第13节

    【】thethoughtaheadstart.tensesclesreadiedtheelvestounil.necksed.eyeskled.fightsbrokeout.akite,allhellbrokeloose.

    overtheyears,ihadseenalotofguysrunkites.buthassaofinnerpass.

    ireeroneovercastthroughneighborhoods,hopping

    gutters,,buthassanranfasterthanidid,andiwasfallingbehind.

    “hassahinghotandragged.

    heotionedhhishand.“thisherer.ilookedup,sahatthedirectiootheohekiteing.

    “he.

    “trust”iheardhiseofhassandisappearingaroundareeter.ihobbledafterhispikesofpainbatteringscrapedknees.

    isar,andaroafistfulofdriedlberries.

    “achroilinghnausea.

    hesled.“site,aragha.”

    idroppedohilayonathinpatchofsheotheryousee”

    hassanpoppedalberryinhisuth.“itsing,”hesaid.iuldhardlybreatheandhedidntevensoundtired.

    “howdoyouknow”isaid.

    “iknow.”

    “hoanyouknow”

    hetuedto.afehisbaldscalp.“iragha”

    suddenlyidecidedtotoyalittle.“idontknow.wouldyou”

    “idsoodirt,”hesaidhalookofindignation.

    “reallyyouddothat”

    hethreeapuzzledlook.“do”

    “eatdirtifitoldyouto,”isaid.ikneifhedidntknoebigethingfasatingalbeitinasiifyingglass.

    hiseyesseare.ery,andanother,asendfaont,longenoughtoleaveaybeidseenitsoplacebefore.thenhassanblinkedanditagain.justhassan.

    “ifyouasked,ie.idroppedeyes.tothisday,ifindithardtogazedirectlyatpeoplelikehassan,peopleeaneveryheysay.

    “butietodosuyiy.

    iile.“doupid,hassan.youkno.”

    hassauedthesle.excepthisdidntlookforced.“iknoeahingtheysay.theythinkeveryoneelsedoestoo.

    “hereites,”hassansaid,pointingtothesky.herosetohisfeetandtingtoeleeofkiterunners.buttheye.becausehassanstoodsiling,

    aygodifheexists,thatisstrikeblindifthekitedidntjustdropintohisoutstretchedar.

    intheerof1975,isae.

    usually,eaentyneighborhood,ent.thisentintyfiveyears.

    onenightthattotellthestoryaboutthetheuntainsiandforaybeyoullentthisyear.doyouthink”

    ididntknoeakeyies,ideveothefinalthree.butingefroissonandjustigine.ifididwin...

    babaskedhispipeandtalked.ipreteolisten.butiuldntlisten,notreally,beylifeasaghostinthishouseyselfdreaiiginedionandlaughteroverdinnerinsteadofsilencebrokenonlybythekingofsilverheoasionalgrunt.ienvisioakingafridaydriveinbaba

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