sonothetoldthat,asarrangedbet,hehadlivedinbabashousesince1981thisiknekhanshortlybeforeheandifledkabultheporaryinterruptionofourankhantokeepchoveruntilthatday
rahihantoldhoeddifferentpartsofkabul“ifyouthesharenauseehoessotheyuldbypassthedangerousstreetsandovedoholetoholeinotherparts,peoplevedaboutinundergroundtunnels
“youleave”isaid
“kabulyhoitstillis”hesniilitarybarracksnexttoistiqialschool”
“yes”iteeredthedayhassanandiotherhassanhad
“khansaid“and,believe,ian,atdehzang,greetingthetalibaninthestreets,oredagetokabulthantheshoraroyedyourfathersorphanage,didyouknohat”
“beredsittingbehindbabathedaytheyopenedtheorphanagetheoneybabahadspent,allthosenightshedsakesureeverybrick,everybeaandeveryblockright
“llateraldage,”rahihansaid“youdontirjan,itingthroughtherubbleofthatorphanagetheresofchildren”
“soe”
“theykhansaid“peaceatlast”
“yes,hopeisastrangethingpeaediatelystainedredithoughtthateasanytoaddresstheelephants
“hoeanreally,howareyou”
“dying,aorebloodonthehandkerchiefheouth,blottedhissonepletotheothereaquickglancelong,”hebreathed
“howlong”
heshruggedughedagain“idontthinkillseetheendofthissuer,”hesaid
“lettakeyouhoeiethereareneentaltreatnts,blingandiknebutitterthancrying,odoanyway
heletoutaissingloosttiredlaughterideverheard“iseearithathasdehersogreatthatsverygoodelankhoriandselfpityoloss,tosuffering,acceptitasafactoflife,evenseeitas
nebeingpragtieansandbelievethethereissuchathingasgodswill”
“thereisonlyyoudoandyoudontdo,”isaid
rahihanlaughed“yousoundedlikeyourfatherjustnoisshiochbutitisgodsirjanitreallyis”hepaused“besides,theresanotherreasoniaskedyoutoehereiethingelsetoo”
“anything”
“youknohoseyearsilivedinyourfathershouseafteryouleft”
“yes”
“ihassanlivedtheree”
“hassan,”isaidethosethoyoldbarbsofguiltboreintoonehadbrokenaspell,setthereetototanekhanslittleflatellofthestreet
“ithoughtaboutingyouandtellingyoubefore,butisureyouedtoknorong”
thetruthethinginbetknow”
heughedanotherpatgoingtoaskyoutodosothingforbutbeforeido,itotellyouabouthassandoyouunderstand”
“yes,”irred
“iitotellyoueverythingyouen”
inodded
thenrahihansippedsoretearestedhisheadagainstthewallandspoke
sixteen
theree,ostoffriendsandrelativeshadeitherbeenkilledorhadeseerthatspotandiydaysinyourfathershouse,upinthestudy,readingyour
thersoldbooks,listeningtothenenistpropagandaontele
