第54节

    【】s,orefortableonthefloor,andaskedryasotea.heaskedabouttheridefroeshahedriveoverthekhyberpass.

    “ihopeyoudidnteaybrothers.”

    faridallestofthethreeboystothefloorandtickledhintheribshhisgoodhand.thekidgiggledandkicked.“atleastihaveacar,”faridpanted.“hohesedays”

    “donkeyisabetterridethanyourcar.”

    “kharkharashnassah,”faridshotbatheadjoiningrooiuldseehalfoftheroorondanolderanablyhertherakettleintoapot.

    “soerica,aragha”wahidasked.

    “ier,”isaid.ithoughtiheardfaridkleatthat.

    “apressed.“doyoueaboutafghanistan”

    “ylastnovel,aseasonforashes,hadbeenaboutauyprofessorereviebarrassedbyit.ihoped.

    “ybeyoushouldeaboutafghanistanagaiofthethetalibanaredoingtoouruntry.”

    “not...iotquitethatkindofer.”

    “oh,”.”youkosuggest...

    justthen,ryaheranallplatter.istoodupinrespealayku”isaid.

    thean,,”sherepliedinabarelyaudiblevoice.adeeyentact.shepouredtheteaood.

    theanplaeaedtherooherbarefeetkingnosoundatallasshedisappeared.isatdohestrongblacktea.heuneasysilefollowed.

    “ssyoubacktoafghanistan”

    “allbacktoafghanistan,dearbrother”faridsaid,speakiuousgaze.

    “bas”wahidsnapped.

    “itsalething,”faridsaid.“sellthislahathouse,lleeriilyvaexi.”

    “farid”ahisishousearaghaisguesttonightandielikethis”

    faridopenedhisuth,alstsaidsothing,rensideredandsaidnothing.hesluedagainsttheutteredsothingunderhisbreath,andutilatedfootoodone.hisacgeyesneverleft.

    “fiveus,aragha,”ybrothersuthhasbeentepsaheadofhishead.”

    “itsfault,really,”isaid,tryingtosleunderfaridsintensegaze.“iaotoffended.ishouldhaveexplaiohiybusinesshereinafghanistan.iaotheretosellproperty.ioingtokabultofindaboy.”

    “aboy,”ed.

    “yes.”ifishedthepolaroidfrohepoyshirt.seeinghassanspiyeyesait.ihaotothephotoandbackagain.“thisboy”

    inodded.

    “thishazaraboy.”

    “yes.”

    “eantoyou”

    “hisfatherantalotto.heisthenio.hesdeadnow.”

    wahidblinked.“hewasafriendofyours”

    instinctedeeplevel,itooyhalfbrother.”isatehalfbrother.”ituedtheteacup.toyedhthehandle.

    “ididntantopry.”

    “youren,”isaid.

    “”

    “takehiacktopesha.”

    yshoulder.“youareanhonorablen,aragha.atrueafghan.”

    igedinside.

    “iaroudtohaveyouinourhotonight,”andeovertofarid.heat.

    ashortaherbroughttingbosorryeat,”eatnow.”

    “thislooksetohitothekids,butilyhadeatenbeforeheshorehourhands.

    asiate,inotiaclaypot,iaskedforissiontogivehisboysahadia,agift.hesaidno,but,utteredasheepish“tashakor.”

    “ittellsyouthetiinanycityiheboysnoddedpolitely,passiaking

    tustryingiton.buttheylostiand,soo.

    “youuldhavetold,”faridsaidlater.thetatswahidswifehadspreadforus.

    “toldyou”

    “etoafghanistan.”hisvoiontihadthi

    “youdidntask,”isaid.

    “youshouldhavetold.”

    “youdidntask.”

    herolledtofaurledhisarnderhishead.“ybeihisboy.”

    “thankyou,farid,”isaid.

    “itetoassu.”

    isighed.“dhtthanyouknow.”

    hishandsaretiedbehindhiroughlytingth

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