友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!
the kite runner-第37部分
快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完,想下次继续接着阅读,可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能!
and s face had bee as pale as the moon hovering above。 He told Karim to ask Mister Soldier Sahib to show a little mercy; maybe he had a sister or a mother; maybe he had a wife too。 The Russian listened to Karim and barked a series of words。
It s his price for letting us pass; Karim said。 He couldn t bring himself to look the husband in the eye。
But we ve paid a fair price already。 He s getting paid good money; the husband said。
Karim and the Russian soldier spoke。 He says。。。 he says every price has a tax。
That was when Baba stood up。 It was my turn to clamp a hand on his thigh; but Baba pried it loose; snatched his leg away。 When he stood; he eclipsed the moonlight。 I want you to ask this man something; Baba said。 He said it to Karim; but looked directly at the Russian officer。 Ask him where his shame is。
They spoke。 He says this is war。 There is no shame in war。
Tell him he s wrong。 War doesn t negate decency。 It demands it; even more than in times of peace。
Do you have to always be the hero? I thought; my heart fluttering。 Can t you just let it go for once? But I knew he couldn t……it wasn t in his nature。 The problem was; his nature was going to get us all killed。
The Russian soldier said something to Karim; a smile creasing his lips。 Agha sahib; Karim said; these Roussi are not like us。 They understand nothing about respect; honor。
What did he say?
He says he ll enjoy putting a bullet in you almost as much as。。。 Karim trailed off; but nodded his head toward the young woman who had caught the guard s eye。 The soldier flicked his unfinished cigarette and unholstered his handgun。 So this is where Baba dies; I thought。 This is how it s going to happen。 In my head; I said a prayer I had learned in school。
Tell him I ll take a thousand of his bullets before I let this indecency take place; Baba said。 My mind flashed to that winter day six years ago。 Me; peering around the corner in the alley。 Kamal and Wali holding Hassan down。 Assef s buttock muscles clenching and unclenching; his hips thrusting back and forth。 Some hero I had been; fretting about the kite。 Sometimes; I too wondered if I was really Baba s son。
The bulldog…faced Russian raised his gun。
Baba; sit down please; I said; tugging at his sleeve。 I think he really means to shoot you。
Baba slapped my hand away。 Haven t I taught you anything? he snapped。 He turned to the grinning soldier。 Tell him he d better kill me good with that first shot。 Because if I don t go down; I m tearing him to pieces; goddamn his father!
The Russian soldier s grin never faltered when he heard the translation。 He clicked the safety on the gun。 Pointed the barrel to Baba s chest。 Heart pounding in my throat; I buried my face in my hands。
The gun roared。
It s done; then。 I m eighteen and alone。 I have no one left in the world。 Baba s dead and now I have to bury him。 Where do I bury him? Where do I go after that?
But the whirlwind of half thoughts spinning in my head came to a halt when I cracked my eyelids; found Baba still standing。 I saw a second Russian officer with the others。 It was from the muzzle of his upturned gun that smoke swirled。 The soldier who had meant to shoot Baba had already holstered his weapon。 He was shuffling his feet。 I had never felt more like crying and laughing at the same time。
The second Russian officer; gray…haired and heavyset; spoke to us in broken Farsi。 He apologized for his rade s behavior。 Russia sends them here to fight; he said。 But they are just boys; and when they e here; they find the pleasure of drug。 He gave the younger officer the rueful look of a father exasperated with his misbehaving son。 This one is attached to drug now。 I try to stop him。。。 He waved us off。
Moments later; we were pulling away。 I heard a laugh and then the first soldier s voice; slurry and off…key; singing the old wedding song。
WE RODE IN SILENCE for about fifteen minutes before the young woman s husband suddenly stood and did something I d seen many others do before him: He kissed Baba s hand。
TOOR S BAD LUCK。 Hadn t I overheard that in a snippet of conversation back at Mahipar?
We rolled into Jalalabad about an hour before sunrise。 Karim ushered us quickly from the truck into a one…story house at the intersection of two dirt roads lined with flat one…story homes; acacia trees; and closed shops。 I pulled the
collar of my coat against the chill as we hurried into the house; dragging our belongings。 For some reason; I remember smelling radishes。
Once he had us inside the dimly lit; bare living room; Karim locked the front door; pulled the tattered sheets that passed for curtains。 Then he took a deep breath and gave us the bad news:
His brother Toor couldn t take us to Peshawar。 It seemed his truck s engine had blown the week before and Toor was still waiting for parts。
Last week? someone exclaimed。 If you knew this; why did you bring us here?
I caught a flurry of movement out of the corner of my eye。 Then a blur of something zipping across the room; and the next thing I saw was Karim slammed against the wall; his sandaled feet dangling two feet above the floor
快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!