The following version of this story was used to create this study guide: Carter, Angela. Burning Your Boots – The Collected Short Stories. New York: Penguin Books, 1997. Pages 245-247.

The story begins with the unnamed narrator describing the fluctuating colors and visuals throughout the seasons in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. She describes the buildings, the temperature, and the various colors that accompany these things.

After describing the city, the narrator describes the appearance of the men and women who inhabit the city. She describes the women clad with beautiful clothing and jewels, and she describes the men clad with sheepskin coats and simple clothing. The narrator then describes a market in the town, where the townsfolk are selling flowers and dried fruits.

The narrator then transitions into an anecdote about Tamburlaine’s wife. Tamburlaine’s wife asked an architect to build a mosque for the emperor, but the architect asked for a kiss in return. The wife then brings some colored eggs to the architect, telling him that all the eggs look different but taste the same. However, the architect returned with three bowls. Two were filled with water, and one was filled with vodka. The architect told the wife that the bowls look the same, but one is much different. This causes the wife to accept the kiss, which leads to Tamburlaine exiling his wife and executing the architect.