第64节

    【】bellsjinglinginperfectharnyhthebeatofthetabla.hekepthiseyesclosed.

    “shallah”theyouthhalfopeninaleer.

    sohrabdanusiepedhisfootidspin.

    “bia,bia,boy,”thetalibsaid,.sohrab,headdosaroundtheboy.“hoyhazaraboy”hesaid.hishandssliddopits.oheguardselbotoleaveusalone.

    “yes,aghasahib,”theysaidastheyexited.

    thetalibspuntheboyaroundsohefasaroundsohrabsbelly,restedhisanshandslidupanddoheboysbelly.upanddoly.

    “ivebeeneoversohrabsshoulder.“everhappeooldbabalu,anyway”

    thequestionhitlikeahaerbetface.legsb.

    helaughed.“e.“iheardyourfatherdied.tsktsk.ialon.lookslikeillhavetosettleforhisine.

    itriedtotakeabreathanduldnt.itriedtoblinkanduldnt.thesurrealno,notsurreal,absurdithadknhttheetoastandstill.fathedeepandididntightnjurehibuthe,afteralltheseyears.hisnaescapedlips:“assef.”

    “ainirjan.”

    “areyoudoinghere”isaid,knoterlyfoolishthequestionsounded,yetuhinkofanythiosay.

    “”assefaryelent.thequestionisareyoudoinghere”

    “ialreadytoldyou,”isaid.voicebling.iyfleshybones.

    “theboy”

    “yes.”

    “why”

    “illpayyouforhi”isaid.“ihaveneywired.”

    “ney”assefsaid.hetittered.“haveyoueverheardofrooney,illhavethe.”hekissedthesideofsohrabsher.doyou”

    lipshadgonedry.iliytonguehaddriedtoo.

    “areyouthirsty”assefsaid,srking.

    “ithinkyourethirsty.”

    “iine,”isaid.thetruthfelttoohotsuddenlyspores,prigskin.andassef

    “asyouayreer,iuchioustype.butonedayihadanepiphany.ihaditinjail.doyoutohear”

    isaidnothing.

    “good.illtellyou,”hesaid.“ispentsotiinjail,atpoleharyfatherandatgunpointtofollo.thebastardsdidntgiveareason,ahersquestions.notthatitystery;everyoshadnoiliese.thesadogsyshoesbeforetheshoraeeatgunpoint,parakingtheirlittlepointaboutthefallofthebeoisieandagliketheyinjail,keanexalefortherades.

    “anydingroupsofsixiinyandant,ahaifhazara,halfuzbekthingelledlikearottingdonkey,untilshisfatfaeoneelse.onenight,hepieaginablepain.therusedtogettheoo,andireershetoldone.hehadkneehighbootse,andheusedthen.iingandseevenharderandistartedlaughidandhitharder,andtheharderhekicked,theharderilaughed.theythreebathecelllaughing.ikeptlaughingandlaughingbecausesuddenlyikneessagefrood:heyside.heetoliveforareason.

    “youknondantolefieldafeinatreneynah,bleedingfropieifhereered.hesaidno.itoldhihesathingijusttoldyou,thatineverfetafaintheballs.ivebeenonassionsince.”

    “issionisthat”iheardselfsay.“stoningadulterersrapingchildrenfloggingenforassag

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