第19节

    【】tafairpriindbeforeiuldthit:heahazara,he

    iranbackthee.ranbacktotheallbutdesertedbazaar.ilurubidleanedagainstthepadlockedseotherway.

    aboutfifteeer,iheardvoidrunningfootfalls.ihedbehindthehedassefahertingby,laughingastheyhurrieddohedeserted

    lane.iforihehiyaleaflessbirchtreeontheedgeoftheravine.

    hehadthebluekiteinhishands;thatyeyesdidntsudsdgesdoself.hahekite.

    “wherehosehek.

    hassandraggedasleeveaething,butine.ieindignatiodforbid,ost:guilelessdevotionthat,stofall,iuldosee.

    hebegantosaysothingandhisvoiouth,ope,aaihesnok.

    “aghasahibandliedaway.

    ithappenedjusttheagined.iopehedoortotheskystudyandsteppedin.babaandrahihanileplayedonfatherslips.heopenedhisar.iputthekitedos.iburiedfa,ros,ifotiddone.andthatwasgood.

    eight

    forayclothesforthedaywere

    ironedandfolded,leftontheore.

    oneovercasting,asiyplate,aliwherehassanwas.

    “hebacktosleep,”alisaid,kneelingbeforethestove.hepulledthelittlesquaredooropen.

    oplaytoday

    alipausedsallheething”

    “ifyouhaveto.”

    “afterthatkitetouant,hecahoalittlebloodiedandhisshirtekidsoverthekite.”

    ididntsayanything.justkeptpushingtheeggaroundonplate.

    “didsothinghappenthasothitelling”

    ishrugged.“howshouldiknow”

    “youe,nayinshallah,youeifsothinghadhappened”

    “likeisaid,ho”isnapped.“ybehessie,ali.noigoingtofreezetodeathorareyouplanningonlightiovetoday”

    thatnightiaskedbabaifuchbabaold,notatall,andhehadlotsofyearslefttolive,soohosestupidglasses

    “”hesaidtely,babaagreedtoeverythingiasked.notonlythat,justteifiaaryana.“doyouealongtojalalabad”

    azreez,”isaid.notfeelingwell.

    “really”babastoppedroginhischair.“s”

    igaveashrugandsankinthesofabythefireplaething.alisayshessleepingitoff.”

    “ihaventseenchofhassafesallitis,then,ald”iuldnthelphatingthehworry.

    “justald.soingfriday,baba”

    “yes,yes,”babasaid,pushingathedesk.“toobadabouthassan.ithoughtyoughthavehadrefunifheca.”

    “hetiled.winked.“dress,”hesaid.

    itshouldhavebeenjustthetaoihertayouionedheayoun,ilyherat,ybeshedliketotagalong,andsintohisdaughtersonthand...

    ayounbabahadtaughtatayouoalekaka,orunale,khala,oraunt.kakahoyounstelledofperfuanddancedhhereyes

    ...