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But all I could manage was to whisper No。 No。 No over and over again。
I KEPT THINKING OF THAT DAY in 1974； in the hospital room； Just after Hassan s harelip surgery。 Baba； Rahim Khan； Ali； and I had huddled around Hassan s bed； watched him examine his new lip in a handheld mirror。 Now everyone in that room was either dead or dying。 Except for me。
Then I saw something else： a man dressed in a herringbone vest pressing the muzzle of his Kalashnikov to the back of Hassan s head。 The blast echoes through the street of my father s house。 Hassan slumps to the asphalt； his life of unrequited loyalty drifting from him like the windblown kites he used to chase。
The Taliban moved into the house； Rahim Khan said。 The pretext was that they had evicted a trespasser。 Hassan s and Farzana s murders were dismissed as a case of self…defense。 No one said a word about it。 Most of it was fear of the Taliban； I think。 But no one was going to risk anything for a pair of Hazara servants。
What did they do with Sohrab？ I asked。 I felt tired； drained。 A coughing fit gripped Rahim Khan and went on for a long time。 When he finally looked up； his face was flushed and his eyes bloodshot。 I heard he s in an orphanage somewhere in Karteh Seh。 Amir jan…… then he was coughing again。 When he stopped； he looked older than a few moments before； like he was aging with each coughing fit。 Amir jan； I summoned you here because I wanted to see you before I die； but that s not all。
I said nothing。 I think I already knew what he was going to say。
I want you to go to KabuL I want you to bring Sohrab here； he said。
I struggled to find the right words。 I d barely had time to deal with the fact that Hassan was dead。
Please hear me。 I know an American pair here in Peshawar； a husband and wife named Thomas and Betty Caldwell。 They are Christians and they run a small charity organization that they manage with private donations。 Mostly they house and feed Afghan children who have lost their parents。 I have seen the place。 It s clean and safe； the children are well cared for； and Mr。 and Mrs。 Caldwell are kind people。 They have already told me that Sohrab would be wele to their home and……
Rahim Khan； you can t be serious。
Children are fragile； Amir Jan。 Kabul is already full of broken children and I don t want Sohrab to bee another。
Rahim Khan； I don t want to go to Kabul。 I can t！ I said。
Sohrab is a gifted little boy。 We can give him a new life here； new hope； with people who would love him。 Thomas agha is a
good man and Betty khanum is so kind； you should see how she treats those orphans。
Why me？ Why can t you pay someone here to go？ I ll pay for it if it s a matter of money。
It isn t about money； Amir！ Rahim Khan roared。 I m a dying man and I will not be insulted！ It has never been about money with me； you know that。 And why you？ I think we both know why it has to be you； don t we？
I didn t want to understand that ment； but I did。 I understood it all too well。 I have a wife in America； a home； a career； and a family。 Kabul is a dangerous place； you know that； and you d have me risk everything for。。。 I stopped。
You know； Rahim Khan said； one time； when you weren t around； your father and I were talking。 And you know how he always worried about you in those days。 I remember he said to me； Rahim； a boy who won t stand up for himself bees a man who can t stand up to anything。 I wonder； is that what you ve bee？
I dropped my eyes。
What I m asking from you is to grant an old man his dying wish； he said gravely。
He had gambled whh that ment。 Played his best card。 O