Translated by Meral Akay blak

TRAGIC end of a TURKISH WRITER SABAHATTN AL DURING COLD WAR ERA

By

TUNCER CCENOLU

Tran !a"ed #y

$ERAL AK%A& %IBLAK

T'n(er C'(eno)!'
e-mail: cucenoglutuncer@gmail.com tcucenoglu@hotmail.com www.tuncercucenoglu.com

Translated by Meral Akay blak

CAST
Sabahattin Ali: Turkish novelist and story writer. About 40 years of age. Ali Ertekin: Dis harged !unior offi er" who lai#s to have #urdered $abahattin Ali. About 40 years of age. Man in Mask: %dentity not known. &ro# the beginning to the end of the 'lay" he overs his fa e with a #ask that gives hi# a serious look. Aliye: $abahattin Ali(s wife Filiz: $abahattin Ali(s daughter. Sheyla: $abahattin Ali(s sister. Talip Apaydn: )riter. nsal: A hildhood friend of $abahattin Ali. Naci: A hildhood friend of $abahattin Ali. Sevgi Sanl: Translator" $abahattin Ali(s 'en friend. Nihal Atsz: *+,tea her" ra ist" Turanist. Hasan zettin !ina"#: -oet and writer. Naz" Hik"et: -oet and writer. $ekeriya Sertel: .wner of Tan /ews'a'er" !ournalist. Nail %akrhan: -oet0ar hite t. Hseyin: A onvi t fro# $ino' -rison. Ay&e: Tea her" $abahattin Ali(s friend. Nahit: Tea her" one of $abahattin Ali(s beloved wo#en. Mediha Esenel: &a ulty #e#ber. Meh"et 'aha: A friend of $abahattin Ali fro# $ hool of *du ation Niyazi A(rnasl: -oliti ian" a friend of $abahattin Ali fro# #ilitary servi e. Meh"et: .ne of $abahattin Ali(s relatives. )eli !e"ir*z: A tea her fro# 1illage %nstitute

Translated by Meral Akay blak Aziz Nesin: 2u#orist. +,at -lgaz: 2u#orist. Hal.k /eti&: Dire tor of Marko'asha /ews'a'er Meh"et Ali 0i"c#z: 3awyer. Hasan T.ral: 4arber" an i##igrant fro# 4ulgaria. +asih N.ri leri: %nvestigative writer" friend of $abahattin Ali. Mzehher )a1N.: A lose fa#ily friend 2e"al 'ayra": 5ournalist" writer. 3kr 4#lat: 3iutenant in the ar#y. $eki 2ayrakl: %ntelligen e .ffi er 25k Filiz: $abahattin Ali(s daughter about 6,7 years old. 2adn: Ali *rtekin(s wife 0e"al 2.tay: 5ournalist Melek 0elal: A ri h wo#an. Minister. 6.dge Important note: 7ne act#r "ay play "#re than #ne character8

SCENE
&ro# the audien es view" the ben hes are arranged on the left" right and at the enter of the stage for all the ast #e#bers e+ e't for the vi ti# 8$abahattin Ali9 and the defendant 8Ali *rtekin9. They will sit in designated two hairs in the #iddle of the stage. Also right a ross fro# the audien e there is an elevated stage area where the #an in #ask resides at all ti#es.

&EAR* +,-./+,.0 1LACE* TURKE&

ACT I
The #an in #ask" a #ask that gives hi# a serious look" takes his 'la e on the stage. Throughout the 'lay" so#eti#es he will go through so#e files" take and 'la e 'hone alls and at ti#es he will wat h other 'layers on the stage. $abahattin Ali and Ali *rtekin" he who lai#s to have #urdered $abahattin Ali" take their designated 'la es in the #iddle of the stage. )ith the start of the #usi " Ali *rtekin 'uts on a :s#iling( #ask. 2iding a sti k behind hi#" he starts walking around $abahattin Ali" waiting for !ust the right #o#ent...And he suddenly starts hitting hard on $abahattin Ali(s head with the sti k. &ew #ore strikes...$abahattin Ali olla'ses and lies dead on the floor. Musi $to's. Ali *rtekin takes $abahattin Ali(s ring off of his finger and 'uts it in his own 'o ket. 2e goes through

Translated by Meral Akay blak $abahattin Ali(s 'o kets and finds his wallet and noti es the #oney in it. 2e 'uts the wallet in his 'o ket also. ;rabbing $abahattin Ali(s suit ase he walks away fro# the s ene. The rest of the 'layers take their sits on both sides of the stage where they will re#ain until the end of the 'lay. Ali *rtekin has taken his #ask off and he has sat in his designated hair. 9the light :ill ,#c.s #n the acting player; HASAN ZZETTN DNAMO: % a# 2asan <==ettin Dina#o. % was reading the news'a'er in the #orning" and the news aught #y attention: >.n 5une ?@" ?A47 a she'herd na#ed BCkrC fro# the ity of Drklareli(s EskC' ounty" notifies ;endar#e 2eadFuarters that while he was gra=ing his ani#als" he found a dead body in a dit h that is G0 D#. away fro# the road of 2edye 1illage whi h he thinks has been dead for four to five #onths. H' on his notifi ation an investigation has started" however the identity of the body has not been deter#ined yet.I SABHA SERTEL: $abiha $ertelJ $i+ #onths later a state#ent fro# the %stanbul -oli e de'art#ent a''eared in the news'a'ers: >During an investigation of an organi=ation that is believed to snuggle 'eo'le into 4ulgaria" a dis harged brea hed sergeant na#ed Ali *rtekin has been sus'e ted to have onne tion to the organi=ation and brought to the 'oli e headFuarters for interrogation2 At his interrogation on K7 De e#ber ?A47" Ali *rtekin has lai#ed to be the #urderer of the dead body found" whi h he also lai#s to be $abahattin Ali(s body.I TALP APAYDIN: )e had been drafted to the ar#y servi e" and % was assigned as a sergeant by the order of the Ministry. )ith our ba k'a ks on" we were being trained in great e+ertion on AyaL #ountains. There were no news'a'ers to read" so we had no idea what was ha''ening in the world. The lieutenant yelled during a training session: >Tali' A'aydnMN >Oo#e hereMN % assu#ed he would stand #e u' in front of hi#" urse" threaten and give #e a long s'ee h as usual. % ran u' to hi# right u' on his order" and stood at his attention. 2e had a news'a'er in his hand. % ould never dete t a tra e of s#ile on his fa e nor#ally" but he had a dark s#ile on his fa e this ti#e. 2e waved the news'a'er and added: >Do you know that one of your guys have been =a''edPN 2e handed the news'a'er to #e" and walked away with his hands rossed on the ba k. My heart started 'ounding and #y vision getting dark. % was hardly standing u'. % set down on a s#all #ound to read. % ould hardly see the headline of the news: >The Oo##unist writer $abahattin Ali has been #urdered at the border of 4ulgaria while trying to es a'e the ountry. 9as the light ,#c.ses #n Sabahattin Ali< all players #n the stage; LAMENT FOR SABAHATTN AL )e gave the la#b to the wolf" save hi# we said. )hat a 'ity it ould notM he was left in e+e utioner(s hands The soft fa e of infidelity De eived hi# insidiously 2ow ould he believe the#P 2e gave his life to a s#ile -uskin and ;orky on one side"

Translated by Meral Akay blak /esi#i on the other. And his reading glasses on one side" the killer sti k on the other %s it worthy of hi# to die like thisP )hat did he drea# of all his life other than a beautiful worldP Qet" is it 'ossible to #urder a #an like hi#P Oan the world he reated also be buried with hi#P AL ERTEKN:9 Stands .p8 He see"s very nerv#.s8 He acts as i, he is ans:ering =.esti#ns at a trial8 S#.nd #, a type:riter888; *rtekin... Ali... QaLar... AyLe... EskC'. % was born in Dartal ounty of EskC'...%n Qugoslavia. % live in %stanbul...%n Anadolu 2isar" in Qeni#ahalle... % a# #arried" % have a son... % #urdered $abahattin Ali" but % did not #urder hi# intentionally. % !ust wanted to kno k hi# down so % ould have hi# arrested. Did not do this to take his #oney or belongings. % did it be ause of #y 'atrioti e#otions...% believe % have served #y ountry by doing this" and % e+'e t a''lause fro# you allM MAN IN MASK:9reads ,r#" a ,ile that is in ,r#nt #, hi"; $abahattin Ali was born in *Rridere ounty of ;C#Cl ine on KG &ebruary" ?A06. 2is father" Ali $elahattin of Oihangir" was an infantry lieutenant. 2is #other" 2Csniye" was a Oir assian fro# Oau asia. 2Csniye(s father was also an ar#y offi er. 9he cl#ses the ,ile< "arks a cr#ss #n it< and places #n the side8; SABAHATTN AL 9 as i, chatting :ith a >#.rnalist9 )hen #y 'arents got #arried" #y father was thirty and #y #other was fourteen years old. %n other words" #y father was si+teen years older than #y #other. % was born as the first hild of the fa#ily in *Rridere. Do you want to know why #y father na#ed #e $abahattinP As you know fathers tend to na#e their hildren after their 'oliti al heroes. $o hildren(s( na#es usually arry in the# a hint fro# their fathers 'oliti al tenden y. )ell" be ause #y father was su h an advo ate of -rin e $abahattin(s ideas" he na#ed #e after hi#M My father was so 'roud of having #et -rin e $abahattin 'ersonally. My brother(s na#e is &ikret. 2e gets his na#e fro# the fa#ous 'oet Tevfik &ikret: another hero of #y father. % ould say #y father was an o'en #inded ar#y offi er who loved literature. 2e was also fond of Qoung Turks. 2e was a 'artisan of freedo#. 2e knew #any of Tevfik &ikret(s 'oe#s by heart" es'e ially his fa#ous 'oe# :The &og(. 2e would re ite it anywhere" at any o asion when he had a han e. 9>.st like his ,ather;888 Again the hori=on has been overed by a 'ersistent fog"

Translated by Meral Akay blak %t is a white darkness that 'rogressively enlarges. *verything under it" looks as if erased" 3ike a dense olle tion of dust are the 'i tures for#ed. $u h a dusty and fearso#e density that no eyes an dare see through. Qou deserve this dee' and dark over" Qou deserve this overing" you" the land of ruel Qou" the land of ruel" you" the bright stage... To the never ending great lies To the rights being e+iled fro# the ourts To the 'eo'le who have lost sensible feelings out of fear and sus'i ion To the urious ears stret hing u' to the ons ien es of 'eo'le To the #ouths lo ked out of fear of being listened To the forgotten fa e of honor and sha#e To the great" fa#ous 'eo'le who have been doubled u' by the heavy load of fear on their shoulders... To the heads bowed down" lear looking heads #ay be" but disgusting. To those desolate hildren... To those double fa ed laughters... Oover yourself u'" you" the disasterM Oover yourself u'" you" the ityM Oover yourself u' and slee' to the eternity Qou" the bastard worldM My father would read su h 'rints like Servet- F!n"n# $a%&a' an( )t (at. 2e had taught #e to read even one year before % started ele#entary s hool" so % knew he had olle ted all the issues of these 'rints. 2e was interested in #usi also. 2e ould 'lay #andolin and flute. Qou ould tell he was a #ulti,talented 'erson... My #other" 2Csniye" was a beautiful" attra tive wo#an. $he en!oyed dressing u'. $he would read novels all the ti#e. 2owever" she would Fuarrel with #y father onstantly. $he was never kind to #y father. $he was very aggressive towards hi#" and she would always find a way to reate in idents at ho#e. % think she loved #y little brother &ikret #ore than she loved #e. $he had s'oiled hi#. )hen % turned seven years old" % started ele#entary s hool in %stanbul" but after #y 'arents #oved to anakkale % ontinued #y edu ation in anakkale. My father had rented a house at The Dardanelles. .ur s hools were losed due to )orld )ar %" be ause there were no tea hers left at s hool. %t was not long before the s hools were re,o'ened" but this ti#e the tea hers were #ilitary offi ers. My father was tea hing Turkish at s hool. 2e would drink a double of Sak every night" and !ust before going to his bed he would whis'er in #y ear: >% a# going to slee'" your #other is losing it againMN My #other and &ikret would slee' early also. % would always sit on the bal ony and wat h the idle vessels or the few shi's trying to 'ass through the Dardanelles... .ne night after everyone went to slee'" % got out of #y bed and went out to the bal ony again. The annons that were situated in Dardanelles like iron fists to blo k the way to %stanbul were at their everyday lo ation. 3ike dark silhouettes were the annons. Although" a ording to #y father" they were there for our se urityT they were frightening. % es'e ially 'referred wat hing the shi's that were resting in the #oonlight and drea#. That was what % was doing again. % was drea#ing of getting on the shi' and going to far away 'la es. Then" % was not willing to go alone. % wanted #y father to o#e with #e . 4ut never #y #otherM 4e ause she always fights with #y father. % did not

Translated by Meral Akay blak want #y little brother either. 2e ould stay with #o# sin e #y #o# loves hi# #ore anyway. As % was having these thoughts" &ikret suddenly a''eared ne+t to #e. A''arently" he ould not slee' either. >Oan % stay here with youPN he asked. >$ureN % said. 2e Fuietly sat ne+t to #e. 2e was trying to be Fuiet even while he was taking breath. % guess he knew % did not like #y drea#s to be interru'ted. $o" he was wat hing the shi's with #e. 9 Every:here starts lighting .p s.ddenly8 Then gets dark right a,ter888Then n#ises like :histle888 And than the g.ns and b#"bs8 As i, he lives :hat he tells888; &ikret i##ediately grabbed #y hand. -oor hild was shaking with fear. 2is eyes were wide o'en. % guess he was trying to understand what was ha''ening. % wra''ed #y ar#s around hi#. )e stayed !ust like that...&ro=en... 4o#bs started dro''ing near the shi's... As the bo#bs were s'lashing in the sea" tall and white water olu#ns" !ust like #inarets" were being for#ed towards the sky. The shi's were trying to es a'e....ne gets hitM 9S.ddenly .pr#ar breaks #.t in the sky; Air'lanes are a''roa hing....h #y ;odM )here is #y fatherP )hy is he not o#ing to res ue usP -eo'le are !u#'ing in to the sea fro# the targeted shi's. They are trying to swi# to the shore to save the#selves. &ikret has al#ost gotten hi#self glued to #e. 2e is shaking. .h no" you an(t all this shaking he is tre#bling out of fear. &irst #y father" than #y #other a#e running to us. Mo# grabbed &ikret" and dad grabbed #e. )e are heading to the streets. -eo'le are fleeing away on arriages. They are leaving the ity. )e get on a arriage too. Mo# starts a using dad: >Qou forgot the blanketsMN Dad goes ba k ho#e without saying a word" and o#es ba k with blankets... Together with all disoriented" onfused 'eo'le we are away fro# the ity now. )e an barely hear the noises now. Then no noise an be heard any#ore... Then" &ikret to #y #o#: >% a#... % a#... % a#... % a# old.N That night &ikret started to stutter. &ew #onths later" dad resigned fro# his work due to serious heart 'roble#s he had develo'ed. Mother(s hysteria had gotten worse. % was the only nor#al 'erson in the fa#ily. .ne day #y dad said > %t is i#'ossible to live here any#ore. The bo#bshells won(t likely to sto'. )e shell #ove to <=#ir...N AL ERTEKN: % don(t re#e#ber #y father(s 'rofession. )e were running away fro# the 4alkans )ar. )e were 'lanning to go to Do#anova. &olks around us were telling us su h things like >Don(t even go be ause you are too late alreadyN And #y father would say :N/o #atter what" we are going awayN % re#e#ber all of this" be ause % was si+ years old then. )e had arrived to a 'la e alled avuLkUy where we started hearing first gun shots. )e were eleven #ales. .ne of the# was fro# Albania. *ven Albanian wo#en had guns. % was riding on a horse and others were on their foot. )e were under fireM The o''osite grou' was onstantly firing on us. % saw a wo#an get hit. $he dro''ed her baby on a side and she was fluttering. )e were trying to get ahead but the gunfire was getting denser. .ur #en were also firing when #y father s rea#ed >.h #y ;odMN 2e was shot by his foot. $o" % was taken off the horse so #y father ould get on. % was 'raying for #y father. % did not want hi# to die. That night we settled by a s#all reek near a water#ill. The o''osite grou' surrounded us. They were large in nu#ber. My father tried to sneak away fro# us" but it was not long before we heard gunshots again. 3ater we learned that it was #y father who was shot to death. .ur #en wra''ed their guns with white loth to hoist the white flag to surrender. 2owever" a 'riest a#e by the reek and started firing on us with his rifle. A or'oral fro# Sa#a yelled to the 'riest >)e surrender" we surrenderN Then he held his hands u' in the air. The 'riest filled his gun few #ore ti#esT fired again. )e all lied flat on the ground. 3ater we were taken to a Turkish 2o#e. All of us were being hea'ed u' in that house. 3ater that night" three #an with guns a''eared. They talked to our #en and left. At dawn in the #orning" wo#en

Translated by Meral Akay blak suggested that no #en should get out. )e did not listen to the# an all of the #en were killed other than %. They looked at #e" and thought % was too young so they s'eared #y life. SABAHTTN AL: )e settled in <=#ir. &ather had saved so#e #oney. 2e worked as a #anager in a 'layhouse for a while. Then he run a night lub for a while in DarLyaka. 2owever" ;reeks were in <=#ir suddenly...My father(s business went down. )e were 'enniless one #ore ti#e. My #other(s #ental 'roble# was getting worse...That night father went to slee' early again and #other was in the living roo#. $uddenly" &ikret a#e running to #e. 2e looked terrified. 2e was trying to tell #e so#ething. Mother... #other....has... has... ut... ut....% i##ediately ran to living roo#. Mother was lying flat on the floor on her ba k. 2er left wrist was bleeding heavily. % briskly went to wake u' father. 2e a#e running. 2e wra''ed her wrist with a loth and was trying hard to sto' the bleeding. 2e with a hel'less voi e asked #e to all the do tor ne+t door. &ortunately" the do tor a#e and was able to save #other(s life. )e were hel'lessM &ather de ided to #ove to *dre#it where #y grand'arents lived. )hile on the shi' to *dre#it" #other atte#'ted another sui ide by trying to !u#' off the shi'. )ith the hel' of the 'assengers we were on e again able to save #other. &inallyT we arrived in *dre#it and #oved in with #y #other(s 'arents. Hnfortunately ;reeks were also here in *dre#it" so father wasn(t even able to get his retire#ent 'ay#ents. 2e was trying everything he ould to bring #oney to his fa#ily. .n the other hand" #other was still able to find reasons for Fuarrelling with #y father every night. %n fa t" not only was she fighting with #y father" she was also Fuarrelling with her own 'arents. /o days 'assed without fighting. $he was ursing #y 'oor father(s 'arents too... >Qou are not good for anything but slee'ingM Qou ruined #y youthM )hy aren(t your 'arents hel'ing usP 4e ause they are also inferior 'eo'le like you.N &ather never said anything ba k to #other. 2e would only listen. 4ut so#eti#es he would tell #e Fuietly that he bared all this be ause of us... %n the #idst of all of this" #y baby sister $Cheyla was bornM S*HEYLA: % re#e#ber #y father very well. 2e was an o'en #inded" farsighted #an of 'rin i'les. 2e was a very i#aginative and in redibly witty 'erson. 2e loved #usi . As for #y #other" she a#e fro# a onservative fa#ily. $he ould never kee' u' with #y father(s olorful 'ersonality. The distan e between the# re#ained un hanged throughout their life. De'ression ruined her life also. % think the age differen e was one of the reasons of their in o#'atibility" but the #ain reason was the differen e in their ultural ba kground. Mother and #y brother $abahattin never got along either" but regardless of this he always hel'ed #other in anyway he ould. Although" $abahattin was having #onetary 'roble#s of his own" one day he told #y younger brother &ikret >%f % don(t send #oney to #other even only for a single #onth" the reason #ust be that % a# deadN Mother lived her life in tears after $abahattin(s death. SABAHATTN AL: )e were getting on a tighter budget... As you all know well" newborns need to be nourished well...)e had an aide fro# *dre#it when we were in anakkale. 2e owned a variety sho' now. &ather bought so ks" handker hiefs" sweaters" reels fro# hi# on redit and began selling the# in the #arket sFuare. *NSAL: My na#e is Ensal. % a# $abahattin Ali(s hildhood friend...)ith his fair skin" ha=el eyes and wavy hair" was a beautiful kid $abahattin Ali... 2is neighbors in his Musli# neighborhood had given hi# a ni k na#e: Morning $tarM 2e was a bit withdrawn hild. 2e ould hardly be seen on the streets or 'laying with kids. 2e was a withdrawn hild. 2e was friends with

