第30节

    vehisbrokenenglish.buthesffedattheidea.“ybeillspelleandshoble.

    onesundayinthespringof1983,iallbookstorethatsoldusedpaperbaovietheaterjusttrakontboulevard.itoldbabaidbeoutiesandheshrugged.hehadbeenontandhadthedayoff.ijayontboulevardaerfast&easy,alittlegroeseuple,.ands.heyed.“heslikesix

    lliondollarnnoe,laughingtoothlessly.“reersixlliondollarn,ar”then.ion.

    irsteryingandglassbreaking.idroppedthebookandhurriedacrossthestreet.ifoundthenguyensbehier,allthesagazinerack,abrokenjarofbeefjerky,andshardsofglassatbabasfeet.

    ittuedoutthatbabahadhadnoforthees.hedylioneyinhispocketandthesonofadogylise”

    “baba,itsnotpersonal,”isaid,slingatthenguyens.“theyresupposedtoaskforanid.”

    “idonte.

    “yourenianbutyourfather,hesore.”

    “doeshethinkithief”babasaid,hisvoicerising.peoplehadgatheredoutside.theyaring.“kindofauntryisthisnoorustsanybody”

    “irs.nguyensaid,pokingoutherface.“yougetoutorie.”

    “please,s.nguyen,dontho.justdontcallthepolice,okayplease”

    “yes,youtakehio.goodidea,”.nguyensaid.hiseyes,behindhisdbifoagazineonhisadehirosehefathere.igaves.nguyenourtelephonenuerandaddress,andtoldhertogetaeforthedages.“pleasers.ookthesheetofpaperfroeandnodded.isaorethanusual,andthatdeangryatbaba,hiscausinganoldantoshakelikethat.

    “fatherisstilladjustingtolifeinarica,”isaid,byion.

    ithat,inkabul,aker.hedes.attheendofthenth,fatherpaidhiorthenuerofnotk.that.ions.noid.

    butididheithanked.nguyenfoote.hesulkedahebalnyaderik

    stepeshailladjusting.

    eihatnight.aftertes,babapushedae.

    iglanan.hessedpeoplellinginandoutofhishouse,ssedandhisfather,kne,sihhis.

    for,aricayries.

    forbaba,aplacetouhis.

    “ybeyglassofonthsinpeshayonebedroopartntslledlikedirtysoafghanseoneeoneelseaharniuteaosquitoesstoppedbuzzing,andclappinghandsgrewsore.

    “youorelikeho,”isaid.

    “peshae.notgoodforyou.”

    “youworksohardhere.”

    “itsnotsobadnoeaningsine,didi”

    ireayhandonhis.studenthand,einkabul.noeriir.

    justohafterepinggas,runningtheregister,etisandfindhiookingforapaerile,hiseyesfatigue.

    thesadayheanpledsle.shedtoldoshesanginchurdibelievedher

    shehadavoiilkandhoney.babadroppedthestapsonherdesk.“thankyoubutidontericaihankyouvery

    ...