第2节

    【】fiuldsit,butbabae.etoe.idsitbythedoor,kneesdrayesisatthereforanhour,sotisteningtotheirlaughter,theirchatter.

    thelivingrooobuiltygrandfatherandkingnadirshahtakenin1931,typarentsytheraslingyoungprinilingiababyinthatphotographandbabaisholding,lookingtiredandgriinhisar,butitsrahihanspinkyfingersarecurledaround.

    theyfatherstasteforextravagantparties,itdidjustthatalsteveryarblefireplace,ale.

    alargeslidingglassdooropeoaseint,peppers,andarohatneverreallytook.hassanandiusedtocallit“theo.”

    ohendofthegarden,intheshadoe,adestlittledhuthhisfather.

    itytherdiedgivingbirthto.

    ieehatilivedinthathouse,isteppedintohassanandalisquartersonlyahandfuloftis.udshaps.thereattressesonoppositesidesoftherooaingtheashad.

    itallshaoherherrhagedtodeathduringchildbirth,hassanlosthislessthanaostafghansnsideredfarhah:sheranoffhaoftravelingsingersanddancers.

    hassaalkedabouthisther,asifshedneverexisted.ialedabouther,abouteether.didheaetoneday,fathershousetoilitarybarrae.sa,andcalledhassan.

    “hey,you”hesaid.“iknowyou.”

    before.heane.“justkeeputteredtohassan.

    “youthehazaralookattalkingtoyou”thesoldierbarked.hehandedhis,deaiddlefingerofhisotherhandthroughthele.pokeditinandout.inandout.“ikher,didyouknobehindbythatcreekoverthere.”

    thesoldierslaughed.oheadeasquealingsound.itoldhassantokeepwalking,keepwalking.

    “e,yarroundhipulledhishoulder.“hetookyouforsooneelse,”ieoneelse.”

    ioldnooneanerizedthekoran,rriedsanaubar,aannieenyearsyounger,abeautifulbutnotoriouslyunscrupulousanandahnichazara.sheusinandthereforeanaturalefor

    aspouse.butbeyondthosesilarities,aliandsanaubarhadlittleiofalltheirrespepteduntlessnintosin,alihadaalparalysisofhislousuosleahierpetuallygriaced.itileororetruethahroughhiseyes.

    ihaveheardthatsanaubarssuggestivestrideandoseeroneday,etothebazaartobuysonaan.i,huing,tryingtoitatehisspossiblythteverytiheplahatfoot.itseedaniggling.alituedaround,caughtapinghihedidntsayanything.notthen,notever.hejustkeptwalking.

    alisfadhiswalk

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