“isit...”</p>

“yes,itssafe.illbeallright,soraya.”itarriagehadtuedusintondreaders.“ioingtogoforawalk.”</p>

“shouldigohyou”</p>

“nay,idratherbealone.”</p>

idrovetogoldengateparkandiniatureboatssailed,propelledbyatonotsidearheball,tothroills.</p>

ithoughtaboutantrahihanhaddejustbeforeostasahought.iyeyesandsaattheotherendoftheslessblackeyeshianunspokebetohechhthelightningbolthands.hehadalwaysknown.</p>

e.thereisakhanhadsaidonthephobeforehangingup.saiditinpassing,alstasahought.</p>

aobegoodagain.</p>

eho,sorayaother.“adarjan.aaybete.”</p>

tigrainesagain,andergingfroisrooblearyeyedanddazed,hehadtrippedonalooseilarunningfrohekitstionia,bloodpoisoning,theprotrailaslongrunningsoliloquiesaboutherohiskidaboutthegeneralshospitalstayishoila,songsireeredfroabul,playingonbabasshyoldtransistorradio.</p>

thegeneralsfrailtyandtihadsoftehiandsorayatoo.theytooketis,thegeneralsatinonsoofher,dressedinhisshinyoldgraysuit,iling.sotisheeventooknotes.</p>

thatnight,sorayaandilayinbed,herbayfaceburiedinherhair.ireerediles,firstetis,buttheynewbook,agiggle</p>

oversoonesridiakiterthangood,butsonightsallidfeeletissorayafeltittoo.onthosenights,ine,asalways,wasabook.</p>

ilayinthedarkthenightrahihanoonlightpthroughtheblinds.atsopoint,ybejustbeforedaedofhassanrunninginthesnoofhisgreenchapandraggingbehindhisnoesover</p>

aonaaboard</p>

...</p>