011ferli dokumalarla kapl\u0131yd\u0131. K\u0131rm\u0131z\u0131 ve lacivert akikle bezenmi\u015f b\u00fcy\u00fck bir konsol bir k\u00f6\u015feyi dolduruyor, pencerenin tam kar\u015f\u0131s\u0131nda lake panolar\u0131 p\u00fcsk\u00fcrtme ve kakma alt\u0131n kapl\u0131, g\u00f6r\u00fclmemi\u015f bir bi\u00e7imde i\u015flenmi\u015f bir h\u00fccre \u00fcst\u00fcnde Venedik cam\u0131ndan zarif kadehlerle koyu damarl\u0131 m\u00fchresenkten bir k\u00e2se duruyordu. Yata\u011f\u0131n ipekli \u00f6rt\u00fcs\u00fcnde, uykunun yorgun ellerinden d\u00f6k\u00fclm\u00fc\u015f gibi solgun ha\u015fha\u015flar i\u015flenmi\u015fti; oymal\u0131 tavan\u0131n u\u00e7uk g\u00fcm\u00fc\u015f\u00fc \u00fczerinde de beyaz k\u00f6p\u00fckler gibi demet demet iri deveku\u015fu t\u00fcyleri sarkan kadife ask\u0131, oluklu uzun fildi\u015fi s\u0131r\u0131klara dayanm\u0131\u015ft\u0131. Ye\u015fil tun\u00e7tan bir nergis g\u00fclerek ba\u015f\u0131n\u0131n \u00fcst\u00fcnde cilal\u0131 bir ayna tutuyordu. Masa \u00fcst\u00fcnde cebelikum ta\u015f\u0131ndan yayvan bir \u00e7anak vard\u0131.<\/p>\n
D\u0131\u015far\u0131da g\u00f6lgeli evlerin \u00fcst\u00fcnde bulan\u0131k bir kabarc\u0131k gibi beliren kilisenin koskoca kubbesini, \u0131rmak boyundaki sisli setin \u00fcst\u00fcnde de a\u015fa\u011f\u0131 yukar\u0131 dola\u015fan yorgun n\u00f6bet\u00e7ileri g\u00f6rd\u00fc. Uzaklarda, bir yemi\u015f bah\u00e7esinde b\u00fclb\u00fcl \u00f6t\u00fcyordu. A\u00e7\u0131k pencereden hafif bir yasemin kokusu geldi; aln\u0131ndaki kumral kak\u00fcllerini arkaya at\u0131p eline bir lavta ald\u0131, parmaklar\u0131n\u0131 tellerin \u00fczerinde gezdirdi. A\u011f\u0131rla\u015fan g\u00f6z kapaklar\u0131 kapanmaya ba\u015flad\u0131; \u00fcst\u00fcne tuhaf bir bitkinlik \u00e7\u00f6kt\u00fc; g\u00fczel \u015feylerin b\u00fcy\u00fcs\u00fcn\u00fc ya da gizini o zamana dek hi\u00e7 b\u00f6yle g\u00fc\u00e7l\u00fc ve bu denli i\u00e7ten bir zevkle duymam\u0131\u015ft\u0131.<\/p>\n
Saat kulesinden gece yar\u0131s\u0131 duyulurken zile dokundu. \u0130\u00e7o\u011flanlar\u0131 da gelip ellerine g\u00fclsuyu serpe serpe yast\u0131\u011f\u0131n\u0131n \u00fcst\u00fcne \u00e7i\u00e7ekler serdiler, onu soydular. Birka\u00e7 dakika sonra odadan \u00e7\u0131km\u0131\u015flard\u0131, uykuya dald\u0131.<\/p>\n
Uykusunda bir de d\u00fc\u015f g\u00f6rd\u00fc. D\u00fc\u015f\u00fc \u015f\u00f6yleydi:<\/p>\n
Kendisini uzun, al\u00e7ak bir \u00e7at\u0131 alt\u0131nda, bir\u00e7ok tezg\u00e2htan \u00e7\u0131kan tak\u0131rt\u0131lar, u\u011fultular aras\u0131nda g\u00f6r\u00fcr gibi oldu. Solgun g\u00fcn \u0131\u015f\u0131\u011f\u0131 demir parmakl\u0131kl\u0131 pencerelerden s\u00fcz\u00fcl\u00fcp ona kasalar\u0131 \u00fczerine e\u011filmi\u015f dokumac\u0131lar\u0131n c\u0131l\u0131z y\u00fczlerini g\u00f6sterdi. Solgun, hasta y\u00fczl\u00fc \u00e7ocuklar, koca koca gergi tahtalar\u0131n\u0131n \u00fcst\u00fcnde iki b\u00fckl\u00fcm y\u0131\u011f\u0131lm\u0131\u015flar; mekikler eri\u015flerin aras\u0131nda i\u015fledik\u00e7e a\u011f\u0131r tirizleri kald\u0131r\u0131yorlar, mekikler durduk\u00e7a da tirizleri b\u0131rak\u0131p iplikleri peki\u015ftiyorlard\u0131. Y\u00fczleri k\u0131tl\u0131ktan ufalm\u0131\u015f, iskelet gibi elleri sallan\u0131p titriyordu. G\u00f6zleri a\u00e7l\u0131ktan b\u00fcy\u00fcm\u00fc\u015f birka\u00e7 kad\u0131n, bir masan\u0131n ba\u015f\u0131nda diki\u015f dikiyordu. Ortal\u0131kta \u00e7ok k\u00f6t\u00fc bir koku vard\u0131; hava pis ve a\u011f\u0131rd\u0131, duvarlardan nem damlay\u0131p s\u0131z\u0131yordu.<\/p>\n
Gen\u00e7 Kral dokumac\u0131lardan birine yakla\u015ft\u0131, yan\u0131nda durup onu seyretti.
