Young Turk Read Free Page B

vaguely. Still smarting from my defeat, I wasn’t prepared to be convinced. I put on my shirt and started walking.
    She pointed at the booth advertising Fatma, the medium. ‘Wait! I need to go in there.’
    I grumbled. ‘Do you have to?’
    ‘Yes. I won’t be long.’
    I waited, curiosity overcoming my irritation.
    When she came out a few minutes later, she was smiling – for the first time that day.
    That fuelled my interest. ‘What do you want a medium for?’
    ‘She’s not just a medium. She’s also a healer.’
    ‘So?’
    ‘For Naim.’
    ‘What on earth for?’
    ‘Let’s have an ice-cream – I’ll tell you.’
    We bought our ice-creams and sat on a bench. Gül’s smile had evaporated. She stared, seemingly nowhere, with wide-open eyes.
    She looked so vulnerable that my bad humour dispersed. I ruffled her hair. ‘I’m all ears.’
    To my surprise, she held on to my hand. ‘I’m scared.’
    ‘Because of Naim’s illness? It’s only jaundice.’
    ‘He’s had it for over a month. He’s very weak now. It’ll get worse.’
    ‘Come on ...’
    ‘I’m never wrong about these things. I see all the possibilities – all that might happen. All the calamities. That’s what’s so scary. Naim needs a healer. Fatma can make him better.’
    ‘Would your parents agree?’
    She sneered. ‘My parents? Trust their son to a Gypsy? Not in this world.’
    ‘I see.’
    ‘It’s got to be done secretly. I have to smuggle Fatma into the house.’
    ‘That’s asking for trouble!’
    ‘I’ll need your help ...’
    ‘Me? Oh, no! I mean, a healer doing things to Naim! When there are plenty of good doctors ...’
    ‘Please. You’ve got to help me! If Fatma doesn’t treat Naim, he’ll die!’
    ‘Don’t be silly!’
    ‘I’m telling you! I can see Death! I can see how Naim will suffer! All the horrible details!’ She started crying. ‘Naim will die unless we intervene! Believe me!’
    I remembered that time at Suadiye beach when she had somehow communicated with Deniz to save Ester. I also remembered her claiming to have saved me the second time I had diphtheria by getting the doctor to perform a tracheotomy. ‘It’s difficult to make sense ...’
    ‘I know. But it’s true. I see these things. I see Death. That’s why I’m so scared.’
    I couldn’t help it, I believed her. ‘What will the Gypsy do?’
    ‘What do you think? Lay hands. Give herbs. Their way ...’
    ‘Nothing else?’
    ‘What else? Will you help me?’
    How could I refuse? ‘What do I have to do?’
    ‘Late tonight. After everybody’s gone to bed. Bring Fatma to our house. I’ll let you in. She said she only needs a few minutes ...’
    I nodded, but remained apprehensive.
    She kissed me. ‘You’re a true friend!’
    ‘One thing. Do you see things about yourself?’
    ‘Never, thank God. Why?’
    ‘What if things go wrong tonight?’
    ‘They won’t. You’ll be there. I haven’t seen anything happening to you.’

    Gül lived in a small house by the sea at the end of a parade of taverns that catered for the staff and passengers of Haydarpaşa, the railway station that served Anatolia and the countries beyond. Thus, the neighbourhood was busy day and night, and no one – not even the night-watchman – paid any attention to Fatma and me as we made our way in the early hours of the morning.
    Gül had been on the lookout at the window and opened the door the moment we arrived at the house.
    Guiding us with a torch, she led us to her brother’s room.
    Naim, clammy with sweat, was sleeping restlessly.
    Fatma lit a match, then took out a razor blade and held it to the flame.
    That made me uneasy. I whispered. ‘What are you doing?’
    Fatma muttered. ‘Sterilizing.’ She directed me to the other side of the bed. ‘Hold him by the shoulders. Gül – hold his head steady.’
    I stammered, aghast. ‘You’re not going to cut him?’
    Fatma growled urgently. ‘Hold his shoulders!’
    Gül, clutching Naim’s head with both