第34节

  【】ealltalkaboutyeyesnottopeelatooreadingapaperback.thegeneralandirynottoslouchasiwalkedaway.</p>

  sotisshesatalohegeneralofftosootherroetissheiddleagedanisedselfthatirschoolsreopeheleavesreddened,yelloherainsofersin</p>

  andore,andistillhadnthadtheheart,thedil,toevenlookherintheeye.</p>

  thespringquarterendedinlatey1985.iaygeneraleduiraclegivenhoiuresandthinkofthesofthookofsorayasnose.</p>

  then,onesr,babaandiarket,sittingatourbooth,fanningourfacesarketade160.igotup,stretched,andaskedbabaifheedake.hesaidhedloveone.</p>

  “becareful,ar,”hesaidasibeganto,baba”</p>

  “iaotanahq,sodontplaystupide.”</p>

  “idontknoyouretalkingabout.”</p>

  “reerthis,”babasaid,pointingat,“thenisapashtuntotheroot.hehasnangandnaos.”nang.naos.honorandpride.thetesofpashtunn.especiallyetothechastityofaer.</p>

  “inlygoingtogetusdrinks.”</p>

  “justdontearrass,thatsalliask.”</p>

  “i.god,baba.”</p>

  babalitacigaretteandstartedfanninghielfagain.</p>

  irrison,orallthree,pressedonausielledpicklesandgrilledat.</p>

  ispottedthetaherisgrayvantours,oakiosksellingngoonastiplyhoughtihad,exceptsuddenlyiandingattheedgeofthetaherisetablecloth,staringatsorayaaurlingironsandoldies.shelookedup.</p>

  “salaa”isaid.“iorrytobezaheididntantodisturbyou.”</p>

  “salaa”</p>

  “isgeneralsahibheretoday”isaid.earsyselftolookherintheeye.</p>

  “hethatedtht.thebraceletslippeddooherelboolive.</p>

  “istoppedbytopayrespects”isaid.</p>

  “iwill.”</p>

  “thankyou,”isaid.“oh,andnaisar.inyrespects.”</p>

  “yes.”</p>

  ishiftedo,clearedthroat.“illgonoohavedisturbedyou.”</p>

  “nay,youdidnt,”shesaid.</p>

  “oh.good.”itippedheadandgaveherahalfsle.“illgonoialreadysaidthat“khodahfez.”</p>

  “khodahfez.”</p>

  ibegantoynerve:“iaskyourereading”</p>

  sheblinked.</p>

  iheldbreath.suddenly,ifeltthellearketafghansshifttous.iiginedahushfalling.lipsstoppingience.headstuing.eyesnarrohkee.</p>

  his</p>

  uptothatpoint,ourenunteruldhavebeeninterpretedasarespeanaskingforthean.butidaskedheraquestionandifsheansojarad,asingleyoungn,andsheanunaerial,akindofit.poisontongueseiygender.notdidyouseehihattinggoalochak</p>

  byafghanstandards,questionhadbeenbold.yself,alittledoubtastoiinher.butian,andallihadriskedydare</p>

  shetuedthebooksotheverfaced.heris.“haveyoureadit”shesaid.</p>

  inodded.iuldfeelthepulsatiofheartbehindeyes.“itsasadstory.”</p>

  “sadstorieskegoodbooks,”shesaid.</p>

  “theydo.”</p>

  “iheardyoue.”</p>

  hoaybeshehadaskedhiiiediatelydisssedbothshangirl,atleastqueriedherfatheraboutayoungn.andnofather,especiallya</p>

  pashtunoos,ojaradhhisdaughter,notuhefelloionegar,asuitor,hehonorablethingahisfathertoknothedoor.</p>

  incredibly,iheardselfsay,“ystories”</p>

  “iespeakingforsuehhisdaughter.</p>

  “ybeillbringyouonesoday,”isaid.ioreanidseenonoeandback.shesled.</p>

  “arjan,goodtoseeyou,”shesaid,unloadingthebagoableila,sorayajansther.”</p>

  “salaakhalajan,”isaid,earrassed,asiofteneandihadnoideawhoshewas.</p>

  “hoher”shesaid.</p>

  “heshankyou.”</p>

  “youknoygrandfatheriledaile,andinotiouthdroopingalittle.hereyesvedbeteagain.</p>

  idaskedba</p>

  ...</p>