New Naqqali
The Blind Owl · scene 18 of 77 · part one

The old man under the cypress offers his hearse

In light rain he goes out for a porter and finds a hunchbacked old man in a scarf seated under a cypress. With a two-toned laugh the old man offers his hearse and coffins and says he already knows the house.

Scene 18 of The Blind Owl, The old man under the cypress offers his hearse: ink-and-wash drawing
Lines
P054.L01–P055.L03
Where
misty ground near his house, under a cypress
Who
narrator; the hunchbacked old man (hearse driver)
Kind
action · Strong scene
Echoes
Scene 5: The vision through the vent, Scene 4: The uncle arrives on the thirteenth of Nowruz

Who and what is here

The hunchbacked old manپیرمرد قوزیThe narrator’s roomاطاق منThe narrator’s houseخانهShah AbdolazimشاعبدالعظیمThe old suitcaseچمدان کهنهThe cypress treeدرخت سروThe neck-scarfشال گردنThe hearseکالسکهٔ نعش‌کش

For the illustration In rain and mist, a scarf-wrapped hunchback squatting under a cypress, laughing, as the narrator approaches.

The text of the scene

Sadegh Hedayat’s Persian beside our literal English, line by line.

P054.L01

هوا دوباره ابر و باران خفیفی شروع شده بود. از اطاقم بیرون رفتم تا شاید کسی را پیدا کنم که چمدان را همراه من بیاورد.

The sky had clouded over again and a light rain had begun. I went out of my room, perhaps to find someone who could bring the suitcase with me.

P054.L02

در آن حوالی دیاری دیده نمی‌شد.

Not a soul was to be seen nearby.

P054.L03

کمی دورتر درست دقت کردم از پشت هوای مه‌آلود پیرمردی را دیدم که قوز کرده و زیر یک درخت سرو نشسته بود.

A little farther away, when I looked closely, I saw through the misty air an old man, hunchbacked and seated beneath a cypress tree.

P054.L04

صورتش را که با شال گردن پهنی پیچیده بود دیده نمی‌شد.

His face, which he had wrapped in a broad neck scarf, could not be seen.

P054.L05

آهسته نزدیک او رفتم؛ هنوز چیزی نگفته بودم، پیرمرد خندهٔ دورگهٔ خشک و زننده‌ای کرد به‌طوری که موهای تنم راست شد؛ و گفت:

I slowly approached him; before I had said anything, the old man gave a dry, grating, two-toned laugh that made the hairs on my body stand on end; and he said:

P054.L06

«اگه حمال خواستی من خودم حاضرم هان... یه کالسکهٔ نعش‌کش هم دارم...

“If you want a porter, I myself am ready, eh... I have a hearse carriage too...

P054.L07

من هر روز مرده‌ها رو می‌برم شاعبدالعظیم خاک می‌سپرم ها...

Every day I take the dead to Shah Abdol-Azim and bury them, you know...

P054.L08

من تابوت هم می‌سازم، به‌اندازهٔ هر کسی تابوت دارم به‌طوری که مو نمی‌زنه، من خودم حاضرم، همین الان!»

I also make coffins; I have a coffin to fit anyone, so that it is not out by a hair; I am ready myself, right now!”

P055.L01

قهقه خندید بطوری که شانه‌هایش می‌لرزید.

He laughed aloud, so that his shoulders shook.

P055.L02

من با دست اشاره به‌سمت خانه‌ام کردم. ولی او فرصت حرف زدن به من نداد، و گفت:

I gestured toward my house with my hand. But he gave me no chance to speak, and said:

P055.L03

«لازم نیس، من خونهٔ تو رو بلدم، همین الآن ها...»

“No need; I know your house. Right now, eh...”

← Scene 17: The bone-handled knife and the suitcaseScene 19: The hearse through the geometric country →