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the kite runner-第33部分

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 Sure;  Baba said。
 Baba? 
 Yes? 
 Thanks for the fireworks;  I said。 A thank…you; but only a halfhearted one。
 Get some rest;  Baba said; walking toward his room。
The other present Baba gave me……and he didn t wait around for me to open this one……was a wristwatch。 It had a blue face with gold hands in the shape of lightning bolts。 I didn t even try it on。 I tossed it on the pile of toys in the corner。 The only gift I didn t toss on that mound was Rahim Khan s leather…bound notebook。 That was the only one that didn t feel like blood money。
I sat on the edge of my bed; turned the notebook in my hands; thought about what Rahim Khan had said about Homaira; how his father s dismissing her had been for the best in the end。 She would have suffered。 Like the times Kaka Homayoun s projector got stuck on the same slide; the same image kept flashing in my mind over and over: Hassan; his head downcast; serving drinks to Assef and Wali。 Maybe it would be for the best。 Lessen his suffering。 And mine too。 Either way; this much had bee clear: One of us had to go。
Later that afternoon; I took the Schwinn for its first and last spin。 I pedaled around the block a couple of times and came back。 I rolled up the driveway to the backyard where Hassan and Ali were cleaning up the mess from last night s party。 Paper cups; crumpled napkins; and empty bottles of soda littered the yard。 Ali was folding chairs; setting them along the wall。 He saw me and waved。
 Salaam; All;  I said; waving back。
He held up a finger; asking me to wait; and walked to his living quarters。 A moment later; he emerged with something in his hands。  The opportunity never presented itself last night for Hassan and me to give you this;  he said; handing me a box。  It s mod est and not worthy of you; Amir agha。 But we hope you like it still。 Happy birthday。 
A lump was rising in my throat。  Thank you; Ali;  I said。 I wished they hadn t bought me anything。 I opened the box and found a brand new _Shahnamah_; a hardback with glossy colored illustrations beneath the passages。 Here was Ferangis gazing at her newborn son; Kai Khosrau。 There was Afrasiyab riding his horse; sword drawn; leading his army。 And; of course; Rostam inflicting a mortal wound onto his son; the warrior Sohrab。  It s beautiful;  I said。
 Hassan said your copy was old and ragged; and that some of the pages were missing;  Ali said。  All the pictures are hand…drawn in this one with pen and ink;  he added proudly; eyeing a book neither he nor his son could read。
 It s lovely;  I said。 And it was。 And; I suspected; not inexpensive either。 I wanted to tell Ali it was not the book; but I who was unworthy。 I hopped back on the bicycle。  Thank Hassan for me;  I said。
I ended up tossing the book on the heap of gifts in the corner of my room。 But my eyes kept going back to it; so I buried it at the
bottom。 Before I went to bed that night; I asked Baba if he d seen my new watch anywhere。
THE NEXT MORNING; I waited in my room for Ali to clear the breakfast table in the kitchen。 Waited for him to do the dishes; wipe the counters。 I looked out my bedroom window and waited until Ali and Hassan went grocery shopping to the bazaar; pushing the empty wheelbarrows in front of them。
Then I took a couple of the envelopes of cash from the pile of gifts and my watch; and tiptoed out。 I paused before Baba s study and listened in。 He d been in there all morning; making phone calls。 He was talking to someone now; about a shipment of rugs due to arrive next week。 I went downstairs; crossed the yard; and entered Ali and Hassan s living quarters by the loquat tree。 I lifted Hassan s mattress and planted my new watch and a handful of Afghani bills under it。
I waited another thirty minutes。 Then I knocked on Baba s door and told what I hoped would be the last in a long line of shameful lies。
THROUGH MY BEDROOM WINDOW; I watched Ali and Hassan push the wheelbarrows loaded with meat; _naan_; fruit; and vegetables up the driveway。 I saw Baba emerge from the house and walk up to Ali。 Their mouths moved over words I couldn t hear。 Baba pointed to the house and Ali nodded。 They separated。 Baba came back to the house; Ali followed Hassan to their hut。
A few moments later; Baba knocked on my door。  e to my office;  he said。  We re all going to sit down and settle this thing。 
I went to Baba s study; sat in one of the leather sofas。 It was thirty minutes or more before Hassan and Ali joined us。
THEY D BOTH BEEN CRYING; I could tell from their red; puffed up eyes。 They stood before Baba; hand in hand; and I wondered how and when I d bee capable of causing this kind of pain。
Baba came right out and asked。  Did you steal that money? Did you steal Amir s watch; Hassan? 
Hassan s reply was a single word; delivered in a thin; raspy voice:  Yes。 
I flinched; like I d been slapped。 My heart sank and I almost blurted out the truth。 Then I understood: This was Hassan s final sacrifice for me。 If he d said no; Baba would have believed him because we all knew Hassan never lied。 And if Baba believed him; then I d be the accused; I would have to explain and I would be revealed for what I reall
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