I spent my youth
at the port.
Trabzon
Persia
Alexandria
Genoa
Ragusa
silk
turmeric
cumin
pepper
Hey! What do you
think you’re doing?
Nothing.
You came from Sudak,
right? Have you heard any
news about Niccolo Polo?
Nobody ever knew
anything. I was two years
old when my father went to
Constantinople as a trader.
Who raised you?
Then a sister of my father,
Aunt Flora, and her
husband, Gianni.
My mother. While she
was alive.
They loved me, and I loved
them. I didn’t stand out, but
I never made any trouble.
Mostly, I kept to
myself.
27
