I hurried back to the street. I didn 8217;t ask Ali about Baba. I didn 8217;t want to see him yet. In my head, I had it all planned: I 8217;d make a grand entrance, a hero, prized trophy in my bloodied hands. Heads would turn and eyes would lock. Rostam and Sohrab sizing each other up. A dramatic moment of silence. Then the old warrior would walk to the young one, embrace him, acknowledge his worthiness. Vindication. Salvation. Redemption. And then? Well 8230; happily ever after, of course. What else?
我匆忙走回街上。我没向阿里问起爸爸，我还不想见到他。在我脑里，一切都计划好了：我要班师回朝，像一个英雄，用鲜血淋漓的手捧着战利品。我要万头攒动，万众瞩目，罗斯坦和索拉博彼此打量，此时无声胜有声。然后年老的战士会走向年轻的战士，抱着他，承认他出类拔萃。证明。获救。赎罪。然后呢?这么说吧……之后当然是永远幸福。还会有别的吗?
The streets of Wazir Akbar Khan were numbered and set at right angles to each other like a grid. It was a new neighborhood then, still developing, with empty lots of land and half-constructed Homes on every street between compounds surrounded by eight-foot walls. I ran up and down every street, looking for Hassan. Everywhere, people were busy folding chairs, packing food and utensils after a long day of partying. Some, still sitting on their rooftops, shouted their congratulations to me.
瓦兹尔·阿克巴·汗区的街道不多，彼此成直角纵横交错，像个棋盘。当时它是个新城区，仍在蓬勃发展中，已建成的住宅区有八英尺高的围墙，在它们之间，街道上有大量的空地和尚未完工的房子。我跑遍每条街巷，搜寻哈桑的踪迹。到处都是忙着收起折叠椅的人们，在整天的狂欢之后，收起食物和器皿。有些还坐在他们的屋顶上，高声向我道贺。
Four streets south of ours, I saw Omar, the son of an engineer who was a friend of Baba 8217;s. He was dribbling a soccer ball with his brother on the front lawn of their house. Omar was a pretty good guy. We 8217;d been classmates in fourth grade, and one time he 8217;d given me a fountain pen, the kind you had to load with a cartridge.
在我们家南边第四条街，我碰到奥马尔，他父亲是工程师，也是爸爸的朋友。他正在自家门前的草坪上，跟他弟弟玩足球。奥马尔是个不错的家伙。我们是四年级的同学，有次他送给我一枝水笔，配有抽取式墨水盒那种。
8220;I heard you won, Amir,?he said. 8220;Congratulations. 8221;
8220;听说你赢了，阿米尔， 8221;他说， 8221;恭喜恭喜。 8221;
8220;Thanks. Have you seen Hassan? 8221;
8220;谢谢，你见到哈桑了吗? 8221;
8220;Your Hazara? 8221;
8220;你的哈扎拉人? 8221;
I nodded.
我点点头。
Omar headed the ball to his brother. 8220;I hear he 8217;s a great kite runner. 8221; His brother headed the ball back to him. Omar caught it, tossed it up and down. 8220;Although I 8217;ve always wondered how he manages. I mean, with those tight little eyes, how does he see anything? 8221;
奥马尔用头将足球顶给他弟弟， 8221;我听说他追风筝可厉害了。 8221;他弟弟将足球顶回来，奥马尔伸手抓住，拍上拍下。 8221;不过我总是奇怪他是怎么追到的。我的意思是说，他的眼睛那么小，怎么能看到任何东西呢? 8221;
His brother laughed, a short burst, and asked for the ball. Omar ignored him.
他弟弟哈哈大笑，随后又要回足球，奥马尔没理他。
8220;Have you seen him? 8221;
8220;你见到他了吗? 8221;
Omar flicked a thumb over his shoulder, pointing southwest. 8220;I saw him running toward the bazaar awhile ago. 8221;
奥马尔伸出拇指，朝肩膀后指了指西南边的方向: 8221;刚才我看见他朝市场那边跑过去。 8221;
8220;Thanks. 8221; I scuttled away.
8220;谢谢。 8221;我赶忙跑开。