Dokumac\u0131 da ona dik dik bak\u0131p, “Neden beni seyrediyorsun? Yoksa bizim efendinin yollad\u0131\u011f\u0131 casus musun?” dedi.<\/p>\n
Gen\u00e7 Kral, “Efendin kim?” diye sordu.<\/p>\n
Dokumac\u0131, “Efendimiz…” diye ac\u0131 ac\u0131 hayk\u0131rd\u0131, “…t\u0131pk\u0131 benim gibi bir adam. Evet, aram\u0131zda yaln\u0131zca \u015fu fark var: O, pek g\u00fczel giysiler giyer, ben pa\u00e7avralarla gezerim. Benim a\u00e7l\u0131ktan can\u0131m \u00e7\u0131karken, o \u00e7ok yemekten bir par\u00e7ac\u0131k olsun ac\u0131 duymaz.”<\/p>\n
Gen\u00e7 Kral, “\u00dclke \u00f6zg\u00fcr, sen de hi\u00e7 kimsenin tutsa\u011f\u0131 de\u011filsin,” dedi.<\/p>\n
Dokumac\u0131, “Sava\u015fta g\u00fc\u00e7l\u00fcler zay\u0131flar\u0131 tutsak eder, bar\u0131\u015fta da zenginler yoksullar\u0131. Ya\u015famak i\u00e7in \u00e7al\u0131\u015fmam\u0131z gerek; ama onlar bize \u00f6yle az g\u00fcndelik veriyorlar ki, \u00f6l\u00fcyoruz. B\u00fct\u00fcn g\u00fcn onlar\u0131n u\u011fruna yoruluruz, onlar \u00e7ekmecelerine alt\u0131nlar\u0131 istif eder, \u00e7ocuklar\u0131m\u0131z zamans\u0131z solup gider, sevdiklerimizin y\u00fczleri y\u0131pran\u0131r, \u00e7\u00f6ker. Biz \u00fcz\u00fcm\u00fc \u00e7i\u011fneriz, \u015farab\u0131 ba\u015fkalar\u0131 i\u00e7er. Ekini biz ekeriz, gene sofralar\u0131m\u0131z tamtak\u0131r kal\u0131r. Bizim de zincirlerimiz vard\u0131r ama hi\u00e7 kimse g\u00f6rmez. Tutsa\u011f\u0131z, ama gene de herkes bize \u00f6zg\u00fcrs\u00fcn der.”<\/p>\n
Kral, “Herkes b\u00f6yle mi?” diye sordu.<\/p>\n
Dokumac\u0131, “Gen\u00e7ler, ya\u015fl\u0131lar, erkekler gibi kad\u0131nlar, k\u00fc\u00e7\u00fcc\u00fck \u00e7ocuklar da, y\u0131llar\u0131n h\u0131\u015fm\u0131na u\u011frayanlar da, herkes, herkes b\u00f6yledir. T\u00fcccar bizi ezer, biz de umars\u0131z, istediklerini veririz. Papaz at s\u0131rt\u0131nda gidip tespih \u00e7eke \u00e7eke Tevrat okur, kimse bize ald\u0131rmaz. G\u00fcne\u015fsiz ge\u00e7itlerimizden yoksulluk a\u00e7 g\u00f6zleriyle s\u00fcr\u00fcne s\u00fcr\u00fcne ge\u00e7er, g\u00fcnah da ba\u015ftan \u00e7\u0131km\u0131\u015f surat\u0131yla pe\u015fine tak\u0131l\u0131p gider. Sabahlar\u0131, g\u00f6z\u00fcm\u00fcz\u00fc d\u00fc\u015fk\u00fcnl\u00fck a\u00e7ar, geceleri utan\u00e7 aram\u0131zda ya\u015far. \u0130yi de, bunlardan sana ne? Sen bizden de\u011filsin. Senin y\u00fcz\u00fcn \u00e7ok mutlu,” diye ka\u015flar\u0131n\u0131 \u00e7atarak d\u00f6n\u00fcp meki\u011fi tezg\u00e2ha att\u0131. Gen\u00e7 Kral masuraya sar\u0131l\u0131 alt\u0131n s\u0131rmay\u0131 g\u00f6rd\u00fc.<\/p>\n
\u00dcst\u00fcne b\u00fcy\u00fck bir deh\u015fet \u00e7\u00f6kt\u00fc; “Bu dokudu\u011fun kimin giysisi?” diye sordu.<\/p>\n
“Gen\u00e7 Kral’\u0131n ta\u00e7 giyme giysisi. Sana ne oluyor?”<\/p>\n
Gen\u00e7 Kral hayk\u0131ra hayk\u0131ra uyand\u0131. Oh, kendi odas\u0131ndayd\u0131; pencereden de kapkaranl\u0131k havan\u0131n ortas\u0131ndan sarkan bal rengi ay\u0131 g\u00f6rd\u00fc.<\/p>\n
Yeniden uykuya dal\u0131p d\u00fc\u015f g\u00f6rd\u00fc; d\u00fc\u015f\u00fc \u015f\u00f6yleydi:<\/p>\n
Kendisini y\u00fczlerce tutsa\u011f\u0131n k\u00fcrek \u00e7ekti\u011fi bir kalyonun g\u00fcvertesinde g\u00f6r\u00fcr gibi oldu. Kalyonun sahibi de yan\u0131ba\u015f\u0131nda bir hal\u0131n\u0131n \u00fcst\u00fcne oturmu\u015ftu. Abanoz kadar karayd\u0131; sar\u0131\u011f\u0131 da k\u0131rm\u0131z\u0131 ipektendi. Kulaklar\u0131n\u0131n memesine iri, g\u00fcm\u00fc\u015f k\u00fcpeler takm\u0131\u015ft\u0131, elinde de fildi\u015finden bir tart\u0131 tutuyordu.<\/p>\n
