第7节

    【】k,afavoritebookstore.ireerbeggingbabatotakeustoirajohnenandenes,butes.heachvieexikidsburiedcharlesbronso,iraher.

    ustysllingbazaarsofthesharenauseertsandthebeggars,pedcalaandrosetoppedhcrushedpistachios.

    duringthesyselfoutofbedaothebathroohassanhadalreadyoingnazybreakfast:hotblaarlade,alllyplaeadebed,polishedshoes,irofitfortheday,pasingingtohielfinthefoyerasheironed,singingoldhazarasongsinhisnasalvoiustangaonths.hassanstayedhoandhelpedalitodryintheyard,sthebazaar,rinatingatfordinner,eringthelawn.

    aftersetup,grabbedabook,andtrottedupaboyfatherspropertyinherewasanold

    abaery.onesuerday,iusedoneofaliskitesonit:“arandhassaansofkabul.”thoseadeitforl:thetreebeditsbranegranates.afterenthefruitandhegrass,iohassan.

    sittingthegroundasireadhitoriesheuldntreadforhielf.thathassanosthazarashadbeehehadbeennpoeandstories,sotisriddlesthoughistoppedreadingthosethaniunblingllahnasruddinandhisdonkey.orechapter.

    favoritepartofreadingtohassaneae,iallahnasruddinstoryaopped.“doesthatean”

    “hone”

    “iecile.”

    “youdontknoeans”isaid,grinning.

    “nay,aragha.”

    “butitssuword”

    “still,idontknoytease,hisslingfacedidntsho.

    “ysbecile.itanssrt,intelligent.illuseitienceforyou.estobecile.”

    “aaah,”hesaid,nodding.

    iakeupforitbygivinghineofoldshirtsorabrokentoy.iyselfthatendsenoughforaharessprank.

    hassansfavoritebookbyfarah,thetenthine,andsohrab,”thetaleofthegreatandhisfleetfootedhorse,rakhsh.rostaortallyesis,sohrab,inbattle,onlytodisverthatsohrabishislonglostson.strihearshissonsdyingwords:

    ifthouartiher,thenhastthoustaihysploredoftheethyna,forithoughttobeholdiokeedofther.butiappealeduntothyheartinvain,andnoegoneforeting...

    “readitagainplease,aragha,”hassaistearspooledinhassanseyesasireadhihispassage,andialhesfate.afterall,didntallfathersintheirsecretheartsharboradesiretokilltheirsons

    oneday,injuly1973,iplayedatletrithethebook,flippingpagesregularly,butihadabahetextaltogether,takehestory,anddeupo,thebleofdes,indecipherable,sterious.ythroat,oclap.

    “areyoudoing”isaid.

    “thateinalongti,”hesaid,stillclapping.

    ilaughed.“really”

    “really.”

    “thats

    ...