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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Stay the night； I said。 It s a long drive。 Leave tomorrow。
Tashakor； he said。 But I want to get back tonight。 I miss my children。 On his way out of the room； he paused in the doorway。 Good…bye； Sohrab jan； he said。 He waited for a reply； but Sohrab paid him no attention。 Just rocked back and forth； his face lit by the silver glow of the images flickering across the screen。
Outside； I gave him an envelope。 When he tore it； his mouth opened。
I didn t know how to thank you； I said。 You ve done so much for me。
How much is in here？ Farid said； slightly dazed。
A little over two thousand dollars。
Two thou…… he began。 His lower lip was quivering a little。 Later； when he pulled away from the curb； he honked twice and waved。 I waved back。 I never saw him again。
I returned to the hotel room and found Sohrab lying on the bed； curled up in a big C。 His eyes were closed but I couldn t tell if he was sleeping。 He had shut off the television。 I sat on my bed and grimaced with pain； wiped the cool sweat off my brow。 I wondered how much longer it would hurt to get up； sit down； roll over in bed。 I wondered when I d be able to eat solid food。 I wondered what I d do with the wounded little boy lying on the bed； though a part of me already knew。
There was a carafe of water on the dresser。 I poured a glass and took two of Armand s pain pills。 The water was warm and bitter。 I pulled the curtains； eased myself back on the bed； and lay down。 I thought my chest would rip open。 When the pain dropped a notch and I could breathe again； I pulled the blanket to my chest and waited for Armand s pills to work。
WHEN I WOKE UP； the room was darker。 The slice of sky peeking between the curtains was the purple of twilight turning into night。 The sheets were soaked and my head pounded。 I d been dreaming again； but I couldn t remember what it had been about。
My heart gave a sick lurch when I looked to Sohrab s bed and found it empty I called his name。 The sound of my voice startled me。 It was disorienting； sitting in a dark hotel room； thousands of miles from home； my body broken； calling the name of a boy I d only met a few days ago。 I called his name again and heard nothing。 I struggled out of bed； checked the bathroom； looked in the narrow hallway outside the room。 He was gone。
I locked the door and hobbled to the manager s office in the lobby； one hand clutching the rail along the walkway for support。 There was a fake； dusty palm tree in the corner of the lobby and flying pink flamingos on the wallpaper。 I found the hotel manager reading a newspaper behind the Formica…topped check…in
counter。 I described Sohrab to him； asked if he d seen him。 He put down his paper and took off his reading glasses。 He had greasy hair and a square…shaped little mustache speckled with gray。 He smelled vaguely of some tropical fruit I couldn t quite recognize。
Boys； they like to run around； he said； sighing。 I have three of them。 All day they are running around； troubling their mother。 He fanned his face with the newspaper； staring at my jaws。
I don t think he s out running around；