第74节

  【】blahishesaid.“i,ar.ireallydo.”</p>

  “soraya”</p>

  “yeah.”</p>

  “dostetdaru”iloveyou.</p>

  “iloveyouback,”shesaid.iuldhearthesleinherareful.”</p>

  “iorething.donttellyourparentsefroe.”</p>

  “okay.”</p>

  wehungup.</p>

  thelaerieassyinislabadoabad:flataertheyjaetal</p>

  deteiledyna.sheanidseenihingotherthanaburqaorashaleez.shelookedupontheappointntlist,tappingtheeraserendofherpenynaandaskedtotakeaseat.</p>

  “elenade”sheasked.</p>

  “nonefor,thanks,”isaid.</p>

  “hoyourson”</p>

  “excuse”</p>

  “thehandsoyoulen,”shesaid,slingatsohrab.</p>

  “oh.thatdbehankyou.”</p>

  sohrabandisatontheblaeriagazinefroheglasstopffeetable.heflippedthepages,notreallylookingatthepictures.</p>

  “”sohrabsaid.</p>

  “sorry”</p>

  “youresling.”</p>

  “ihinkingaboutyou,”isaid.</p>

  hegaveanervoussle.piagazineandflippedthroughitihirtysends.</p>

  “dontbeafraid,”isaid,touyoyseat,untyingayingshoelaonadehitheffeetable.“thereyougo.”</p>

  sohrabsledshyly.“thankyouverych,”hesaidinenglish.itcaoutas“tankyouatch.”ite,thatand“haveaniceday.”</p>

  shelaughed.“youreste.”sheoherdesk,highheelscligonthefloor.</p>

  “haveaniceday,”sohrabsaid.</p>

  rayndandred,eaisérablesposterapoftheu.s.apotoftotoplantsbaskedinthesunonthewindowsill.</p>

  “ske”heasked,hisvoiceadeepbaritohatoddshhisslightstature.</p>

  “nothanks,”isaid,notptypathesadraatoplantsasherubbedlotionintohishands,outh.thenheeyourstory.”</p>

  ifeltlikejeanvaljeansittingajavert.irendedselfthatierie.“ibacktothestatese,”isaid.</p>

  “tellyourstory,”herepeated,crushingaflakeofasholyarrangeddeskhhisindexfinger,fligitintothetrash.</p>

  igavehiheversionihadyheadsinoneyandtopakistan.</p>

  “youaretheboyshalfuncle”</p>

  “yes.”</p>

  hekedhisatoplantsonthesill.“kothat”</p>

  “yes,butidontknohereheisnow.”</p>

  hetuedtoandriedtoreadhisfaduldnt.iriedthoselittlehandsofhisatpoker.</p>

  “iassugettingyourjaent,”hesaid.uggedinpeshawar.</p>

  “ofurse,”hesaid.usli</p>

  “yes.”</p>

  “practig”</p>

  “yes.”intruth,ididhelasttiihadlaidforeheadtothegroundinprayer.thenididreer:thedaydr.anigavebabahisprognosis.ihadkheprayerrug,reeringonlyfragntsofversesihadleaedinschool.</p>

  “helpsyouruch,”hesaid,scratgaspotontheflainhissandyhair.</p>

  “ean”iasked.ireaetoandrews.</p>

  “theresalonganssureillendupgivingittoyou.youtheshortonefirst”</p>

  “iguess,”isaid.</p>

  ae,hislipspursed.“giveitup.”</p>

  “iorry”</p>

  “yourpetitiontoadoptthisyoungfelloyadvicetoyou.”</p>

  “dulynoted,”isaid.“noewhy.”</p>

  “thatansyoupassive,opalasifheethestoryyougaveistrue,thoughidbetpensionagooddealofitiseitherfabriitted.notthatiatters.evenso,yourpetitionfacessignifitobstacles,nottheleastofhatthischildisnotanorphan.”</p>

  “ofurseheis.”</p>

  “notlegallyheisnt.”</p>

  “hisparehestreet.theneighborssa,”isaid,gladwewerespeakinginenglish.</p>

  “youhavedeathates”</p>

  “deathatesthisisafghanistanostpeopletheredonthavebirthates.”</p>

  hisglassyeyesdidntsoakethelaragenothstanding,youstilloprovetheparentsaredeceased.theboyhastobedeclaredalegalorphan.”</p>

  “but”</p>

  “yougivingittoyou.youextproblesthatyouheoperationofthebassyinkabul.thatkesthirelyplipossib</p>

  ...</p>