latorfroheadjayebeggarsdressedinlayersoftatteredrags,thevendorsertsandbutlosingshopfortheday.ifoundnosignofhassan.</p>

istoppedbyadriedfruitstand,deserulehcratesofpineseedsandraisins.heurban.</p>

hepausedtolookatforalongtibeforeansighthaveseenhi”</p>

“hwaydidhego”</p>

heeyedupahedaylookingforahazara”hisglaheratandjeans.inafghanistan,oeri,especiallyifitsendhand,h.</p>

“iofindhiagha.”</p>

“indedselfthatiatienceakehiellanyfaster.</p>

“hesourservantsson,”isaid.</p>

theoldnraisedapeppergrayeyebroaster.hisfathershouldgetonhisknees,shedustatyourfeethhiseyelashes.”</p>

“areyougoingtotelloot”</p>

herestedanarnthelesback,pointedsouth.“ithinkisaheboyyoudescribedrunningthateinhishand.ablueone.”</p>

“hedid”isaid.foryouathousandtisover,hedprosed.goodoldhassan.goodoldreliablehassan.hedkepthisproseandrukitefor.</p>

“ofurse,theyveprobablyulesback.</p>

“who”</p>

“theotherboys,”hesaid.“theoneschasinghitheyakinglatefoainaz.”</p>

butiblingdohelane.</p>

forthefeinutes,isuredthebazaarinvaiheoldryhandsonthatkite...ipokedheadbehindeverylane,everyshop.nosignofhassan.</p>

ihadbeguntoupahead.idreaainthhfarebisegthebazaar.ituedontothe</p>

ruttedtraayhavetuledinthespring.toothersidestflattoppedorethandshastcasesseparatedbynarrowalleys.</p>

iheardthevoie,ingfrohealleys.iouthofthealley.heldbreath.peekedaroundtheer.</p>

hassan,sittingonpilesofscrapandrubble,ykeytobabasheart.</p>

bloiddle,assef.ifeltbodyyspine.assefseedrelaxed,.heasseftohassan,liketheyderedsokindofalthatonlyassefuldta.</p>

“,hazara”assefsaid,tuingthebrassknucklesinhishand.“yousaidtheyllhavetocallyouoneeyedassef.thatsright.oneeyedassef.thatseasytobecleverwhenyoureholdingaloadedon.”</p>

irealizedistillhadhedout.iexhaled,sloery.</p>