She should have been frightened of what he'd do in the morning. But, strangely,she felt exuberant. She'd done what she'd wanted to do for several years now,and the deed had discharged much of her anger - for the time being, anyway.
She went to her room and tossed and turned for a while, thinking of how muchbetter life would be if she could get rid of Eevroen.
Her last thoughts were of what life could be if she'd got the jewel that Bennahad thrown to the rat.
5
She awoke an hour or so past dawn, a very late time for her, and smelled breadbaking. After she'd sat on the chamberpot, she rose and pushed the curtainaside. She was curious about the lack of noise in the next room. Eevroen wasgone. So were the children. Wallu, hearing the little bells on the curtain,turned.
'I sent the children out to play,' she said. 'Eevroen woke up about dawn. Hepretended he didn't know what had happened, but I could tell that he did. Hegroaned now and then - his head I suppose. He ate some breakfast, and then hegot out fast.'
Wallu smiled. 'I think he's afraid of you.'
'Good!' Masha said. 'I hope he keeps on being afraid.'
She sat down while Wallu, hobbling around, served her a half loaf of bread, ahunk of goat cheese, and an orange. Masha wondered if her husband alsoremembered what she'd said to her mother about Benna and the jewel.
He had.
When she went to the bazaar, carrying the folding chair in which she put herdental patients, she was immediately surrounded by hundreds of men and women.All wanted to know about the jewel.
Masha thought, 'The damn fool!'
Eevroen, it seemed, had procured free drinks with his tale. He'd staggeredaround everywhere, the taverns, the bazaar, the farmers' market, the waterfront,