the kite runner-第63部分

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ned　eyes　showed　nothing　but　white。
People　were　rushing　to　us。　I　heard　someone　say　seizure。　Some　one　else　yelling；　　Call　911！　　I　heard　running　footsteps。　The　sky　darkened　as　a　crowd　gathered　around　us。
Baba　s　spittle　turned　red。　He　was　biting　his　tongue。　I　kneeled　beside　him　and　grabbed　his　arms　and　said　I　m　here　Baba；　I　m　here；　you　ll　be　all　right；　I　m　right　here。　As　if　I　could　soothe　the　convulsions　out　of　him。　Talk　them　into　leaving　my　Baba　alone。　I　felt　a　wetness　on　my　knees。　Saw　Baba　s　bladder　had　let　go。　Shhh；　Baba　jan；　I　m　here。　Your　son　is　right　here。
THE　DOCTOR；　white…bearded　and　perfectly　bald；　pulled　me　out　of　the　room。　　I　want　to　go　over　your　father　s　CAT　scans　with　you；　　he　said。　He　put　the　films　up　on　a　viewing　box　in　the　hallway　and　pointed　with　the　eraser　end　of　his　pencil　to　the　pictures　of　Baba　s　cancer；　like　a　cop　showing　mug　shots　of　the　killer　to　the　victim　s　family。　Baba　s　brain　on　those　pictures　looked　like　cross　sections　of　a　big　walnut；　riddled　with　tennis　ball…shaped　gray　things。
　As　you　can　see；　the　cancer　s　metastasized；　　he　said。　　He　ll　have　to　take　steroids　to　reduce　the　swelling　in　his　brain　and　antiseizure　medications。　And　I　d　remend　palliative　radiation。　Do　you　know　what　that　means？　
I　said　I　did。　I　d　bee　conversant　in　cancer　talk。
　All　right；　then；　　he　said。　He　checked　his　beeper。　　I　have　to　go；　but　you　can　have　me　paged　if　you　have　any　questions。　
　Thank　you。　
I　spent　the　night　sitting　on　a　chair　next　to　Baba　s　bed。
THE　NEXT　MORNING；　the　waiting　room　down　the　hall　was　jammed　with　Afghans。　The　butcher　from　Newark。　An　engineer　who　d　worked　with　Baba　on　his　orphanage。　They　filed　in　and　paid　Baba　their　respects　in　hushed　tones。　Wished　him　a　swift　recovery。　Baba　was　awake　then；　groggy　and　tired；　but　awake。
Midmorning；　General　Taheri　and　his　wife　came。　Soraya　followed。　We　glanced　at　each　other；　looked　away　at　the　same　time。　　How　are　you；　my　friend？　　General　Taheri　said；　taking　Baba　s　hand。
Baba　motioned　to　the　IV　hanging　from　his　arm。　Smiled　thinly。　The　general　smiled　back。
　You　shouldn　t　have　burdened　yourselves。　All　of　you；　　Baba　croaked。
　It　s　no　burden；　　Khanum　Taheri　said。
　No　burden　at　all。　More　importantly；　do　you　need　anything？　　General　Taheri　said。　　Anything　at　all？　Ask　me　like　you　d　ask　a　brother。　
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。
Baba　shook　his　head　on　the　pillow。　　Your　ing　here　has　brightened　my　eyes。　　The　general　smiled　and　squeezed　Baba　s　hand。　　How　are　you；　Amir　jan？　Do　you　need　anything？　
The　way　he　was　looking　at　me；　the　kindness　in　his　eyes。。。　　Nay　thank　you；　General　Sahib。　I　m。。。　　A　lump　shot　up　in　my　throat　and　my　eyes　teared　over。　I　bolted　out　of　the　room。
I　wept　in　the　hallway；　by　the　viewing　box　where；　the　night　before；　I　d　seen　the　killer　s　face。
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　fort　in　her　arms。
　I　m　so　sorry；　Amir；　　she　said。　　We　all　knew　something　was　wrong；　but　we　had　no　idea　it　was　this。　
I　blotted　my　eyes　with　my　sleeve。　　He　didn　t　want　anyone　to　know。　
　Do　you　need　anything？　
　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　e　after　me。　
She　smiled　and　nodded。　　I　should。　　She　turned　to　go。　　Soraya？　
　Yes？　
　I　m　happy　you　came；　It　means。。。　the　world　to　me。　
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　Ford　Torino。
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