第34节

    【】ealltalkaboutyeyesnottopeelatooreadingapaperback.thegeneralandirynottoslouchasiwalkedaway.

    sotisshesatalohegeneralofftosootherroetissheiddleagedanisedselfthatirschoolsreopeheleavesreddened,yelloherainsofersin

    andore,andistillhadnthadtheheart,thedil,toevenlookherintheeye.

    thespringquarterendedinlatey1985.iaygeneraleduiraclegivenhoiuresandthinkofthesofthookofsorayasnose.

    then,onesr,babaandiarket,sittingatourbooth,fanningourfacesarketade160.igotup,stretched,andaskedbabaifheedake.hesaidhedloveone.

    “becareful,ar,”hesaidasibeganto,baba”

    “iaotanahq,sodontplaystupide.”

    “idontknoyouretalkingabout.”

    “reerthis,”babasaid,pointingat,“thenisapashtuntotheroot.hehasnangandnaos.”nang.naos.honorandpride.thetesofpashtunn.especiallyetothechastityofaer.

    “inlygoingtogetusdrinks.”

    “justdontearrass,thatsalliask.”

    “i.god,baba.”

    babalitacigaretteandstartedfanninghielfagain.

    irrison,orallthree,pressedonausielledpicklesandgrilledat.

    ispottedthetaherisgrayvantours,oakiosksellingngoonastiplyhoughtihad,exceptsuddenlyiandingattheedgeofthetaherisetablecloth,staringatsorayaaurlingironsandoldies.shelookedup.

    “salaa”isaid.“iorrytobezaheididntantodisturbyou.”

    “salaa”

    “isgeneralsahibheretoday”isaid.earsyselftolookherintheeye.

    “hethatedtht.thebraceletslippeddooherelboolive.

    “istoppedbytopayrespects”isaid.

    “iwill.”

    “thankyou,”isaid.“oh,andnaisar.inyrespects.”

    “yes.”

    ishiftedo,clearedthroat.“illgonoohavedisturbedyou.”

    “nay,youdidnt,”shesaid.

    “oh.good.”itippedheadandgaveherahalfsle.“illgonoialreadysaidthat“khodahfez.”

    “khodahfez.”

    ibegantoynerve:“iaskyourereading”

    sheblinked.

    iheldbreath.suddenly,ifeltthellearketafghansshifttous.iiginedahushfalling.lipsstoppingience.headstuing.eyesnarrohkee.

    his

    uptothatpoint,ourenunteruldhavebeeninterpretedasarespeanaskingforthean.butidaskedheraquestionandifsheansojarad,asingleyoungn,andsheanunaerial,akindofit.poisontongueseiygender.notdidyouseehihattinggoalochak

    byafghanstandards,questionhadbeenbold.yself,alittledoubtastoiinher.butian,andallihadriskedydare

    shetuedthebooksotheverfaced.heris.“haveyoureadit”shesaid.

    inodded.iuldfeelthepulsatiofheartbehindeyes.“itsasadstory.”

    “sadstorieskegoodbooks,”shesaid.

    “theydo.”

    “iheardyoue.”

    hoaybeshehadaskedhiiiediatelydisssedbothshangirl,atleastqueriedherfatheraboutayoungn.andnofather,especiallya

    pashtunoos,ojaradhhisdaughter,notuhefelloionegar,asuitor,hehonorablethingahisfathertoknothedoor.

    incredibly,iheardselfsay,“ystories”

    “iespeakingforsuehhisdaughter.

    “ybeillbringyouonesoday,”isaid.ioreanidseenonoeandback.shesled.

    “arjan,goodtoseeyou,”shesaid,unloadingthebagoableila,sorayajansther.”

    “salaakhalajan,”isaid,earrassed,asiofteneandihadnoideawhoshewas.

    “hoher”shesaid.

    “heshankyou.”

    “youknoygrandfatheriledaile,andinotiouthdroopingalittle.hereyesvedbeteagain.

    idaskedba

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