第16节

    heardalliyselftohearyhead.allisaelledption.ifbabaeaybejustbraggingrights.butthisyoneeonebloesothat,ystring,idypain,longing.ideooeknoatterofwhen.

    ittuedouttobesoohanlater.agustofykiteanditookadvantage.fedthestring,pulledup.loopedkiteontopoftheblueone.iheldposition.thebluekitekneaofthejabutididgo.iheldposition.the”greanstingfladiatorstokill,kill

    “yourealstthere,araghaalstthere”hassaning.

    theyeyesandloosenedgriporing.itslicedfingersagainastheingandhisarneck.

    “bravobravha”

    iopenedeyes,saeloosefrospeedihing.nothingabove.blackleatherat,redscarf,fadedjeans.athinboy,alittlesalloeaeachother.

    theniing,ahingyfreearroundhassanandiraghayouwon”

    “ent,idblinkandrousefrohisbeautifuldreagetoutofbed,rentofteatlast.

    butheethingnootioninghhishandsinaood.“hassan,we”

    “iknobraofhisgreenchapandragginginthesno.

    “hassan”icalled.“ebackhit”

    heouth.“foryouathousandtisover”hesaid.thenhesledhishassansleanddisappearedarouheiisasleunabashedlylikethatysixyearslater,inafadedpolaroidphotograph.

    ibegantopullkitebae.ishookhands,saidthanks.theyoungerkidslookedatybayhair.ipulledoringauedeverysle,butndhebluekite.

    finally,ihadkiteinhand.iyfeetaroundthespool,shookafeorehands,andtrottedho.heirongates,aliingoherside.hestuckhishandthroughthebars.“ngratulations,”hesaid.

    igavehiykiteandspool,shookhishand.“tashakor,alijan.”

    “ie.”

    “thenkeeppraying.do.”

    ihurriedbayhead,ihaditallplanned:idkeagraranybloodiedhands.headsandsohrabsizii,aoption.andthener,ofurse.else

    thestreetsofesoreetbetpoundssurroundedbyeightfoote,stillsittingontheirrooftops,shoutedtheirngratulationsto.

    fourstreetssouthofours,isaar,thesonofanengineeraratesinfrade,andoihedgivenafountaihekindyouhadtoloadhacartridge.

    “iheardyouir,”hesaid.“ngratulations.”

    “thanks.haveyouseenhassan”

    “yourhazara”

    inodded.

    orheadedtheballtohisbrother.“ihearhesagreatkiterunner.”hisbrotherheadedtheballba.orean,hthosetightlittleeyes,hohing”

    hisbrhed,ashortburst,andaskedfortheball.noredhi

    “haveyouseenhi

    orflickedathuoverhisshoulder,pointingsouthrunningtohebazaarawhileago.”

    “thanks.”iscuttledaway.

    bythetiireaosque,thellahbelloissedanyofthefivedailyprayers.evenself,dratheeoutafeier,sling,findsittingagainsttheissprayertonight,though,bee.

    thebazaarerudbetloselypaleswhereyou

    uldbuyafreshlyslaughteredpheasantiandandau

    ...