Translated by Meral Akay blak Berif ARa(s son Ali. Ali would always 'rote t $abahattin fro# bully boys for he was a husky boy. %n fa t on e he had sto''ed Bakir when he atte#'ted to hit $abahattin. $abahattin Ali(s #other was an angry wo#enJ$he was loser to her younger son &ikret. $he would s old $abahattin on all o asions and even would s'ank hi# so#eti#es. 2is #other(s biased behavior was hurting $abahattin dee'ly. Thus" he was atta hed to his father. 2e ould understand the struggle his dad was having to bring ho#e a loaf of bread. After all his dad was going through" wat hing his #other fight with his dad was da#aging hi# dee'ly. 2e found his father(s drinking habit nor#al be ause of this. $abahattin was one of the best students at *dre#it *le#entary s hool. Although he was Fuiet and withdrawn he was a very bright and hardworking student. %n fa t at ti#es he would give le tures to his lass when the tea her was absent. 2is un le /a=#i 4ey loved $abahattin dearly. 2e would o#e to visit $abahattin often" and bring hi# books. $abahattin would read these books with a great 'assionJ 4arber 2Cseyin *fendi(s bookstore was another 'la e $abahattin ould find books to read. 2Cseyin *fendi was an edu ated" knowledgeable and affe tionate 'erson. 4y all #eans" he was an un onventional 'erson. 84ohe#ian9 2e would listen to $abahattin(s o##ents about the books with 'atien e and hel' hi# understand the se tions $abahattin ould not understand. SABAHATTN AL: % started working to hel' &ather. % hang a bag over #y ne k filled with goods" and visited ;reek neighborhoods shouting" >Makaradis kovarikosM Makaradis kovarikosMN % sele ted ;reek neighborhoods to sell goods" be ause % would be very e#barrassed if any of our Turkish neighbors" who thought of us as a well off fa#ily" saw #e sell goods on the streets. %n fa t" % did not want the# to have 'ity on us. % would o#e ba k ho#e fro# #y work late at night e+hausted. My father would take off #y bag" and give #e a kiss. Then he would ount the #oney % earned. 2e would give #e another kiss if the ount was high. 2e would give #e a kiss even if % had not sold a single ite#. &or he knew how #u h % struggled to sell" when % ould not sell anything" he would be dee'ly saddened on #y behalf" but he would always try to hide his tears fro# #e. After a while father o'ened a store in *dre#it" but still he was going fro# one village to another like a 'eddler to sell #ore be ause even with his own store he was having hard ti#e bringing ho#e enough #oney. 2e would want #e to write one day... write about all those 'eo'le % #et. %n fa t" #y first writings onsist of #y observations of 'eo'le during those days. SE+, SANLI: % a# $evgi $anl... % a# one of those who is honored to be $abahattin Ali(s orres'ondent. 2e would address #e as his onfidant. %n one of his first letters" he had told #e that he had taken his first writing lessons fro# his father. )ell.." % think it would #ake #ore sense if % told you how % #et $abahattin Ali" and how we started writing to ea h other first. % #et $abahattin Ali during #y first adoles en e years in %=#ir. % was a student at ;U=te'e A#eri an ;irls Oollege. My father owned the 2alkin $esi 81oi e of -ubli 9 news'a'er. .ur ho#e was always full of writers" artists and !ournalists. % #et very fa#ous and i#'ortant 'eo'le like $uat DerviL" 2alikarnas 4alks at #y father(s house. At that ti#e" $abahattin Ali was tea hing di tion lasses at Ankara $tate Oonservatory. 2e was a well known writer. )e had heard of his na#e but" had never read his works. A#ong #y father(s visitors was a young #an" A=i= 4ey" who was very interested in literature. .n one of his visits" he told us that he knew $abahattin Ali well" and that in fa t he was a friend of $abahattin Ali. )hen A=i= 4ey saw #y interest in literature" he wrote $abahattin Ali a letter asking hi# to send his autogra'hed books to #e. That is how % started re eiving books fro# $abahattin Ali one after

Translated by Meral Akay blak anotherJ% and #other and father read his books in no ti#eJ)e were #es#eri=ed by his works. $o" % wrote hi# a letter stating #y ad#iration and thanks to hi#. 2e re'lied shortly after. %n this first letter written with green ink" his o'inions about writers affe ted #e dee'ly. SABAHATN AL: 8as i, reading ,r#" his letters9 Don(t overesti#ate the writers you like. An artist is like a hand filled with gold. %f you take away the gold" re#ains are sand and 'ebbles...Don(t deify writers in your #inds. They are also 'eo'le !ust like you. SE+, SANLI: 2e liked $o'ho les as a 'lay writer. .f his works $abahattin Ali es'e ially liked Ding .edi'us and Antigone. 2e would often say >%n these 'lays the way 'eo'le are de'i ted" dra#ati 'rogress" and the beauty of the language is ine+'li ableN. 2e thought of these 'lays as Fuite onte#'orary. As our orres'onden e 'rogressed our fa#ilies got to know ea h other also. )henever $abahattin Ali" his wife Aliye" and little daughter &ili= a#e to %=#ir they would visit us. )e were thrilled to have the# as our guests. .ur #eetings and orres'onden e ontinued in Ankara and in %stanbul. 2e would #ention about #any different sub!e ts. %n one of his letters" he had #entioned about how he started writing stories. )hen his retired father was working as a 'eddler to #ake a living" he would take little $abahattin with hi# fro# one ba=aar to anotherJ SABAHATTN AL: 9keeps #n reading?; 3adies would buy silk thread fro# #y basket and stroke #y head at the ba=aar. &ather always wanted #e to write about what % saw at the ba=aar. .ne day" % was given an assign#ent fro# s hool to write an assay about how #y $unday was. % had started #y assay like this: >% woke u' to #y father(s sweet voi e early in the #orning....N &ather got #ad u' on reading this and yelled: >;et out of here" you liar son of a gunM % an hardly wake you u' early in the #orning... :My father(s sweet voi e(...2ow an #y voi e sound sweet to youP %f you want to be a writer" you should write the way you feel" but you should only write the truthMN After graduating fro# ele#entary s hool" % attended 4alikesir Tea her Training $ hool. My best friend there was /a i. % 'rodu ed #ost of #y first works during these years. % was sending #y works to be 'ublished" however no 'ublishers atte#'ted to 'ublish the# in their news'a'ers or #aga=ines. Qet" su h a great ha''iness it is to see your works 'ublished in news'a'ers or #aga=ines. % had no other hoi e than solving #y 'roble# on #y own: % and #y friends started to 'ublish a news'a'er at s hool. This wall news'a'er was the first 'la e where #y 'oe#s and writings first a''eared. As % was evaluating #y writings" % was building onfiden e. )ith all this e+ ite#ent" % started kee'ing a !ournal also. 2en eforth" % was reading novels" going to #ovies and when available in the town wat hing 'lays with /a i. NA-: During the last two years at *dre#it *le#entary $ hool % and $abahattin were lass#ates. 4oth of our fathers were ar#y offi ers. After graduating fro# ele#entary s hool in ?AK?" we a''lied for free boarding s hool of #ilitary. 2owever" we were infor#ed that by the order of the Oali'h" that year the #ilitary s hools were not a e'ting new students. )e were dee'ly sorry for the newsJ .ne year later we a''lied to 4alikesir Tea her Training $ hool and registered at the s hool. $abahattin(s nu#ber was K@" and #y nu#ber was K6. )e were sitting ne+t to ea h other. $abahattin was a #anly" trustworthy" s#art and honorable friend. 2e was not a hardworking student. 2owever" he would always get the highest grades fro# e+a#s. 2e loved reading novels. During study hours" he would 'ull hi#self to the ba k of the roo# sna king on dried 'u#'kin seedT he would read 3es Mserables" -ardaillans" and Around the )orld in 70 Days in a blink of ti#e.

Translated by Meral Akay blak 2e started writing seriously in his se ond year at s hool. 2is first work was a short story na#ed 2oro= Meh#et. .ur literature tea her Mr. ;a=ali 4ey liked the story very #u h he s'oke very highly about $abahattin in front of the whole lass. This en ouraging talk gave $abahattin ourage. 2e started writing 'oe#s. 2e loved the s hoolJ 4ut" everything hanged one day. There was a 'erfor#an e at ;irls Tea her Training $ hool and we were not allowed to attend to this 'erfor#an e. 2owever" $abahattin suggested that we all went and wat hed the 'lay no #atter what. /obody wanted to break the rules but $abahattin. 2e 'ulled a over over his head and went to the 'lay. Hnfortunately he was re'orted to the 'rin i'al by another student" AbdClkadir" who was the #ost hardworking student of our lass but never got the sa#e attention fro# the literature tea her for his writings. The 'rin i'al literally waited for $abahattin(s return and before $abahattin e+'lained anything with a roaring voi e: >Don(t s'end your #oney" % a# sending you ba k to your fatherMN the 'rin i'al yelled at $abahattin. $abahattin was sent to the dis i'linary board. 2e was s aredJ2e was s ared of being e+'elled fro# s hool. 2e a#e to #e with an envelo'e in his hand one night. SABAHATTIN AL: Dee' this envelo'e. Qou shall o'en it later. NA-J2e said and walked away. % noti ed the ro'e he had wra''ed around hi#self. )hy should % o'en the envelo'e laterP % got sus'i ious. % found a Fuiet orner and o'ened the envelo'e. %t was a 'oe#M

SABAHATTN AL My dear friend /a i" They are going to e+'el #e fro# the s hool. )hat would you do if they e+'elled youP 2ere" % have de ided" % a# going to die tonight. Don(t be sad" &or % will be in the skiesJ NA-: .h #y ;odM $abahattin is going to o##it sui ideM 2e is going to hang hi#self with that ro'eM )hat should % doP % ran to the tea her on duty and told hi# the whole story. 2e was 'ani ked. &irst we ran to the dor#itory.. 2e was not there. Then we took the stairs to the ba kyard... The tea her was running and asking any student he run in to: have you seen $abahattinP )ith an ar#y of students behind us we a#e to the ba kyard. )hat a sight #et our eyesM $abahattin had li#bed u' to a tree and he was trying to fi+ the ro'e to the large trunk of the tree. 2e was getting ready to hang hi#selfM The tea her s rea#ed with fear: Are you out of your #indP /obody will e+'el you fro# the s hool. 3et that ro'e goM $abahattin released the ro'e without even 'aying attention to the tea her(s last words. 2e a ted as if he had anti i'ated su h kind of a res'onse fro# the s hool. 2e li#bed down the tree as if nothing out of ordinary had ha''ened... % still re#e#ber the gratitude filled s#ile he se retly gave #e after all...

Translated by Meral Akay blak SABAHATTN AL: % had really thought that they would e+'el #e fro# s hool. 2ow ould % fa e fatherP 5ust when % was about to graduate fro# s hool in a year" all #y efforts would go to waste. % used #y talent as a story writer and #ade the# believe #y story to avoid being e+'elled fro# the s hool. % su eeded...% wanted the# to e+ use #e but % did not want to beg for an e+ useT that would hurt #y 'ride. )ell" #y story worked % got #yself out of troubleM NA-: That is right. $abahattin was only given a noti e. 2owever" $abahattin lost interest in s hool after this event. 2is o''onent AbdClkadir was onstantly re'orting hi# to the 'rin i'al: >$abahattin reads novels" writes e#'ty 'oe#s" and never studies during study hoursN SABAHATTN AL: AbdClkeri# was really bothering #e. As #y stories and 'oe#s were be o#ing 'o'ular a#ong our tea hers and the students" he was getting #ore !ealous. 2e went further than !ust re'orting #e to the 'rin i'al. )here ever we a#e a ross ea h other" he would shoulder #e and try to tri' #e down. %n fa t" on one o asion he had tri''ed #e down so harshly that our tea hers had hardly sto''ed #y nose fro# bleeding. 2owever" % never told on hi#. 4e ause #y father had instru ted #e on not telling on anyone. % would be !ust like hi# if % told on hi# rightP $in e he was a well built hild % ould never handle hi# by #yself. 2is behaviors got worse. % wanted to ontinue #y edu ation in <stanbul anyway so % went to the de'uty 'rin i'al and #anaged to transfer #yself to <stanbul Tea her Training $ hool. The s hool in %stanbul was in OaRaloRlu distri t. .ur literature tea her was Ali Oani' QUnte#... 2e would often sit by the 'ool to rest. % would use this o''ortunity to talk to hi# to learn fro# his e+'erien es. Dnowing #y desire to be o#e a writer" at one of those talks he gave #e so#e advi e: 3ook $abahattin you are a s#art kid. Qou an understand everything at on e" so % won(t kee' it long. &irst of all" a andidate for a writer should read a lot. *ven after you be o#e a writer you should ontinue reading. .therwise you #ight be o#e a writer but not literateM 5ust like #any today" who regard the#selves as writers.. During these ti#es father had found a !ob and #oved the rest of the fa#ily to Ayvalk. They were doing okay. They lived in a big house. &ikret had started ele#entary s hool...$Cheyla was growing u'...4ut" #o# was the sa#e old #o# fighting father all the ti#e" and #aking everyone(s life like hell. )henever % went ho#e on s hool breaks" % saw #y dad suffer fro# #other. % was sorry for #y dad. %f it was not for #y father % would never go ho#e to visit. % ould not take #y #other(s a tions. .n one of #y breaks" father had s'ent a lot of #oney and rented a boat. % and &ikret were dressed u'. )e had even 'olished our shoes. Mother had 'arted $Cheyla(s hair in the #iddle and braided ni ely. $Cheyla was so 'retty in her all white dress. Mother looked ni e as always. )e all boarded on to the boat with a great !oy. &ather was taking 'i tures ontinuously. *ven other fa#ilies on their boats were looking at us with envy2 )e were not #u h in to the sea yet when #other grabbed the 'it her and started yelling at &ather: >2ow ould you think this water would be enough for everyoneP )hen are you going to do anything rightP )hy should % have to organi=e everythingPN &ather was begging her to sto' s rea#ing. $he ke't on s rea#ing even after father told her there was #ore water so#ewhere on the boat. )ell at this 'oint % ould not !ust wat h #other s rea# at 'oor father and % yelled at her >Out the bullshitM )hat do you want fro# #y fatherPN )ell of ourse #y re#arks #ade the situation even worse. $he was not late for trying to !u#' in to the sea and s rea#ing with a sFueaky voi e >3et go off #eM % want to die... &ather was so e#barrassed" but he was still trying to sto' #other fro# !u#'ing in to the water. )e the kids were holding on to #others legs and lothing to sto' out boat fro# sinking. &inally we got ba k ho#e but in what ondition: all torn u' M &ikret wasn(t even able to sta##er any#ore. *ventually" #other was hos'itali=ed in the &ren h 2os'ital in <stanbul. $he stayed there for si+ #onths. &ather was 'aying si+ lira to the hos'ital 'er day. %t was e+'ensive and after si+

Translated by Meral Akay blak #onths he ould not afford it any#ore. $o we had to take #other ba k ho#e although she was not fully re overed. 3ater on with the hel' of a friend we were able to 'ut her in Veyne' Da#il 2os'ital for free. %n the #ean ti#e" &ather had to withdraw &ikret fro# s hool for finan ial reasons and he was also trying to take are of $Cheyla. 2e ould not bear all this on his shoulders any#ore and finally he got ill towards the end of fall....And he died... 2e ould not even see that #other was doing better... 2e left us !ust like thatM Mother was rying with guilt > % know % #ade your father suffer but believe #e it was all out of #y hands" % ould not ontrol #yselfN 3osing #y father was so unbearable for #e. $u h a 'ain to lose your fatherM... % guess those who have lost their fathers will understand what % #ean rightP My dear ;odM Today" is the darkest day of #y 'oor life. Today" % learned the dark news: The death of #y father % a# du#founded with sorrow2 The !oy of life is gone. The news took away the s#ile fro# #y li's. %t feels as if #y heart is being arved. 3ordM 2ow 'ainful the death is. The hands that stroked #y fa e" 5ust few days ago" Are turning in to dirt now. Those that were lose to #e !ust like #y own body" Are drifting away now. .h &atherM... 5ust u' until yesterday % was able to rest #y head on your hest. 4elieve #e &ather" This fire has dried #y tears.

AL ERTEKN: )e fled to Turkey in ?AK4. &irst we settled in Dars" and after a year we #oved to <stanbul. % registered to Military s hool in Veytinburnu" and stayed there for a year. After a year % transferred to a s hool in Oebe i" Ankara. % ould not ad!ust to the li#ate in Ankara. There was a fellow na#ed 2alil <brahi# 2e asked #e one day: >what ha''ened to you Ali *fendi" are you illP Qou are losing weightN > % a# illN % said. >% have lost #y a''etite" % haven(t been ada'ted to the li#ate hereN $o % was sent to a hos'ital. 2ere % had to eat the standard boring food all the ti#e: 4ulgur 'ilaf" bulgur sou'" and bulgur whatever... % was broke so ould not eat out. Those were diffi ult ti#es...

Translated by Meral Akay blak SABAHATTN AL: % graduated fro# Tea hing $ hool in ?AK6. % was a''ointed to an ele#entary s hool in Oentral Anatolia. Those days % was e+ hanging letters with literature tea her /ahit. /ahit was a beautiful girl. NAHT: % and $abahattin #et ea h other at a training ourse. 2is writing skills had attra ted #y attention. )e started writing to ea h other after he was a''ointed to his first !ob as a tea her. %n one of his letters that had started with >Dear /ahitN he was telling #e about the 'la es he was living.N This 'la e is going to drive #e ra=yM There is nothing here. %#agine a 'la e where there is no single 'erson to have a real talk ... *veryone is so ordinary and banal. The whole ity is surrounded by ste''es. All #ountains are as bare as they an beM 4ut right ahead there is a 'ine forest... *ven that forest does not blend well with the rest of the land here. 4elieve #e it looks like a green velvet,'at h on a dirty s#o k of a gro ery store lerkM Mountains.... They have no trees or even a big ro k on the#. All are overed with 'ebbles not even soilM % have been taking strolling in and around the ity in ho'es of finding a 'erson to hat. %t is i#'ossible to find an intelle tual 'erson here. % a# very lonely. &eeling so lonely in this big rowd is 'ainful. % #iss everything about %stanbulT the ho#es" the 'eo'le and the 4os'orus...N SABAHATTN AL: .f ourse there was love in this longing. 9t# Nahit; % love you so #u h. NAHT: % love you too $abahattin" but !ust as a friendM -lease let(s not take this relationshi' to different 'oints. SABAHATTN AL: *verybody needs so#eone to share their 'ain and thoughts /ahit" and % an(t thing of a better 'erson than you who ould understand #e. % love you like a real friend too. % wish % had a sibling like you... % was saying these but" still writing 'oe#s for /ahit... % devoted #yself to a ho'eless love" /ever" % was given any affe tion or o#'li#ent. )hile kneeling down to announ e #y love" % felt a sla' at #y fa e in her eyes. This is a single sided love dear ;odM )hile des'air is invading by brain" % still love her... My ;odM % have not seen a love affair like this... )hen % a#e to %stanbul for $u##er vo ation % learned that Ministry of *du ation was sending tea hers to *uro'e for edu ation. % needed to take an e+a# for it. % took the e+a# and 'assed. % was going to stay in ;er#any for four years. After staying in 4erlin for a while % #oved to -otsda#. % had settled in a board house... % had to learn ;er#an as Fui kly as 'ossible. % started taking lessons fro# an e+, sergeant who s'oke so#e Turkish. % was also attending a language institute. ;er#any was not Fuite stable those days. 3eft wing was strong but une#'loy#ent" ho'elessness and haos" was nurturing 2itler. 2e was gaining 'ower slowly. ;er#an nationalis# was on the rise. Qoung ;er#an sergeants were the #ain su''orters of this nationalisti rise. %n fa t" ;er#an a'italis# was trying to o'e with haos" and establish its own di tatorshi'. There was an in reasing anti,$e#itis#" and ani#osity towards all foreigners.

