Page 10 - Vladimir Bartol catalogue, 2019

10AlamutNothing is true, everything is permitted.— e Supreme Ismaili MottoOMNIA IN NUMERO ET MENSURA(an excerpt from Chapter 3. Page 83-88)Since that night Miriam became more trusting toward Halima. In their free time she would teach her writing and have her practice her reading. ey both enjoyed this process. Halima would muster all her ability to avoid embarrassing herself in front of her teacher, and as a result she made quick progress. Miriam was generous with praise. As an incentive she would tell her stories from her childhood, about life in her father’s house in Aleppo, about the battles between the Christians and the Jews, about the wide seas and the ships that came from far-o lands. rough all this they grew quite close, becoming like older and younger sisters.One evening when Miriam entered the bedroom and undressed, she said to Halima, “Stop pretending you’re asleep. Come over here.”“What? Over there? Me?” Halima asked, startled.“Or maybe you don’t want to? Come on. I have something to tell you.”Trembling all over, Halima crawled in beside her. She lay on the very edge of the bed for fear of giving away her excitement, and out of some incomprehensible reluctance to touch her. But Miriam pulled her close anyway, and only at this point did Halima feel free to press close.“I’m going to tell you about the sorrows of my life,” Miriam began. “You already know that my father was a merchant in Aleppo. He was very rich and his ships sailed far to the west, laden with precious wares. As a child I had everything my heart desired. ey dressed me in exquisite silks, adorned me with gold and gems, and three slaves were at my command. I got used to giving commands and it only seemed natural that everybody should submit to me.” “How happy you must have been!” Halima sighed.“Would you believe that I wasn’t particularly?” Miriam replied. “At least it strikes me