roughthefleshofhisutteringsothingunderhisbreath.istepesover,hetters.foryouathousandtisover.badforthherocks.heliftshisface.iseeafaintscarabovehisupperlip.</p>

alone.</p>

iseethebarrelfirst.theandingbehindhiheistall,dressedinaherringboandablaptiness.hetakesastepbaanshead.forant,fadingsunlighthesialandtwinkles.</p>

therifleroarshadeafeningk.</p>

ifolloeofskesthezzle.iahenintheherringbo.</p>

itrappedinthroat.</p>

isteppedoutside.stoodinthesilvertaishofahalfonandglanesinyanarriedhisthirdiygrandfatherhadgoneonahuntingtripotherhaddiedonthissoil.andonthissoil,ihadfoughtforfatherslove.</p>

isatagainstohehouseseinalandthatghtasoon,isensedafghanistanhuingunderfeet.ybeafghanistanhadntfotteher.</p>

ilookedarveledthat,soountains,kabulstillexisted.itreallyexisted,notjustasanoldry,orastheheadingofanapstoryonpage15ofthesanfraainsintheyharelippedbrotherandihadrunkites.soanfroydreaaddieda</p>

needlessdeath.onountains,ihaddeachoidnhtbathissoil.</p>

iingfrohehouse.iregnizedoneaswahids.</p>

“nothiforthechildren.”</p>

“savagesheisaguestodo”hesaidinastrainedvoice.</p>

“tofindsothingtorroears.“doifeed”</p>

itiptoedayfood.</p>

oing.justbeforeie,”hesaid.histhreesonsandinginthedoorgus.thelittleodangledaroundhist.</p>