Translated by Meral Akay blak NHAL ATSIZ: % a# /ihal Ats=J $abahattin Ali was #y friend then. Although he was reading Turgenyef" ;orky" ;ogol" -uskin and likes of Sussian writer(s works he was also very 'atrioti . )e had a great friendshi'. 2e had told #e how he got e+'elled fro# his s hool in ;er#any: .ne day one of his ;er#an lass#ates #akes a o##ent to $abahattin >)e should ki k all 'arasite Turks fro# our ountyMN $abahattin !u#'s fro# his hair and: >our govern#ent 'ays your govern#ent #oney for us to be here" we are not 'arasites" take your words ba kMN .f ourse the ;er#an student does not take his words ba k and $abahattin sla#s hi# on the fa e very hardJ Hnfortunately this event be o#es the news and ;er#an $ hool de lares that they don(t want a student like $abahattin. $o" $abahattin gets sent ba k to Turkey. )ho ould i#agine that su h a 'atriot would have ideas of trading and betraying his ountryM 8 The "an in "ask starts ,#ll#:ing Sabahattin Ali :ith his eyes888; ZEKERYA SERTEL: At the ti#e $abahattin returned fro# ;er#any we were 'ublishing Sesi#li Ay. 2e a#e to #y offi e and asked :N Are you Vekeriya $ertelPN" >QesN % said. 2e was a short" blond" ute young #an. )e all loved hi# in su h a short ti#e. %t was i#'ossible not to love so#eone like hi#T so s#art" full of life" a 'ersonality that did not re ogni=e restri tive boundaries. 2e liked reading ;oethe and Tho#as Mann a lot. 2e would always take their books with hi# where ever he went. %n the #ean ti#e /a=i# 2ik#et was also working at Sesi#li Ay. /a=i# also thought $abahattin was a 'ro#ising treasureM NAZIM HKMET: % was working at Sesi#li Ay as an editor and te hni al se retary. Sesi#li Ay had attra ted #any intelle tual and 'atrioti elites. %t had o'ened a war against ultural and religious organi=ations su h as >4ible $o ietyN and >Qoung Ohristians Asso iationN whi h were in fa t believed to be the voi e of A#eri an i#'erialis#. .n the other hand" $oviet Hnion was being introdu ed to 'ubli by Sesi#li Ay. .ne day a s#all built young #an with glasses a''eared at the #ain offi e of Sesi#li Ay. SABAHATTN AL: My na#e is $abahattin Ali. NAZIM HKMET: And % a# /a=# 2ik#et. SABAHATTN AL: % know your na#e as well as your 'oe#s. % ad#ire you... % know ;er#an. % write short stories. %n fa t % brought one with #e. % would be honored if you ould read and give #e your o'inion. NAZIM HKMET: % will red it right away. ;lad to #eet you. SABAHATTN AL: $o a# %. NAZIM HKMET: $aid the young #an" and left. % read his story right away. The story was about e'isodes fro# workers of &orestry. Although the effe t of ;er#an ro#anti=# was obvious in the story" it was a new ste' in Turkish writing as far as the ontent was on erned. Qou ould noti e that he was a talented writer fro# his first senten es. 4y bringing his story to Sesi#li Ay to be 'ublished" $abahattin Ali was aware that he would be 'art of the war against i#'erialis#. During our ti#es together $abahattin #e#ori=ed Tolstoy" Oehov" ;orky and Bolohov. 2is relationshi' with #e and with 'eo'le around Sesi#li Ay hel'ed hi# reali=e the so ialist ideas. %sn(t that so Mrs. $abihaP

Translated by Meral Akay blak SABHA SERTEL: $abahattin had learned about so ialist literature in ;er#any and was already leaning towards so ialist ideas when he returned to Turkey. Qou ould see the lues of this fro# the stories he brought to us" or a tually to you. 2owever the idea of so ialis# had not o#'letely for#ed in his #ind. Qou 'ulled hi# not only in to realis#" but also in to so ialist ideas. %n fa t you were also the one who en ouraged hi# to write novels. 8The "an in "ask "akes a ph#ne call8 N#thing can be .nderst##d ,r#" his talk #n the ph#ne; SABAHATTN AL: % had started working at Aydn 4oys Art $ hool as a tea her after returning ba k fro# ;er#any. 5ust when % had o#e to %stanbul for $u##er va ation % was arrested by se ret servi e and brought ba k to Aydn. A ording to allegations a news'a'er na#ed > Sed <stanbulN was found in students lo kers. % was 'la ed in 'rison with 4aha 4ey" <==et" Musa and Ali Oevat who had been arrested earlier. )e had been re'orted allegedly for da#aging 'ro'aganda by a student that % did not even know. All of the arrested were brought to %stanbul. 2owever we were transferred ba k to Aydin be ause the alleged ri#e was o##itted in Aydin. .f ourse after the trial we were releasedM % utili=ed those three #onths s'ent in 'rison. % observed in#ates there" and % learned that 'rison is one of the greatest resour es for a writer. % established relationshi' with 'eo'le of Anatolia" and with ordinary folks. % #et the heroes of #y fa#ous stories su h as Duyu akli Qusuf in the 'rison... After being released fro# 'rison % was a''ointed to Donya Dar#a Middle s hool to tea h ;er#an... MEHMET BAHA: % a# Meh#et 4aha" $abahattin Ali(s student fro# Donya Dar#a Middle $ hool... 2e was our s hool tea her but all students in Donya ad#ired hi#. Although he was our ;er#an tea her he was hel'ing us with our other ourses also. 2e was ready to answer everyone(s Fuestions any where" any ti#e 'ossible. 2e was dearly loved and res'e ted by folks of Donya. 2e also had a great relationshi' with his fellow tea hers... SABAHATTN AL: % wrote Duyu akli Qusuf in Donya... There was a lo al news'a'er na#ed Qeni Anadolu in Donya and % was a Fuainted with the owner Oe#al Dutay. 2e invited #e to his offi e one day... -EMAL K.TAY: )e would like to 'ublish your last work in our news'a'er" what would you say Mr. $abahattinP )e will 'ay you the o'yright... )e will 'ay you weekly. SABAHATTN AL: .D. % said. )e shook hands and % left. 8The "an in "ask starts ,#ll#:ing Sabahattin Ali again... 9 &ifteen ha'ters of the novel were 'ublished in Qeni Anadolu. -eo'le showed great interest in the novel whi h also in reased the sales of the news'a'er. 2owever" % was not getting 'aid as agreed. % was irritated by this. % went to Oe#al Dutay and re#inded hi# our agree#ent. >Do you re#e#ber you were going to 'ublish #y story and... -EMAL K.TAY: 8c.tting Sabahattin Ali@s :#rds9 Aren(t we 'ublishingP SABAHATTN AL: )e don(t have a 'roble# there the 'roble# is the 'ay#ents... Qou were going to 'ay #e weekly. %t has already been two weeks" and you have not 'aid #e a 'enny so farM -EMAL K.TAY: 8arrogant9 )e will 'ay... 4ut we are a little bit tight these days. 4e a little bit 'atientM

Translated by Meral Akay blak SABAHATTN AL: )hy should % be 'atientP Qour sales have gone u'. The a#ount you will 'ay #e is so little. -lease res'e t #y rights" and #ake #y 'ay#ent as soon as 'ossible. -EMAL K.TAY: A# % going to learn res'e t fro# youP SABAHATTN AL: .f ourse you willM -ay #e for o'yrights i##ediatelyM -EMAL K.TAY: )hat if % won(t 'ayP SABAHATTN AL: % won(t let you 'ublish #y novelM -EMAL K.TAY: Then sto' it if you anM %f you try any su h thing you will 'ay a big 'ri e for itM SABAHATTN AL: 2e was threatening #e by saying this. % left his offi e angry. % sent hi# an offi ial noti e fro# the notary 'ubli . They had to sto' 'ublishing #y novel. Sight in the wake of this % re eived a noti e fro# the ourt. Allegedly" % had ited a 'oe# before 'ubli seven #onths ago in whi h % atiri=ed our -resident AtatCrk. 2ear #e those who an not se'arate fro# #otherlandM 2ave the dirty reeks leared u'P 2as the blood sto''ed sheddingP 2ave the big goals being a hievedP Do they still hang those who believe in 'eo'leP Do they a''oint the lowns as senatorsP Does ea h villager have a 'low nowP 2ave all the bony o+en o#e to lifeP

8The "an in "ask places ph#ne calls9 The trial ourt was 'a ked with students and other audien es. My lawyer had o#e fro# %stanbul... % said this in su##ary: > Qour 2onor" the 'oe# in Fuestion was ins'ired fro# a 4ektasi 'rotest that took 'la e in $ivas. %t was written in ;er#any. $o#e 'arts of the 'oe# have been hanged by these delators. The na#e of AtatCrk is never #entioned in the 'oe#. The fa t is that Mr. Dutay 'ublished #y novel in his news'a'er and #ade no 'ay#ents to #e. 2en e" % sto''ed the 'ubli ation. 2e is trying taking revenge now along with his fellow friend tea her Mustafa by trying to bring #e down. These witnesses" Se#=i and *#in $oysal are his relatives Qour 2onor. After all" how an % or anyone dare to satiri=e AtatCrkP )e all owe and res'e t hi#N. H' on #y talk" #y students gave #e su''ort with their a''lause...My lawyer did not even see a need to talk on #y behalf any#ore be ause everything see#ed to be in #y favor... 8The #an in #ask 'hones so#eone in anger9 2owever" % was senten ed to a year in 'rison for insulting the -resident indire tly. All #y students were in tears. They knew how % felt about Mustafa De#al. % talked highly about hi# in #y lasses. $o % was arrested... &irst night in Donya -rison % was lo ked to guard(s roo#. Then % was taken to >yC=e gelen #ah'uslarN ward. As % was walking a#ong 'risoners" so#e !ust sitting on ushions on the floor and hatting" so#e 're'aring beans" so#e reading Doran

Translated by Meral Akay blak in the oil la#' light" they briskly stood u' and saluted #e" showed their affe tion with kind words. % was well res'e ted 'risoner. % wanted to know these folks... These were #y folks" #y own 'eo'le" fro# #y soil" #y sour e. % started observing the#" their behaviors. % was listening to their stories with no boredo# what so ever. % was dis overing the way they thought" their own ideas... %t was #onth and a half later... The guard showed u': > ;et ready Mr. $abahattin you are leavingN &irst" % sent #y book hest to the door. All in#ates were wat hing #y books with res'e t. They were talking about #y release. % did not Fuite understand what was ha''ening. % was brought to the door by gendar#e. )ith #y oat on #y ar# % was 'assing a#ong the 'risoners in the yard. $o#e 'oor 'risoners were asking for #oney. % tried to give the# as #u h as % ould. % was 'leased to #ake these 'risoners ha''y while being released. 2owever" when we arrived at the door % sensed that % was not being released. % and an offi er boarded on a train. There in the train % noti ed the transfer do u#ents. % was being transferred to $ino' -rison. % was stru k by this. % was so disa''ointed. $o downM % i#agined a single standing 'rison by the sea. A dungeon where % knew no oneM % was brought to a ward alled Daraka whi h was lo ated on the se ond floor of third division. This is where % #et 2Cseyin. H*SEYN: All of the fifteen in#ates in our ward were fro# $ino'... Most of the# were in 'rison for shooting and #urder. There were no bunk beds in wards then... )e were slee'ing in beds on the floor. .il la#'s were used for illu#ination. The 'risoners were busy with hand rafts. )e were arving souvenirs fro# walnut wood su h as trays" ba kga##on boards" and igarette bo+es. Mustafa would sell these and give us twenty 'er ent fro# the sales 'ri e. The rest of the #oney was his... The dire tor of the 'rison Mr. Oevded" fro# <stanbul" was a kind #an. 2e was said to have worked in .tto#an -ala e during AbdClha#it(s ruling. .ne day Mr. Oevded a''eared with a see#ingly ni e gentle#an who had eye glasses on. 2e alled Mustafa" >Mr. $abahattin is under your ustody now" and he will be staying in your wardN. 3ater we learned that he was $abahattin Ali. 2e was a friendly 'erson we all #ingled Fui kly. 2e was single when he a#e to 'rison. 2e did not have visitors Fuite often either. .nly there was a tea her o#ing to visit hi# fro# $ino': Tea her &at#a fro# 4oluM They used to #eet in dire tors offi e. $abahattin Ali re eived books and #aga=ines via #ail. The #oney he had was hardly enough for food. $in e we al#ost all in#ates in our ward were fro# the sa#e town we all liked the sa#e kind of food. % was the designated ook for the ward. % would kee' the bills and s'lit it at the end of the #onth. %n our ward no one had lue about 'oetry or story. )hile we drank and 'layed ards" $abahttin would lay in his bed" and read books in the 'oor light of the oil la#' until late nights. 2e had lots of books" #any in ;er#an. During the day he would utili=e hests as table and write on the#. 2e would not talk to us if we did not ask hi# so#ething. .ne day he had #entioned about the orru't govern#ent offi ialsT about how we ould not #ake any 'rogress unless this orru'tion was sto''ed... 8The "an in "ask places a ph#ne call; Mustafa would say >This govern#ent has s'ent #oney on you" edu ated you. %sn(t it unfair for you to talk about govern#ent in this #annerP Mr. $abahattin: > 2ere" you see how % live... And you Mr. Mustafa" what ould be said about youP Qou drink in the ward" ga#ble" and use these in#ates( labor to #ake #oney...Qes" you are 'rodu ing work here" but you are e+'loiting these 'oor in#ates. 3ive #e alone and #ind your business Mr. MustafaN Mustafa was s'ee hlessM 2e never said a word against $abahattin again be ause he knew $abahattin was right. $abahattin did not give any 'oliti al s'ee hes again either. 2e only read... 2e would !oin our singing fro# ti#e to ti#e. 9al#ng :ith ba(la"a all t#gether888;

Translated by Meral Akay blak

This era did not be o#e #y o#'anion. *a h and everyday is another 'oison % e#bra ed the iron fen es of the 'rison % take short walks in the ourtyard Thinking at ti#es" and sitting now and then. % daydrea#" 4ut the days are not 'assing The days are not 'assing.... 8p#e" by Sabahattin Ali; H*SEYN: As the days 'assed" 4rother Mustafa brought us new designs to i#'rove our hand rafts Fuality. 2e was hel'ing us i#'rove ourselves. SABAHATTN AL: %n this 'rison that was surrounded by strong walls and the sea" the water would s'lash against the walls" and the sound of this s'lash would reverberate in the stone roo#s. This sound...This sound was inviting #e for long !ourneys...The sea birds would e#erge fro# behind the walls water dri''ing fro# their wings... As soon as they saw the iron fen es of the 'rison they would fly away... Qou ould do a 'risoner a big favor if you lo ked hi# in a ell isolated fro# the rest of the world. The #ost devastating thing for a 'risoner is to see the freedo# so lose however" i#'ossible. )hat ould be a better torture than listening to the waves of the see" the sy#bol of freedo#" but not being able to see the#P 8$abahattin Ali starts singing" the rest of the 'risoners !oin hi# slowly...9 Do not bow your head" 3et it go #y 'oor soul" let it go Don(t let your ries be noti ed" 3et it go #y 'oor soul" let it go The u' roaring wild waves of the sea" brushing against the walls" Those sounds that divert you 3et it go #y 'oor soul" let it go *ven if % #ay not see the sea Turn your fa e u' to the sky &or the sky is !ust like the sea 3et it go #y 'oor soul" let it go The bullets will end by shooting The roads will end by walking The i#'rison#ent will end by serving 3et it go #y 'oor soul" let it go )hen you are #ost de'ressed" $end a o#'laint to the ;od

Translated by Meral Akay blak The beautiful days are still ahead 3et it go #y 'oor soul" let it go

AL ERTEKN: % graduated on the tenth anniversary of the Turkish Se'ubli . )e were waiting for orders to be a''ointed. % was sent to Dirklareli. % went to Dirklareli while other few friends stayed in 4abaeski. % was a avalry in the ar#y. /aturally we also had infantries and artillery#an a#ong us. % was assigned to se ond avalry troo's. % o#'leted #y initial training in Dirklareli in ?A4W. The 'la e known as BiLli MosFue today was our s hool then. .ur o##ander was a young graduate &aik. 2is last na#e was TCrCnJToday we know hi# as &aik TCrCn -ashaM 2e has a strong su''ort so he stayed in <stanbul % was always s'eaking the truth. 2en e" the lieutenants there did not like #e" so % was sent o Drklareli. 9ABth year anthe"; SABAHATTN AL: % was listening to the news on the radio. $'eaker was announ ing the long waited news. % turned to fellow in#ates: >&riends" ongratulationsM A#nesty has been de laredN To #y sur'rise everyone was stunnedM They sto''ed doing what they were busy with at the #o#ent. 2Cseyin was 'eeling 'otatoes and he re#ained #otionless with his knife in his hand. 5ust like the ga#e we 'layed in our hildhoodP /o talk" no #oveM )e were longing for su h news. All we talked about day and night was the drea# of su h news. After a while the s ene began to hange. They started #u#bling and #oving. Then suddenly they started s rea#ing as if they were being tortured. &irst 2Cseyin dro''ed the knife fro# his hand. 2e i##ediately ran and 'la ed a gra#o'hone re ord on the 'layer. 8A dance "el#dy is heard8 This lively ".sic had al"#st d#"inated the Tenth /ear Anthe"8 First Hseyin< and then the rest #, the act#rs< eCcept Sabahattin Ali and Ali Ertekin< start dancing8 Hseyin "#ves t#:ards Sabahattin Ali dancing< takes his hands t# invite hi" t# dance8 Sabahattin Ali d#es n#t resist l#nger8 Alth#.gh he can@t dance as :ell as #thers< he tries gen.inely8 They all dance ,#r a :hile than the ".sic st#ps s.ddenly8 Every#ne sits8 The Tenth /ear Anthe" still c#ntin.es t# play slightly #n the backgr#.nd;8 SABAHATTIN ALI: % would be in !ail two #ore years if it was not for a#nesty. As % was saying farewell to in#ates" they had no idea % was #olding the new heroes of #y novels to o#e on #y #ind. Sight after getting out of 'rison" % went to %stanbul then to Ankara i##ediately. % wanted to find % !ob as soon as 'ossible. % a''lied to the Ministry of edu ation for a 'osition. They ke't #e waiting for seven #onths. % was re!e ted due to #y ideology. % was being asked to 'rove that % had hanged #y ideas. % tried to e+'lain to the# that it was all fabri ated that % was inno ent to begin with. % reFuested fro# the $tate Ooun il to review #y situation so % ould work and be useful again. %n the #ean ti#e % had one of #y 'oe#s" #y love" 'ublished in 1arlik Maga=ine. %t is you that beats in #y hest" not #y heart" %t is you that stands u'right in #y #ind as #y ideal" %t is you who fill #y days of Fuarter of a entury"

Translated by Meral Akay blak %f % take you out" #y life will sei=e before it starts. )hat differen e it will #ake if % 'ut all these in a verseP % gave #y heart to AtatCrk My heart is filled with love" only for 2i#. % #ade an a''oint#ent with Ministry of *du ation right away. The de ision of the $tate Ooun il on one hand and this 'oe# on the other % went for #y a''oint#ent. )hy are you not assigning #e for a tea hing !obP MINISTER: )e are not bound by law to #ake use of you. SABAHATTN AL: 4ut % have a s holarshi' that % have to 'ay ba k by working for the state. MINISTER: % release you fro# your debt to us. SABAHATTN AL: 8:ith a l#.d v#ice9 % do not owe you sir" % owe to #y stateM Qou are not authori=ed to erase #y debt to #y stateM MINISTER 8re"aining cal"9. There is nothing our #inistry an do for you. SABAHATTN AL: )hyP MINISTER: 3ook sonM )hat you have done is dire tly related to Mustafa De#al. Qou have written a 'oe# against 2i#. )e an not e#'loy you. SABAHATTN AL: The Minister was trying to get rid of #e. >%f it is so" % will go to Mustafa De#al" and tell hi# in 'erson. % will infor# hi# that you are not assigning #e for a 'ositionMN % told the Minister. 5ust when % had turned away to the door" the Minister a#e running to #e in fear. MINISTER: )ait a #inute 'leaseM % will try to do so#ething. 5ust o#e ba k a week laterJ HASAN ZZETTN DNAMO: 4efore the 'oe# in Fuestion gets in to hands of Mustafa De#al" his for#er se retary #entions to hi# at a dinner table: >That 'oet who wrote a 'oe# against youJ$abahattin AliJ 2e has been released fro# the 'rison" and wants to go ba k to tea hingN Mustafa De#al: > %s there any legal ob!e tion for his assign#ent as a tea her againPN >/o Mr. Oo##anderN. Mustafa De#al with a fir# tone > $o why are you asking #ePN >The ri#e has been o##itted against you Oo##ander.N >% a# offendedM $o you think % regard #y 'ersonal feelings over lawP A# % that selfishP A''oint hi# to the first o'ening 'ossible.N SABAHATTN AL: &irst % was a''ointed as Ohief of -ublishers then to the Ministry of National Education as the examinig official. % started #y work i##ediately. % was staying with #y friend *#in sin e % was out of 'rison. % needed to get #y own 'la e. % had started thinking about #arriage seriously. 2owever there are #any Fuestions in #y #ind. %sn(t it easier to be a single writer in this ountryP )hat if % get arrested after % get #arriedP )hy should % #ake a wo#an suffer with #eP )hat if % have to ensor #y work to 'rote t #y fa#ily" won(t it devaluate #y Fualifi ations as a writerP .n

Translated by Meral Akay blak the other hand % thought #arriage was ne essary too. % needed to get #arried to have a o#fortable ho#e to write" but with who# should % #arryP % an(t #arry #y love /ahit be ause she is #arried to another #an now. /evertheless" she never returned #y love. $hould % #arry so#eone traditional who an ad!ust to #y life or should % #arry so#eone who is free s'iritedP .f ourse it should be the first one. AyLe" #y friend and history tea her" is a good andidate. $he understands and likes literature. % should write and 'ro'ose to her. The answer was 'ro#'t. AY$E: Ora=y $abahattinM /ow % understand you will never behaveM Qou !ust got out of 'risonJ Qou went through so #u h trouble and still in trouble. Qou !ust got a !ob to en!oy your life and you are trying to get yourself in to a big trouble againP % take your 'ro'osal as a !oke now. %f you really thought of su h a 'ro'osal seriously" you are a ting hildish. That is right" now that there is nothing else left for you to do you thought of #arriageJ Qou thought about few na#es to 'ro'ose and % was one of the#. /o" $abahattin don(t try to 'ull #e in to trouble or % will ut off your ;reek noseM % don(t think seriously about this sort of a #arriage" es'e ially with youM %t would #ake #e burst in laugh. )hat is wrong with you $abahattinP Are you bored of #y friendshi'P %f so !ust let #e know and % won(t bother you any #ore. % value our friendshi' so #u h and % don(t wan to sa rifi e it for anything. %f you really want to #arry it an not be %. 2owever" we an together look for a good andidate for you. % a# sure as you read these senten es the wo#an you wanted the #arry died in your #ind already but again % feel so lose to you that % an not #arry you to ruin this. Qou should #arry so#eone who is al# and ordinary who an be a ho#e#aker be ause % believe you an only be ha''y with su h kind of a girl. Se#e#ber you had indi ated this in one of your letters to one of our #utual friendP SABAHATTN AL: The girl that % will #arry should be Fuiet and like an angel. $he should be in and out of #y study roo# like an i#ageJ$he should #ake #y writing easy. $he should not ob!e t to #y reading. $he should not disturb #eJ %n short" she should dedi ate herself to #e. $he should e+ist only for #e. AY$E: That is rightM Qou are s#art and you should have su h s#art ideas about #arriage too. ;od forbid" think about what an ha''en if we #arry ea h other. )e will turn our lives and our ho#e in to hell. /ot only we will suffer" but also our neighbors fro# our yelling and Fuarrels. 3ets end this talk about #arriage $abahattin. 3et our beautiful friendshi' last forever. SABAHATTN AL: Qou are right AyLe...Qou are very rightM $o who should % #arryP 8s.ddenly; .h yes % found herM AliyeM )hy didn(t % think about her earlierP AliyeM Qes" yesM Aliye... ALYE: Those days we lived in <stanbul and we were neighbors with $alih 4ey" the head 'har#a ist of ;Clhane 2os'ital. )e often so iali=ed with his fa#ily. .n one o asion he suggested that we go to $uadiye 4ea h. Those days $uadiye(s water was rystal lear. The ne+t day we all got together and went to $uadiye 4ea h. That is where % #et $abahattin the first ti#e. 2e was a relative of Mr. $alih. % #et hi# that is all. /othing ha''ened between us. &ew days later we went to a traditional ir u# ision ere#ony together. )e stayed at the ere#ony for few hours. )hen we were about to return we noti ed $abahattin was not there. 2e was sitting under a three reading a book with the la#' we used at night to get there...)hen Mr. $alih said: >3et(s goN he got u' and held the light to #y fa e and stared in to #y eyes...4ut % wasn(t even least interested in $abahattin be ause % was interested in 3ieutenant

