第57节

    rollingintokabul.edlovearouble”

    aslesproutedonface.“iknohatghazal.thatshfez.”

    “yesitis.iheoldnreplied.“ishouldknooteachitattheuy.”

    “youdid”

    theoldnughed.“fro958to1996.itaughthfez,khayyáru,beydel,ja,saadi.onbeydel.ireerhoeniruck.”

    “thertaughtattheuy,”isaid.

    “ande”

    “sofiaakra.”

    hiseyesands.sue,suchdignity,suchatragedy.”

    “youkher”iasked,kneelingbeforetheoldn.

    “yesiheoldbeggarsaid.“esarveloussliondondcakeorebeautifulforit.iethatday.”

    “e.”babahadalythertoinbroadstrokes,like,“shean.”butflavor,thesongsshelikedtohudidshebiteheailsbabatookhisriesofhertothegrave.ybespeakingheaindedhifhisguilt,ofaybehislosshadbeensogreat,hispainsodeep,heuldotalkabouther.ybeboth.

    “shesaid,ioafraid.andisaid,soprofoundlyhappy,dr.rasul.happinesslikethisisfrightening.iaskedherethingfroou,andisaid,hushup,nohissilliness.”

    faridtookar“iragha,”hesaidsoftly.isnatchedarelseelsedidshesay”

    theolduressoftened.“ieeredforyou.butidont.yourtherpassedaeagoandryisasshatteredasthesebuildings.iaorry.”

    “butevenasllthing,anythingatall.”

    theoldnsled.“illtrytoreerandthatsaprose.ebadfind.”

    “thankyou,”isaid.“thankyousootherhadlikedalndcakehhoneyandhottea,thatshedonceusedthehatshedfretted

    aboutherhappiness.ihadjustleaedreabouttherfrohisoldnoreetthanieverdidfroaba.

    ntedaboutostnonafghansprobableinother.beinarooortennutes,andtheyllfigureouthoheyrerelated.”

    anoepsofthatbuilding.ianttotakehiponhisoffer,ebayther.butineversaagain.

    es.herustedskeletonofauedcar,atvsethnoshalfburiedinrubble,ahthehetalibansprayedinblack.

    ashort,thin,baldingntofarid.“salaalayku”hesaid.

    “salaalayku”isaid.ishothepolaroid.“hisboy.”

    hegavethephotoasorry.ihaveneverseenhi”

    “youbarelylookedatthepicture,friend,”faridsaid.“takeacloserlook”

    “lotfan,”iadded.please.

    thenbehindthedoortookthepie,ihaveodo.”heclosedthedoor.lockedthebolt.

    irappedonthedooryknuanyhar”

    “itoldyou.hesnothere,”hisvoiafroheotherside.“no

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