Tutsaklar \u00e7\u0131r\u00e7\u0131plakt\u0131, bellerinde yaln\u0131zca lime lime birer pe\u015ftamal vard\u0131. Her biri yan\u0131ndakine zincirle ba\u011fl\u0131yd\u0131. K\u0131zg\u0131n g\u00fcne\u015f \u00fczerlerine p\u0131r\u0131l p\u0131r\u0131l vuruyor, zincirler de ge\u00e7itlerden a\u015fa\u011f\u0131 yukar\u0131 ko\u015fup kay\u0131\u015f k\u0131rba\u00e7lar\u0131n\u0131 savuruyordu. Onlar da g\u00fc\u00e7s\u00fcz kollar\u0131n\u0131 uzat\u0131p suyun i\u00e7indeki a\u011f\u0131r k\u00fcrekleri \u00e7ekiyor; k\u00fcreklerin palas\u0131ndan tuzlu serpintiler u\u00e7up sekiyordu.<\/p>\n
Sonunda, k\u00fc\u00e7\u00fck bir koya var\u0131p iskandile ba\u015flad\u0131lar. K\u0131y\u0131dan hafif bir r\u00fczg\u00e2r esti, g\u00fcverteyi ve b\u00fcy\u00fck Latin yelkenini ince k\u0131z\u0131l bir toza b\u00fcr\u00fcd\u00fc. Yaban e\u015feklerine binmi\u015f \u00fc\u00e7 Arap ortaya \u00e7\u0131k\u0131p \u00fcstlerine m\u0131zrak ya\u011fd\u0131rd\u0131. Kalyonun sahibi eline boyal\u0131 bir yay al\u0131p i\u00e7lerinden birini g\u0131rtla\u011f\u0131ndan vurdu. Arap b\u00fct\u00fcn a\u011f\u0131rl\u0131\u011f\u0131yla k\u00f6p\u00fckl\u00fc dalgalar\u0131n i\u00e7ine yuvarland\u0131, arkada\u015flar\u0131 da d\u00f6rtnala ka\u00e7t\u0131. Sar\u0131 cara b\u00fcr\u00fcnm\u00fc\u015f bir kad\u0131n devesinin \u00fcst\u00fcnden cesede baka baka, onlar\u0131 a\u011f\u0131r a\u011f\u0131r izledi.<\/p>\n
Demir at\u0131p yelkenleri mayna eder etmez, zenciler ambara girip kur\u015fun a\u011f\u0131rl\u0131klar ba\u011fl\u0131 uzun bir ip merdiven getirdiler. Kalyonun sahibi merdivenin u\u00e7lar\u0131n\u0131 iki demir babaya s\u0131ms\u0131k\u0131 ba\u011flayarak a\u015fa\u011f\u0131 att\u0131. O zaman zincirler tutsaklar\u0131n en gencini yakalad\u0131lar, prangalar\u0131n\u0131 \u00e7\u00f6zd\u00fcler, burun delikleriyle kulaklar\u0131n\u0131 balmumuyla t\u0131kay\u0131p beline b\u00fcy\u00fck bir ta\u015f ba\u011flad\u0131lar. Tutsak yorgun arg\u0131n merdivenden a\u015fa\u011f\u0131 s\u00fcz\u00fcld\u00fc, denizin i\u00e7inde yitti. Batt\u0131\u011f\u0131 yerden birka\u00e7 su kabarc\u0131\u011f\u0131 y\u00fckseldi. \u00d6teki tutsaklardan kimileri, yandan bak\u0131yorlard\u0131. Kalyonun pruvas\u0131nda bir k\u00f6pekbal\u0131\u011f\u0131 \u00e7\u0131\u011f\u0131rtkan\u0131 oturmu\u015f, durmadan davul \u00e7al\u0131yordu.<\/p>\n
Biraz sonra dalg\u0131\u00e7 sudan soluya soluya sa\u011f elinde bir inciyle \u00e7\u0131kt\u0131, merdivene sar\u0131ld\u0131. Zenciler inciyi kap\u0131p onu geri kakt\u0131lar. Tutsaklar k\u00fcreklerin \u00fcst\u00fcnde uykuya dalm\u0131\u015flard\u0131.<\/p>\n
Bir daha, bir daha \u00e7\u0131kt\u0131; her \u00e7\u0131k\u0131\u015f\u0131nda g\u00fczel bir inci getirdi. Kalyonun sahibi hepsini tart\u0131p ye\u015fil deriden bir torba i\u00e7ine koydu.<\/p>\n
Gen\u00e7 Kral konu\u015fmaya \u00e7al\u0131\u015ft\u0131, ama dili dama\u011f\u0131na yap\u0131\u015fm\u0131\u015f gibiydi, dudaklar\u0131n\u0131 k\u0131m\u0131ldatamad\u0131. Zenciler \u00e7an\u00e7an edip bir dizi parlak boncuk i\u00e7in kavgaya tutu\u015ftular. \u0130ki turna teknenin \u00e7evresinde f\u0131r\u0131l f\u0131r\u0131l d\u00f6n\u00fcyordu.<\/p>\n
Derken dalg\u0131\u00e7 son kez \u00e7\u0131kt\u0131, getirdi\u011fi inci H\u00fcrm\u00fcz’\u00fcn b\u00fct\u00fcn incilerinden g\u00fczeldi. B\u00fct\u00fcn ay bi\u00e7imindeydi, rengi seher y\u0131ld\u0131z\u0131ndan akt\u0131. Ama tutsa\u011f\u0131n y\u00fcz\u00fcnde tuhaf bir solgunluk vard\u0131; g\u00fcverteye y\u0131\u011f\u0131l\u0131rken kulaklar\u0131yla burun deliklerinden kanlar f\u0131\u015fk\u0131rd\u0131, biraz titredi, sonra donakald\u0131. Zenciler omuzlar\u0131n\u0131 silkip cesedini k\u00fcpe\u015fteden a\u015fa\u011f\u0131 f\u0131rlatt\u0131lar. Kalyonun sahibi kahkahayla g\u00fcld\u00fc. Uzan\u0131p inciyi ald\u0131, onu g\u00f6r\u00fcnce \u00f6p\u00fcp ba\u015f\u0131na koydu, secdeye vard\u0131. “Gen\u00e7 Kral’\u0131n asas\u0131na uygun!” dedi ve zencilere demir almalar\u0131n\u0131 i\u015faret etti.<\/p>\n