Translated by Meral Akay blak Muhittin" Mr. $alih(s brother in law. Though % was not in love with 3ieutenant Muhittin for he was Fuite older than %. % never saw $abahattin afterwards" be ause Mr. $alih had retired and his fa#ily had #oved to Ankara... Two years later Mr. $alih(s wife sent #y #other a letter : > $abahattin wants to #arry Aliye. *verything will be taken are of by us. All gifts are fro# us. )e are waiting for an answer fro# you. 8the "an in "ask ph#nes s#"e#ne9 My father was against of this #arriage 'ro'osal. 2e told #y #other that he thought $abahattin had trouble with the state and this would #ake #e suffer in the future. % would learn this later... 2owever" % wanted to #arry $abahattin. Des'ite of #y father(s resistan e % wanted $abahattin. % was going to live in AnkaraM &ather had to a e't it. Mother sent the# a letter stating our a e'tan e of the 'ro'osal. Due to harsh winter season the engage#ent was done through #ail... The 'resents were sent to us fro# Ankara. % had #y olored 'i ture taken to send to $abahattin. 2e wrote #e a letter u' on re ei't of #y 'i ture. 2e was e+'ressing his feelings about how beautiful #y 'i ture was. 2e started sending his books along with his se ond letter... SABAHATTN AL: %f you are an artist" the best way to i#'ress a wo#an is to 'resent her your works. There is no doubt that if you are a good writer or a #usi ian or a 'ainter you will have less trouble i#'ressing a wo#en. % think there is hardly any wo#an in the world that ould refuse a beautiful voi e or a beautifully written 'ie e of work. As a #atter of fa t being an artist is a valuable advantage. 2ere is what an old saying says: >%f you let your daughter hoose she will either #arry a dru##er or a wind,blowerNM ALYE: % fell #adly in love with $abahattin after % read his books. 2e was 'resenting different worlds to #e. My drea#s of living in Ankara had transfor#ed in to living with $abahattin in Ankara. 2e a#e to %stanbul in May and stayed at our ho#e for a night. /e+t day we went to DadikUy #atri#onial agen y" signed out #arriage do u#ents and together went right ba k to Ankara by train. )e stayed at Mr. $alih for a week. % had a gorgeous wedding dress #ade by an Ar#enian tailor. )ithin a week we had our wedding ere#ony" and we #oved in to our own a'art#ent whi h was a ute 'enthouse. $abahattin had a se ond !ob as a ;er#an tea her at a #iddle s hool so we had no finan ial 'roble#s. 2e would 'ull hi#self to his study roo# to read and write...% would Fuietly bring his offee or tea to his roo# and leave the roo# in the sa#e #anner. 2is novel Duyu akl Qusuf got 'ublished in Tan. )e are both very ha''yM SABAHATTN AL: %n the beginning of ?AW6 % was alled u' to #ilitary servi e. )e #oved to %stanbul be ause the #ilitary s hool was in 2arbiye" <stanbul. % #et /iya=i ARrnasl there. NYAZ A/IRNASLI: As $abahattin said % #et hi# fa e to fa e at #ilitary s hool. )e were together in the sa#e deta h#ent. ALYE: % was 'regnant at that ti#e. .ur daughter" &ili=" was born when $abahattin was on his ar#y duty... 9the "an in "ask places a ph#ne call :hile #bserving Sabahattin Ali; ALYE: )hile % was still in the hos'ital $abahattin a#e to visit. 2e looked worried. 2e was #ingling with &ili=" but ertainly his #ind was else where. Qou look worried $abahattinP

Translated by Meral Akay blak SABAHATTN AL: They want to 'ro#ote #e down as a sergeant. % won(t get 'aid if that ha''ens. ALYE: 2ow an we #ake a livingP SABAHATTN AL: The #inister is $affet Arkan. 2e likes and su''orts #e. % #ust go to Ankara... ALYE: $o he said and left. 2e was ba k fro# Ankara in a day. 2e see#ed ha''y. 2e had #et the Minister and Afet <nan. 2e was 'leased fro# <nan(s attention. %n fa t he was sent to *skiLehir as a lieutenant. )e stayed there for si+ #onths then returned to Ankara. This ti#e he was assigned as a tea her to $ hool of Musi for Tea hers. )e rented a 'enthouse again. This ti#e on Daranfil street. -ertev /aili 4oratav" QaLar /abi and his wife" Oevdet Dudret and his wife were our very lose friends. Al#ost every night we s'ent together. )hen we were not with friends $abahattin was writing. $o#eti#es he would even write as % was listening to the radio in the roo# or while friends were over at our house. 2is works were getting 'ublished in daily news'a'ers and later as books. 2owever" he was suddenly alled u' to ar#y duty again... NYAZ A/IRNASLI: )e were alled u' to ar#y duty u' on the start of )orld )ar %%... % and $abahattin were sent to $arka#iL. )e were assigned as au+iliary offi ers. % was the head of the unit. )ith about si+ hundred #an on duty we were the #obile bakery for the eighth division. )e were dis harged again. Then alled u' again... This ti#e the fas is# was about to take ontrol of whole *uro'e. $talingrad was besieged by ;er#ans...2ad $talingrad fallen" the ;er#ans would invade Mos ow and the Sed Ar#y would lose its 'ower. This whole s enario was being 'ro#oted by i#'erialist 'owers of ourse. These 'owers were leaving Mos ow alone with fas ist %talians and ;er#ans. )e were on duty in 2ad#kUy at the ti#e. )e were on our horses listening to the news. The s'eaker was talking about the 'ossible fall of $talingrad. % and $abahattin were terrified. )e ould not even i#agine what would ha''en to 'eo'le of the world. The s'eaker was ontinuing > #illions of Sussians were killed by ;er#an invaders.N % burst in rying. $o did $abahattin. $o#e si+ty #illion 'eo'le would die by the end of the war... NHAL ATSIZ: Oan you see how he is ryingP SABAHATTN AL: And you are en!oyingM NHAL ATSIZ: Qou are a 'artisan of Sussia. As if your real brothers are dying... SABAHATTN AL: -eo'le are dying" 'eo'leM And you are about to dan e out of !oyM NHAL ATSIZ: Qes % will dan e...)on(t your heaven Sussia dissolve if $talingrad fallsP SABAHATTN AL: And how would this benefit youP NHAL ATSIZ: Then the ;er#ans will grant us the Turki Se'ubli s that are under ontrol of Sussia...

Translated by Meral Akay blak SABAHATTN AL: % think you are forgetting that these fas ist ;er#ans first killed the 5ews" then the foreigners" then the non,/a=i ;er#ans... And now they are after other nations. Also don(t forget that they regard Turks as the lowest of all 'eo'le. NHAL ATSIZ: %f we take our 'la e with the# and su''ort the# everything will be different. SABAHATTN AL: % an(t believe this" you are so hildish /ihalM 2ow an you believe su h ridi ulous ideas. % believe that ;er#ans will lose but even if they win" do you think they will give you the Turki re'ubli sP NHAL ATSIZ: Qes they will. .f ourse if we go to war on their side. %f they don(t give us the Middle Asia then we will sei=e by ourselvesM SABAHATTN AL: Qou will sei=eM Didn(t we sa rifi e one hundred thousand soldiers on Allahuekber Mountain be ause of su h e#'ty drea#P )e have not even i#'roved Anatolia yet. 3et go of su h e#'ty drea#s... NHAL ATSIZ: $o#e nations are su'erior to others and so#e 'eo'le are su'erior to others. Trying to treat all 'eo'le eFual by for e is #ore ridi ulous and against nature.. Qou should get real" and let your ridi ulous drea# go. SABAHATTN AL: 2ere lays the differen e between our ideas Ms. Ats=. )e do not ategori=e 'eo'le by their olor" eyes" ears" height or s ull. )e treat the# all as hu#ans. .ur ideals are so o''osite that we an not agree on anything with you. &ighting to sto' the likes of you is our duty. )e should sto' you before you start to har# 'eo'le. 2ad 2itler been sto''ed when he de lared his 'lans" hu#anity would not have lived this tragedy... MEHMET: % a# Meh#et $abahattin(s ousin. $abahattin was dis harged one #ore ti#e. % invited hi# to #y wedding ere#ony so he a#e to *dre#it. 2e would hardly go out. 8the "en in "ask ,#ll#:s Sabahattin :ith his eyes; .ne day he got u' in the #orning and went out for a walk. %t was about noon ti#e an offi er a''eared at our door and gave us the order to go to the 'oli e station with hi#. There stood $abahattin... A''arently" while $abahattin strolling through the ity he was taking so#e notes. The se urity guard" Ali" found hi# sus'i ious and brought hi# to the 'oli e station. Those days were very riti al days. Anybody sus'i ious ould be a s'yM 3u kily the Mayor took the harge of $abahattin and ordered hi# to be released. ALYE: H' on our return ba k to Ankara $abahattin was a''ointed to Oonservatory for he knew ;er#an very well. Those days #any s holars" artists were es a'ing fro# ;er#any to Turkey" and the Oonservatory was established by one of the#" Oarl *bert. Although a little old" *bert was a very handso#e tea her. 2e was a very well known and res'e ted ondu tor. 2e had two daughters. They were Fuite friendly folks. Mr. *bert and $abahattin got along very well. *bert(s would often invite us for dinner. They es'e ially adored our daughter &ili=. FLZ: There was a 'erfor#an e stage at the Oonservatory. My father was working as a translator to Oarl *bert who did not know a word of Turkish. Although he was a translator" he was in harge of all 'lays and o'eras that were going to be 'ut on the stage. 2e would wat h the rehearsals" deal with the students and the stage setting. %n short #y father was in harge of everything related to stage. 2e was very busy. 2e would take #e to work with hi# so % knew all about his work.

Translated by Meral Akay blak

ALYE: Qou look so ha''y $abahattin. SABAHATTN AL: 2ow an % not be ha''y AliyeP % a# engaged in arts. )e have great students" Mua==e= <lgin" Meliha Ars" Mahir Oanova...And also OCneyt ;Uker. % think he will be o#e a great a tor. 2e suits to the stage 'erfe tly" he is like a #aster of the a ting. 2e will be a fa#ous a tor known by the world" you will see. ALYE: The first on erts would take 'la e in the Oonservatory hall. )hen 2asan Ali QC el was the Minister of *du ation" % would see -resident <nUnC in the tea her(s roo# often. <nUnC showed great affe tion to our daughter. The on ert hall would get 'a ked" but not even whis'ers ould be heard. *veryone would listen to the on ert ondu ted by the ;er#an Oondu tor in silen e. The first graduates of the Oonservatory went on a tour to <=#ir. They 'resented >Mada#e 4utterflyN as their first 'erfor#an e. Mesude aRlayan and Ayhan Aydan were the leading a tors... >4i=i# Behir" .ur OityN and > QanlLlklar Do#edyas" The Oo#edy of Misa''rehensionsN were 'resented as stage 'lays. % got a han e to wat h OCneyt ;Uker and other students there for the first ti#e. $abahattin was right. % ad#ired Mr. OCneyt... %n fa t % ad#ired all other students too. .ur days were filled with ha''iness like this. 2owever" it would not last long. )hyP )ait % will tell you why: >The Devil )ithin HsN" $abahattin(s novel" had been 'ublished when he started working at the Oonservatory. 2e had targeted ra ists and Turanists. /aturally he drove the fas ists ra=y so he be a#e their target. /ihal Ats= wait not long to 'ublish a bro hure titled > The D*1%3$ within usN. $abahattin was being harshly slandered in this bro hure. SE+, SANLI: 2usband and wife had dedi ated the#selves to their daughter. *s'e ially $abahattin loved her so 'assionately. .ne day their house in Ankara got raided by 'oli e...Aliye was waiting hel'lessly. &ili= was wat hing 'oli e take his fathers books in a disgusted #anner. $he did not have any idea about what was ha''ening. $he was fro=enM SABAHATTN AL: %t was few days after this in iden e. %t was after #idnight. Aliye and &ili= were already sound aslee'. $uddenly % heard a noise in #y daughter(s roo#. 8He gets .p< and listens t# the n#ise8 Filiz appears888She :alks in t# the living r##" :ith tiny steps hal, asleep8 A b##kcase appears s.ddenly8 Filiz changes her directi#n t# the b##kcase8 Dith her eyes hal, sleepy she t#.ches the shelves as i, t# see i, the b##ks are still there #r n#t8;

CURTAIN 1ART II NHAL ATSIZ: Dear Mr. -ri#e Minister" % won(t kee' it long. % a# writing to e+'ress #y on erns about our Ministry of *du ation. Oo##unists have infiltrated in to our Ministry of *du ation. These traitors have taken the advantage of the negligen e of the Ministry and o u'ied i#'ortant 'ositions. /ow" they are

Translated by Meral Akay blak s'reading their 'oisonous ideas. There is a #e#ber of the 3anguage %nstitution and $tate Oonservatory. 2is na#e is $abahattin Ali. This fellow is a known Oo##unist. 2e was senten ed to !ail for satiri=ing AtatCrk" and riti i=ing the e+isting state order. This reature" now under the 'rote tion of 2asan Ali" is having a o#fortable life with our ta+'ayer(s #oneyM MEDHA ESENEL: % a# Mediha *senel. % was an instru tor at Ankara Hniversity those days. To des ribe you the at#os'here of those days is hard. )henever there was a whis'er about >ho#e sear hN by the 'oli e" of ourse without a warrant" everyone would try to olle t all of the books banned by the state order and sFuirrel the# away. Most 'o'ular of su h books were of /a=# 2ik#et(s books who was in 'rison in 4ursa those days. ;od forbid" if you got labeled on e" then you would lose everything dear to you" your !ob" life" and your fa#ily. /o one ould #ention the word >de#o ra yN. /ihal Ats= in fa t was targeting 2asan Ali QC el" be ause 2asan Ali was sin erely trying to edu ate the 'ubli . Two #a!or 'ro!e ts were in 'rogress during his ti#e: The translation of )orld Olassi al 3iterature )orks and the establish#ent of 1illage %nstitutes. These institutes were edu ation enters where the young and bright hildren fro# villages thrived. These institutes were like seeded fertile landsM These institutes s'read all over Anatolia in no ti#e. All of the volunteers and tea hers had dedi ated the#selves to these institutes. They built these institutes fro# s rat h. % would visit these institutes fro# ti#e to ti#e. During #y visits % ould see in the eyes of these bright forgotten village kids( eyes the hunger for learning" their talents and their beautiful #inds. ;irls and boys were so eager to learn. They 'ut all their efforts to reate the#selves a new" better world. 2owever the onservatives and the &as ists of this ountry" who were Fuite un o#fortable to see the awakening of the 'ubli " were lauder than ever: >1illage %nstitutes are nests for Oo##unistsN" >1illage %nstitutes are institutes for 'rostitutionN" >2asan Ali su''orts Oo##unists" and he should be taken down fro# his 'osition...N SABAHATTN AL: % filed a suite i##ediately... +EL DEMR0Z: % a# a graduate of ifteler 1illage %nstitute. Sight wing #ove#ents had rea hed its 'eak es'e ially after ?A44. /o day was 'assed uneventful in Ankara or <stanbul. That day % was going to the ourt in Ankara for #y own trial. &ront of the ourt building was 'a ked with 'eo'le who had heard about the ase of $abahattin Ali, /ihal Ats= that was going to take 'la e on the sa#e day...The rowd was so big that the streets were o#'letely blo ked. Mounted 'oli e were on duty waiting lose to the ourt building. -HOIR: The 2ell with the Oo##unistsM The 2ell with $abahattin AliM 3ong live Ats=M +EL DEMR0Z: % had ni e 'la e to wat h the event fro# above. /ot long after 'eo'le started whis'ering >$abahattin Ali is o#ingN There was an overwhel#ing silen e that you ould even hear the sound of a single fly in the sky. >The roads are 'a ked" how is he going to walk throughP )hat if so#eone atta ks hi#PN % was thinking to #yself. $uddenly $abahattin Ali a''eared. As he walked through the rowd along with a o#'any the rowd s'read in to two to #ake hi# a way...2e looked very onfident...2e did not see# nervous at all. Together with his friends he walked in to the Oourt 2ouse.

Translated by Meral Akay blak SABAHATTN AL: As we walked it % noti ed #ost of the audien es were of Ats=. They did not noti e that % was nervous. The 5udge is about to take his 'la e... $o#ething is going to ha''en" but whatP -HOIR8s.ddenly; The 2ell with the Oo##unistsM The 2ell with Sussian agentsM The 2ell with Sussian agentsM The 2ell with the Oo##unistsM The 2ell with Sussian agentsM 1.D,E: %f you kee' s rea#ing like this % will end the session. % will end the sessionM 80h#ir starts singing the Nati#nal Anthe"888 Nat.rally the 6.dge keeps silent t##8; -HOIR8,r#" #.tside9: The 2ell with the Oo##unistsM 2ell with Sussian agentsM LA2YER8 :hispering in t# Sabahattin Ali@s ear9 This is getting dangerous. % a# glad we are on the first floor. 3est Fuietly sneak out through the window... SABAHATTN AL: % a# walking through the noisy rowd and Fuietly getting out of the windowM FLZ: Hn le -ertev had told #e...My fathers es a'e was on the news that night. 2owever that night there was a 'lay. My father needed to go to this 'lay due to his 'osition in the Oonservatory. Hn le -ertev and his wife a#e to 'i k u' #y dad to go together. As they were walking down the street so#eone threw a stone to the# whi h landed right ne+t to #y father. A tually it slightly hits #y father(s shoulder... 2ere is what Hn le -ertev told #e: > $abahattin tuned around and start running towards darkness. % had never seen anyone run so fast in #y life. )e were running after hi#. )hen we finally at hed $abahattin he had grabbed so#eone and beating hi# already. 2owever" the offender #anaged to es a'eM SABAHATTN AL: % feel down...My friends are advising #e not to go out alone. .ne day -resident <nUnC a#e to one of the on erts. % was one of the greeters. A war# s#ile for#ed on his fa e when he saw #e > wel o#e Mr. -residentN % said. >2ow are you $abahattinP 2e asked. >/ot very well" % a# being botheredN % said. 2e s#iled again > Don(t worry everything will get betterN /evertheless the at#os'here of the se ond trial had hanged dra#ati ally. The lawyer of the other 'arty had resigned. Ats= a#e to the trial alone looking #iserable. $o#ebody had twisted the ears of folks around Ats= % guessM .f ourse Mr. -resident was on his Minister side. Although Ats= was wrong" % felt 'ity for hi#. Ats= was senten ed to 'rison for four #onths. MEDHA ESENEL: The ra ists were very #ad at $abahattin Ali...They were ragedM 4la kening of $abahattin was ontinuing...$abahattin was shown as target to the young fas ists. ALYE: 2e had o#e ho#e late one night. 2e was overed with dirt. 2e looked disturbed. 2e was trying to hide his fa e. >)hat is the #atter $abahattinN % asked. >% fell downN he said. > % shall wash #y fa e and hands before &ili= sees #eN 2e went to the bathroo#. 3ater % would learned that he was in fa t atta ked by students fro# the Hniversity who were su''orters of Ats=. MEDHA ESENEL: Hnfortunately 2asan Ali QC el and his institutions" The 1illage %nstitutes" lost the battle against onservatives. -resident <nUnC ke't 2asan Ali as a Minister for a while but eventually ould not resist onservatives and ra ists. 2e threw their heads to ra ists. The new Minister" % don(t even re#e#ber the na#e" ruined the 1illage %nstitutes.

