“No burden at all. More importantly, do you need anything?” General Taheri said. “Anything at all? Ask me like you’d ask a brother.” “一点都不麻烦。更重要的是，你需要什么吗?”塔赫里将军说，“什么都行，请把我当成你的兄弟。”

I remembered something Baba had said about Pashtuns once. We may be hardheaded and I know we’re far too proud, but, in the hour of need, believe me that there’s no one you’d rather have at your side than a Pashtun. 我记得有一次爸爸跟我说起普什图人的事情。我们也许头脑顽固，我知道我们太过骄傲，可是，在危难的时刻，相信我，你会宁愿在身边的是普什图人。

Baba shook his head on the pillow. “Your coming here has brightened my eyes.” The general smiled and squeezed Baba’s hand. “How are you, Amir jan? Do you need anything?” 爸爸在枕上摇摇头:“你能到这里来已经叫我很高兴了。”将军脸现微笑，捏捏爸爸的手。“你怎么样?亲爱的阿米尔?你需要什么东西吗?”

The way he was looking at me, the kindness in his eyes... “Nay¹ thank you, General Sahib. I’m...“ A lump shot up in my throat and my eyes teared over. I bolted out of the room. 他竟然那样看着我，眼中充满慈爱……“不，谢谢，将军大人。我……”我喉咙一哽，泪水止不住掉下来，冲出病房。

I wept in the hallway, by the viewing box where, the night before, I’d seen the killer’s face. 我站在走廊的灯箱边上哭泣，就在那儿，前一天晚上，我看到了凶手的真面目。

Baba’s door opened and Soraya walked out of his room. She stood near me. She was wearing a gray sweatshirt and jeans. Her hair was down. I wanted to find comfort in her arms. 爸爸的门开了，索拉雅从他的病房走出来。她站在我身边，穿着灰色的长衫和牛仔裤。她的头发倾泻而下。我想在她怀里寻求安慰。

“I’m so sorry, Amir,” she said. “We all knew something was wrong, but we had no idea it was this.” “我很抱歉，阿米尔。”她说，“我们大家都知道事情很糟糕，但却拿不出什么主意。”

I blotted² my eyes with my sleeve. “He didn’t want anyone to know.” 我用衣袖擦擦眼睛，“他不想让任何人知道。”

“Do you need anything?” “你需要什么吗?”

“No.” I tried to smile. She put her hand on mine. Our first touch. I took it. Brought it to my face. My eyes. I let it go. “You’d better go back inside. Or your father will come after me.” “不。”我挤出微笑。她把手放在我的手上。这是我们第一次碰触。我捧起她的手，拉到我的脸上，眼睛上，然后任她抽走。“你最好还是回到里面去，不然你爸爸会出来找的。”

She smiled and nodded. “I should.” She turned to go. “Soraya?” 她笑着点点头，“那我回去。”她转身离开。“索拉雅?”

“Yes?” “怎么啦?”

“I’m happy you came, It means... the world to me.” “我很高兴你来了。这对我……意味着一切。”

THEY DISCHARGED BABA two days later. They brought in a specialist called a radiation oncologist to talk Baba into getting radiation treatment. Baba refused. They tried to talk me into talking him into it. But I’d seen the look on Baba’s face. I thanked them, signed their forms, and took Baba home in my Ford³ Torino. 隔了两天，他们让爸爸出院。他们请来一位放射线肿瘤学专家，游说爸爸接受放射线治疗。爸爸拒绝了。他们试图让我也加入到游说的行列中去。但我见到爸爸脸上的表情，对他们表达谢意，在他们的表格上签名，用那辆福特都灵将爸爸带回家。

That night, Baba was lying on the couch, a wool blanket covering him. I brought him hot tea and roasted almonds. Wrapped my arms around his back and pulled him up much too easily. His shoulder blade felt like a bird’s wing under my fingers. I pulled the blanket back up to his chest where ribs⁴ stretched his thin, sallow skin. 那晚爸爸躺在沙发上，身上盖着一条羊毛毯。我给他端来热红茶和烤杏仁，把手伸在他背后，轻而易举地将他扶上来。他的肩侧在我手中感觉就像鸟儿的翅膀。我把毛毯拉到他的胸膛上，那儿瘦骨嶙峋，肤色很差。

“Can I do anything else for you, Baba?” “需要我为你做些什么吗，爸爸?”

“Nay, bachem. Thank you.” “不用，我的孩子，谢谢你。”

I sat beside him. “Then I wonder if you’ll do something for me. If you’re not too exhausted⁵.” 我坐在他身旁:“我想你能不能替我办点事情，如果你身体还撑得过去的话。”

“What?” “什么事?”

“I want you to go khastegari. I want you to ask General Taheri for his daughter’s hand.” “我想你帮我提亲，我想你到塔赫里将军家里去，向他提亲。”

Baba’s dry lips stretched into a smile. A spot of green on a wilted⁶ leaf. “Are you sure?” 爸爸的干嘴唇绽放出微笑，宛如枯萎的树叶上的一点绿色。“你想好了吗?”

“More sure than I’ve ever been about anything.” “我从来没有这么清楚过。”

“You’ve thought it over?” “你仔细考虑了吗?”

“Balay, Baba.” “当然，爸爸。”

“Then give me the phone. And my little notebook.” “那把电话给我，还有我那本小笔记本。”

I blinked. “Now?” 我眨眨眼:“现在?”

“Then when?” “不然还等什么时候?”