Elif Shafak. Istanbul Bastard (№ 424843)

She told them about a man who traveled around the globe trying to avoid his fate of death. To the north and to the south, to the east and to the west, he went all the ways and roads. And so, during one of his countless wanderings, he unexpectedly met the angel of death Azrael in the city of Cairo. The angel of death looked at him with a mysterious piercing look, did not say a word and did not follow him. This man immediately left Cairo and galloped without respite until he reached a godforsaken sleepy town somewhere in China. Exhausted from thirst and fatigue, he went to the first tavern. There sat Azrael at the next table. He had been waiting for this man for a long time and patiently and now greeted him with obvious relief. "I was so surprised when I came across you in Cairo," he said in a hoarse voice, "we are destined to meet in China."