第69节 (第1/1页)

    rightthings

    eeifineededarphineiion,isaidyes.

    theyrevedtheandgavethestaffthegoaheadtoletsipapplejuiirrorybed.sheliftedherbifooingsunfloodtheroo“reer,noopedactlastyear.hishandsofaceepurplelikeaneggplant.nooviestar.”

    despiteherreassuranirrorahethingthatinsistedityfaeonehadstuyskinandhadpuedayuth,agrotesqueblobofpurpleandred,allbruiseandstitileandaboltofpainrippedthroughlips.ibedoingthatforaitches

    ayleftcheek,justuhe,ontheforeheadjustbelohehairline.

    theoldguyethinginurdu.igavehishrugandshookhead.hepoiohisface,pattedit,andgrinnedaoothlessgrin.“verygood,”hesaidinenglish.“inshallah.”

    “thankyou,”iwhispered.

    faridandsohrabjustasiputtherroraookhisseatoool,restedhisheadonthebedssiderail.

    “youknohesooneryououtofherethebetter,”faridsaid.

    “dr.faruqisays”

    “idontanthehospital.ianpeshawar.”

    “why”

    “idontthinkyoullbesafeheref,”faridsaid.heloartlookingforyou.”

    “ithinktheyalreadyyhave,”irred.ithoughtsuddenlyofthebeardednandjuststoodtherestaringat.

    faridleanedin.“assoonasyoue.”

    “faridjan,thisaybeyoushouldntbeseene.youhaveafalytotakecareof.”

    fariddeaothersandsisters.”hesled.“besides,ididntsayiddoitforfree.”

    “iletyouifyouoffered,”isaid.ifotiuldnt

    sleandtried.atinystreakofbloodtriorefavor”

    “foryouathousandtisover,”faridsaid.

    and,justlikethat,iycheeks,stingingtheraylips.

    “atter”faridsaid,alard.

    iburiedfaonehandandhelduptheother.iker,ifelttired,hollosorry,”isaid.sohrabehafroreasinghisbrow.

    
    “ybeyoushouldes,”faridsaid,eyeingeoff.iscribbledtheiasonascrapofpapertotycaldwell.”

    faridphatooch.”

    butsohrabhadotheruttedbadforthonthesill,pegatrapsofoldbread.

    intheddledraybed,ihadfoundanoldnationalgeographiearlierand,surprisingly,foundthedeckplete.i

    askedsohrabifhetoansaloneplay.hedbeesincewehadfledkabul.

    buthetuedfroheeiknoar.”

    “ifeelsorryforyoualready,becauseiagrapanjpar.worldrenowned.”

    hetookhisseatooolo.idealthiisfivecards.“herandie.especiallyintheer,snogooutside.oplayuntilthesundown.”

    heplayedathepile.istolelooksathisheponderedhiscards.heany,theheeye.

    aybeeveer,”isaid,afterlastloss.“iusedtobeathiotis,butithiean.”

    “iknow.”

    “...didhetellyouaboutus”

    “thatyouhebestfriendheeverhad,”hesaid.

    itondsinfingers,flippeditba,gingerly,butheflinsonlight,foreheadpressedtotheglass,fistsburiedinhisarits.

    aishahadaleassistaakefirststepsthatnight.ioestokeitbaystinears,thinkinghouchissedwife.

    sohrabandiplayedpanjparstoftheday,againiakinga,oingtothebathrooolaterthatnight.idreadassefyhospitalroobrassballstillinhiseyesoytwin.”

    itoldarndearlythatn

    ...