the kite runner-第39部分

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se；　　Assef　said。　　Maybe　you　ll　join　us。　Bring　Hassan　if　you　want　to。　
　That　sounds　fun；　　Baba　said；　beaming。　　What　do　you　think；　Amir？　
　I　don　t　really　like　volleyball；　　I　muttered。　I　saw　the　light　wink　out　of　Baba　s　eyes　and　an　unfortable　silence　followed。
　Sorry；　Assefjan；　　Baba　said；　shrugging。　That　stung；　his　apologizing　for　me。
　Nay；　no　harm　done；　　Assef　said。　　But　you　have　an　open　invitation；　Amir　jan。　Anyway；　I　heard　you　like　to　read　so　I　brought　you　a　book。　One　of　my　favorites。　　He　extended　a　wrapped　birthday　gift　to　me。　　Happy　birthday。　
He　was　dressed　in　a　cotton　shirt　and　blue　slacks；　a　red　silk　tie　and　shiny　black　loafers。　He　smelled　of　cologne　and　his　blond　hair　was　neatly　bed　back。　On　the　surface；　he　was　the　embodiment　of　every　parent　s　dream；　a　strong；　tall；　well…dressed　and　well…mannered　boy　with　talent　and　striking　looks；　not　to　mention　the　wit　to　joke　with　an　adult。　But　to　me；　his　eyes　betrayed　him。　When　I　looked　into　them；　the　facade　faltered；　revealed　a　glimpse　of　the　madness　hiding　behind　them。
　Aren　t　you　going　to　take　it；　Amir？　　Baba　was　saying。　　Huh？　
　Your　present；　　he　said　testily。　　Assefjan　is　giving　you　a　present。　
　Oh；　　I　said。　I　took　the　box　from　Assef　and　lowered　my　gaze。　I　wished　I　could　be　alone　in　my　room；　with　my　books；　away　from　these　people。
　Well？　　Baba　said。
　What？　
Baba　spoke　in　a　low　voice；　the　one　he　took　on　whenever　I　embarrassed　him　in　public。　　Aren　t　you　going　to　thank　Assef　jan？　That　was　very　considerate　of　him。　
I　wished　Baba　would　stop　calling　him　that。　How　often　did　he　call　me　　Amir　jan　？　　Thanks；　　I　said。　Assef　s　mother　looked　at　me　like　she　wanted　to　say　something；　but　she　didn　t；　and　I　realized　that　neither　of　Assef　s　parents　had　said　a　word。　Before　I　could　embarrass　myself　and　Baba　anymore……but　mostly　to　get　away　from　Assef　and　his　grin……I　stepped　away。　　Thanks　for　ing；　　I　said。
I　squirmed　my　way　through　the　throng　of　guests　and　slipped　through　the　wrought…iron　gates。　Two　houses　down　from　our　house；　there　was　a　large；　barren　dirt　lot。　I　d　heard　Baba　tell　Rahim　Khan　that　a　judge　had　bought　the　land　and　that　an　architect　was　working　on　the　design。　For　now；　the　lot　was　bare；　save　for　dirt；　stones；　and　weeds。
I　tore　the　wrapping　paper　from　Assef　s　present　and　tilted　the　book　cover　in　the　moonlight。　It　was　a　biography　of　Hitler。　I　threw　it　amid　a　tangle　of　weeds。
I　leaned　against　the　neighbor　s　wall；　slid　down　to　the　ground。　I　just　sat　in　the　dark　for　a　while；　knees　drawn　to　my　chest；　looking　up　at　the　stars；　waiting　for　the　night　to　be　over。
　Shouldn　t　you　be　entertaining　your　guests？　　a　familiar　voice　said。　Rahim　Khan　was　walking　toward　me　along　the　wall。
　They　don　t　need　me　for　that。　Baba　s　there；　remember？　　I　said。　The　ice　in　Rahim　Khan　s　drink　clinked　when　he　sat　next　to　me。　　I　didn　t　know　you　drank。　
　Turns　out　I　do；　　he　said。　Elbowed　me　playfully。　　But　only　on　the　most　important　occasions。　
I　smiled。　　Thanks。　
He　tipped　his　drink　to　me　and　took　a　sip。　He　lit　a　cigarette；　one　of　the　unfiltered　Pakistani　cigarettes　he　and　Baba　were　always　smoking。　　Did　I　ever　tell　you　I　was　almost　married　once？　
　Really？　　I　said；　smiling　a　little　at　the　notion　of　Rahim　Khan　getting　married。　I　d　always　thought　of　him　as　Baba　s　quiet　alter　ego；　my　writing　mentor；　my　pal；　the　one　who　never　forgot　to　bring　me　a　souvenir；　a　saughat；　when　he　returned　from　a　trip　abroad。　But　a　husband？　A　father？
He　nodded。　　It　s　true。　I　was　eighteen。　Her　name　was　Homaira。　She　was　a　Hazara；　the　daughter　of　our　neighbor　s　servants。　She　was　as　beautiful　as　a　pari；　light　brown　hair；　big　hazel　eyes。。。　she　had　this　laugh。。。　I　can　still　hear　it　sometimes。　　He　twirled　his　glass。　　We　used　to　meet　secretly　in　my　father　s　apple　orchards；　always　after　midnight　when　everyone　had　gone　to　sleep。　We　d　walk　under　the　trees　and　I　d　hold　her　hand。。。　Am　I　embarrassing　you；　Amir　jan？　
　A　little；　　I　said。
　It　won　t　kill　you；　　he　said；　taking　another　puff。　　Anyway；　we　had　this　fantasy。　We　d　have　a　great；　fancy　wedding　and　invite　family　and　friends　from　Kabul　to　Kandahar。　I　would　build　us　a　big　house；　white　with　a　tiled　patio　and　large　windows。　We　would　plan