“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>