【】s,orefortableonthefloor,andaskedryasotea.heaskedabouttheridefroeshahedriveoverthekhyberpass.</p>

“ihopeyoudidnteaybrothers.”</p>

faridallestofthethreeboystothefloorandtickledhintheribshhisgoodhand.thekidgiggledandkicked.“atleastihaveacar,”faridpanted.“hohesedays”</p>

“donkeyisabetterridethanyourcar.”</p>

“kharkharashnassah,”faridshotbatheadjoiningrooiuldseehalfoftheroorondanolderanablyhertherakettleintoapot.</p>

“soerica,aragha”wahidasked.</p>

“ier,”isaid.ithoughtiheardfaridkleatthat.</p>

“apressed.“doyoueaboutafghanistan”</p>

“ylastnovel,aseasonforashes,hadbeenaboutauyprofessorereviebarrassedbyit.ihoped.</p>

“ybeyoushouldeaboutafghanistanagaiofthethetalibanaredoingtoouruntry.”</p>

“not...iotquitethatkindofer.”</p>

“oh,”.”youkosuggest...</p>

justthen,ryaheranallplatter.istoodupinrespealayku”isaid.</p>

thean,,”sherepliedinabarelyaudiblevoice.adeeyentact.shepouredtheteaood.</p>

theanplaeaedtherooherbarefeetkingnosoundatallasshedisappeared.isatdohestrongblacktea.heuneasysilefollowed.</p>

“ssyoubacktoafghanistan”</p>

“allbacktoafghanistan,dearbrother”faridsaid,speakiuousgaze.</p>

“bas”wahidsnapped.</p>

“itsalething,”faridsaid.“sellthislahathouse,lleeriilyvaexi.”</p>

“farid”ahisishousearaghaisguesttonightandielikethis”</p>

faridopenedhisuth,alstsaidsothing,rensideredandsaidnothing.hesluedagainsttheutteredsothingunderhisbreath,andutilatedfootoodone.hisacgeyesneverleft.</p>

“fiveus,aragha,”ybrothersuthhasbeentepsaheadofhishead.”</p>

“itsfault,really,”isaid,tryingtosleunderfaridsintensegaze.“iaotoffended.ishouldhaveexplaiohiybusinesshereinafghanistan.iaotheretosellproperty.ioingtokabultofindaboy.”</p>

“aboy,”ed.</p>

“yes.”ifishedthepolaroidfrohepoyshirt.seeinghassanspiyeyesait.ihaotothephotoandbackagain.“thisboy”</p>

inodded.</p>

“thishazaraboy.”</p>

“yes.”</p>