Translated by Meral Akay blak SABAHATTN AL: % know our ti#e is going to o#e too. 2ow an % #ake a living if % get firedP % should start looking for an alternative. 5ust as % was thinking % re eived a letter fro# Mr. Oa#i. 2e was asking us to 'ublish so#ething in %stanbul alled >2o#eland and )orldN. % had a !ob but" % needed to look in to other 'ossibilities !ust in ase. $o % started writing for 2o#eland and )orld. 2en e" % was traveling to %stanbul fro# ti#e to ti#e. )ell" % was laid off fro# #y !ob at the Oonservatory in two weeks following the a''earan e of #y work in 2o#eland and )orld. M*ZEHHER +A-N.: % a# MC=ehher 1a,/u... The ountry was in a total den of intrigue. *a h day so#eone was being arrested and sent to 'rison ell. There was a 'ainter... &aris was his na#e. My husband 1ala would tell #e. >MC=ehher" this 'ainter &aris is one of the #ost beautiful folks on earth. 2e never thinks badly of anyone" he an share anything he owns with others. .nly if everyone ould be like hi# the world would be a 'la e to liveMN &aris was ill" but still he was taken by the 'oli e one night. And few days later his death was announ ed...%t was su h a bad 'eriod ti#e in the ountry. All the intelle tual s holars were being laid off fro# the universities... $o#e were suddenly disa''earing fro# the fa e of earthM $i#'ly vanishingM )ere they being e+iled to so#e unknown 'la esP 1ala was re eiving letters related to these issues everyday. $o#e writers were brave enough take the risk to write: >$o#eone has been killed... $o#eone has been taken under ustodyN MEDHA ESENEL: The newly a''ointed Minister of *du ation" SeLat Be#settin $irer" started leansing of all s holars known by their leftist ideas. .f ourse the 1illage %nstitutes took their share too" and now it was turn for Ankara Hniversity. %t was our turn now: -ertev /aili 4oratav" /iya=i 4erkes" 4ehi e 4oran and us. $A4<2A $*ST*3: The establish#ent of De#o rat -arty had given ho'es to everyone. -eo'le fro# every se tion of the 'ubli showed their su''ort to the 'arty. This 'arty #eant de#o ra y for everyone" be ause now there would be 'arties to hose fro#. /ow" we were not bound to a single 'oliti al view any#ore. De#o ra yM *ven the s holars believed that this new 'arty would bring de#o ra y to the so iety. *veryone thought that nothing ould be worse than the e+isting ad#inistration. 2en e" intelle tuals" s holars" leftists #ost everyone were 're'aring to vote for the new De#o rat -arty. ZEKERYA SERTEL: % was 'ublishing Tan /ews'a'er... After )orld )ar %% ended with the vi tory of the de#o ra y we were all en ouraged. )e believed that Turkey an transfer in to de#o ra y easily. $o we su''orted the new De#o rat -arty with all of our efforts. )e had be o#e 'art of Hnited /ations whi h onsisted of de#o rati nations. $o we had to be o#e a de#o ra y. )e had to refuse the di tatorshi'. <s#et <nUnC also was aware of the need for a se ond 'oliti al 'arty for the sake of de#o ra y. 2owever" others did everything to sto' us. )e were not violating the law. $abahattin Ali was one of the forerunners in this o#bat. SABHA SERTEL 8the sound of a ty'ewriter9: ;er#any lost...4ut what good was it for usP )e still had fas ist at very riti al 'ositions in our ountry. Although so#eone would write: >)e absolutely have no fas ists in our ountryN in AkLa# /ews'a'er. $ure you don(t need #agi to say that. )e don(t have fas ists" be ause the na#e of fas is# is de#o ra y in our ountry. De#o ra y is su h an international #ask that on e you wear it you an do whatever you wantM *s'e ially if you have a su''orter like the governing 'arty" no worry for you. Qou are safeM8The "en in "ask #rders s#"e#ne #n the ph#ne9 ZEKERYA SERTEL: 2Cseyin Oahit Qaln was the first to res'ond to $abiha with his writing >Sise all 'eo'le of the ho#elandM" These 'eo'le an not be shut by the govern#ent. %t is the duty of the writers and free iti=ens of this ountry to shut the# u'MN )e were

Translated by Meral Akay blak e+'e ting so#ething like this lately. )e even knew the organi=er of this #ove#ent: Alaattin TiritoRlu" the 'oliti al ins'e tor of the urrent ad#inistration. A day after" ?G thousand students" holding u' flags and the 'i ture of <nUnC" started their a tion in the ourtyard of the university. NAL 3AKIRKAN: % a# /ail akrhan...% was working at Tan. Mr.Vekeriya and Mrs. $abiha had not o#e to work that day. The students arrived at the 'rinting house without en ountering any diffi ulty. .ne grou' entered inside. They started vandali=ing everything inside the 'rinting house" throwing everything out through the window. )e owned the best rotative #a hine those days. /o #atter what they did" they ould not sto' the rotatives. Hnfortunately an offi er in ivilian lothes gave the# the advi e: >5ust throw lead ty'e in to the rotatives( life vessel and start it. That(s allMN $o they did. Mission was a o#'lishedM After this" the students dire ted the#selves to the Sussian *#bassy. $o#eone in ivilian lothes told the#:N /o" no. This is enoughN Their #ission was not to reate tension between nations. They only wanted to silen e the o''osing 'ress or #ay be to o#'letely get rid of it. A''arently" they had 'lanned a visit to $abahattin Ali(s Qeni DCnya and other 'ublishers. 4y the afternoon they o#'leted their #ission and dissolved. SABAHATTN AL: % was !obless one #ore ti#e... % should get used to this" but how an %P )ho is going to take are of Aliye and &ili=P % need to do so#ething. % an not find a !ob in 'ress any#ore. There is no one left to give us a !ob in 'ress. % should talk to A=i= for he is also !obless... RIFAT IL,AZ: The news'a'er" ;erek that % and A=i= worked at was also losed down by #artial law. ;erek was !ust a daily news'a'er. %t was losed be ause one of talks by Oelal 4ayar was 'ublished without any dedu tions. Those days Oelal 4ayar was an intelle tual and a #e#ber of the De#o rat -arty. )henever % and A=i= #et we tried to o#e u' with a solution to our ase. )e were thinking of 'ublishing so#ething" be ause we ould not do anything else. )hat ould we 'ublishP The $o ialist -arty had been established at the ti#e. %ts headFuarter was in $raselviler. $o#e working lass 'arty #e#bers were advising us to 'ublish a hu#or #aga=ine. .ne night A=i= and % were walking down on Hnka'an 4ridge. AZZ NESN: 3ook Sfat...% gave a thought in to this idea and % think it is lever to 'ublish a hu#or #aga=ine. )e shall na#e it Marko'asha. )ith hu#or you an say what you want without irritating anyone. 2u#or softens the at#os'here as you know. )e won(t get #u h rea tion to our ideas then. %n addition" our 'eo'le love hu#or so we an a tually #ake a living on this #aga=ine. RIFAT IL,AZ: 2owever" everyone of us was brokeM )e ould not even afford 'ubli trans'ortation that we had to walk to everywhere in <stanbul. % did not want to be burden to #y friends any#ore so % was trying to get ba k to tea hing at that ti#e. 4esides" % was si k. .ur friends olle ted #oney and bought #e a bus ti ket to Ankara. % a#e a ross $abahattin in Ankara and he introdu ed #e to folks around hi#. SABAHATTN AL: Sfat %lga= is a 'ro#ising writer. RIFAT IL,AZ: $aid $abahattin. >3isten to #e arefully Sfat. % have talked to A=i=... ;et ready. )e are going to 'ublish Marko'asha soon. )e a''ointed 2aluk QetiL as the dire tor. $o" this has be o#e Fuite serious...N

Translated by Meral Akay blak ALYE: )e had a house in *dre#it that was inherited fro# his father. $abahattin sold the house to be able to 'ublish Marko'asha. HAL.K YET$: 2aluk QetiL...Those days the ir ulation of daily news'a'ers was about twenty thousand...4ut Marko'asha(s ir ulation had rea hed si+ty thousand right after its 'ubli ation. The owner was $abahattin Ali. The editorial arti le of Marko'asha was written by hi#. MEDHA ESENEL: 3ife is strangeM $abahattin was fired fro# his work" but he went to %stanbul to ontinue his fight with his 'en. Through his writing he was disintegrating the ad#inistration. 5ust like Duyu akl Qusuf who had dire ted his gun to all evils... SABAHATTN AL: 8reading ,r#" his articles9 Qes" Se'resentative of Turkish Se'ubli to the Hnited /ations has suggested that sin e ErdCn was an inde'endent and free ountry she should be a e'ted into the Hnited /ations Oo##ittee. 2owever" we know as a fa t that twenty five years ago" Mustafa De#al did not a''rove of su h inde'enden e as inde'enden e of ErdCn and de ided to fight for a true inde'enden e for his own ountry. %n our belief" any #e#ber of a foreign ar#y be it a general" te hni ian" or anyone dressed as a ivilian" or anyone in their !ee's" an not 'er#anently be on duty in a true inde'endent ountry. %t is said that foreign invest#ent is o#ing to our land again. Through these invest#ents the new roads will be built" the e+isting roads will be stret hedT the air'lanes will fly in the skies" we will have non,sto' #ine 'rodu tion" everyone will live in 'ros'erity. )ell" if we were to beg for foreign invest#ent then why did we fight so hard to get rid of it for forty yearsP )hat was that struggle forP %f we were to eventually beg for foreign invest#ent" then why did we have all those elebrations when we ki ked the# outP .ur de#and is that any de ision #ade should not only benefit s'e ial interest grou's. %t should benefit the whole nation. )e don(t want the 'eo'le of this land to be 'enali=ed for their ideas. )e want the# to only be evaluated by the good and bad they have done for this ountry. )e don(t want the 'eo'le of this land to be 'u''ets of other nations. )e don(t want to give u' even an in h of our land or a single iti=en. These are all we wantM %f this is a ri#e of any kind then we should be infor#ed by the authorities so we an sto' o##itting this ri#e of writing and thinking. %f this is not a ri#e" then they should sto' stabbing us in the ba kM 1illage %nstitutes were 'ro#ising edu ational institutions. They were radles of ultural enri h#ent. )hat about the understanding of inde'enden eP Hntil re ently" we were standing u'right against nations of #illions" but now we even bow to 'u''et nations. )e had se'arated religion fro# the state" but now we are 'rodu ing bigots with the hel' of the state. $u h revolutionary 'eo'leM They reversed the KG,year revolution in KG weeks. The hell with those who regard their interest above the national interestM The hell with those who for their own interest for efully try to kee' this nation in the darkness of ignoran eM The hell with those who do not believe in any do trine hen e in any idea. The hell with those who are the ene#ies of edu ation and basi hu#anly traitsM As we all know 2enry )alla e" the e+,vi e 'resident of the H$A" stood u' against i#'erialis#. 2e is fighting with his own govern#ent for the inde'enden e and freedo# of s#aller nations. )hen we try to infor# 'ubli that the gift of AtatCrk" The Se'ubli " is in danger we get sworn at. $ort of like in our ase" )alla e is being atta hed by his own state. 2ere are so#e headlines fro# our national news'a'ers: >.ur nu#ber one ene#y o##unist )alla eN" >$ha#eless" arrogant reatureMN >)alla e is being ridi ulousMN And #ore o##ents like this...)hereas )alla e said: > The big nations are trying to take over and share

Translated by Meral Akay blak the s#all nations. Those s#all nations should su''ort ea h other to defend the#selves.N )e absolutely agree with )alla e. ;overn#ent su''osedly has been trying to lower the ost of living. To a hieve this they will bring an e+'ert fro# the H$A. )e don(t thing this ad#inistration an solve this 'roble#" sin e 60X of the #er handise in our #arket is #ade in H$A. *ven the tariff has been ut down by half to hel' the H$ e+'ort. 5ust like a &ren h !ournalist indi ated on e: >The ost of living an only be ut down by inde'endent" national e ono#i al 'oli y.N 2owever" this ad#inistration does not even have any indi ation of inde'endent e ono#y. .ur hands are tied when it o#es to the H$A. HAL.K YET$: A=i= /esin was also writing besides Mr. $abahattin. 2e was in harge of al#ost all of the writing...M. Hykusu= was illustrating...Two #onths later Sfat %lga= also !oined us. 2e took the load fro# A=i= /esin(s shoulders. %n addition to being the dire tor of Marko'asha % was also taking are of the finan es. Mr. $abahattin had trust in #e. 2e never asked #e bout the a ount" never Fuestioned #e about it. % still feel 'roud for this. 2e would live his writing with us and leave right away. 2e did not s'end #u h ti#e with the ad#inistration. 2e was a very energeti #an. 2ere now" there in a #inuteM 2e was kind of like #er ury...2e would often visit his fa#ily in Ankara. 2e was very fond of his fa#ily" es'e ially of his daughter. 8The "en in "ask "ake a ph#ne call< he =.ietly #rders s#"e#ne...9 AZZ NESN: Dear $abahattin to tell you in short" Marko'asha is selling great. %ts ir ulation has gone u' es'e ially in Anatolia. The #oney is rolling... 2owever the ;overnor(s .ffi e is ausing so#e trouble. Al#ost everyday they send us so#e do u#ents to fill out. As if we have so#ething in o#'lete. They are trying to sto' us by rolling these bureau rati stones before us. Qou have thundered orders and riti i=ed #e in your letter. % don(t like the estheti s and the 'oliti al ontent of #y own writings either. % have no lai#s. % read the# to everybody and get their o'inions before 'ublishing the#. % know you are #ore e+'erien ed than %" and % wel o#e your logi al riti is#. % will take your riti is#" 'ut it through sieve of #y own dis retion" and dis uss it with you. 2owever" % do not like dry ordersM % want you to know that. This news'a'er is #ine too as #u h as it is yours. %t is #ine through #y effort" #y labor. %f Marko'asha loses or gets losed down % will have harder 'osition than you will. % will feel e+tre#ely bad if you have hard ti#e be ause of #e for % feel so lose to you. % want you to know this. 3ets talk about the real issues now. )e need a new 'ress. &ind so#e #oney" borrow" beg do so#ething to find so#e #oney so we an buy a new 'ress. 4e ause the 'rinting house that is 'rinting our news'a'er is under 'ressure now. Qou are talking about #oving the news'a'er to Ankara. % don(t think it is feasible now. A hange like this an effe t the ir ulation also. .f ourse if anything bad ha''ens then we have to #ove it to Ankara. Qou stay alert" and get ready for su h a 'ossibility. % a# sorry you are si k...% ho'e you get well soon. The last editorial arti le that you sent was not i#'ressive o#'ared to the 'revious ones so % did not use it in the 'resent issue. %f you insist % will 'ublish it in the ne+t issue but with one ondition: write it over. .n su h an i#'ortant issue you a ted owardly. -lus the writing stile was not i#'ressive eitherM % guess there is nothing left to write. $ay hello to all friends" and -ertev too... RIFAT IL,AZ: The news'a'er was onstantly being shut down.... )henever the san tions were lifted we were 'ublishing again. MC a' .fluoRlu had !oined us as editor in hief for a short ti#e.

Translated by Meral Akay blak

M*-AP OFL.O/L.: )e had 'ublished an arti le about 5ews in our news'a'er... About how owards the 5ews are...$abahattin walked in to the roo# swiftly and with rage: >Don(t write su h things in this news'a'erM 5ews are fighting against the 4ritish... Qou an not #ake fun of nations fighting for their freedo#. Qou an not #ake fun of any nationM *s'e ially Marko'asha an not be the tool for thisMN And he left the roo# with sa#e #anner... HAL.K YET$: -oli e had started its une+'e ted visits freFuently. Al#ost every week they visited the ad#inistration. )e would hear a sudden kno k on the door and the so as the door o'ened they would gush in to the roo#: >&ree=eM $tay where you areMN They would get us lined u' side by side like Musli#s ready for ablution" and start sear hing us... S'33o ed!y They were looking for so#e sale onfir#ation do u#ents to $oviet HnionM Allegedly" we had sold our ountry to $oviet Hnion...The ru#or is that Marko'asha sold the ountry to $oviet Hnion...)e were used to being arrested and released ba k again. .h ;odM There was an offi er alled Ah#et De#ir at the 'oli e station. 2e had even beaten A=i=. )e were taken in again one night. )hyP Although we were told to shut down the 'ress verbally we had not done so. .f ourse we had not re eived any written order to shut down. That day $abahattin and A=i= were not there. Sifat" M.Hykusu= and % were arrested. They stuffed us in to a roo# where we have been waiting for W@ hours...%ts in the #orning. *veryone is u' and looking out the window. )e see the streets are u' too" 'eo'le walking and trolley 'assing by" but no soundM )e ould see everything" but not hear anything. %t is like in Oharlie Oha'lin(s early #ovies" we see 'eo'le get on and off...After wat hing outside for a while M. Hykusu= turned to Sfat: >% an(t even tell you how #u h heart is filled with the desire to be on that trolley nowN RIFAT IL,AZ: &inally" Marko'asha was shut down 'er#anently. )e will kee' 'ublishing of ourse" but under what na#e nowP AZZ NESN: )ell" sin e they killed Marko'asha" we should na#e it >De eased 'ashaN... 8He s"iles; -eo'le will understand right away. SABAHATTN AL 8Starts reading8; Qoung friend" kee' your ho#eland and your 'eo'le above everything. Hse the very reason for your 'resen e to bring !oy to this land and the 'eo'le of this land. $how your affe tion and su''ort to all 'eo'le who want to live in 'ea e. Don(t be fooled by those who shed blood for their own selfish 'rofit. Segard su h 'eo'le as the ene#ies of hu#anity" your ho#e and your 'eo'le. Don(t en ourage the foreigners who o#e to settle in your landT be it legally or illegally. &ight against those ene#ies" who 'lan to enslave and e+'loit you" with your intelligen e" 'en and if ne essary with your blood. Don(t be fooled by those who have no faith in this nation" and who finds it ne essary to de'end on another ountries...Don(t go after worthless and 'ointless adventures" be ause you #ore #ature than those who are burning in su'eriority o#'le+. The last and the #ost i#'ortant don(t be fooled by those ene#ies who want to get you involved in dirty business. Dnow how to tell your friends fro# your ene#ies. 8The "en in "ask "akes a ph#ne call9 )e are ready to fight with those who are the ene#ies of our ideas. )e will fight the# by writing" talking" 'ublishing news'a'ers. )e will fight" even if it #eans serving ti#e in 'rison. $o far everyone has witnessed how we stood u'. )e endured all yni al bla kening and atta ks. 2owever % #ust say that so#eti#es our hands are tied against the ene#y for we are not using the sa#e wea'ons. )e regard their wea'ons as so dirty and owardM To sto' the

Translated by Meral Akay blak sales of a legal news'a'er by bla k,#ailing" to re olle t fifty thousand news'a'ers already in ir ulation... /oM This an not be our business...)e are behind our ene#ies on this #atterM My dear" unfortunate nationM Qou have been e+'loited by either outsiders or your own 'eo'le who have be o#e foreigners to the#selves. Qou left your fate into hands of those whose interests" and 'leasures" and arts and languages were foreign to you. .f ourse they did not have hearta hes when they took you away fro# your fa#ily and land to send you fro# one front to another. )hen you were dying in ooking heat and droughtT they were building 'ala es and kiosks and drinking i e, old rakM $o#eti#es" they referred to you as their slave" and so#eti#es as their 'atron" but nothing hanged... %f you do not take your future in to your own hands" and let others s'eak u' for you" nothing will i#'rove for you. 3ook at those who# you followed on eM /ow they are 'artners with your su''ressors. )hat did you e+'e tP Did you thing the wolfs yesterday would turn in to la#bs by #agi P Don(t go after e#'ty drea#sM At ti#es they #ight fight over who gets the big 'ie e" but they will always ba k ea h other u' against youM 4e areful nowadaysM $ee#s like they are sharing out your 'eltM .ver a year we tried to bring u' different ideas in this news'a'er ho'ing they would hallenge us with their ideas. %n vaneM &ro# ;a=iante' to <stanbul" fro# <=#ir to arLa#ba over W00 hundred bla kening arti les have been written about us. .h no" they did not try to refute our ideasT they only swore in those arti les... >4etrayers" 4olshevik s'ies" ene#ies of de#o ra y" Sed voi es of Mos ov" ene#ies of the state" anar hists" o##unistsN This kind of a battle was nor fun...2owever" one good" 'ro#ising fa t and is that the nation is always on our side. They know what is bad and what is good. ALYE: $abahattin" % won(t kee' it long. 4ad things are ha''ening here. As you know % was being followed by so#e #an. /ow they have set u' a a#' a ross our ho#e...They are on duty all the ti#e. *veryone in the neighborhood is giving #e a strange look when % take &ili= to s hool. $o#e of the# obviously have 'ity in their looks" but #ost have hatred. *ven your best friends an not o#e to our house any#ore. *ven if they do it is e+tre#ely rare. )orst of all the other day kids yelled at &ili=: >Daughter of a Oo##unistMN $he is so afraid. $he has night#ares" and she an(t even go to slee' any#ore. )hat is this we are going through $abahattinP )hat kind of a revenge they are trying to take fro# usP % a# hel'lessM -lease forgive #e for writing all this to you" but % want you to know that % love you #ore than ever... SABAHATTN AL: /ot only fro# #e" They are getting their revenge Also fro# #y beloveds: &ili= and Aliye. Qaar a#anee a#anee RIFAT IL,AZ: Merhu#'asha has been shut down too... Are we still going to 'ublishP AZZ NESN: Do we have any other hoi eP % have already found an na#e for it: >Malu#'ashaN should be our new na#e... RIFAT IL,AZ: $abahattin was down be ause of what was ha''ening to his fa#ily. 2e went to Ankara. )e will kee' going though... SABAHATTN AL: 8reads9 A news'a'er was 'ublished within the borders of Turkish Se'ubli . 5ust like this >news'a'eretteN we are holding in our hands today" a news'a'er of four 'ages was 'ublished in <stanbul on e a week... .nly twenty issues of it ould be