Gen\u00e7 Kral bunu duyunca sesi \u00e7\u0131kt\u0131\u011f\u0131 kadar hayk\u0131rd\u0131 ve uyand\u0131. Pencereden tan yerini uzun kur\u015funi elleriyle solan y\u0131ld\u0131zlara sar\u0131l\u0131rken g\u00f6rd\u00fc.<\/p>\n
Gene uykuya dald\u0131, d\u00fc\u015f g\u00f6rd\u00fc; d\u00fc\u015f\u00fc \u015f\u00f6yleydi:<\/p>\n
Kendisini acayip yemi\u015fler, g\u00fczel zehirli \u00e7i\u00e7ekler sarkan kuytu bir ormanda dola\u015f\u0131yor g\u00f6rd\u00fc. Ge\u00e7erken yan\u0131ndan karay\u0131lanlar \u0131sl\u0131k \u00e7al\u0131yor, parlak t\u00fcyl\u00fc papa\u011fanlar hayk\u0131ra hayk\u0131ra daldan daha u\u00e7uyordu. S\u0131cak \u00e7amurda koskoca su kaplumba\u011falar\u0131 yatm\u0131\u015f uyuyordu. A\u011fa\u00e7lar \u015febeklerle, papa\u011fanlarla doluydu.<\/p>\n
Gitti, gitti, ta orman\u0131n ucuna var\u0131ncaya dek gitti. Orada kuru bir \u0131rma\u011f\u0131n yata\u011f\u0131nda korkun\u00e7 bir insan kalabal\u0131\u011f\u0131n\u0131n didi\u015fti\u011fini g\u00f6rd\u00fc. Kayan\u0131n \u00fczerinde kar\u0131ncalar gibi kayna\u015f\u0131yorlard\u0131. Toprakta derin \u00e7ukurlar kaz\u0131p i\u00e7ine giriyorlard\u0131. Kimileri, kayalar\u0131 koca koca balyozlarla par\u00e7al\u0131yor; kimileri de kumlar\u0131n i\u00e7inde d\u00f6rt ayak \u00e7abal\u0131yordu. Frenk incirlerini k\u00f6klerinden kopar\u0131yor, k\u0131z\u0131l \u00e7i\u00e7ekleri \u00e7i\u011fniyor; birbirlerine seslenip didiniyorlard\u0131. Hi\u00e7 kimse bo\u015f durmuyordu.<\/p>\n
Ma\u011faran\u0131n karanl\u0131\u011f\u0131nda \u00d6l\u00fcmle A\u00e7g\u00f6zl\u00fcl\u00fck onlar\u0131 seyrediyordu. \u00d6l\u00fcm, “Yoruldum, haydi \u00fc\u00e7te birini ver de gideyim,” dedi.<\/p>\n
Ama A\u00e7g\u00f6zl\u00fcl\u00fck ba\u015f\u0131n\u0131 kald\u0131rd\u0131 ve “Onlar benim u\u015faklar\u0131m” diye yan\u0131t verdi.
\u00d6l\u00fcm sordu: “Elinde ne var?”
A\u00e7g\u00f6zl\u00fcl\u00fck yan\u0131t verdi: “\u00dc\u00e7 ekin tanesi; bundan sana ne?”
\u00d6l\u00fcm, “Birini bana ver de bah\u00e7eme dikeyim, yaln\u0131zca bir tanesini ver gideyim,” diye ba\u011f\u0131rd\u0131.
A\u00e7g\u00f6zl\u00fcl\u00fck, “Sana hi\u00e7bir \u015fey vermem,” diye ellerini ku\u015fam\u0131n\u0131n kat yerleri aras\u0131na saklad\u0131.<\/p>\n
\u00d6l\u00fcm de g\u00fcl\u00fcp bir kase ald\u0131, bir su birikintisine dald\u0131rd\u0131, kaseden s\u0131tma \u00e7\u0131kt\u0131, koca kalabal\u0131\u011f\u0131n i\u00e7ine girdi. \u00dc\u00e7te birini k\u0131r\u0131p ge\u00e7irdi. Pe\u015finden so\u011fuk bir sis b\u00fcr\u00fcd\u00fc, \u00e7evresinden su y\u0131lanlar\u0131 y\u00fcr\u00fcd\u00fc.<\/p>\n
A\u00e7g\u00f6zl\u00fcl\u00fck de adamlar\u0131ndan \u00fc\u00e7te birinin k\u0131r\u0131ld\u0131\u011f\u0131n\u0131 g\u00f6r\u00fcnce g\u00f6\u011fs\u00fcn\u00fc d\u00f6v\u00fcp a\u011flad\u0131. Kupkuru k\u0131s\u0131r g\u00f6\u011fs\u00fcn\u00fc d\u00f6v\u00fcp ba\u011f\u0131r ba\u011f\u0131ra a\u011flad\u0131, “Adamlar\u0131m\u0131n \u00fc\u00e7te birine k\u0131yd\u0131n, defol oradan,” diye ba\u011f\u0131rd\u0131; “Tataristan da\u011flar\u0131nda sava\u015f var, iki taraf\u0131n kral\u0131 da seni \u00e7a\u011f\u0131r\u0131yor. Afganl\u0131lar kara \u00f6k\u00fcz\u00fc kurban etmi\u015fler, sava\u015fa gidiyorlar; kalkanlar\u0131n \u00fcst\u00fcne karg\u0131lar\u0131yla vurmu\u015flar, demir tolgalar\u0131n\u0131 da ba\u015flar\u0131na ge\u00e7irmi\u015fler. Benim derem senin nene gerek? Ne i\u00e7in durup kalacaks\u0131n? Haydi defol, bir daha da buraya gelme.”<\/p>\n
\u00d6l\u00fcm, “Yoo,” dedi; “Sen bana ekininden bir tane vermeden \u015furdan \u015furaya gitmem.”
