Khaled Hosseini - The Kite Runner (Chapter 7) [Fragments] lyrics

Blocking Ha**an's way out of the alley were three boys, the same three from that day on the hill, the day after Daoud Khan's coup, when Ha**an had saved us with his slingshot. Wali was standing on one side, Kamal on the other, and in the middle, Assef. I felt my body clench up, and something cold rippled up my spine. Assef seemed relaxed, confident. He was twirling his bra** knuckles. The other two guys shifted nervously on their feet, looking from Assef to Ha**an, like they'd cornered some kind of wild animal that only Assef could tame. “Where is your slingshot, Hazara?” Assef said, turning the bra** knuckles in his hand. “What was it you said? ‘They'll have to call you One-Eyed Assef.' That's right. One-Eyed Assef. That was clever. Really clever. Then again, it's easy to be clever when you're holding a loaded weapon.” I realized I still hadn't breathed out. I exhaled, slowly, quietly. I felt paralyzed. I watched them close in on the boy I'd grown up with, the boy whose harelipped face had been my first memory. “But today is your lucky day, Hazara,” Assef said. He had his back to me, but I would have bet he was grinning. “I'm in a mood to forgive. What do you say to that, boys?” “That's generous,” Kamal blurted, “Especially after the rude manners he showed us last time.” He was trying to sound like Assef, except there was a tremor in his voice. Then I understood: He wasn't afraid of Ha**an, not really. He was afraid because he had no idea what Assef had in mind. Assef waved a dismissive hand. “Bakhshida. Forgiven. It's done.” His voice dropped a little. “Of course, nothing is free in this world, and my pardon comes with a small price.” “That's fair,” Kamal said. “Nothing is free,” Wali added. “You're a lucky Hazara,” Assef said, taking a step toward Ha**an. “Because today, it's only going to cost you that blue kite. A fair deal, boys, isn't it?” “More than fair,” Kamal said. Even from where I was standing, I could see the fear creeping into Ha**an's eyes, but he shook his head. “Amir agha won the tournament and I ran this kite for him. I ran it fairly. This is his kite.” “A loyal Hazara. Loyal as a dog,” Assef said. Kamal's laugh was a shrill, nervous sound. “But before you sacrifice yourself for him, think about this: Would he do the same for you? Have you ever wondered why he never includes you in games when he has guests? Why he only plays with you when no one else is around? I'll tell you why, Hazara. Because to him, you're nothing but an ugly pet. Something he can play with when he's bored, something he can kick when he's angry. Don't ever fool yourself and think you're something more.” “Amir agha and I are friends,” Ha**an said. He looked flushed. “Friends?” Assef said, laughing. “You pathetic fool! Someday you'll wake up from your little fantasy and learn just how good of a friend he is. Now, bas! Enough of this. Give us that kite.” Ha**an stooped and picked up a rock. Assef flinched. He began to take a step back, stopped. “Last chance, Hazara.” Ha**an's answer was to co*k the arm that held the rock. “Whatever you wish.” Assef unbu*toned his winter coat, took it off, folded it slowly and deliberately. He placed it against the wall. I opened my mouth, almost said something. Almost. The rest of my life might have turned out differently if I had. But I didn't. I just watched. Paralyzed. Assef motioned with his hand, and the other two boys separated, forming a half circle, trapping Ha**an in the alley. “I've changed my mind,” Assef said. “I'm letting you keep the kite, Hazara. I'll let you keep it so it will always remind you of what I'm about to do.” Then he charged. Ha**an hurled the rock. It struck Assef in the forehead. Assef yelped as he flung himself at Ha**an, knocking him to the ground. Wall and Kamal followed. I bit on my fist. Shut my eyes.