the kite runner-第128部分

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ON　THE　OTHER　SIDE　of　the　closed　bathroom　door　the　water　was　running。　Since　the　day　we　d　checked　into　the　hotel；　Sohrab　took　a　long　bath　every　night　before　bed。　In　Kabul；　hot　running　water　had　been　like　fathers；　a　rare　modity。　Now　Sohrab　spent　almost　an　hour　a　night　in　the　bath；　soaking　in　the　soapy　water；　scrubbing。　Sitting　on　the　edge　of　the　bed；　I　called　Soraya。　I　glanced　at　the　thin　line　of　light　under　the　bathroom　door。　Do　you　feel　clean　yet；　Sohrab？
I　passed　on　to　Soraya　what　Raymond　Andrews　had　told　me。　　So　what　do　you　think？　　I　said。
　We　have　to　think　he　s　wrong。　　She　told　me　she　had　called　a　few　adoption　agencies　that　arranged　international　adoptions。　She　hadn　t　yet　found　one　that　would　consider　doing　an　Afghan　adoption；　but　she　was　still　looking。
　How　are　your　parents　taking　the　news？　
　Madar　is　happy　for　us。　You　know　how　she　feels　about　you；　Amir；　you　can　do　no　wrong　in　her　eyes。　Padar。。。　well；　as　always；　he　s　a　little　harder　to　read。　He　s　not　saying　much。　
　And　you？　Are　you　happy？　
I　heard　her　shifting　the　receiver　to　her　other　hand。　　I　think　we　ll　be　good　for　your　nephew；　but　maybe　that　little　boy　will　be　good　for　us　too。　
　I　was　thinking　the　same　thing。　
　I　know　it　sounds　crazy；　but　I　find　myself　wondering　what　his　favorite　_qurma_　will　be；　or　his　favorite　subject　in　school。　I　picture　myself　helping　him　with　homework。。。　　She　laughed。　In　the　bathroom；　the　water　had　stopped　running。　I　could　hear　Sohrab　in　there；　shifting　in　the　tub；　spilling　water　over　the　sides。
　You　re　going　to　be　great；　　I　said。
　Oh；　I　almost　forgot！　I　called　Kaka　Sharif。　
I　remembered　him　reciting　a　poem　at　our　nika　from　a　scrap　of　hotel　stationery　paper。　His　son　had　held　the　Koran　over　our　heads　as　Soraya　and　I　had　walked　toward　the　stage；　smiling　at　the　flashing　cameras。　　What　did　he　say？　
　Well；　he　s　going　to　stir　the　pot　for　us。　He　ll　call　some　of　his　INS　buddies；　　she　said。
　That　s　really　great　news；　　I　said。　　I　can　t　wait　for　you　to　see　Sohrab。　
　I　can　t　wait　to　see　you；　　she　said。
I　hung　up　smiling。
Sohrab　emerged　from　the　bathroom　a　few　minutes　later。　He　had　barely　said　a　dozen　words　since　the　meeting　with　Raymond　Andrews　and　my　attempts　at　conversation　had　only　met　with　a　nod　or　a　monosyllabic　reply。　He　climbed　into　bed；　pulled　the　blanket　to　his　chin。　Within　minutes；　he　was　snoring。
I　wiped　a　circle　on　the　fogged…up　mirror　and　shaved　with　one　of　the　hotel　s　old…fashioned　razors；　the　type　that　opened　and　you　slid　the　blade　in。　Then　I　took　my　own　bath；　lay　there　until　the　steaming　hot　water　turned　cold　and　my　skin　shriveled　up。　I　lay　there　drifting；　wondering；　imagining。。。
OMAR　FAISAL　WAS　CHUBBY；　dark；　had　dimpled　cheeks；　black　button　eyes；　and　an　affable；　gap…toothed　smile。　His　thinning　gray　hair　was　tied　back　in　a　ponytail。　He　wore　a　brown　corduroy　suit　with　leather　elbow　patches　and　carried　a　worn；　overstuffed　briefcase。　The　handle　was　missing；　so　he　clutched　the　briefcase　to　his　chest。　He　was　the　sort　of　fellow　who　started　a　lot　of　sentences　with　a　laugh　and　an　unnecessary　apology；　like　I　m　sorry；　I　ll　be　there　at　five。　Laugh。　When　I　had　called　him；　he　had　insisted　on　ing　out　to　meet　us。　　I　m　sorry；　the　cabbies　in　this　town　are　sharks；　　he　said　in　perfect　English；　without　a　trace　of　an　accent。　　They　smell　a　foreigner；　they　triple　their　fares。　
He　pushed　through　the　door；　all　smiles　and　apologies；　wheezing　a　little　and　sweating。　He　wiped　his　brow　with　a　handkerchief　and　opened　his　briefcase；　rummaged　in　it　for　a　notepad　and　apologized　for　the　sheets　of　paper　that　spilled　on　the　bed。　Sitting　crosslegged　on　his　bed；　Sohrab　kept　one　eye　on　the　muted　television；　the　other　on　the　harried　lawyer。　I　had　told　him　in　the　morning　that　Faisal　would　be　ing　and　he　had　nodded；　almost　asked　some　thing；　and　had　just　gone　on　watching　a　show　with　talking　animals。
　Here　we　are；　　Faisal　said；　flipping　open　a　yellow　legal　notepad。　　I　hope　my　children　take　after　their　mother　when　it　es　to　organization。　I　m　sorry；　probably　not　the　sort　of　thing　you　want　to　hear　from　your　prospective　lawyer；　heh？　　He　laughed。
　Well；　Raymond　Andrews　thinks　highly　of　you。　
　Mr。　Andrews。　Yes；　yes。　D