第81节

    ie,andifyoudo,youadetoapologizeprofuselyforhavihesinofspoilingtheend.

    inafghanistan,theendingattered.ehoafteratyriadofbabasfriendssendandthirdusinsllinginandoutofthehousefindhappinessdidthebaedtowallowinfailure

    herehappitheend,theyedtoknow.

    ifsooodayeendshhappiness,iknotosay.

    doesanybodys

    afterall,lifeisnotahindivie.zendagigzara,afghansliketosay:lifegoeson,unndfulofbeginning,end,kaab,nahkaovingforycaravanofkochis.

    iatteroflastsundaystinyracle.

    onthsago,onadayinaugust2001.sorayapiyneissedher.“yourestilltheingsuntoyelda,”iwhispered.

    “”

    “nevernd.”ikissedherear.

    after,shekoeyeleveliledathi“sataasohrabjan,iourkhalasoraya.weveallbeeningforyou.”

    lookingatherslingatsohrab,hereyestearingoveralittle,ihadagliseofthethersheghthavebeen,hadherobrayedher.

    sohrabshiftedonhisfeetandlookedaway.

    sorayahadtuedthestudyupstairsintoabedrooorsohrab.sheledhinaontheedgeofthebed.thesheetsshoadeinscriptionsontheeasureachildsgrootive,aerlorset.

    sohrabsihadboughthinislabadjustbeforepingshoulders.thelorstillhadntseepedbatohisface,saveforthehaloofdarklesaroundhiseyes.hepassive.

    sorayaaskedifhelikedhisroondinoticedthatsheryingtoavoidlookingathissandthathereyeskeptsothosejaggedpinklines.sohrablohighsandsaidnothing.

    thenhesilylayhisheadonthepilloier,sorayaandithedoorway,hewassn.

    ,ilayaniaiintheddleofthenight,islidoutofbedand.istoodoverhilookihingprotrudingfronderhispillokhanspolaroid,theoneihadgiventosohrabthenightilingliketheplace.iaringatthephoto,tuingitinhishands.

    ilookedatthephoto.yourfatherakhanhadsaidinhisletter.ihadbeeledhalf,thesoatehalf,theunbodintofbabasguilt.ilookedathassan,shoissingfroh,sunlightslantingonhisfaostseessesofhisheart,babahadthoughtofashistrueson.

    islippedthepikething:thatlastthoughthadbroughtnostingiddleofthenight.

    thegeneralandkhalajalaondtoppedghoutshehadbroughtfordessert.shesaed.“shallahsorayajantoldushoorehandsoinperson,sohrabjan.”shehandedhiblueturtleneckser.“ikhisforyou,”shesaid.“foexter.inshallah,ityou.”

    sohrabtookthesher.

    “hello,youngn,”ightstudyabizarrederativeitetsooneshouse.

    iansilasquestionsaboutinjuriesidaskedsorayatotellthehadbeenggedreassurihatihadnoperdage,thattheeoutinafeysfadefaster.

    thegeneralandisatinthelivingroondsippedothersetthetable.itoldhiboutkabulaalibaenedandnodded,hisanihadspottedsellinghisartifiandassef.heaskedaboutrahihan,hesaidhehadtinkabulafees,andshookhisheadsolelyofrahihansillness.butashiseyesdriftingagainandagaintosohrabsleepingon

    theuch.asifingaroundtheedgeofhereallyedtoknow.

    theskirtingfinallycatoanendoverdinnerirjan,yoingtotellusbackthisboyhyou”

    “iqbaljanilasaid.

    ”unitysperily.people”

    sorayadroppedherspoon.tuedoher.“youtellthe

    “itsokay,soraya,”isaid,takingherhand.“itsokay.generalsahibisquiteright.peoplewillask.”

    “ar”shebegan.

    “itsallright.”ituedtothegeneral.“yousee,generalsahib,fathersleptasonnadhassan.

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