rightthings</p>

eeifineededarphineiion,isaidyes.</p>

theyrevedtheandgavethestaffthegoaheadtoletsipapplejuiirrorybed.sheliftedherbifooingsunfloodtheroo“reer,noopedactlastyear.hishandsofaceepurplelikeaneggplant.nooviestar.”</p>

despiteherreassuranirrorahethingthatinsistedityfaeonehadstuyskinandhadpuedayuth,agrotesqueblobofpurpleandred,allbruiseandstitileandaboltofpainrippedthroughlips.ibedoingthatforaitches</p>

ayleftcheek,justuhe,ontheforeheadjustbelohehairline.</p>

theoldguyethinginurdu.igavehishrugandshookhead.hepoiohisface,pattedit,andgrinnedaoothlessgrin.“verygood,”hesaidinenglish.“inshallah.”</p>

“thankyou,”iwhispered.</p>

faridandsohrabjustasiputtherroraookhisseatoool,restedhisheadonthebedssiderail.</p>

“youknohesooneryououtofherethebetter,”faridsaid.</p>

“dr.faruqisays”</p>

“idontanthehospital.ianpeshawar.”</p>

“why”</p>

“idontthinkyoullbesafeheref,”faridsaid.heloartlookingforyou.”</p>

“ithinktheyalreadyyhave,”irred.ithoughtsuddenlyofthebeardednandjuststoodtherestaringat.</p>

faridleanedin.“assoonasyoue.”</p>

“faridjan,thisaybeyoushouldntbeseene.youhaveafalytotakecareof.”</p>

fariddeaothersandsisters.”hesled.“besides,ididntsayiddoitforfree.”</p>

“iletyouifyouoffered,”isaid.ifotiuldnt</p>

sleandtried.atinystreakofbloodtriorefavor”</p>

“foryouathousandtisover,”faridsaid.</p>

and,justlikethat,iycheeks,stingingtheraylips.</p>