Fakat A\u00e7g\u00f6zl\u00fcl\u00fck elini s\u0131ms\u0131k\u0131 kapay\u0131p di\u015flerini g\u0131c\u0131rdatt\u0131. “Sana hi\u00e7bir \u015fey vermem,” diye homurdand\u0131.<\/p>\n
\u00d6l\u00fcm de g\u00fcld\u00fc, kara bir ta\u015f al\u0131p orman\u0131n i\u00e7ine do\u011fru f\u0131rlatt\u0131; yaban\u0131l bald\u0131ran y\u0131\u011f\u0131n\u0131 aras\u0131ndan alev fistanl\u0131 Humma \u00e7\u0131kt\u0131. Kalabal\u0131\u011f\u0131n i\u00e7ine dald\u0131, \u00f6n\u00fcne gelene sald\u0131. Her dokundu\u011fu adam \u00f6ld\u00fc. Bast\u0131\u011f\u0131 yerlerde otlar sarar\u0131p soldu, o y\u00fcr\u00fcd\u00fc.<\/p>\n
A\u00e7g\u00f6zl\u00fcl\u00fck tir tir titredi, ba\u015f\u0131na k\u00fcl serpti, “K\u0131y\u0131c\u0131!” diye ba\u011f\u0131rd\u0131, “K\u0131y\u0131c\u0131! Hindistan’\u0131n sur \u00e7evrili kentlerinde k\u0131tl\u0131k var, Semerkand’\u0131n su hazneleri tamtak\u0131r olmu\u015f; M\u0131s\u0131r’\u0131n sur \u00e7evrili kentlerinde de k\u0131tl\u0131k var; \u00e7\u00f6l\u00fcn b\u00fct\u00fcn \u00e7ekirgeleri dolmu\u015f. Nil gene k\u0131y\u0131lar\u0131ndan ta\u015fmam\u0131\u015f, Rahipler \u0130zis’le Oziris’i \u0130len\u00e7lemi\u015f. Defol, seni arayanlara bak; adamlar\u0131m\u0131 bana b\u0131rak!”<\/p>\n
\u00d6l\u00fcm, “Yo!” dedi, “Sen bana bir ekin tanesi verinceye kadar gitmem.”
A\u00e7g\u00f6zl\u00fcl\u00fck, “Sana hi\u00e7bir \u015fey vermem,” dedi.
\u00d6l\u00fcm gene g\u00fcld\u00fc, parmaklar\u0131n\u0131 a\u011fz\u0131na sokup \u0131sl\u0131k \u00e7ald\u0131. Havadan u\u00e7a u\u00e7a bir kad\u0131n geldi. Aln\u0131nda Veba yaz\u0131l\u0131yd\u0131, \u00e7evresinde de iskeletleri \u00e7\u0131km\u0131\u015f akbabalar u\u00e7u\u015fuyordu. Kanatlar\u0131yla koya\u011f\u0131 kaplad\u0131lar. Hi\u00e7 kimse sa\u011f kalmad\u0131.
A\u00e7g\u00f6zl\u00fcl\u00fck \u00e7\u0131\u011fl\u0131k atarak ormandan ka\u00e7t\u0131. \u00d6l\u00fcm de k\u0131z\u0131l at\u0131na atlay\u0131p d\u00f6rtnala uzakla\u015ft\u0131. At\u0131n\u0131n ko\u015fmas\u0131 r\u00fczg\u00e2rdan h\u0131zl\u0131yd\u0131.
Koya\u011f\u0131n dibindeki \u00e7amurlardan ejderlerle pullu derili korkun\u00e7 canavarlar \u00e7\u0131kt\u0131. \u00c7akallar kumun \u00fczerinde z\u0131playarak burunlar\u0131yla havay\u0131 koklaya koklaya geldiler.
Gen\u00e7 Kral a\u011flayarak “Bu adamlar kimdi?” Ne ar\u0131yorlard\u0131?” diye sordu.
Arkas\u0131nda duran biri yan\u0131t verdi: “Bir kral\u0131n tac\u0131na yakut ar\u0131yorlard\u0131.”
Gen\u00e7 Kral \u00fcrperdi, geri d\u00f6n\u00fcnce elinde g\u00fcm\u00fc\u015f bir ayna tutan, hac\u0131 k\u0131l\u0131\u011f\u0131nda bir adam g\u00f6rd\u00fc.
Y\u00fcz\u00fcn\u00fcn rengi u\u00e7tu, sordu: “Ne Kral\u0131?”
Hac\u0131 yan\u0131t verdi: “Bu aynaya bak, g\u00f6r\u00fcrs\u00fcn.”
Aynaya bak\u0131p da kendi y\u00fcz\u00fcn\u00fc g\u00f6r\u00fcnce sesi \u00e7\u0131kt\u0131\u011f\u0131 kadar hayk\u0131ra hayk\u0131ra uyand\u0131. G\u00fcne\u015f odaya par\u0131l par\u0131l d\u00f6k\u00fcl\u00fcyor, bah\u00e7esinin \u015fen a\u011fa\u00e7lar\u0131nda ku\u015flar \u00f6t\u00fcyordu.
Saray ba\u015fyazman\u0131yla devletin y\u00fcksek g\u00f6revlileri gelip ululamalar\u0131n\u0131 sundular. \u0130\u00e7o\u011flanlar\u0131 da s\u0131rmal\u0131 ku\u015fam\u0131n\u0131 getirip tac\u0131yla asas\u0131n\u0131 kar\u015f\u0131s\u0131na koydular.
Gen\u00e7 Kral bakt\u0131. \u00c7ok g\u00fczel \u015feylerdi. Bunlar o ana dek g\u00f6rd\u00fc\u011f\u00fc \u015feylerin hepsinden g\u00fczeldi. Ama d\u00fc\u015flerini an\u0131msad\u0131. \u0130\u00e7o\u011flanlar\u0131na, “Kald\u0131r\u0131n bunlar\u0131; giymeyece\u011fim!” dedi.
G\u00f6revliler \u015fa\u015f\u0131rd\u0131. Kimileri de g\u00fcld\u00fc, \u00e7\u00fcnk\u00fc \u015faka ediyor sanm\u0131\u015flard\u0131.
Ama Kral cidd\u00ee bir sesle bir daha s\u00f6yledi, “Kald\u0131r\u0131n \u015funlar\u0131, g\u00f6z\u00fcm g\u00f6rmesin. Vars\u0131n ta\u00e7 giyme g\u00fcn\u00fcm olsun, giymeyece\u011fim. \u00c7\u00fcnk\u00fc bu ku\u015fam \u00fcz\u00fcn\u00e7 tezg\u00e2h\u0131nda, ac\u0131n\u0131n ak elleriyle dokundu. Yakutun y\u00fcre\u011finde kan var; incinin i\u00e7inde de \u00f6l\u00fcm!” deyip \u00fc\u00e7 d\u00fc\u015f\u00fcn\u00fc de anlatt\u0131.
