第13节

  【】thethoughtaheadstart.tensesclesreadiedtheelvestounil.necksed.eyeskled.fightsbrokeout.akite,allhellbrokeloose.</p>

  overtheyears,ihadseenalotofguysrunkites.buthassaofinnerpass.</p>

  ireeroneovercastthroughneighborhoods,hopping</p>

  gutters,,buthassanranfasterthanidid,andiwasfallingbehind.</p>

  “hassahinghotandragged.</p>

  heotionedhhishand.“thisherer.ilookedup,sahatthedirectiootheohekiteing.</p>

  “he.</p>

  “trust”iheardhiseofhassandisappearingaroundareeter.ihobbledafterhispikesofpainbatteringscrapedknees.</p>

  isar,andaroafistfulofdriedlberries.</p>

  “achroilinghnausea.</p>

  hesled.“site,aragha.”</p>

  idroppedohilayonathinpatchofsheotheryousee”</p>

  hassanpoppedalberryinhisuth.“itsing,”hesaid.iuldhardlybreatheandhedidntevensoundtired.</p>

  “howdoyouknow”isaid.</p>

  “iknow.”</p>

  “hoanyouknow”</p>

  hetuedto.afehisbaldscalp.“iragha”</p>

  suddenlyidecidedtotoyalittle.“idontknow.wouldyou”</p>

  “idsoodirt,”hesaidhalookofindignation.</p>

  “reallyyouddothat”</p>

  hethreeapuzzledlook.“do”</p>

  “eatdirtifitoldyouto,”isaid.ikneifhedidntknoebigethingfasatingalbeitinasiifyingglass.</p>

  hiseyesseare.ery,andanother,asendfaont,longenoughtoleaveaybeidseenitsoplacebefore.thenhassanblinkedanditagain.justhassan.</p>

  “ifyouasked,ie.idroppedeyes.tothisday,ifindithardtogazedirectlyatpeoplelikehassan,peopleeaneveryheysay.</p>

  “butietodosuyiy.</p>

  iile.“doupid,hassan.youkno.”</p>

  hassauedthesle.excepthisdidntlookforced.“iknoeahingtheysay.theythinkeveryoneelsedoestoo.</p>

  “hereites,”hassansaid,pointingtothesky.herosetohisfeetandtingtoeleeofkiterunners.buttheye.becausehassanstoodsiling,</p>

  aygodifheexists,thatisstrikeblindifthekitedidntjustdropintohisoutstretchedar.</p>

  intheerof1975,isae.</p>

  usually,eaentyneighborhood,ent.thisentintyfiveyears.</p>

  onenightthattotellthestoryaboutthetheuntainsiandforaybeyoullentthisyear.doyouthink”</p>

  ididntknoeakeyies,ideveothefinalthree.butingefroissonandjustigine.ifididwin...</p>

  babaskedhispipeandtalked.ipreteolisten.butiuldntlisten,notreally,beylifeasaghostinthishouseyselfdreaiiginedionandlaughteroverdinnerinsteadofsilencebrokenonlybythekingofsilverheoasionalgrunt.ienvisioakingafridaydriveinbaba</p>

  ...</p>