Page 303 - The Kite Runner

292 Khaled Hosseini

He slung my arm around his shoulder and lifted me. Carried me
to the truck, running. I think I screamed. I watched the way his
sandals pounded the pavement, slapped his black, calloused heels.
It hurt to breathe. Then I was looking up at the roof of the Land
Cruiser, in the backseat, the upholstery beige and ripped, listen-
ing to the ding-ding-ding signaling an open door. Running foot-
steps around the truck. Farid and Sohrab exchanging quick words.
The truck’s doors slammed shut and the engine roared to life. The
car jerked forward and I felt a tiny hand on my forehead. I heard
voices on the street, some shouting, and saw trees blurring past in
the window. Sohrab was sobbing. Farid was still repeating, “Bis-
millah! Bismillah!”
It was about then that I passed out.