G\u00f6revliler bunu duyunca birbirlerine bak\u0131p, “Kesinlikle akl\u0131n\u0131 ka\u00e7\u0131rd\u0131; \u00e7\u00fcnk\u00fc d\u00fc\u015f d\u00fc\u015ft\u00fcr, d\u00fc\u015flem de d\u00fc\u015flem. Bunlar insan\u0131n bel ba\u011flayaca\u011f\u0131 ger\u00e7ek \u015feyler de\u011fildir. Bizim i\u00e7in didinen insanlar\u0131n ya\u015fam\u0131ndan bize ne? \u0130nsan ekinciyi g\u00f6r\u00fcnceye dek ekmek yemeyecek; ba\u011fc\u0131yla g\u00f6r\u00fc\u015fmeden \u015farap i\u00e7meyecek mi?” diye f\u0131s\u0131ldad\u0131lar.
Derken Saray Ba\u015fyazman\u0131 Gen\u00e7 Kral’a gelip, “Efendimiz, yalvar\u0131r\u0131m, bu kara d\u00fc\u015f\u00fcncelerinizi b\u0131rak\u0131n. \u015eu g\u00fczel giysiyi kutsal bedeninize giyin, bu tac\u0131 ba\u015f\u0131n\u0131za tak\u0131n. Kral k\u0131l\u0131\u011f\u0131na girmezseniz, halk sizin kral oldu\u011funuzu nerden bilsin?” dedi.
Gen\u00e7 Kral onun y\u00fcz\u00fcne bakt\u0131, “Sahi mi? E\u011fer kral ku\u015fam\u0131m olmazsa benim kral oldu\u011fumu bilemezler mi?” diye sordu.
Ba\u015fyazman, “Bilemezler efendimiz,” diye hayk\u0131rd\u0131.
“Ben kral davran\u0131\u015fl\u0131 insanlar var san\u0131yordum, ama, belki senin dedi\u011fin gibidir. Ama gene de ku\u015fam\u0131m\u0131 giymeyece\u011fim; bu tac\u0131 da giyecek de\u011filim. Ben bu saraya nas\u0131l geldimse \u00f6yle \u00e7\u0131kar\u0131m,” dedi.
Hepsinin \u00e7ekilmesini buyurdu; yaln\u0131zca bir ki\u015fiyi, arkada\u015f diye kendisinden bir ya\u015f k\u00fc\u00e7\u00fck bir \u00e7ocu\u011fu, bir i\u00e7o\u011flan\u0131n\u0131 al\u0131koydu. Hizmetinde yaln\u0131zca onu b\u0131rakt\u0131; duru suda y\u0131kand\u0131ktan sonra b\u00fcy\u00fck, boyal\u0131 bir sand\u0131k a\u00e7t\u0131; da\u011f ete\u011finde ke\u00e7i \u00e7oban\u0131n\u0131n t\u00fcyl\u00fc ke\u00e7ilerine bakarken giydi\u011fi deri g\u00f6mlekle kaba saba koyun postu yam\u00e7\u0131s\u0131n\u0131 \u00e7\u0131kard\u0131; bunlar\u0131 giydi; eline de hantal \u00e7oban sopas\u0131n\u0131 ald\u0131.
K\u00fc\u00e7\u00fck i\u00e7o\u011flan\u0131 iri mavi g\u00f6zlerini a\u00e7\u0131p g\u00fcl\u00fcmseyerek, “Efendimiz, ku\u015fam\u0131nla asan\u0131 g\u00f6rd\u00fcm ama tac\u0131n nerede?” dedi.
Gen\u00e7 Kral da balkondan yukar\u0131 sar\u0131lm\u0131\u015f yaban\u0131l dikenden bir s\u00fcrg\u00fcn kopar\u0131p b\u00fckt\u00fc, bir halka yap\u0131p kendi ba\u015f\u0131na takt\u0131.
“Benim tac\u0131m bu olacak” yan\u0131t\u0131n\u0131 verdi.
Bu k\u0131l\u0131kta odas\u0131ndan \u00e7\u0131k\u0131p sarayl\u0131lar\u0131n bulundu\u011fu b\u00fcy\u00fck sofaya ge\u00e7ti.
Sarayl\u0131lar e\u011flendi; kimileri de seslenip, “Efendimiz, halk krallar\u0131n\u0131 bekliyor. Siz onlara dilenci g\u00f6steriyorsunuz,” dediler. \u00d6tekiler \u00f6fkeliydi; “\u00dclkemizin y\u00fcz karas\u0131 oldu, bizim ba\u015f\u0131m\u0131za ge\u00e7meye uygun de\u011fil!” dediler. Onlara yan\u0131t bile vermeden ge\u00e7ip parlak somaki merdivenlerden indi; tun\u00e7 kap\u0131lardan \u00e7\u0131kt\u0131, at\u0131na binip kiliseye do\u011fru s\u00fcrd\u00fc. K\u00fc\u00e7\u00fck i\u00e7o\u011flan\u0131 da yan\u0131nda ko\u015fuyordu.
Halk g\u00fcl\u00fcp, “Kral delisi olacak; ata binmi\u015f geliyor!” diye alay etti.
Dizginleri \u00e7ekip, “Bilemediniz, ben Kral\u0131m” diye d\u00fc\u015f\u00fcn\u00fc anlatt\u0131.
