A Thousand Splendid Suns

lived in Shar-e-Nau and owned the cinema. Do you have any information
as to his whereabouts?"
The irritation was audible in the man's voice. "This is why you call the
mayor's office?"
Mariam said she didn't know who else to call. "Forgive me, brother. I
know you have important things to tend to, but it is life and death, a
question of life and death I am calling about."
"I don't know him. The cinema's been closed for many years."
"Maybe there's someone there who might know him, someone-"
"There is no one."
Mariam closed her eyes. "Please, brother. There are children involved.
Small children."
A long sigh.
"Maybe someone there-"
"There's a groundskeeper here. I think he's lived here all of his life."
"Yes, ask him, please."
"Call back tomorrow."
Mariam said she couldn't. "I have this phone for five minutes only. I
don't-"
There was a click at the other end, and Mariam thought he had hung
up. But she could hear footsteps, and voices, a distant car horn, and
some mechanical humming punctuated by clicks, maybe an electric fan.
She switched the phone to her other ear, closed her eyes.