Amir agha, Rahim Khan sahib is quite ill. He coughs all day and I see blood on his sleeve when he wipes his mouth. He has lost much weight and I wish he would eat a little of the shorwa and rice that Farzana Jan cooks for him. But he only takes a bite or two and even that I think is out of courtesy to Farzana jan. I am so worried about this dear man I pray for him every day. He is leaving for Pakistan in a few days to consult some doctors there and, _Inshallah_, he will return with good news. But in my heart I fear for him. Farzana jan and I have told little Sohrab that Rahim Khan sahib is going to be well. What can we do? He is only ten and he adores Rahim Khan sahib. They have grown so close to each other. Rahim Khan sahib used to take him to the bazaar for balloons and biscuits but he is too weak for that now.
I have been dreaming a lot lately, Amir agha. Some of them are nightmares, like hanged corpses rotting in soccer fields with bloodred grass. I wake up from those short of breath and sweaty. Mostly, though, I dream of good things, and praise Allah for that. I dream that Rahim Khan sahib will be well. I dream that my son will grow up to be a good person, a free person, and an important person. I dream that lawla flowers will bloom in the streets of Kabul again and rubab music will play in the samovar houses and kites will fly in the skies. And I dream that someday you will return to Kabul to revisit the land of our childhood. If you do, you will find an old faithful friend waiting for you.
May Allah be with you always. -Hassan
I read the letter twice. I folded the note and looked at the photograph for another minute. I pocketed both. “How is he?” I asked.
阿米尔少爷，拉辛汗老爷病得很重。他整天咳嗽，他擦嘴的时候，我见到他袖子上有血迹。他消瘦得厉害，亲爱的法莎娜给他做米饭和蔬菜汤，我希望他能多吃一些，但他总是只吃一两口，即使这样，我相信也是出于他对亲爱的法莎娜的尊重。我很为这个令人敬爱的男人担忧，每天为他祷告。再过几天，他就要去巴基斯坦看医生了，奉安拉之名，他会带着好消息归来。亲爱的法莎娜和我告诉索拉博，说拉辛汗老爷会好起来。我们能做什么呢？他只有十岁，对拉辛汗老爷十分敬爱。他们两个很要好。拉辛汗老爷过去经常带他去市场，给他买气球和饼干，但他现在太虚弱了，再也做不来。
后来我常常做梦，阿米尔少爷。有些是噩梦，比如说梦到足球场上挂着腐烂的尸体，草地血迹斑斑。我会很快惊醒，喘着气，浑身大汗。但是，我梦到的事情多数是美好的，为此得感谢安拉。我梦到拉辛汗老爷身体好起来了。我梦到我的儿子长大成人，成为一个好人，一个自由的人，还是一个重要人物呢。我梦到花儿再次在喀布尔街头盛开，音乐再次在茶屋响起，风筝再次在天空飞翔。我梦到有朝一日。你会回到喀布尔，重访这片我们儿时的土地。如果你回来，你会发现有个忠诚的老朋友在等着你。
愿安拉永远与你同在。哈桑
我将这封信看了两次，把信纸折好，拿起照片，又看了一分钟。我把它们放进口袋，“他现在怎样？”我问。