第38节 (第1/1页)

    littleblaotebookbers.

    helookedupthetaheris.dialed.broughtthereyheartychest.

    “jalajansalaalayku”hesaid.heintroduberthat,thankyou.isgeneralsahibho”pause.“thankyou.”

    hiseyesfli.ibroughttheballofhandtouthandbitonit.babalaughedsoftlythroughhisnose.

    “generalsahib,salaalayku..yes,aypayyouandkhanuaheriavisittorrooing.itsanhonorabletter...yes...elevenokisjustfiilthen.khodahfez.”

    hehungup.eachother.iburstintogiggles.babajoinedin.

    bababeditbayselfthinkofsothingelse.heygraduation,hungoverhiooeltedaore.ihadtorollupthesleeves.istoopedandtiedhisshoela.

    thetaherislivedinaflat,ooryhouseiheresidentialareasiknoberofafghans.ithadbays.thegeneralsgrayvanhedriveway.

    ihelpedbabaoutofthefordandslippedbackbehindthee,illcallyouinanhour.”

    “okay,baba,”isaid.“goodluck.”

    hesled.

    idroveairror,babahetaherisdrivefatherlyduty.

    ipaofourapartnteikeptgoingtothekit,chegtheovenk.

    thephjustbeforenoon.itwasbaba.

    “well”

    “thegeneralaepted.”

    iletoutaburstofair.satdoyhandswereshaking.“hedid”

    “yes,butsorayajanisupstairsinherrooshestotalktoyoufirst.”

    “okay.”

    babasaidsothingtosooherelickashehungup.

    “ar”sorayasvoice.“salaa”

    “fathersaidyes.”

    “iknoiling.“iohappyidontknotosay.”

    “iappytoo,ar.i...tbelievethisishappening.”

    ilaughed.“iknow.”

    “listen,”shesaid,“iething.sothingyouhavetoknowbefore...”

    “idontcareitis.”

    “youokno.”

    “ifitakeyoufeelbetter,tell.butitgeanything.”

    therean.ie...rebellious...stupid,and...heostanth.alltheafghansinvirginiaalkingaboutit.

    “padareventuallyfoundus.heshoadeeho.iing.sayingihatedhi..

    “anyehoand”shee.”iheardherputthephonedoebae,isaytherhadhadastroke,therightsideofherfacesoguilty.shedidntdeservethat.

    “padarvedustocalifoiashortlyafter.”asilencefollowed.

    “hoheow”isaid.

    “eforthatday.ireallybelievehesaved.”shepaused.“so,doesitoldyoubotheryou”

    “alittle,”isaid.ioypride,iftikhar,an,adidbotherabit,butihadpohisquitealotintheebacktoeoheirpast

    “doesitbotheryouenoughtoind”

    “no,soraya.notevenclose,”isaid.“nothingyousaidgesanything.iarry.”

    shebrokeintofreshtears.

    ienviedher.herseosttoldherhoout,aroyedafortyyearrelationshipbetanye.urage.

    thirteen

    onyof“givingdefrohastegari.ikedtieintherearvieirror.

    “youlookkhoshteep,”babasaid.handso.

    “thankyou,baba.areyouallrightdoyoufeeluptothis”

    “uptothisitsthehappiestdayoflife,ar,”hesaid,slingtiredly.

    iuldhearusieouedoffthesic.

    khanuaheriopehedoor.“salaalayku”shesaid,beang.shedperdherhair,isaoistened.“yourebarelyinthehouseanditodothenightbefore.

    sheledusthroughabrightlylithall.ontheeneily:ayoungbouffanthairedkhanuaheriandthegeneralniagarafallsiaheriinaseaessdress,thegeneralinanarroiling,thesunglintingoffthesilverilitaryoutfit,shakinghandshkinghusseinofjordan.aportraitofzahirshah.

    thelivingrooabouttsseatedonedalongthewal

    ...