Translated by Meral Akay blak 'ublished inter#ittently be ause of interru'tions. The Fuality of the 'rint was so bad that the 'ublishers were e#barrassed of their readers. *ven so" it held the ir ulation re ord in the ountry. $i+ty thousand o'ies were sold. The te hni al eFui'#ent needed to 'ublish this 'a'er was in the hands of greedy" and oward owners who were giving us hard ti#e with the 'rinting 'ri es. All the news'a'ers started bla kening this news'a'er. All the 'rinting houses were re eiving onfidential orders not to 'rint this news'a'er. All of the news'a'er vendors were 'ressured not to sell this 'a'er...Those seven to eight year old kids who were selling this news'a'er with their bare feet to #ake a living were arrested and their finger'rints were re orded. %n addition" the first ti#e in the ounties history" the sale of this news'a'er by under fifteen year olds was banned. Also those who atte#'ted to sell this news'a'er were asked to show a ertifi ate and a health re ord. And there were thirty,three loud, walks arranged in Ankara" <=#ir and <stanbulT all against this news'a'er. This news'a'er had to hange four editor in hief" eleven 'ublishing house" and was 'ut on trial ten ti#es. Three of its writers were senten ed onse utively. )hyP )hy all of this ha''enedP 4e ause that news'a'er was fighting for true de#o ra y so that 'eo'le no longer suffered fro# e+'loitation" and 'overtyT so that 'eo'le had rights... <nUnC was the one who signed the 3ausanne Treaty that got the foreign #ilitary out of the ountry and let us free fro# foreign a'ital. <nUnC was also the one who started the edu ational refor#s. 2e was also the one who started the translation of )orld Olassi s. 2e is also the one who learly de lared to the world the danger of ra is# and Turanis#. 2owever" these days those who have been longing for slavery under foreign a'ital have taken the role as 'atriots. The 1illage %nstitutes are already being ba k, transfor#ed in to institutions like in Middle Ages. $ hool books are being hanged too. Oha'ters about so ial !usti e are being taken out of the booksT instead $ultanate e'i s are being taught. There are so#e who are waiting at a#bush for leansing us !ust like /a=is did to their 'eo'le. %t is ironi though" <nUnC is still the 'resident. 2ow an he not #ake all this sto'P %t is our right to e+'e t 'ro# hi# to 'ut an end to this danger. RIFAT IL,AZ: %t was su h a s#art writing" but the re'ly was 'ro#'t... Malu#'asha was also gone... what do you say to this #aestro A=i=P AZZ NESN: .D" this ti#e we will na#e it A3< 4A4A... 3et(s see what the &orty Thieves will do this ti#e. SABAHATTN AL: The rulers of this ountry don(t like us today. )ell" we had no e+'e tations of su h" and we did not beg for their affe tion. They like the governors who su''ress the 'ubli (s free will during ele tions" they like those bandits who s are folks with their knives at the ele tion bo+T they like the blood su ker ;endar#e of $enirkentM They like ignoring all these" forgiving the# for all the wrong doings... )hat do we doP )e try to illu#inate 'ubli . 2ow an they like usP ... The thieves are down fro# the #ountains" forests /ow that we are on erned about our very lives" )e gave u' the worldly 'ossessions. RIFAT IL,AZ: %t was not long before Ali 4aba was also shut down... .n e #ore we were !obless...Mr. $abahattin started writing in Vin irli 2Crriyet owned by Aybar... 2e runs into Oelal 4ayar on the way to <=#ir the other day. 2e said 4ayar was a sin ere 'erson" and has been following our struggle with res'e t. 2owever" Vin irli 2Crriyet was shut down in no

Translated by Meral Akay blak ti#e... %n the #ean ti#e $abahattin was being tried on #any harges. 2e was senten ed to 'rison after his first trial and sent to -aLaka's -rison... SABAHATTN AL: % was an eagle in the sky" ;ot shot at #y wings. % was a 'ur'le flower baring bran h" that was ut off right in the s'ring ti#e. .h #y heart" you were like a bird on e" Qou an not fit in the ages. Qou are used to flying Qou an not take 'rison... HASAN T.RAL: 8:ith a h#arse v#ice; )el o#e Mr. $abahattin. SABAHATTN AL 8:ith s.spici#n9 2ow do you know #eP HASAN T.RAL 8hardly heard9 2ow an % not know youP % have read all your books. Marko'asha" Merhu#'asha" Malu#'asha...Ali 4aba at last... % a# one of those who likes you Mr. $abahattin. SABAHATTN AL: )hat do you doP HASAN T.RAL: % a# a barber... % have a sho' near *dirneka'. % #ean it is a rented sho'" % don(t own it of ourse. % a# an i##igrant fro# 4ulgaria... SABAHATTN AL: )hy are you inP HASAN T.RAL: % a# not a writer like you" however % a# being a used of being a o##unist. Qou know" they an find anything to a use. 2ow long are you going to be inP SABAHATTN AL: Three #onths. )hat about youP HASAN T.RAL: % will be released in three weeks. Don(t worry" you will see it will 'ass Fui kly. SABAHATTN AL: % #ight get out of here" but % a# being tried on other a ounts also. $o % a# afraid the soon as % a# out" % will be ba k inM 3ike a hain rea tion... HASAN T.RAL: 5ust like /a=#...Qou are being wasted in dungeons. )hat is your faultP $o that 'eo'le like us an live in 'ea e and 'ros'erity.8even "#re =.ietly9 Qou an trust #e for everything Mr. $abahattin. Qou should o#e and visit #e when you are out. .kayP AL ERTEKN 8as i, he is still #n trial9 Qes" % was sent to 'rison only on e. )hen % was a sergeant in the #ilitary" % was a used of stealing the lost guns. %t was #iss a usation" alu#nyM %t was an a#bush... $in e % was s'eaking the truth at all ti#es" #y su'eriors did not like #e #u h. % knew all about their dirty lothes so they were trying to get id of #e" and they set u' this a#bush...% was res'onsible for the yard work in Drklareli. There was a fellow

Translated by Meral Akay blak fro# 4akrkUy" Oengi=. 2e a#e and entered in to the yard with his unifor#. )e got in to a dis ussion for this. Qou know soldiers an se+ually harass you during #ilitary servi e. 2ad % let hi# in % would be a used of letting hi# in with unifor#. /ow that % have not they think % a# not fro the#. .ne day one of our o##ander $er#et(s 'als a#e to #e asking for si+ hundred walnuts for the o##ander. % said >/oN... This was not #y garden for ;od(s sake % was on duty there. )ell" he would not take >noN for an answer so % told hi# to go 'i k fro# the trees hi#self. My o##anders and #any other su'eriors liked #e e+ e't the lieutenants. They found the o''ortunity at last. .ne of the soldiers on guard had lost his gun. % was asked >you were on duty why did you not wat h out itPN >% a# !ust an sergeant" % a# not related to thisN % said. 2owever" % was sent for trial. A ording to their story" % was on duty that night and fet hed away the gun while the other soldier on duty fall aslee'. Then they said >he has bought fro# outsideN...Also re ently % was a used of stealing bullets. 2ere is what had ha''ened in fa t: )e were 'ressing bri k for our regi#ent when suddenly rain started 'ouring. All of the soldiers ran for shelter. % olle ted what was left on the ground and 'la ed with #y belongings...3ater on they #ust have sear hed #y luggage to find these bullets.. % was labeled as >the bullet thiefN This is how they tied everything together and e+'elled #e fro# the ar#y. All of this was s'un by our o##ander BCkrC -olat. 2ere % was e+'elled fro# the ar#y with nothing in hand. % a#e to <stanbul...$ear hing for !obs... % worked in onstru tions" and #any other !obs % tried. % was being followed by the 'oli e. % #ean by se ret servi e agents. Those days were not like today. % found a !ob at Hnka'an. % worked there for two #onths. They a#e again and had #e ki ked fro# #y !ob at Hnka'an. % was unable to find any !obs... )hat good if % found they would have ki ked out again and again... .ne day #y hild got si k 8starts rying9 )e had land in Qugoslavia. % a# glad % had taken the do u#ents of ownershi' with #e when % fled to Turkey. % was ho'eless... The only thing was left to do: go to Qugoslavia and sell the land. 2en e" % went to 4ulgaria. % was going to rass 4ulgaria to Qugoslavia. 2owever" % was aught there in the forest eating bla kberries... % was ke't under ustody for seven days. Then they took #e through $ofia and -levne to a a#' in Bu#nu. % stayed there for eight days... % was able to es a'e on a day of a heavy snow. $in e the 4ulgarians took away #y land ownershi' ertifi ate" % de ided to o#e ba k to Turkey. % was hiding in a Turkish village" but % was found and taken ba k to the sa#e a#'. )ell" % es a'ed again" and this ti#e su essfully entered Turkey. % turned #yself in to the 'oli e. % was ke't under ustody for si+ #onths while the investigation was being ondu ted. % was found not guilty" and a Fuitted. % #et a 4ulgarian i##igrant" 4arber 2asan Tural" when under ustody... 2e was serving ti#e for o##unist 'ro'aganda. 2asan said he would find #e a !ob. 2owever" % found a !ob with #y own efforts in Aydn at an i e fa tory. % a#e ba k to <stanbul after % was laid off... % started looking for !obs again. $o % went to 4arber 2asan again. 2e asked #e to visit hi# often as he 'ro#ised to find a !ob for #e. % worked at street ba=aars selling used lothing for a while. .ne day 2asan introdu ed #e to .s#an and <brahi#. >take the# to border of DrklareliN he said. $o % did. % got fifty T3 fro# 2asan. % got another fifty later. 3ater % learned that .s#an and <brahi# were involved in drug dealing business. RIFAT IL,AZ: 2is hair was all white when he was finally a Fuitted. )e were all !obless and he !oined us. 2e was taken ba k in to the 'rison in three #onths...This ti#e he stayed in only for thirteen days. )hen he was out he was down even #ore... M*ZEHHER +A-N.: )hile he was visiting us one night he told #e:N MC=ehher" % was lo ked in a ell. The wall was overed with news'a'er to kee' the 'laster fro# falling. % read that news'a'er fro# to' to botto#" then fro# botto# to to'. % #e#ori=ed that news'a'er. % was sad and #ad and all...4ut % waited #y days to end #e#ori=ing that news'a'er. % will

Translated by Meral Akay blak never be in 'risonM /ever" for whatever it takesT % a# never going ba k inMN Then he added: >.nly if #y daughter were a little older...N AZZ NESN: 5ust like us he was not allowed to write anywhere. 2e was staying with Oi# o=(s #ostly. 2e was drinking a lot. .n e when we were drinking together" he took out his daughter(s 'i ture" looked at it ad ried... RASH N.R LER: Sasih /uri <leri...2e stayed at #y 'la e fro# ti#e to ti#e. At /iLantaL. Mostly he stayed at Oi# o=(s who threw 'arties freFuently to bring the artists together. -eo'le are not talking highly of Oi# o= fa#ily. % think you should end your relationshi' with the#... SABAHATTN AL: Qes % hear you Sasih" but believe #e % feel #ore se ure with the#.... % have nothing to over u'...$o#eti#es % get sus'i ious !ust like everyone else. Then % think to #yself % have not seen any har# fro# Mr. Meh#et Ali and his wife Adalet so far. My be 'eo'le are reating this gossi' deliberately to da#age our relationshi'. They want us to be o#e sus'i ious of everybody" and on e you be o#e sus'i ious...Qou be o#e 'aranoid. % a# not saying you are wrong" you #ight be right" but % a# #ore edu ated and lever than the#. % an take ne essary 're autions. % an not be fooled easily Sasih... HAL.K YET$: 2e had ordered a 'rinter fro# the H$A" u' on the reFuest of A=i=" for whi h he ould not 'ay the tariffs. 2e transferred the 'rinter to a fellow na#ed SCLtC 4ey... 2e used this #oney to 'ay his dues to us. %f % re#e#ber right he sent A00 T3 to his wife. 2e had a''lied for 'ass'ort to go to &ran e. 2e was waiting for the 'ass'ort with great ho'es. >% feel like being suffo atedN he was saying. %t will be ni e %f % get away fro# this 'la e for a while...N MEHMET AL -M-OZ: % a# Meh#et Aki Oi# o=" a lawyer... % guess % #et $abahattin Ali in ?A4@. .f ourse" % knew he# through his witting before. 2e was working at Oonservatory in Ankara... )e be a#e friends Fui kly. )henever he a#e fro# Ankara he would visit us. )e lived at Tunnel those days. 2e a#e to <stanbul when he lost his !ob. 2e and A=i= /esin started 'ublishing Marko'aLha. As you all know Marko'asha was a great su ess. $in e they had so #u h 'roble#s with investigations et and % was a lawyer" our relationshi' grew loser. )hen Marko'asha was shut down for good he was !obless. )ith all the talent he had he was !obless and brokeM )e started sear hing for a !ob for $abahattin. 2owever" all the news'a'ers that he ould work with were shut down" and it was i#'ossible for hi# to take a govern#ent !ob any#ore. 2e also liked trans'ortation business. Those days trans'ortation business was so#ehow 'o'ular anyway. There was big #oney in the business. SABAHATTN AL: Meh#et Ali" %f % had a tru k % would trans'ort to Anatolia" #ake living" and at the sa#e ti#e % ould olle t new #aterial for #y new stories. MEHMET AL -M-OZ: 2e said often... 2e had gotten in onta t with a 5ewish dealer for tru ks. 2e wanted to buy on redit of ourse. The dealer was a relative of a translator" *rol ;Cney" who# $abahattin knew well. The dealer says > Mr. $abahattin % an not sell you a tru k with no down 'ay#ent. *ven if % ould % would not sell it to you" be ause you are a o##unist. % don(t want to get in to troubleN $abahattin told us at dinner one day. 2e was sad. Those days there was so#ething alled >$es .'eretiN at $es Theatre. A fellow na#ed Mr. *Lref was the owner. 2e was fro# A=erbai!an. % a# not Fuite sure a tually whether his na#e was *Lref or Beref. Anyway" he was one of #y lients. There wasn(t any worthy 'lays on

Translated by Meral Akay blak show there. $o % told hi# : >3ook your theatre su ksM There is a very talented 'lay writer % know who is a tea her at the Oonservatory. 2e knows this business very well" and in fa t he is looking for a !ob these days. %f you 'ay hi# well he #ight o#e and hange your business. Qou will greatly benefit fro# hi#. 2e will hange this theatre in to a lassy one. Qou don(t know this business and your Turkish su ksMN /ow % re#e#bered his na#e" Ali *Lref...2ow ould % forget itP 2e was e+ ited about #y idea. >-lease bring hi# to #e right awayN he said. % was e+ ited too. % found $abahattin i##ediately and told hi# the idea.8 the #an in #ask #akes a 'hone all... -ulls one of the folders in front of hi# and talks e+a#ining the folder" however his voi e was not audible9 )e were 're'aring to go to Mr. *Lref the following day" however Mr. *Lref alled and in a resentful voi e >The guy you have re o##ended to #e is a known o##unist and is being followed by the 'oli e. 2ow an you re o##end a guy like hi# to #eP $o $abahattin ould not get that !ob either...An he was feeling Fuite down. SABAHATTN AL: Mr. Meh#et Ali % a# very distressed....% feel suffo ated. % had a''lied for a 'ass'ort to get away fro# here" to go to -aris" Da'ri...% was not issued the 'ass'ort. They don(t let #e work here or get out of the ountry. % have no idea what to do. MEHMET AL -M-OZ: 2e was o#'letely broke... 2e ould not even afford a ti ket to Ankara....ne day we were eating together % asked >)here do you stayPN SABAHATTN AL: % a# staying at the 'ublishing house" slee'ing on the table. MEHMET AL -M-OZ: Are you out of your #indP 2ow an you stay there in the #iddle of the winterP Oo#e stay at our ho#e. )e will find a bed for you. SABAHATTN AL: Thank you % don(t want to disturb you. MEHMET AL -M-OZ: % did not 'ay attention to hi#. $o he started staying with us. $in e #y wife Adalet had he edu ation fro# ;er#any also" there was a ni e har#ony in the house. After a tiring work of trials o#ing ho#e to su h an at#os'here was like a fresh bree=e for #e. The only 'roble# was that he was !obless. .ne of #y lients" Melek Oelal" who was #arried to a ;er#an 'rofessor on e" and #oved to ;er#any 8% a# releasing her na#e for she is dead now9 After her husband died % was taking are of her offi ial #atters. Sight around this ti#e of risis... MELEK -ELAL: Mr. Meh#et Ali" they say trans'ortation business is very good these days. $in e % have so#e #oney as you know...$hould % start a trans'ortation businessP MEHMET AL -M-OZ: % thing it is a right de ision. % even know so#eone who an be a great hel' for you. MELEK -ELAL: Eets b.y a tr.ck then8 MEHMET AL -M-OZ: % told $abahattin about the business. 2e was so e+ ited that he !u#'ed fro# where he was sitting and gave #e a hug. 2e found a tru k the ne+t day. %t was a bare tru k. % alled Mrs. Melek and she sent the #oney i##ediately. $o we had the tru k. $abahattin was like a boun ing ball out of ha''iness. 9the "an in "ask "akes a ph#ne call; The ne+t day Mrs. Melek une+'e tedly a''eared at #y offi e. 4efore % ould say hello she started her non sto' talk...

Translated by Meral Akay blak

MELEK -ELAL: )hat have you doneP Qou have #ade #e 'artners with a o##unistM MEHMET AL -M-OZ: )ait a #inuteM )ait a #inuteM This fellow is a very well know story and novel writer. 2e is one of the distinguished writers of our ountry. 3ookM 3ook at his books. 2e wanted to be in trans'ortation business not only to #ake #oney but also to get to know his 'eo'le. Mrs. Melek 'aused after she took a look at the books. $he herself was a 'ainter. Taking advantage of her 'ause >you will be hel'ing an artist like yourselfMN % said. $he see#ed rela+ed. 2owever" she goes to the hief of the 'oli e headFuarters" De#al AygCn" after she leaves #y offi e. $he tells hi# the story...2is rea tion: > .h #y ;odM )hat have you done #ada#PN Then she a#e ba k to #e. MELEK -ELAL: Qou have ruined #eM )hat a# a su''osed to do nowP Qou have to straighten this. MEHMET AL -M-OZ8t# hi"sel,9 2ow an % straightenP )e have bought the tru k...Done all the work...%f % take this tru k fro# $abahattin he ertainly will die. 8to Melek Oelal9 3ook if you have any trust in #eT let(s register the tru k under #y wife Adalet. $he won(t take a 'enny fro# you. $he will look like the owner of the tru k that(s all. Qou will take all the #oney. )hat do you sayP MELEK -ELAL: 8a,ter thinking a bit9 .kay. MEHMET AL -M-OZ: $o we registered the tru k under #y wife(s na#e. )e had an obsta le for registration 'ro ess sin e the owner reFuired to be the #e#ber of Driver(s Asso iation. $o" Adalet be a#e a #e#ber... Then we said >hurrayN to $abahattin. %t was end of the winter beginning of s'ring so the weather was rainy. $abahattin had bought so#e goodies to trans'ort to Adana then to MaraL fro# there. 2e had also found a driver. $o both left. )e ould not hear fro# the# after they left. )e were getting worried. )e were looking at the news'a'ers for any news related to the#. >There was a flood...A road has olla'sed...N Mrs. Melek alls freFuently.. MELEK -ELAL: Any news fro# the tru kP MEHMET AL -M-OZ: >Don(t worry" everything is fineMN % was saying" but % was worried of ourse. % was ursing #yself for getting involved in this. During all this" $abahattin showed u' one day. A''arently" they load everything to a train due to bad weather onditions. They take the train o Adana. .n their way ba k they break the s'ring of the tru k. $o in the end our first tri' ended with loss instead of 'rofit. % had to tell Mrs. Melek that due to bad weather onditions the business was bad and the 'rofit was low. % 'aid her so#e #oney out of #y 'o ket without even telling #y wife. $abahattin started trans'orting again. Segardless of his #eti ulous work he was not having a good business. *a h ti#e so#ething was going wrong. *ither they were not able to find anything to trans'ort ba k or the new tires of the tru k were flat... Although we were 'aying Mrs. Melek so#e #oney "she was not ha''y with it. $he was thinking of this as a bad invest#ent. AL ERTEKN: &ew #onths later 2asan told #e >% found a !ob for you. Qou will be working at a tru k" a tru k that is owned by a ri h wo#an. There is a fellow na#ed Ali 4ey as an assistant. 2e will soon transfer to another !ob. 2owever" he will go on work tri's with you for you to learn this !ob. Qou will earn ?G0 T3 'er #onth. 3ater you will earn KG0T3 'er #onth...N 2e introdu ed us to ea h other at a offee house. Mr. Ali was wearing glasses...

Translated by Meral Akay blak

FLZ: %t was a old" snowy day of &ebruary in Ankara. % was in the fifth grade in ele#entary s hool. % ould not see #y father that winter. % ould understand fro# his talk to #y #other that things were not Fuite all right. )henever % showed u' they would sto' their talk. $u''osedly they did not want #e to be sad. .ne night we heard a ar honk in front of our house. )e ran to the window. A #an with boots" a winter oat and a driver kal'ak... This is #y fatherM... 2e is in trans'ortation business nowM % was not used to seeing father in su h lothing. 2e e#bra ed #e and #o#. 2e says he is o#ing fro# Hrfa. >% a# the traveler of this ountry nowN he said to #o# and they laughed together. % did not want hi# to leave us and go any#ore. They started talking after % 'retended to be aslee'. 2e left the ne+t #orning. Then the letters and 'resents started again...Then everything sto''ed... Mo# and our friends were worried. They were talking... >-aLaka's Oe=aeviN... >2e is hiding...N >2e will be 'ut in 'rison if he is foundN... >2is hair is all white...N >the 'ress trials are like night#aresN... >he an not take i#'rison#ent any#oreN... Mother is rying all the ti#e. % a# trying to understand what is ha''ening... M*ZEHHER +A-N.: 2e a#e to our house in the #iddle of the night. 2e " 1ala and % talked. 2e would always #ake us laugh however" this ti#e the e+'ression on his fa e was Fuite different. %t was filled with sorrow. $uddenly > % a# 'laying with fire" % a# 'laying with fireN he said and left. 2ow ould we know that this was the last ti#e we were to see hi#. RASH N.R LER: 2e showed u' at our 'la e one night. 2e was o#ing fro# the road again. 2e was tired. SABAHATTN AL: 8with a ti#id voi e9 3ook Sasih..% wan to talk to you about so#e i#'ortant issues. RASH N.R LER: we walked to the inner roo# where he usually sle't. SABAHATTN AL: urn on the radio for #usi ... RASH N.R LER 8 onfused9 )hat kindP SABAHATTN AL 8 kee'ing his seriousness9 % would like it if it is lassi al. RASH N.R LER 8 trying all hannels he finds..9 )e are lu kyM SABAHATTN AL: Turn the volu#e u' a little #ore... 8after the #usi gets lauder9 % trust you with all #y heart. Qou are one of those few friends that % trust fully. % a# not sure any #ore who is the friend and who is the ene#y any#ore. % don(t trust anyone any#ore. *veryone see#s friendly however the ar#s of betrayal is everywhere. Qou have not done anything to break #y trust in you. $o % want you to know this first. RASH N.R LER: )hat is itP Qou are #aking #e worried. SABAHATTN AL: % have been in trans'ortation business. An it su ks. These are not the !obs we an do. $o what an % doP % a# not allowed to work anywhere. % an be taken in anyti#e. % an not take i#'rison#ent any#ore. My hair turned all white in one night. % have nothing else left to hange olor or to turn white any#ore. %f you re#e#ber % had #entioned a barber na#ed 2asan to you...-aLaka's" *dirneka'....Qes through hi# % #et this fellow na#ed Ali *rtekin...2e is an i##igrant fro# Qugoslavia. 2e will hel' #e es a'e the ountry.

