第55节

    roughthefleshofhisutteringsothingunderhisbreath.istepesover,hetters.foryouathousandtisover.badforthherocks.heliftshisface.iseeafaintscarabovehisupperlip.

    alone.

    iseethebarrelfirst.theandingbehindhiheistall,dressedinaherringboandablaptiness.hetakesastepbaanshead.forant,fadingsunlighthesialandtwinkles.

    therifleroarshadeafeningk.

    ifolloeofskesthezzle.iahenintheherringbo.

    itrappedinthroat.

    isteppedoutside.stoodinthesilvertaishofahalfonandglanesinyanarriedhisthirdiygrandfatherhadgoneonahuntingtripotherhaddiedonthissoil.andonthissoil,ihadfoughtforfatherslove.

    isatagainstohehouseseinalandthatghtasoon,isensedafghanistanhuingunderfeet.ybeafghanistanhadntfotteher.

    ilookedarveledthat,soountains,kabulstillexisted.itreallyexisted,notjustasanoldry,orastheheadingofanapstoryonpage15ofthesanfraainsintheyharelippedbrotherandihadrunkites.soanfroydreaaddieda

    needlessdeath.onountains,ihaddeachoidnhtbathissoil.

    iingfrohehouse.iregnizedoneaswahids.

    “nothiforthechildren.”

    “savagesheisaguestodo”hesaidinastrainedvoice.

    “tofindsothingtorroears.“doifeed”

    itiptoedayfood.

    oing.justbeforeie,”hesaid.histhreesonsandinginthedoorgus.thelittleodangledaroundhist.

    iglahesidevieirrorasethat,inadifferenthoseboyshavebeentoohungrytochaseafterthecar.

    earlierthatihingihaddopledneyuress.

    ty

    faridhade.hehad.but,asittuedout,hehadedhisbreath.

    eidtraveledthatroadselfshotbyasinging,stonedroussioffiately,soproud.thetrekbeteareliindersofitilitarytruountaihesendytvs.andnhfaridseyes.

    siddleofthebrokenroad,faridani.hehadbeeeiledonudhutvillagesalongthepsinpakistan.“andsotisthedeadareluckier,”hesaid.

    hepoiheilyahevillage.”

    ove.

    intheolddays,thedrivefroalalabadtokabultooktaybealittlere.ittookfaridandoverfourhourstoreachkabul.aafter.

    “kabulisnottheeerit,”hesaid.

    “soihear.”

    faridgavealookthatsaidhearingisnotthesaasseeing.ahaveseenstupefiedexpression;shuttlingpeoplebailiare.

    hepattedontheshoulder.“eback,”hesaidrosely.

    rubbleandbeggars.everyeeredbeggarsintheolddaystoobabaalra

    ...