Kalabal\u0131\u011f\u0131n i\u00e7inden biri \u00e7\u0131kt\u0131, ac\u0131 ac\u0131 yan\u0131p yak\u0131ld\u0131, “Efendim, zenginlerin savurganl\u0131\u011f\u0131ndan yoksullara can geldi\u011fini bilmiyor musunuz? Sizin debdebenizle biz besleniriz. Sizin keyfinizden bize ekmek \u00e7\u0131kar. Zorlu bir efendi hesab\u0131na didinmek ac\u0131 \u015fey, ama didinecek efendisi olmamak daha ac\u0131; karn\u0131m\u0131z\u0131 kargalar m\u0131 doyuruyor san\u0131yorsunuz? B\u00fct\u00fcn bunlar i\u00e7in elinde bir umar var m\u0131? M\u00fc\u015fteriye ‘bu kadara alacaks\u0131n’; sat\u0131c\u0131ya ‘\u015fu kadara satacaks\u0131n,’ diyebilir misiniz? Hi\u00e7 ummam. Bunun i\u00e7in saray\u0131n\u0131za gidin de g\u00fczel eflatun giysinizi giyin. Bizden, bizim ac\u0131lar\u0131m\u0131zdan size ne?”
Gen\u00e7 Kral, “Vars\u0131llarla yoksullar karde\u015f, de\u011fil mi?” diye sordu.
Adam, “\u00f6yle,” dedi, “Vars\u0131l karde\u015fin ad\u0131na da Kabil derler.”
Gen\u00e7 Kral’\u0131n g\u00f6zleri doldu, halk\u0131n m\u0131r\u0131lt\u0131s\u0131 aras\u0131nda at\u0131n\u0131 s\u00fcrd\u00fc. K\u00fc\u00e7\u00fck i\u00e7 o\u011flan\u0131 korkup ka\u00e7t\u0131.
Kilisenin b\u00fcy\u00fck kap\u0131s\u0131na var\u0131nca, askerler m\u0131zraklar\u0131n\u0131 ileri uzat\u0131p “Burada ne ar\u0131yorsun? Buraya kraldan ba\u015fka kimse giremez,” dediler.
Y\u00fcz\u00fc \u00f6fkeyle k\u0131zard\u0131; “Kral benim” diye m\u0131zraklar\u0131 itip i\u00e7eri girdi.
Ya\u015fl\u0131 Piskopos, onu ke\u00e7i \u00e7oban\u0131 k\u0131l\u0131\u011f\u0131nda g\u00f6r\u00fcnce merakla taht\u0131ndan kalk\u0131p kar\u015f\u0131lamaya gitti, ‘O\u011flum, bu kral k\u0131l\u0131\u011f\u0131 m\u0131? Ba\u015f\u0131na hangi tac\u0131 giydireyim? Eline ne asas\u0131 vereyim? Bu senin i\u00e7in sevin\u00e7 g\u00fcn\u00fc olmal\u0131, utan\u00e7 g\u00fcn\u00fc de\u011fil,” dedi.
Gen\u00e7 Kral, “Yas\u0131n bi\u00e7ti\u011fini sevin\u00e7 giyer mi?” deyip g\u00f6rd\u00fc\u011f\u00fc \u00fc\u00e7 d\u00fc\u015f\u00fc de anlatt\u0131.
Piskopos d\u00fc\u015fleri duyunca ka\u015flar\u0131n\u0131 \u00e7at\u0131p, “O\u011flum,” dedi, “Ben ya\u015fl\u0131y\u0131m, \u00f6mr\u00fcm\u00fcn k\u0131\u015f\u0131nday\u0131m. Bu koca d\u00fcnyada pek \u00e7ok k\u00f6t\u00fcl\u00fck oldu\u011funu biliyorum. Pek g\u00f6zl\u00fc haydutlar da\u011flardan iniyor, \u00e7ocuklar\u0131 ka\u00e7\u0131r\u0131p Berberilere sat\u0131yor. Aslanlar kervanlar\u0131n yolunda bekle\u015fip develerin \u00fcst\u00fcne at\u0131yor. Koyaktaki ekini yaban domuzu yok ediyor, yama\u00e7taki ba\u011flar\u0131 da tilkiler kemiriyor. Korsanlar k\u0131y\u0131lar\u0131 talan ediyor, bal\u0131k\u00e7\u0131lar\u0131n gemilerini yak\u0131p ellerinden a\u011flar\u0131n\u0131 al\u0131yor. Tuzlu batakl\u0131klarda c\u00fczaml\u0131lar bar\u0131n\u0131r. Kam\u0131\u015f \u00e7itinden evleri vard\u0131r. Yanlar\u0131na kimse yakla\u015fmaz. Kentlerde dilenciler dola\u015f\u0131r, yiyeceklerini k\u00f6peklerle payla\u015f\u0131r. Sen bunlar\u0131n \u00f6n\u00fcne ge\u00e7ebilir misin? C\u00fczaml\u0131y\u0131 yata\u011f\u0131na, dilenciyi sofrana alabilir misin? Aslan rican\u0131 dinler, yaban domuzu buyru\u011funu tutar m\u0131? D\u00fc\u015fk\u00fcnl\u00fc\u011f\u00fc yaratan senden ak\u0131ll\u0131 de\u011fil mi? \u0130\u015fte bunun i\u00e7in tuttu\u011fun yolu kutsam\u0131yorum. At\u0131na binip saraya d\u00f6n, ne\u015feni tak\u0131n\u0131p krala uygun giysini giyin ku\u015fan da, ba\u015f\u0131na alt\u0131n ta\u00e7 giydireyim; eline de incili asa vereyim. D\u00fc\u015flerine gelince, art\u0131k onlar\u0131 d\u00fc\u015f\u00fcnme; d\u00fcnyan\u0131n y\u00fck\u00fc bir adam\u0131n ta\u015f\u0131yamayaca\u011f\u0131 denli b\u00fcy\u00fck, \u00fcz\u00fcnt\u00fcs\u00fc de bir y\u00fcre\u011fin dayanamayaca\u011f\u0131 denli a\u011f\u0131rd\u0131r.”
Gen\u00e7 Kral, “Bunu bu yap\u0131da s\u00f6yl\u00fcyorsun, ha?” diye Piskopos’u b\u0131rak\u0131p mahfile \u00e7\u0131kt\u0131, \u0130sa’n\u0131n yontusu \u00f6n\u00fcnde durdu.
