第16节

  heardalliyselftohearyhead.allisaelledption.ifbabaeaybejustbraggingrights.butthisyoneeonebloesothat,ystring,idypain,longing.ideooeknoatterofwhen.</p>

  ittuedouttobesoohanlater.agustofykiteanditookadvantage.fedthestring,pulledup.loopedkiteontopoftheblueone.iheldposition.thebluekitekneaofthejabutididgo.iheldposition.the”greanstingfladiatorstokill,kill</p>

  “yourealstthere,araghaalstthere”hassaning.</p>

  theyeyesandloosenedgriporing.itslicedfingersagainastheingandhisarneck.</p>

  “bravobravha”</p>

  iopenedeyes,saeloosefrospeedihing.nothingabove.blackleatherat,redscarf,fadedjeans.athinboy,alittlesalloeaeachother.</p>

  theniing,ahingyfreearroundhassanandiraghayouwon”</p>

  “ent,idblinkandrousefrohisbeautifuldreagetoutofbed,rentofteatlast.</p>

  butheethingnootioninghhishandsinaood.“hassan,we”</p>

  “iknobraofhisgreenchapandragginginthesno.</p>

  “hassan”icalled.“ebackhit”</p>

  heouth.“foryouathousandtisover”hesaid.thenhesledhishassansleanddisappearedarouheiisasleunabashedlylikethatysixyearslater,inafadedpolaroidphotograph.</p>

  ibegantopullkitebae.ishookhands,saidthanks.theyoungerkidslookedatybayhair.ipulledoringauedeverysle,butndhebluekite.</p>

  finally,ihadkiteinhand.iyfeetaroundthespool,shookafeorehands,andtrottedho.heirongates,aliingoherside.hestuckhishandthroughthebars.“ngratulations,”hesaid.</p>

  igavehiykiteandspool,shookhishand.“tashakor,alijan.”</p>

  “ie.”</p>

  “thenkeeppraying.do.”</p>

  ihurriedbayhead,ihaditallplanned:idkeagraranybloodiedhands.headsandsohrabsizii,aoption.andthener,ofurse.else</p>

  thestreetsofesoreetbetpoundssurroundedbyeightfoote,stillsittingontheirrooftops,shoutedtheirngratulationsto.</p>

  fourstreetssouthofours,isaar,thesonofanengineeraratesinfrade,andoihedgivenafountaihekindyouhadtoloadhacartridge.</p>

  “iheardyouir,”hesaid.“ngratulations.”</p>

  “thanks.haveyouseenhassan”</p>

  “yourhazara”</p>

  inodded.</p>

  orheadedtheballtohisbrother.“ihearhesagreatkiterunner.”hisbrotherheadedtheballba.orean,hthosetightlittleeyes,hohing”</p>

  hisbrhed,ashortburst,andaskedfortheball.noredhi</p>

  “haveyouseenhi</p>

  orflickedathuoverhisshoulder,pointingsouthrunningtohebazaarawhileago.”</p>

  “thanks.”iscuttledaway.</p>

  bythetiireaosque,thellahbelloissedanyofthefivedailyprayers.evenself,dratheeoutafeier,sling,findsittingagainsttheissprayertonight,though,bee.</p>

  thebazaarerudbetloselypaleswhereyou</p>

  uldbuyafreshlyslaughteredpheasantiandandau</p>

  ...</p>