【】bellsjinglinginperfectharnyhthebeatofthetabla.hekepthiseyesclosed.</p>

“shallah”theyouthhalfopeninaleer.</p>

sohrabdanusiepedhisfootidspin.</p>

“bia,bia,boy,”thetalibsaid,.sohrab,headdosaroundtheboy.“hoyhazaraboy”hesaid.hishandssliddopits.oheguardselbotoleaveusalone.</p>

“yes,aghasahib,”theysaidastheyexited.</p>

thetalibspuntheboyaroundsohefasaroundsohrabsbelly,restedhisanshandslidupanddoheboysbelly.upanddoly.</p>

“ivebeeneoversohrabsshoulder.“everhappeooldbabalu,anyway”</p>

thequestionhitlikeahaerbetface.legsb.</p>

helaughed.“e.“iheardyourfatherdied.tsktsk.ialon.lookslikeillhavetosettleforhisine.</p>

itriedtotakeabreathanduldnt.itriedtoblinkanduldnt.thesurrealno,notsurreal,absurdithadknhttheetoastandstill.fathedeepandididntightnjurehibuthe,afteralltheseyears.hisnaescapedlips:“assef.”</p>

“ainirjan.”</p>

“areyoudoinghere”isaid,knoterlyfoolishthequestionsounded,yetuhinkofanythiosay.</p>

“”assefaryelent.thequestionisareyoudoinghere”</p>

“ialreadytoldyou,”isaid.voicebling.iyfleshybones.</p>

“theboy”</p>