“oh.good.”itippedheadandgaveherahalfsle.“illgonoialreadysaidthat“khodahfez.”</p>

“khodahfez.”</p>

ibegantoynerve:“iaskyourereading”</p>

sheblinked.</p>

iheldbreath.suddenly,ifeltthellearketafghansshifttous.iiginedahushfalling.lipsstoppingience.headstuing.eyesnarrohkee.</p>

his</p>

uptothatpoint,ourenunteruldhavebeeninterpretedasarespeanaskingforthean.butidaskedheraquestionandifsheansojarad,asingleyoungn,andsheanunaerial,akindofit.poisontongueseiygender.notdidyouseehihattinggoalochak</p>

byafghanstandards,questionhadbeenbold.yself,alittledoubtastoiinher.butian,andallihadriskedydare</p>

shetuedthebooksotheverfaced.heris.“haveyoureadit”shesaid.</p>

inodded.iuldfeelthepulsatiofheartbehindeyes.“itsasadstory.”</p>

“sadstorieskegoodbooks,”shesaid.</p>

“theydo.”</p>

“iheardyoue.”</p>

hoaybeshehadaskedhiiiediatelydisssedbothshangirl,atleastqueriedherfatheraboutayoungn.andnofather,especiallya</p>

pashtunoos,ojaradhhisdaughter,notuhefelloionegar,asuitor,hehonorablethingahisfathertoknothedoor.</p>

incredibly,iheardselfsay,“ystories”</p>

“iespeakingforsuehhisdaughter.</p>

“ybeillbringyouonesoday,”isaid.ioreanidseenonoeandback.shesled.</p>

“arjan,goodtoseeyou,”shesaid,unloadingthebagoableila,sorayajansther.”</p>

“salaakhalajan,”isaid,earrassed,asiofteneandihadnoideawhoshewas.</p>

“hoher”shesaid.</p>

“heshankyou.”</p>

“youknoygrandfatheriledaile,andinotiouthdroopingalittle.hereyesvedbeteagain.</p>

idaskedba</p>

...</p>