第59节

    【】vieirror,standinginthedoor,clutgthehefhislooseshirt.isaonhisbrokenglasses.

    tyone

    itsna.

    isaandangledfroheendofaropetiedtoabeahisfa.

    atedlyatabusystreeter.oheutatedbelos.“youknotheyredoinghaggliheleg.”

    “hessellinghisleg”

    faridnodded.“youoneyforitontheblackrket.feedyourkidsforaupleofweeks.”

    tosurprise,stofthehousesistillhadroofsandstanding,theytygoodshape.treesstill

    peekedovertheetedandbulletpocked,stillpoiheway.

    “thisisntsobad,”irerked.

    “nosurprise.stoftheiortantpeopleliveherenow.”

    “taliban”

    “theoo,”faridsaid.

    “whoelse”

    hedroveusintoaesoherside.“thepeoplebehialiban.therealbrainsofthisgovent,ifyouedaytheseguestsaregoingtopeealloverthecarpet.”

    “ithinkthatsit”isaid.“overthere”ipoihelandrkthatusedtoserveasaguideforeerthatourstreetistheohepinkhouseattheendofit.thepinkhousehthesteeplypitchedroofhadbeentheneighborhoodsonlyhouseofthatlorintheolddays.itstillwas.

    faridtuedontothestreet.isaaway.

    anglesofsbrierintheyard.knogotthereaedtocare.itsshellabrightred,hassansidea,andagoodone:

    thisonsterinsodistantjungleandonstrosityaredsoldierssaluteusonbothsidesasgigantiedadventurersandtheedalofhonorfeousfeat...

    gingerly,iyhandsoybars,reeriesthousandsoftisasaatterednotatallnoedsoiortantthen.ipeeredin.

    thedrivethegatestotheyard,reeredit.theasphalthadsplitinalightningstreakpatte,aanglesofbtoshineourrrorsintotheneighborshos.theoillstandingebrohehazeofdusthoverthecity,dottedbybaldpatchesofdirthinggreall.

    ajeephedrivehatlookedallwrong:

    babasblaustaoing,rousingfroleep.isaptysside.isaherosebushesthatbabaandalihadplaheleftsideofthedrivethatspilledontotheasphalt.andweeds.

    faridhoe.“ention,”hecalled.

    “justgiveoe,”isaid.

    thehouseitselfthespraansionireeredfroyaller.theroofsaggedandtheplaster,thefoyer,aairsguestbathroos.thepaint,onyfathershousehepictureoffallensplendor.

    ifoundtheyoldbedroosendfloor,thirdaiothehouse.istoodontiptoes,saeybreathfogginguptheglass.ihadyfatherscar.

    “aragha,”faridcalledagain.

    “ing,”ishotback.

    insanely,iakehassanandtakeoffoursnos.iedtostepintothe

    ...