第53节

    【】inygarntandpakolironiportantiteanartifikhaisforejoualistshewar.

    rahihaayafeoredays,toplahhly.butikneynd.iinate,agoionalize,andtalkselfintonotgoing.iylifeinarithepastthathadeption.soileftbeforethereyofthathappening.asfor

    soraya,tellingherioafghanistananoption.ifihad,sheheflighttopakistan.

    udhousesandhutsnsistingoflittlerethanfourileslater,ispottedaensittingontheirhaun,aaninabroudhouses.

    “strange,”isaid.

    “”

    “ifeellikeatouristinoaciatedgoatsalongthesideoftheroad.

    faridsnickered.tossedhiscigarette.“youstillthinkofthisplaceasyouruntry”

    “ithinkapartofaloredefehanihadintended.

    “afterterica,”hesaid,shetrucktoavoidapotholethesizeofabeachball.

    inodded.“igrean.”faridsnickeredagain.

    “hat”

    “nevernd,”herred.

    “no,itoknohat”

    inhisrearvieirror,isaethingflashinhiseyes.“youeigine,aghasahib.youprobablylivedinabigterianistheythreeovertodrinkandboastabouttheirtravelstoeuropeorarieyouveevere,revealingauthfulofpreturelyrottih.“aclose”

    “hesethings”isaid.

    “becauseyouandressedinraggedclothestrudgingdopath,alargeburlappackfilledhscrubgrasstiedtohisback.“thatstherealafghanistan,aghasahib.thatstheafghanistaniknoouristhere,youjustdidntkno.”

    rahihaoexpesorryaboutyhters,andiorryaboutyourhand.”

    “thatansnothingto,”hesaid.heshookhishead.“ingbaotherinarica”

    “therdiedgivingbirthto,”isaid.

    hesighedandlitanarette.saidnothing.

    “pullover.”

    “”

    “pulloddait”isaid.“ioingtobesick.”ituledoutofthetruckasitingtoarestonthegravelalongsidetheroad.

    bylateafteooerrainhadorerurallandsberedandnyoftheare,butitoseetreesagaihearduousdrivethroughthekhyberpass.ingclosertojalalabad,herakeusinforthenight.

    thesunhadntquitesettreesthereasireered,andsoofthehoshadbeenreducedtorooflessedclay.

    faridtuedontoanarrrepreghecitysairyeyesandsearchedforthesness.ididntfindit.

    “letsgo,”faridsaidiatiently.oadilapidatedooryhouseandkhewoodplankdoor.

    ayounganefirst,flinalaykukakafarid”

    “salaaryaan,”faridrepliedandgavehersothingheddeniedallday:asle.heplantedakissoopofherhead.theyoungansteppedoutoftheealittleapprehensivelyasifolloallhouse.

    theadobeceilingefropairoflainaer.ookoffourshoesandsteppedoraatthatveredthefloor.aloheattressveredhablahshreddedborders.

    atallbeardedntoasarica,”hesaidtobtoe.heleftusaloogreettheboys.

    bedhisshoulders.despiteprotest

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