Translated by Meral Akay blak

RASH N.R LER: 2ow an you trust so#eone you have !ust #etP )ho is heP 2ow an you de ide before you know who e+a tly he isP SABAHATTN AL: Don(t even dig in to su h things... Qou know % a# a s#art guy. % have taken ne essary 're autions. There are few things % want fro# you. % will write two letters here. .ne for #y wife and the other will be given to Meh#et Ali Oi# o=" but not via #ail by hand. % don(t trust the #ail. Qou an deliver the one for Oi# o= during the day yourself" an give #y wife(s letter to Oevdet Dudret. Make sure that hey don(t re eive the letters before % es a'e. .kayP RASH N.R LER: /o" % did not understandM As far as % understand these letters will be given to the owners after you es a'e" but how would % know you es a'edP SABAHATTN AL: This is where the tri k is...% will sign a 'a'er and give it to Ali *rtekin as soon as % ross the border. 2e knows he will be given a ard" but he does not know what kind of a ard it is. This ard will have nothing but #y signature on it. As % said Ali does not know this. 2e will bring the ard to 4arber 2asan" and take his #oney. $in e % do not trust hi# % want hi# to get 'aid after he o#'letes his !ob. 2e will take KG0T3. %t is a lot of #oney. This is his 'rofession... Did you get itP RASH N.R LER: As far as % understand you trust 2asan. )hyP SABAHTTN AL: )hy do % believe youP RASH N.R LER: 4ut he is different fro# #e. SABAHATTN AL: 2e is different too SasihM RASH N.R LER: Tell #e how % would know that you es a'ed. SABAHATTN AL: Qou will go to 4arber 2asan two days after % leave. Qou will get a hair ut. Then >% think % dro''ed a 'ie e of 'a'erN you will say. )hen he hears you he will give you the letter fro# Ali *rtekin. Then you will know % have es a'ed. Don(t forget if the ard has only #y signature % rossed the border" but if the ard has so#ething on it whi h only you an know then % ould not ross the border. Also don(t forget neither 4arber 2asan nor Ali *rtekin know you...The only thing 2asan knows that so#eone will go and 'i k u' the letter. $o there is no danger involved for you. RASH N.R LER: )hen are you hitting the roadP SABAHATTN AL: This #orning... % will be ha''y if you an hel' #e get #y suit ase ready while % write the letters. RASH N.R LER: we got his suit ase ready. )e 'ut two o'ies of ea h of his works 'ublished in Turkey in the suit ase... 2is suit ase was like a #obile book ase. 2e #ade #e read both of the letters before he losed the#. )e waited for the #orning. %n the #orning" we said good bye to ea h other" and he left. AL ERTEKN: % and Mr. Ali headed to Drklareli fro# *dirneka' to get heese... Tru k driver was a fellow na#ed $ali#.... when we arrived at Drklareli Mr. Ali let the driver go"

Translated by Meral Akay blak and >Qou will take #e to 4ulgaria !ust like you did to .s#an and <brahi#N he said to #e. % wanted to say % did not know it was going to ha''en like this" but he shut #e u' >)hat differen e would it #akeP 2ere is a good !ob for you. Qou will still have your urrent !ob even if % a# not here any#oreN he added. )e started walking. %t was night. )e were so#ewhere between EskC' and QCndolan headed towards $a=ara 1illage...$te' by ste' we were getting lose to the 4ulgarian border. 2ere he told #e that he was the owner of Marko'aLha /ews'a'er" $abahattin Ali. This was not the first ti#e % heard his na#e. % was sho ked... $o this was $abahattin Ali... % was startled. % ould not take a breath for a #o#ent.... 4e ause % knew $abahattin Ali was a o##unist. $o % was going to hel' $abahattin Ali es a'eP % was very #ad at 2asan Tural" be ause he was the one who did not tell #e that this was $abahhatin Ali and not !ust any Mr. Ali. 2e told #e that Mr. Ali was in trans'ortation business. % don(t like o##unists" but % should not let hi# noti e this. % would not want hi# to get sus'i ious. % should gin his trust so he an start telling #e... 5ust the was % did it to 2asan. % listened to hi# with a s#ile on #y fa e. % had to #ake hi# trust #e. 2e ould do anything to #e. % was not even sure if he had a gun. )hat is he shoots #eP $abahattin Ali: >% have not told anyone about this. *ven the driver $ali# does not know. My goal is to a hieve big in 4ulgaria. % will never forget youT you will get your share for doing this for #e. % will go to Trnova k first. &ro# there to $ofia and then to Mos ov...Then % will get a O=e hoslovakian 'ass'ort. To So#e and then to -aris....Then % will get ba k to 4ulgaria. % will return to turkey with an ar#y of o##unist Turkish students abroad and res ue our ountry. )e will take over the urrent ad#inistration. )e will give you a good 'osition after thisN % was furious" be ause % hate 4ulgarians and Sussians. My father was telling us all the awful things Sussians had done to #y grandfather. During the war of AW they ut the throats of our 'eo'le. 4ulgarians are the sa#e. There is no nation #ore ruel than 4ulgarians. They killed #y father. Although when they were trying to shoot #y father we were s rea#ing >we surrender.. we surrenderN they went on and shot #y father. $o this #an has #ade deals with 4ulgarians...$o this #an wants to see 4ulgarians and Sussians on our land. 2e wanted these ene#ies to govern us. 2e was a traitorM 2e ould not be a TurkM Think about it" he wants to es a'e and get stronger" return ba k" and destroy our ountry...2e should not know about what % think...2e should trust #e... >Thank you Mr. AliN % said. 2e ke't talking: >Qou will get ?G0 T3 fro# your urrent !ob" however after % leave it will in rease to KG0 T3. 4e ause you will do #y !ob too.N )e were at a 'la e where she'herds 'ass through often. 2e was very tired. %t was night already. There was a reek ne+t to us... we set a fire and set down. >we should settle hereN % said. >.therwise we will get lost in the forestN > Qou will hel' two #ore 'eo'le es a'e after #eN he said. > Don(t ask about their na#e for % won(t tell. Qou will learn later on...N &or hi# to trust #e even #ore: >They will at h you in 4ulgaria. They did to #e" % ould hardly es a'e fro# their hands.N % said. 2e was so sure of hi#self. 2e s#iled: > The Sussian Oonsulate infor#ed the 4ulgarians. They are waiting for #e"N he said and added: >These things are be o#ing burden to #e. Qou kee' #y suit ase and other belongings: one a#era" lothes" and other things...N % took the#. $o he had 'eo'le even states to trust inside and outside ountry... 2e is telling #e by his own words....2e is related to Sussian Oonsulate too. 2e is arranging with Sussians to be wel o#ed in 4ulgaria. 2e is a true traitor...And % was going to hel' hi# es a'e huhP 8starts rying again9 % had to get this #onster arrested. .. ;od knows what he had inside the duffle bag he had. May be lassified infor#ation about our ountry... There was a sti k right ne+t to #e....we had #ade this sti k to hel' us walk. % got u' Fuietly and grabbed the sti k without hi# noti ing it. 2e had leaned against a tree reading one of those har#ful things againM % walked towards hi# with the sti k Fuietly" and hit hi# on the left side of his head with all #y strength. ..2is fa e" glasses" and ears were overed with blood...% hit hi# few #ore ti#es with a great 'assion... 2e olla'sed down on his right side. 4lood was running through his nose and #outh" but he was still

Translated by Meral Akay blak breathing. There had to be so#ebody to turn hi# in" but there was nobody at sight. Qet" #any she'herds 'ass by here on a asual day. % #ustn(t let hi# be alone sin e he was still alive. % hit hi# hard the third ti#e... 2e sto''ed breathing...2e was deadM 2owever % was still not sure of his death. $o % took a #irror out of #y 'o ket and held it to his nose...The #irror did not get foggy...$o % did not have to stay there any longer. % left the 'la e briskly taking his belongings with #e. SABAHATTN AL* Ora ked is the botto# of #y offin" My #urderer is #ore degenerated than %" % knife went through #y heart Qar a#aaan a#aanM RASH NUR LER* % waited for about fifteen days. % did not go to 4arber 2asan" be ause % did not are about the signed ard. % was thinking $abahattin Ali(s es a'e would a''ear in the news'a'ers internationally...2e was known by %nternational o##unity too...As a #atter of fa t % was afraid of going to 2asan. )hat if his barber sho' is surroundedP % will get in to trouble too. Also" how reliable is 2asanP Qes" $abahattin had trust in 2asan" but $abahattin is kind of naive" and he an be de eived easily. $in e he has a 'ure heart he trusts 'eo'le readily. 2owever" not delivering the letters started bothering #e. % ould no longer wait. Taking a friend along with #e % went to 4arber 2asan. % left hi# outside the sho' !ust in ase. % set in the barber hair.... >5ust #y beardN % said. There was another younger 'erson working with hi# who was shaving another usto#er...% did not feel (o'ra)eo' enough to ask hi# anything. A''arently" 2asan was sus'i ious of so#eone so he was sending #e signals through #ail not to talk. The other usto#er left. The hel'er is swi'ing the floors. >Don(t you serve tea herePN % said. >go get teaN 2asan ordered. $o the hel'er ran to the tea house. >% think % dro''ed a 'ie e of 'a'erN % said. > )hat kind of a 'a'erN he asked. >%t is !ust a s#all ard with a signature on itN >5ust a se ondN he said. 2e went inside and a#e ba k with the 'a'er as if he 'ulled it fro# the trash an. The signature was $abahattin(s. There is nothing else" even a dot" on it. $o he #ust have rossed the border. % did not even wait for the tea.. *verything looked nor#al. % left the sho' with #y friend. MEHMET AL -M-OZ: % think it had been fifteen days sin e % had last seen hi#. % a#e ho#e late at night. As % unlo ked #y door" % noti ed an envelo'e inserted under the door. % took the envelo'e. %t was $abahattin(s handwriting...2e always wrote with green ink. 5ust like this one. %t said: >Mr. Meh#et Ali Oi# o=N on the envelo'e. % o'ened the envelo'e and read: >My dear friends Meh#et Ali and Adalet" when you re eive this letter % will be gone for a while. % had been thinking about finding a dire tion for #y life" and % #ade this de ision. After Aliye and &ili= you are the #ost i#'ortant 'eo'le in #y life. % tried everything in #y 'ower not to ause you any har#. -lease forgive if % have aused you any trouble unintentionally. % a# ho'ing we will kee' o##uni ating. And % know we will #eet again" but under different onditions. % ould have rea hed to this de ision if it were not for you and #y fa#ily. % ould nor live under su h onditions any#ore. % have not aused har# to anyone e+ e't #y own self. /ow" % have de ided not to ause har# to #y own self either. $oon a fellow will o#e to you. 2e will give you #y na#e. 2is na#e is 2asan. Qou an have hi# work in the tru k in #y 'la e. Qou an fully trust hi#. % would like you to forgive #e and re#e#ber #e with love until we see ea h other again...N %f you were going to es a'e" why did you get #e involved in su h a businessP 2e has es a'edM )hy did you get #e involvedP Most 'robably he snuggled outside the ountry. Another voi e inside #e says > )hat should

Translated by Meral Akay blak he have doneP The trans'ortation business was not doing well" he ould not get !obs...in and out f 'rison...2e would rotten in dungeonsM Two days later the driver arrived. DRI+ER SALM: The tru k is in front of the house sir... Do you have any reFuestsP MEHMET AL -M-OZ: %t has been seventeen days. )hy did you not o#e earlierP More i#'ortant" where is $abahattinP DRI+ER SALM: % swear to ;od % have no ideaM )e hit the road in the #orning" and 'i ked u' another fellow fro# *dirneka'. 2is na#e was Mr. Ali. )e went to a 'la e near Trakya. %t ould have been orlu. 2e asked #e to deliver the heese to the address" and return ba k to <stanbul and to you. 2e asked #e to turn the tru k in to you and give you this envelo'e. Then he left with Mr. Ali. MEHMET AL -M-OZ: $o why did you not o#e i##ediately" why are you so lateP DRI+ER SALM: $orry % had to #ake #any sto's... ALYE: one day Oevded Dudret and his wife invited #e over... >Sasih /uri has brought you a letter fro# $abahattin" 'lease read i##ediately.N They said. They were afraid. They left the roo# leaving #e alone. The letter started with: >My Dear )ife" when you re eive this letter % will either be in %taly" &ran e or 3ondon...As soon as &ili= finisher s hool you will o#e too. Meh#et Ali Aybar and Mah#ut Dikerde# will give you su''ort. % will be sending you #oney through <L 4ankas. Also Sauf will send you so#e #oney fro# the 'ress 'rinter. % know you are good on s'ending #oney. Thousands of kisses and hugs to you and &ili=. $abahattinN. % e+a#ined the signature. %t belonged to hi#. Qet" he had written the letter with green ink... At first % ried...then % felt ha''y" then ried again... HASAN ZETTN DNAMO: % was reading the news'a'er in the #orning" and this news aught #y attention: >.n 5une ?@" ?A47 a she'herd na#ed BCkrC fro# the ity of Drklareli(s EskC' ounty" notifies ;endar#e 2eadFuarters that while he was gra=ing his ani#als he found a dead body in a dit h that is G0 D#. away fro# the road of 2edye 1illage whi h he thinks has been dead for four to five #onths. H' on his notifi ation an investigation has started" however the identity of the body has not been deter#ined yet.I FLZ: %t had been so longJ/o news fro# #y fatherJ.% was attending #iddle s hool se tion of Ankara ;irls 2igh $ hool2 % was a very good student. During a lass" one of our older 'eers fro# u''er lasses" runner brother Ener" o#es in and whis'ers so#ething to #y tea her looking at #e. % felt 'ain in #y heart when the tea her nodded her head looking at #eJ4rother Ener a#e to #e: >Oo#e with #e &ili=JThere is so#eone who wants to see youN he said. )e went to the front yard of the s hool. Two #an standing there" and waiting for #eJ.ne of the# has a a#era in his handJThe other one got loser to us" and to brother Ener: >%s she his daughterPN >QesN. $in e he is asking >%s she his daughterN what ould it beP % knew there was so#ething wrong with #y father right awayJThey took #y 'i tureJ% ran ba k to the lass. %t was the last lass of the day anyway. The s hool bell rang. % went ho#e. % did not #ention anything to #y #otherJAfter a while our door bell rangJAgain two young !ournalistsJ.ne of the# asking #y #o# > )e were infor#ed about the #urder of your husband" however we have learned that in fa t he snuggled out of the ountry. )hat do you think about thisPN Mother kee's silentJ$he does not answer the FuestionJAs if she turned #ute. The !ournalist is taking 'i turesJThey leaveJMo# re#ains silent all night longJ

Translated by Meral Akay blak $he e#bra es #e" holds #e tight. )as she trying to take refuge in #e or % in herP The ne+t day in the news: > $abahattin Ali(s wife said whatever ha''ened to hi# it ha''ened be ause of these booksNJ%t said >Daughter of the #urderedN under #y 'i ture in the news'a'erJ And Ali *rtekin who lai#s to have #urdered #y father out of his 'atrioti feelingsJ SE+, SANLI: $o strange that !ust like An"4o)ne5 brother 1o!6ne47 5 body" $abahattin Ali(s body stayed 'n/#'r4ed for #onthsJ MEDHA ESENEL: Ali *rtekin was 'ut on trial on A'ril W0" ?A4A. 2e said the sa#e thing during all trials: AL ERTEKN: % #urdered $abahattin AliJ 2owever" %t was not #y intention to kill hi#" % !ust wanted to kno k hi# out to have hi# arrestedJ% ertainly did not #urder hi# to take his #oney or belongings. % did it out of #y 'atrioti feelings. % believe % have served #y ountry by doing this" and % e+'e t a''lause fro# youJ MEDHA ESENEL: Many witnesses took standJ .ne of the# was BCkrC -olat who was on e the su'erior of Ali *rtekin in the #ilitary. 2e was a lieutenant" but was in ivil lothing. 2e was a very healthy and bright looking 'erson. 2is behavior was so onvin ing" and he a''eared so trustworthy 9th#se :h# are :itnesses talk as i, there are in the trial; $*KR* POLAT: )hen % was the Oa'tain" Ali *rtekin was brea hed non o##issioned offi er. 2e was 'ut on trial for stealing guns and e+'elled fro# #ilitary. 2e never felt sorry for stealing. 2e is very dishonest and de eitful. 2e knows how to hide his e#otions very well. 2e is sneaky and very ruel. % think he is a'able of any kind of ri#e. 2e an even #urderJ AL ERTEKN: 5ust like in the 'ast he hates #e. 2e holds grudge. 2e is not s'eaking the truth. % do not a e't his a usations. MEDHA ESENEL: There a#e an interesting written de'osition fro# Akhisar. A''arently" Ali *rtekin goes to Akhisar to sell goods with the hel' of one of his relatives" 2asan DaRbasan" and his ste' son" Baban 4UlCkbaL. These two fellows give a !oint de'osition: >Ali *rtekin a#e to Akhisar about si+ #onths before his arrest. 2e had a suit ase that had a long brown oat" a hat" an ink,'en" lothes" and a a#era in it. 2e wanted us to sell these. )hen % went to a 'hoto,sho' to sell the a#era" the 'rose utor saw #e and asked #e to go down to his offi e with hi#. 2e said he was interested in the a#era so % went. % a# not sure how it ha''ened" but at this ti#e Ali *rtekin vanished. H' on this they asked #e to bring all the stuff Ali left to the 'rose utor(s offi e. % was only trying to #ake a sale. Then" #onths later % learned that Ali *rtekin has been arrested.N AL ERTEKN: % did not take those things to Akhisar to sell" % wanted the# to be stashed away. 5ust be ause of this" % had 'ut an e+'ensive 'ri e on the a#era" ?G0 T3. $abahattin Ali had two other friends who were also trying to es a'e out of the ountry. % did not want to sell those things so % ould hel' those two fellows surfa e. $OF0R SALM: % #et $abahattin Ali in -aLaka's -rison. % was in due to a traffi violation. After we were released he found #e and offered #e a !ob as a tru k driver. % took the KG0 T3 #onthly 'ay#ent offer" and started the !ob. This was our last !obJ )e 'i ked u' Ali *rtekin on our wayJ% had not #et Ali *rtekin before. Mr. $abahattin had introdu ed hi# to #e as a heese #er hant. )e had arrived in Drklareli at noon. At the entran e of the ity Ali *rtekin:

Translated by Meral Akay blak >Dro' #e here. % will go to a heese far# for negotiation2 )e will #eet here"N said and left. )e went to a offee house and waited there for about eight hours. Ali *rtekin had not returned yet. $o we went to the 'la e where we had dro''ed hi#. /evertheless he a#e there soon and >/o heese leftN he said. H' on this Mr. $abahattin said he wanted to talked to the far#er hi#self. 2e added > The road is very #uddy we an not go by the tru k. Qou stay here and wait for us. %f we are too late then don(t wait for us" load so#ething else and returnJ)e will talk about the #oney #atters laterJN 2e 'ut ?0 T3 in to #y 'al#. % said ten lira was not enough. >% have total of @00 T3" and % will buy heese with thisN he said. And they left. They did not return that night. $o the ne+t day % took a new load and went to 4abaeski fro# where % took a bri k load and returned to %stanbul. &ew days later so#eone leaves a note" written by a red 'en il" with #y wife. The note was fro# $abahattin Ali: > % will have to stay at the far#. Don(t ever tell anyone" even to Meh#et Ali Oi# o=" about #e. %t won(t be good for you eitherJN % was afraid. That is why % burned the note i##ediately and never #entioned to anyone about it. .ut of fear" % went to Meh#et Ali Oi# o= few days later and told hi# % and $abahattin returned to %stanbul together. AL ERTEKN: 8"ad9 Driver $ali# is lying. $abahattin Ali absolutely had no #oney. They did not have a talk as su h related to #oney. % was hired as an assistant to driver $ali#. DR+ER SALM: /oM 2is words are well thought and al ulated words. Don(t believe hi#. My testi#ony is true. 2ow ould a fellow trying to es a'e to 4ulgaria give #e his last ten lirasP 2e really had #oney in his 'o ketJMay be even #ore than he told #e. )hether to buy heese or es a'e to 4ulgaria Mr. $abahattin had #oney with hi#. &or both of these tasks reFuire #oney. % a# sure this #an killed $abahattin Ali for his #oney and belongingsMJ HASAN T.RAL: % a# 2asan TuralJ % a#e to Turkey as a free i##igrant fro# 4ulgaria in ?AW7. Qes % have been onvi ted before. % was onvi ted of o##unist 'ro'aganda in ?A4@" and of trying to snuggle #y brother ba k in to 4ulgariaJ% served #y senten e in 2arbiye Military -rison and -aLaka's -rison later on. % #et both Ali *rtekin and $abahattin Ali in 'rison. % and Ali *rtekin ke't in tou h after being released fro# 'rison. %n fa t we started visiting ea h other as fa#ilies. % heard fro# Ali *rtekin that he was going to work with $abahattin Ali as an assistant. % have no idea about those who were snuggled out of the ountry" .s#an and <brahi#" before 8Ali Ertekin listens :ith anger9 % don(t know how he #et $abahattin Ali. 2owever whenever they were at #y 'la e they would talk to ea h other. $abahattin Ali would have >Marko'aLaN in his 'o ketJ% never had any #oney business with hi#. % gave the sa#e testi#ony to the 'oli e. 2owever" it was do u#ented differently. % was only asked to sign. )hen % was giving testi#ony to the interrogating !udge again % noti ed this. Ali *rtekin brought the ard fro# $abahattin Ali. >They will look for this fro# youN he said. % did not want to take it. >%f you don(t then % will re'ort you as if you are involved in this whole thing alsoN he said. % was afraid so % took the ard. A''arently this was the 'asswordJTwo 'eo'le fro# the university were to 'i k it u'" and they did. %n #y alleged testi#ony it states that % took 4G0 T3 to hel' $abahattin Ali es a'e. That is not #y testi#onyM That is a testi#ony fabri ated to be in a ordan e with Ali *rtekin(sJ AL ERTEKN 8gets very "ad9 )hen % was serving #y ountry doing this work" 2asan was working on behalf of Sussian onsulate against our ountry. 2is words are not trustworthy. 2e is lying" be ause he is a 'erson who has always worked against our ountry.

