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>