Sa\u011f\u0131nda, solunda son derece g\u00fczel alt\u0131n kaplar, sar\u0131 \u015farap dolu tasla kutsal ya\u011f dolu s\u00fcrahi vard\u0131. \u0130sa’n\u0131n yontucu\u011fu \u00f6n\u00fcnde dize geldi; m\u00fccevherli mihrab\u0131n yan\u0131nda b\u00fcy\u00fck mumlar yan\u0131yor, bunlar dumanlar\u0131 mavi \u00e7elenkler halinde kubbenin i\u00e7inde k\u0131vr\u0131l\u0131yordu. Ba\u015f\u0131n\u0131 e\u011fip yakar\u0131ya dald\u0131. Papazlar da kaskat\u0131 c\u00fcppeleriyle mahfilden \u00e7ekilip gittiler.
Birdenbire d\u0131\u015fardan h\u0131r\u00e7\u0131n bir g\u00fcr\u00fclt\u00fc geldi. Sarayl\u0131lar titrek tu\u011flar\u0131, parlak \u00e7elik kalkanlar\u0131yla yal\u0131n k\u0131l\u0131\u00e7 i\u00e7eri girdiler. “Nerde o d\u00fc\u015f budalas\u0131?” diye ba\u011f\u0131rd\u0131lar, “Nerede o dilenci k\u0131l\u0131kl\u0131 Kral? Yurdumuzun y\u00fcz karas\u0131 o o\u011flan nerde? Onu kesinlikle gebertece\u011fiz; \u00e7\u00fcnk\u00fc bizim ba\u015f\u0131m\u0131za ge\u00e7meye uygun de\u011fil.”
Gen\u00e7 Kral ba\u015f\u0131n\u0131 bir daha e\u011fip yakard\u0131, yakarmas\u0131n\u0131 bitirince aya\u011fa kalkt\u0131, onlara \u00fcz\u00fcnt\u00fcl\u00fc \u00fcz\u00fcnt\u00fcl\u00fc bakt\u0131.
O! G\u00fcne\u015f, renkli pencerelerden, kral\u0131n \u00fczerine bir \u00e7a\u011flayan gibi d\u00f6k\u00fcld\u00fc; tel tel \u0131\u015f\u0131n demetleri, \u00fcst\u00fcne keyfi i\u00e7in haz\u0131rlanan ku\u015famdan g\u00fczel, s\u0131rmal\u0131 bir \u00fcstl\u00fck \u00f6rd\u00fc. Elindeki \u00f6l\u00fc sopa \u00e7i\u00e7eklendi, incilerden beyaz zambaklar a\u00e7t\u0131. Ba\u015f\u0131ndaki kuru diken \u00e7i\u00e7eklendi, yakutlardan al g\u00fcller verdi. Zambak en de\u011ferli incilerden daha beyazd\u0131, saplar\u0131 da p\u0131r\u0131l \u0131ar\u0131l g\u00fcm\u00fc\u015ftendi. G\u00fcller has yakuttan ald\u0131, yapraklar\u0131 da d\u00f6vme alt\u0131ndand\u0131.
Orada, Kral \u00fcstl\u00fc\u011f\u00fc i\u00e7inde durdu, m\u00fccevherli mihrab\u0131n kap\u0131lar\u0131 ard\u0131na de\u011fin a\u00e7\u0131ld\u0131; kutsal su kasesinin renk renk \u0131\u015f\u0131nl\u0131 billurundan g\u00f6r\u00fclmemi\u015f b\u00fcy\u00fcl\u00fc bir \u0131\u015f\u0131k sa\u00e7\u0131ld\u0131. Orada bir kral ku\u015fam\u0131 i\u00e7inde durdu, \u00e7evresine Tanr\u0131’n\u0131n g\u00f6rkemi doldu, oyuk mihraplar\u0131n i\u00e7inden Azizler de k\u0131m\u0131ldar gibi oldu. Onlar\u0131n \u00f6n\u00fcnde g\u00fczel bir Kral ku\u015fam\u0131 i\u00e7inde durdu. Orgun m\u00fczi\u011fi u\u011ful u\u011ful u\u011fuldad\u0131, trompet\u00e7iler trompetlerini \u00fcfledi, ilahici \u00e7ocuklar ilahilerini okudu.
Halk korkuyla kar\u0131\u015f\u0131k bir sayg\u0131yla dize geldi; sarayl\u0131lar, k\u0131l\u0131\u00e7lar\u0131n\u0131 k\u0131nlar\u0131na sokup ba\u015f e\u011fdiler; Piskopos’un y\u00fcz\u00fcn\u00fcn rengi u\u00e7tu, elleri titredi; “Sana tac\u0131 benden b\u00fcy\u00fck biri giydirdi!” diye hayk\u0131r\u0131p onun \u00f6n\u00fcnde dize geldi.
Gen\u00e7 Kral y\u00fcksek mahfilden indi, halk\u0131n aras\u0131ndan ge\u00e7ip saraya d\u00f6nd\u00fc. Fakat kimse y\u00fcz\u00fcne bakmaya cesaret edemedi, y\u00fcz\u00fc Melek y\u00fcz\u00fcyd\u00fc.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Ta\u00e7 giyme t\u00f6reni i\u00e7in kararla\u015ft\u0131r\u0131lan g\u00fcn\u00fcn gecesi, Gen\u00e7 Kral s\u00fcsl\u00fc odas\u0131nda yaln\u0131z oturuyordu. B\u00fct\u00fcn saray ileri gelenleri, zaman\u0131n t\u00f6ren g\u00f6reneklerine g\u00f6re yerlere dek e\u011filerek iznini isteyip saray g\u00f6rg\u00fc kurallar\u0131 profes\u00f6r\u00fcnden son bir ders almak \u00fczere saray\u0131n b\u00fcy\u00fck sofas\u0131na \u00e7ekilmi\u015flerdi; i\u00e7lerinde kimilerinin pek do\u011fal davran\u0131\u015flar\u0131 vard\u0131 ki, bir sarayl\u0131da b\u00f6yle bir davran\u0131\u015f\u0131n pek k\u00f6t\u00fc bir eksik […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[115],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-5894","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-ceviri-oykuler"},"yoast_head":"\n