第17节

    latorfroheadjayebeggarsdressedinlayersoftatteredrags,thevendorsertsandbutlosingshopfortheday.ifoundnosignofhassan.

    istoppedbyadriedfruitstand,deserulehcratesofpineseedsandraisins.heurban.

    hepausedtolookatforalongtibeforeansighthaveseenhi”

    “hwaydidhego”

    heeyedupahedaylookingforahazara”hisglaheratandjeans.inafghanistan,oeri,especiallyifitsendhand,h.

    “iofindhiagha.”

    “indedselfthatiatienceakehiellanyfaster.

    “hesourservantsson,”isaid.

    theoldnraisedapeppergrayeyebroaster.hisfathershouldgetonhisknees,shedustatyourfeethhiseyelashes.”

    “areyougoingtotelloot”

    herestedanarnthelesback,pointedsouth.“ithinkisaheboyyoudescribedrunningthateinhishand.ablueone.”

    “hedid”isaid.foryouathousandtisover,hedprosed.goodoldhassan.goodoldreliablehassan.hedkepthisproseandrukitefor.

    “ofurse,theyveprobablyulesback.

    “who”

    “theotherboys,”hesaid.“theoneschasinghitheyakinglatefoainaz.”

    butiblingdohelane.

    forthefeinutes,isuredthebazaarinvaiheoldryhandsonthatkite...ipokedheadbehindeverylane,everyshop.nosignofhassan.

    ihadbeguntoupahead.idreaainthhfarebisegthebazaar.ituedontothe

    ruttedtraayhavetuledinthespring.toothersidestflattoppedorethandshastcasesseparatedbynarrowalleys.

    iheardthevoie,ingfrohealleys.iouthofthealley.heldbreath.peekedaroundtheer.

    hassan,sittingonpilesofscrapandrubble,ykeytobabasheart.

    bloiddle,assef.ifeltbodyyspine.assefseedrelaxed,.heasseftohassan,liketheyderedsokindofalthatonlyassefuldta.

    “,hazara”assefsaid,tuingthebrassknucklesinhishand.“yousaidtheyllhavetocallyouoneeyedassef.thatsright.oneeyedassef.thatseasytobecleverwhenyoureholdingaloadedon.”

    irealizedistillhadhedout.iexhaled,sloery.

    “buttodayisyourluoodtive.doyousaytothat,boys”

    “thatsgenerous,”kalblurted,“especiallyaftertherudennersheshoe.”heorinhisvoice.theniuood:

    heind.

    assefissivehand.“bakhshida.fiven.itsdone.”hisvoicedroppedalittle.“ofurse,nothingisfreeinthisypardonesallprice.”

    “thatsfair,”kalsaid.

    “nothingisfree,”waliadded.

    “yourealuckyhazara,”assefsaid,takingasteptooday,itsonlygoingtostyouthatbluekite.afairdeal,boys,isntit”

    “rethanfair,”kalsaid.

    evenfrhaentandiranthiskiteforhiiranitfairly.thisishiskite.”

    “aloyalhazara.loyalasadog,”assefsaid.kalslaughwasashrill,nervoussound.

    “butbeforeyousa,thinkaboutthis:

    eforyouhaveyoueveres,yourenothingbutanuglypet.sothingheplayethinghekickethingre.”

    “araghaandiarefriends,”hassansaid.helookedflushed.

    “friends”assefsaid,laughing.“youpathetiedayyoullyourlittlefantasyandleajusthohis.giveusthatkite.”

    hassanstoopedandpik.

    assefflinched.hebegantotakeastepback,stopped.“lastce,hazara.”

    hassansansthatheldtherock.

    “everyoutonedhiserat,tookitoff,foldeditsloely.heplaceditagainstthewall.

    iopeh,alstsaidsothing.alst.therestoflifeghthavetuedoutdifferentlyifihad.butididnt.ijustched.paralyzed.

    asseftionedingahalfle,trappinghassaninthealley.

    “ivegednd,”assefsaid.“iettingyoukeepthekite,hazara.illletyoukeepitsoitindyouofabouttodo.”

    thehassan,knoghiotheground.alfollowed.

    i

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