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routine broken only by my taking a walk around the room； or going to the bathroom down the hall。 I had a dream later that night。 I dreamed Assef was standing in the doorway of my hospital room； brass ball still in his eye socket。 We re the same； you and I； he was saying。 You nursed with him； but you re my twin。
I TOLD ARMAND early that next day that I was leaving。
It s still early for discharge； Armand protested。 He wasn t dressed in surgical scrubs that day； instead in a button…down navy blue suit and yellow tie。 The gel was back in the hair。 You are still in intravenous antibiotics and……
I have to go； I said。 I appreciate everything you ve done for me； all of you。 Really。 But I have to leave。
Where will you go？ Armand said。
I d rather not say。
You can hardly walk。
I can walk to the end of the hall and back； I said。 I ll b fine。 The plan was this： Leave the hospital。 Get the money fror the safe…deposit box and pay my medical bills。 Drive to the orphanage and drop Sohrab off with John and Betty Caldwell Then get a ride to Islamabad and change travel plans。 Give mysel a few more days to get better。 Fly home。
That was the plan； anyway。 Until Farid and Sohrab arrived tha morning。 Your friends； this John and Betty Caldwell； they aren in Peshawar； Farid said。
It had taken me ten minutes Just to slip into my pirhan tumban。 My chest； where they d cut me to insert the chest tube hurt when I raised my arm； and my stomach throbbed every time I leaned over。 I was drawing ragged breaths just from the effort of packing a few of my belongings into a brown paper bag。 But I d managed to get ready and was sitting on the edge of the bed when Farid came in with the news。 Sohrab sat on the bed next to me。
Where did they go？ I asked。
Farid shook his head。 You don t understand……
Because Rahim Khan said……
I went to the U。S。 consulate； Farid said； picking up my bag。 There never was a John and Betty Caldwell in Peshawar。 According to the people at the consulate； they never existed。 Not here in Peshawar； anyhow。
Next to me； Sohrab was flipping through the pages of the old National Geographic。
WE GOT THE MONEY from the bank。 The manager； a paunchy man with sweat patches under his arms； kept flashing smiles and telling me that no one in the bank had touched the money。
Absolutely nobody； he said gravely； swinging his index finger the same way Armand had。
Driving through Peshawar with so much money in a paper bag was a slightly frightening experience。 Plus； I suspected every bearded man who stared at me to be a Talib killer； sent by Assef。 Two things pounded my fears： There are a lot of bearded men in Peshawar； and everybody stares。
What do we do with him？ Farid said； walking me slowly from the hospital accounting office back to the car。 Sohrab was in the backseat of the Land Cruiser； looking at traffic through the rolled…down window； chin resting on his palms。
He can t stay in Peshawar； I said； panting。
Nay； Amir agha； he can t； Farid said。 He d read the question in my words。 I m sorry。 I wish I……
That s all right； Farid； I sai