第83节

    【】littleboyhadreased,and,nsiderihatpathy,theirslouteoheyhadothebackground.

    ishookhandsall,silverhairedrodueheretiredteaerart,asurgeonrespectfully.inoneensaidianforafather.

    aybethanklessjobkarzaihadinfrontofhiabouttheupingloyajirga,andthekingsiiretutohisholandafterteeredthenightin1973,thenightzahirshahsusihre;ireeredguheskylightingupsilveralihadtakenandhassaninhisar,toldusnottobeafraid,thattheyshootingducks.

    thensoooldallahnasruddinjokeandantoo,”kabirsaid.

    “heiling,reeringhoblingaboutariflies.hedsitatthekit

    tablee,”hedgroan.hoiledattherynow.

    bythreeoeonelightedalinabarbeellofgarliysehereusieptybattingcage.

    alittleersurgeon,eheandbabahadbeenysleeve.“ar,look”

    sheingtothesky.ahalfdozenkitesyellothegraysky.

    “esheastandnearby.

    “holdthis,”isaid.igaveyselfandyshoessquishingontheubabrak,”thekitesellersaid,takihekiteandaandahappyhuandforefingerandpullingit.itreddenediled.isledback.

    itookthekitetoscrossedonhischest.hethesky.

    “doyoulikethesehpartheskyto,tothekite,thenback.afehishair,doe.

    “ireadostrue.iotslippingyouatrib.“nothinghthetareither.”

    outoftheerofeye,isathetent.handstenselyduginherarits.unlike,shedgraduallyabandoetsatengaginghitheunanssohrab.ing.

    iyindexfingeraup.“ireertheyfinger.“,ithink.”

    sohrabhisearlobeandshiftedonhisfeet.saidnothing.ithoughtofsorayaaskihsagoeeranyre.

    “didievertellyouyourfatheradetheneighborhoodkids.hedrunkitesandneverlookupatthesky,andpeopleusedtosayhelikeidid.yourfatherchasinganyshado...knew”

    anotherhalfdozenkiteshadtakenflight.peoplehadstartedtogatherinupsinhand,eyesgluedtothesky.

    “doyoueflythis”isaid.

    sazeboune.backtothesky.

    “okay.”ishrugged.“lookslikeillhavetoflyittanhaii.”solo.

    ibalahandandfedaboutthreefeetoftar.theyelloedaheendofit,justabovethegrass.“lastce,”isaid.butsohrabapairofkitestanglinghighabovethetrees.

    “allright.hereigo.”itookoffrunning,sneakerssplashingrainpuddles,thehandyhead.ithadbeensolong,sonyyearssinyself.iletthespoolrollihandasirahestring.istoppedandtued.lookedup.sled.highabove,kite,kingthatoldpaperbirdflappingitsoingsinkabul.ihadntfloerushingback.

    ifeltapreseoandlookeddoe.

    “doyou,hishandliftedfroispoyheartquiedasispunthespooltogathertheloosestring.w

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