第59节

  【】vieirror,standinginthedoor,clutgthehefhislooseshirt.isaonhisbrokenglasses.</p>

  tyone</p>

  itsna.</p>

  isaandangledfroheendofaropetiedtoabeahisfa.</p>

  atedlyatabusystreeter.oheutatedbelos.“youknotheyredoinghaggliheleg.”</p>

  “hessellinghisleg”</p>

  faridnodded.“youoneyforitontheblackrket.feedyourkidsforaupleofweeks.”</p>

  tosurprise,stofthehousesistillhadroofsandstanding,theytygoodshape.treesstill</p>

  peekedovertheetedandbulletpocked,stillpoiheway.</p>

  “thisisntsobad,”irerked.</p>

  “nosurprise.stoftheiortantpeopleliveherenow.”</p>

  “taliban”</p>

  “theoo,”faridsaid.</p>

  “whoelse”</p>

  hedroveusintoaesoherside.“thepeoplebehialiban.therealbrainsofthisgovent,ifyouedaytheseguestsaregoingtopeealloverthecarpet.”</p>

  “ithinkthatsit”isaid.“overthere”ipoihelandrkthatusedtoserveasaguideforeerthatourstreetistheohepinkhouseattheendofit.thepinkhousehthesteeplypitchedroofhadbeentheneighborhoodsonlyhouseofthatlorintheolddays.itstillwas.</p>

  faridtuedontothestreet.isaaway.</p>

  anglesofsbrierintheyard.knogotthereaedtocare.itsshellabrightred,hassansidea,andagoodone:</p>

  thisonsterinsodistantjungleandonstrosityaredsoldierssaluteusonbothsidesasgigantiedadventurersandtheedalofhonorfeousfeat...</p>

  gingerly,iyhandsoybars,reeriesthousandsoftisasaatterednotatallnoedsoiortantthen.ipeeredin.</p>

  thedrivethegatestotheyard,reeredit.theasphalthadsplitinalightningstreakpatte,aanglesofbtoshineourrrorsintotheneighborshos.theoillstandingebrohehazeofdusthoverthecity,dottedbybaldpatchesofdirthinggreall.</p>

  ajeephedrivehatlookedallwrong:</p>

  babasblaustaoing,rousingfroleep.isaptysside.isaherosebushesthatbabaandalihadplaheleftsideofthedrivethatspilledontotheasphalt.andweeds.</p>

  faridhoe.“ention,”hecalled.</p>

  “justgiveoe,”isaid.</p>

  thehouseitselfthespraansionireeredfroyaller.theroofsaggedandtheplaster,thefoyer,aairsguestbathroos.thepaint,onyfathershousehepictureoffallensplendor.</p>

  ifoundtheyoldbedroosendfloor,thirdaiothehouse.istoodontiptoes,saeybreathfogginguptheglass.ihadyfatherscar.</p>

  “aragha,”faridcalledagain.</p>

  “ing,”ishotback.</p>

  insanely,iakehassanandtakeoffoursnos.iedtostepintothe</p>

  ...</p>