第71节

    littleboylyingonthebed,thoughapartofalreadyknew.

    thereandspainpills.theandbitter.ipulledthecurtains,easedselfbathebed,andlaydoyhestandandspillstowork.

    yheadpounded.idbeendreangagain,butiuldhadbeenabout.

    heartgaveasiyvoiilesfroo,bodybrokeafeeagainandheardnothing.istruggledoutofbed,,lookedinthenarro.hewasgone.

    iloanagersoffiingosontheanagerreadioppedche

    unter.ides,askedifhedseedoustaetropicalfruitiuldntquiteregnize.

    “boys,theyliketorunaround,”hesaid,sighing.“ihavethreeofthealldaytheyarerunningaround,troubliher.”hefannedhisfaceyjaws.

    “idontthirunningaround,”isaid.“andhere.ifraidheghtgetlost.”

    hebobbedhisheadfroidetoside.“thenyoushouldhavekeptaheboy,ster.”

    “iknoifellasleepandasgone.”

    “boysstbeteo,youknow.”

    “yes,”isaid,pulsequiing.hoyapprehensionheshiftedthehefanning.“theybicyow”

    “who”

    “boys,”hesaid.“theyresaying,daddy,daddy,pleasebuyusbilesandothere,isoyou.”

    iiginedsohrablyinginaditeetagonthelapelofhisshortsleevebluettonshirt.“.fayyaz,haveyouseenhi

    “theboy”

    ibitdoee.haveyouseenhiot,fodssake”

    thefanningstopped.hiseyesnarroarte,friend.iaottheone.”

    thathehadapointdidnotstopthebloodfroushingtofa”

    “sorry,”hesaidcurtly.heputhisglassesba.snappedhisnehboy.”

    istoodattheunterforaryingnottoscreaasiighthaveo”

    “no,”isaid.ifelttired.tiredandscared.

    “doeshehaveanyis”hesaid.isaple,theyeris,especiallyhthataoldsanegger”

    “thesque”isaid.“thebigsque.”ireeredtheosquehadjoltedsohrabfroisstupor,hooftheit.

    “shahfaisal”

    “yes.ethere”

    “didyouknoosqueintheworld”heasked.

    “no,but”

    “theurtyardalonefitfortythousandpeople.”

    “ethere”

    “itsonlyakiloterfroere,”hesaid.buthetheunter.

    “illpayyoufortheride,”isaid.

    hesighedandshookhishead.“,retuedaninanesaritrailinghishetookhisseatbehier.“idonttakeyourney,”hesaid,bloe.“iafatherlikeyou.”

    ithoughtunderfayyazsreproachfulglare.iheardtheofficer,hisvoicetiredandued,askinghisobligatoryquestions.ahtheofficialquestions,anunofficialone:hehellcaredaboutanotherdeadafghankid

    butaboutahundredyardsfrohesque,sittinginthehalffullparkinglot,onanislandofgrass.fayyazpulleduptotheislanda.“ihavetogetback,”hesaid.

    “thatsfine.wellr.fayyaz.really.”

    heleanedacrossthefrohingtoyou”

    “sure.”

    inthedarkoft,hisfaceapairofeyeglassesreflegthefadinglight.“thethingaboutyouafghanisisthat...tlereckless.”

    iandstochfeltlikebarbedyskin.butistartedtolaughanyway.

    “...youth.

    “inglight.

    “yougaveagoodscare,”isaid.isatbesidehihpainasibent.

    heosque.shahfaisalsqueeandedinandout.eleaningagainstthetree,sohrabo,kohisondinthedark.itlitupthesky,sohrabsface.

    “haveyoueverbeentozarisharif”sohrabsaid,hisrestingonhiskneecaps.

    “alongtiago.idoch.”

    “fathertookthereealongtoo.fatherboughtankeyfroheouhavetobloie.”

    “ighthavehadohosewheniwasakid.”

    “fathertooktothebluesque,”sohrabsaid.“ireerthereanypigeonsoutsidethesjid,andtheyerightuptous.sasagavelittlepiecesofnaanahebirds.soon,thereooi

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