Translated by Meral Akay blak ZEK KAYRAKLI: My na#e is Veki DayraklJ% #et Ali *rtekin when he was under arrest at Oentral $tation. % followed hi# for Fuite a while for there was a re'ort on hi# for snuggling <brahi# and .s#an to 4ulgaria. 2en e" we assigned one of our offi ers" Oe#al" to follow hi#. Oe#al offered Ali *rtekin a hundred liras to snuggle hi# to 4ulgariaJ 8His v#ice bec#"es ina.dible; M*ZEHHER +A-N.: At e+tended trials the se ret servi e offi ers were asked to talk in 'rivate sessions. %t was de lared that *rtekin took #onetary award fro# the $e urity ;eneral twi e. &inally the trials endedJ There was the news on . tober Gth" ?AG0 in one of the news'a'ers: >$abahattin Ali(s killer has been senten ed to !ail for four years. The #urderer Ali *rtekin thanked the !udgeN 3ater Ali *rtekin was released due to an a#nesty. MEDHA ESENEL: Qears later % saw a #an around Anadolu 2isar. 2e looked like a vagrant. .ther two gentle#an 'assing by 'ointed at hi# and said > This is $abahattin Ali(s killerN >2e walks like an inno ent #an as if nothing ha''enedN THE MEN IN MASK8t# the a.dience9 )e do our !obJ At any ti#eJHnder any onditionJ4e ause every state needs to 'rote t itself against its ene#ies. 2ow an we e+'lain the reason of our e+isten e if we do not ondu t our !obP These days things are a bit different. There is a bi'olar world now: on one side a free world lead by H$A" and on the other hand o##unis# lead by $oviet Sussia. J 8his ph#ne rings< he picks it .p9 2elloJ8listens; Oonne tJ8:aits; 9-n English9: QesJ Qes % a#J Thank youJAnd youP 8listens;QesJ yes.. yes.. .kayJ8p.ts the ph#ne d#:n9 KEMAL BAYRAM: % a# De#al 4ayra# ukurkavaklJ%t had been years sin e none of $abahattin Ali(s works has been 'ublished in our ountryJ2e was ignored. They wanted hi# to be forgotten. 2owever" in ?A@G. 2is works started being 'ublished again. %t would be interesting to have Ali *rtekin talk" after thirty years" for a book % was writing na#ed $abahattin Ali .lay. % a#e fro# Ankara to <stanbul" and looked for hi# every where for twenty,five days. % looked for hi# in Sa#i" $aryer" &atih" Do a Mustafa -aLa" Dartal" DadkUy" *yC'J 8d.ring this ti"e Ali Ertekin is trying t# p.t "ake .p #n ,#r a,ter FB years9 % ould not find hi#. &inally" % found out that he had retired fro# $o ial $e urityJ% asked the#" but ould not find hi#. % was told he ould be dead. $o#e said we would know if he was deadJAt the end" % found his address fro# a !ournalist who had lived with hi# in the sa#e neighborhood a while ago. 2e lived in a house with his wife at Anadolu 2isar in Qeni#ahalle distri t near ;Uksu Oreek. %t was a 'ink" two story house with stee' stairs that was surrounded by roses. .n one of the floors they had a tenant. 2e and his wife both had been retired. %s this Ali *rtekin(s houseP 2OMAN: )hy are you askingP )hy are you looking for hi#P KEMAL BAYRAM: % a# a !ournalist. ..% want to #eet hi#J 2OMAN: *nough is enoughM %t has been thirty years now. 2ave you not forgotten about it yetP KEMAL BAYRAM: % have no bad intentions. .nly % want hi# to tell the story again while % ask hi# few Fuestions. 5ust for the book % will be 'ublishingJ-lease hel' #eM 2OMAN: %f you only s'eak to hi# in #y e+isten e" yes.

Translated by Meral Akay blak

KEMAL BAYRAM: OK4 8:alking t#:ards Ali Ertekin9 8Ali Ertekin sited in a chair :ith a b##k in his hand8 Gp #n arrival #, 2e"al 'ayra" he places the b##k #n the end table neCt t# hi"8 Dith#.t standing .p< he l##ks at 2e"al 'ayra" :ith =.esti#ns in his eyes; KEMAL BAYRAM: 9he l##ks at thee b##k #n the end table?t# the a.dience9 A book fro# $abahattin AliJ %sn(t this interestingJQears later" a 'erson who lai#s to have #urdered $abahattin Ali is reading his booksJ 8T# Ali Ertekin9 %t has been thirty yearsJ /ow it is ti#e you told us the truth behind this storyJAre you really the one who #urdered $abahattin AliP 8Ali Ertekin pa.ses ,#r a :hile8 M.sic gets la.der :hen he starts talking :ith#.t ,#rcing his "e"#ry at all?His v#ice is n#t a.dible h#:ever #ne can see his "#.th in "#ti#n9 Monotonous talkJ As light fo uses on Ali *rtekin and $abahattin Ali(s bookJ LAMENT FOR SABAHATTN AL )e gave the la#b to the wolf" $ave hi# we said. Hnfortunately it ould not" 2e was left in e+e utioner(s hands The soft fa e of infidelity De eived hi# insidiously 2ow ould he believe the#P 2e gave his life to a s#ile 1' 74n and Gor7y on one side /esi#i on the other. And his reading glasses on one side" The killer sti k on the other %s it worthy of hi#P To die like thisP )hat did he drea# of all his life .ther than a beautiful worldP Qet" is it 'ossible to #urder A #an like hi#P Oan the world he reated Also be buried with hi#P

SABAHATTN AL Are you aware that Qou have be o#e a $'ring"

Translated by Meral Akay blak A s'lit heart" A s'lit ro k 5ust like DCbele. Qou have be o#e a bree=e" bree=e that whis'ers through the #other earth. Qou have be o#e a tree Are you awareP A reek" A warrior of freedo#" A flower. Qou have be o#e kids &ro# <Rdere Trakya And TCrkiye... &5 -en6 7 Be8ta9:

CASE of SABAHATTN AL
by Ata#l 'ehra"#(l. )ith no doubt $abahattin Ali is one of the greatest and #ost talented writers of our ti#e. 5ust like /a=# 2ik#et who is the distinguished reator of the so ial awareness in #odern Turkish 'oetry" the sa#e honor belongs to $abahattin Ali in writing. 2.y.cakli /.s.," whose ontent is on erned with so ialis# and realisti issues of the so iety" is his #aster'ie e. 2ad he not wrote Duyu akl Qusuf" % an(t i#agine we would have any realisti Turkish literature afterwards... *a h of his stories is uniFue re'resentation of their ategories" and all are invaluable treasures of our onte#'orary literature. /eni Hayat" whi h falls into ategory of both novel and short story" is also uniFue with its ontent of dra#ati sus'ense and hu#anitarian essen e. )ith only two 'ages" 2a(n is a uniFue work in whi h e+'ressionist de'i tion #eets the bitter truth. %n all of his work" his ro#anti 'ersonality" his so ialist beliefs" his ironi #ind and a heart that is dedi ated to ha''iness of 'eo'le an easily be sensed. % always re#e#ber a 'i ture. A 'i ture in whi h 2itler(s 'ro'aganda #inister ;obels and -oli e Ohief of %stanbul are standing in front of today(s Tarihi $ultanah#et DUfte isi 8 a Turkish fast food 'la e9 ins'e ting the 4lue MosFue fro# a distan e. % think none of us are fools to believe that this #inister a#e to Turkey to ins'e t histori al sites or have a fun dinner a o#'anied with rak and fish... % think this 'i ture" whi h has been taken 'robably in the beginning of ?A40s" is an eviden e of ollaboration between lo al e+e utioners and ;esta'o...

Translated by Meral Akay blak %f % a# not wrong" in one of his letters to his fa#ily fro# a 'rison in Ankara" he #entions about reading Dhen 4aris Falls by %lya *hrenburg and thinking of writing a novel na#ed >AnkaraN... 2e never writes this novel. 5ust like #any other he ould have written had he lived longer. 2is #urder is not only tragi but also vi ious and ugly. The dirty hands that are behind his hit #an is in fa t learly known... The e+'ression >%ntelle tual without a s'ineN whi h % first heard fro# Meh#et Ali Aybar belongs to $abahattin Ali. This e+'ression has been used to des ribe the oward" sli''ery" and traitor >intelle tualsN. .n the other hand intelle tuals like Tun er OC enoRlu are those who are true intelle tuals. 2is 'lay that is based on $abahattin Ali(s #urder learly refle ts this. $abahattin Ali(s Murder an not be forgotten and should not be" be ause his #urder was not rando#. %t was the start of state,organi=ed #urders. Tun er OC enoRlu" as a res'onsible iti=en" has a o#'lished a big task for o'ening u' the #urder of $abahattin Ali again. <stanbul" KW.04.0W

A DOCU$ENTAR& of an INTELLECTUAL* SABAHATTN AL

by 4r#,8 !r8 Hlya N.tk. %n the 'ast K0 years #any 'lay writers have shown great effort to bring the life of those who have ontributed to art to the stage. 2en e" they have re#inded the young generations that they should a''re iate their intelle tuals. MCLfik Denter with 'ir Harip 7rhan )eli 8Murathan Mungan9" $Un#e= Atasoy with 2endi H*kyz"z 8Qahya De#al9 SCLtC Asyal with 'en 'ir nsan" ;en o *rkal with nsanlar" Dilek TCrker with M.tl. #l Naz" 8Ataol 4ehra#oRlu9 .rhan Asena with Naz" 5le"esi have introdu ed these great 'oets to us bringing the# to life on stage. %n addition to all these ;en o *rkal(s 0an 8 about Oan QC el9 is a ni e inter'retation. Tun er OC enoRlu(s 'lay Neyzen whi h has been 'ut on the stage by %Ll Dasa'oRlu and 4urak $ergen is a very su essful work. %t is great to see that $abahattin Ali" who 'robably has not re eived the re ognition that he deserves" is not forgotten. Tun er OC enoRlu has taken a great res'onsibility by writing this 'lay whi h is a do u#entary. 2e also re o##ended in a news'a'er interview that stages like Ankara $tate Oonservatory be given the na#e of $abahattin Ali sin e he ontributed so #u h to these 'la es. %n a 'rogra# 8&ive / .ne D9 that was broad asted by O// Turk" so#e allegations on $abahattin Ali(s #urder were dis ussed. 2owever" it is lear that there still re#ains unanswered Fuestions. Tun er OC enoRlu in his 'lay tries as an intelle tual to #ake his 'oint about dark hands and de#o ra y. Mr. OC enoRlu is #oved by the grief of $abahattin Ali(s unti#ely deathT the fa t that he ould have 'rodu ed #any other works had he not been #urdered.

Translated by Meral Akay blak Tun er OC enoRlu says his 'lay is a do u#entary. 2e wanted the young generations to learn about $abahattin Ali. Although the 'lay be o#es stati at so#e 'oints" it an be transfor#ed in to a #ore interesting 'lay by addition of so#e 'i tures. $o#e 'arts an be o#itted to #ake the 'lay #ore ontinuous. )ith the addition of the #elody of >do not worry #y soul do not worryN the 'lay an be #ade olorful. Tun er OC enoRlu is offering us a great investigative work. $abahattin Ali(s #urder is the first #urder of an intelle tual after the founding of Turkish Se'ubli . 2e has been falsely 'ortrayed as a >traitorN All of this is a sha#e for our de#o ra y. $abahattin Ali(s only wea'on was his 'en. 2e was an intelle tual fighting for eFuality with his writings. Tun er OC enoRlu tells new generation that $abahattin Ali was in fa t also a tea her. To Tun er OC enoRlu $abahattin Ali was a >sliding star in our skiesN $abahattin Ali" the writer of !e(ir"en< 2a(n< Ses< Sr5a 2*&k< 2.y.cakl /.s.,< 5i"izdeki 3eytan< 2rk Mant#l. Mad#nna also has a book of his 'oe#s alled !a(lar ve +zgar. As he wrote: %f one day % a# a''re iated" And #y whereabouts is wondered My residen e is the #ountains. Tun er OC enoRlu on e again has o#'leted an i#'ortant task as an intelle tual by bringing u' the #urder of this great writer and intelle tual. %t is u' to the younger generation to give the res'e t $abahattin Ali deserves fro# the#.

A LETTER Dear Tun er OC enoRlu" % a# writing to you right after finishing the reading of your last 'lay Sabahattin Ali. This is really an uniFue 'layM As % was reading the 'lay % ould feel all the events as if it were a #ovie. The language you have used is so si#'le yet very #oving. 4elieve it or not at the end of #y reading % was about to ry. As you know well we are not foreign to su h events either. )e have lost #any of our intelle tuals the sa#e way. )hen we read the life stories of su h 'eo'le we are stunned to see how they endured all that ha''ened to the#. % guess great 'eo'le also have great troubles in their lives. This is a 'lay that for es us to think 'hiloso'hi ally. .bviously #u h effort" thought and talent has been 'ut in to this 'lay. %t an be easily understood fro# the 'lay that you adore $abahattin Ali and you are 'roud for your nation to have had su h a great writer. )ith no doubt this is one of your best works. 2owever" a great task is awaiting for the 'layers. Are you 'lanning to stage this 'layP -lease let #e know for % find it very interesting. 4y ulti#ate desire is to see this 'lay on stage. % ho'e it be o#es true. % would love to see the 'lay together with you !ust like the day we saw /ey=en together. Those are so#e #o#ents in #y life that % treasure. % ad#ire you now. After o#'leting a task as an intelle tual you #ust be relieved. % wish it lasts forever. % ongratulate you. % thank you for asking #y o'inion about your 'lay. $in erely. E'ena O6anova Sussian Tur ologist

Translated by Meral Akay blak Hniversity of Mos ow

HEALTH "o &OUR HANDS and $IND

by 3akir Hrz."ar< Stage !irect#r< IJ1K1IBBF )ith no hesitation we an say that Tun er OC enoRlu is one of the #ost 'rolifi 'lay writers for Turkish theatre. 2e does not write !ust so he writes so#ething. Through all of his 'lays he tries to give a #essage to 'eo'le. 2e has never been deta hed fro# his 'eo'le and the rest of the world. The key for his su ess o#es fro# his sensitivity to the so ial 'roble#s. *veryone who knows hi# know that he has su h a 'assion for 'eo'le. 2e is a great hu#an being. %sn(t it the #ain rule of being an artist anyway: being a true hu#an and loving the soil you live onT to be aware of what goes around the world and res'ond to it in a 'ro'er #anner. This is how % an des ribe Tun er OC enoRlu. Along with his sensitivity" his reativeness and fantasti ideas have #ade hi# one of the #ost read and 'layed writers. Many of his works have been translated to #any other languages and 'ut on stage in #any different ountries. $hortly" he is one of our honorable writers who# we are 'roud of. % read his last 'lay" $abahattin Ali" with great e+ ite#ent... %t is a arefully written tragedy. %t will illu#inate our history. %t is like a re#inder le ture to all of us who loses their #e#ory about so ial events Fui kly" irres'onsibly. This 'lay is a refle tion of what o urred in the 'ast and what #ight in the future. %t introdu es us so#e i#'ortant figures of those days. % a# sure $abahattin Ali will re eive a great re ognition if 'ut on stage. % think #any dire tors will 'ay attention to this 'lay as it deserves. % # sure the audien e will wat h this 'lay in great e+ ite#ent. 2ealth to your hands and #ind Tun er OC enoRlu.

CCENOLU5S LAST 1LA&*

Sa&a%att n A' by 2e"al 'a&ar< Stage !irect#r< Act#r $abahattin Ali(s story is a heart breaking story of an era. This easy to read work of Tun er OC enoRlu is a refle tion of events that took 'la e when Turkey was struggling for de#o ra y. Most of the hara ters are well known 'eo'le" be it good or bad" 'atrioti or traitor... Although OC enoRlu is a #aster of dialogs he 'refers #onologs this ti#e. .ne #ight think that this #ight #ake it hard to 'ut the 'lay on the stage. 2owever" % think it is a great o''ortunity for a stage dire tor. The 'lay gives the dire tor fle+ibility for design. %n our Oonservatories students are taught about writers like $hakes'eare" 4re ht" Moliere" ehow" %bsen" DCrren#att" Miller and )illia#s. )ithout knowledge of Turkish 'lays and 'lay writers these students graduate fro# the onservatories. % was one of the# also. % first #et the 'lays of Turkish writers after % started #y 'rofessional life at $tate Theatres. % took 'art in two 'lays of Tun er OC enoRlu: 2*rd*v& and 2adncklar. After these 'lays" %

Translated by Meral Akay blak wanted to know other Turkish writers. Oontrary to the o##on belief that >we an not 'rodu e good 'lay writersN % found #any great of the#. % have read Tun er OC enoRlu(s all 'lays. % was lu ky to be the stage dire tor for his 'lay" 2zlr"ak" in K00K. 3u k for the stage dire tor who will get a han e to 'ut Sabahattin Ali on the stage.

UNTI$EL& LOSS of a STAR fro8 OUR LITERATURE

by T.ncer 0cen#(l. During #y teenage years lying flat on earth and wat hing the stars at night" with #y friends was a 'assion for us... )e would wonder about how #any stars were u' there in the sky. Then one of us would say >there are as #any stars as the hair on your head" if you do not believe you an ountN Then we would kee' wat hing the sky Fuietly. /ow and then there would be a star that would a''ear so bright and than suddenly would shoot downward. >$o#eone died againN we would o##ent. )e had believed that ea h shooting star #eant a death of a 'erson. 4orn on &ebruary KG ?A06 in ;C#Cl ine until his #urder on A'ril K" ?A47 in only 4? years of his life $abahattin Ali wrote a 'oetry book 8Mountains and the )ind9 four books of short stories 8The Mill" ?AWG9 8.+,Ohart" ?AW@9" 8 $ound" ?AW69" 8 /ew world" ?A4W9" 8;lass Diosk" ?A469" three novels 8Qusuf fro# Duyu ak" ?AW69" 8The *vil within Hs" ?A409" 8Madonna with &ur oat" ?A4W9" and a 'lay 8 Oa'tives" ?AW@9. 2e set the foundation of so io, realisti literature in Turkey. 2e was !ust like those shooting stars for our world. A writer" regardless of where he is fro#" should be ontrary" he should be aware of the so ial un!ust" be against the war to 'ro#ote #ore 'ea eful world for living. .nly with this a writer an endure. $abahattin Ali is a 'erfe t e+a#'le as su h a writer. Hnfortunately" he had to fa e diffi ulties su h as losing his !ob" s'ending ti#e in 'rison" and finally #urdered while he was trying hard to be an honorable writer. .n &ebruary ?0" ?A46 he wrote in tenth issue of Marko 'asha with the running title of >)hat do we wantPN %n this" he wrote > )e want the 'eo'le of this land be free rather than being slaves or toys of other nations. )e want to 'rote t every in h of this land and ea h iti=en of this ountry fro# foreign atta k. )e don(t want ene#ies to settle in this ountry whether by for e" through banks or their fake goodwill. )e want our nation to deter#ine its own futureN H' to today his views are still valid. $u h views not only belonged to hi# but also to HRur Mu# u" Abdi <'eki" 4ahriye Eok" Ah#et Taner DLlal who also were #urdered by the sa#e dirty hands. 2is unti#ely death is heart breaking. )hat saddens #e even #ore is the fa t that by #urdering hi# they #urdered all wonderful works he ould have 'rodu ed had he lived. This gives #e an everlasting hearta he. These days his works are being 'ublished by Qa' Dredi 4ank. 2owever there re#ains two i#'ortant things to be done for hi#. ?9 The lassified state ar hives on erning $abahattin Ali(s #urder should be o'en to 'ubli sin e it has already been #ore than G0 years sin e he was #urdered. K9 $tage of the Ankara $tate Oonservatory should be na#ed after $abahattin Ali sin e he worked so hard along with Oarl *bert to 'ro#ote this 'la e. % invite all of our writers and artists to o#'lete their tasks.

Translated by Meral Akay blak