【导读】　《追风筝的人》是一本出色的小说。主和仆、贵族和贱民、朋友和兄弟，历史和现实，种种转变都被刻画得生动而细腻。放在历史的宏大背景下，更洞见人生和人性的复杂。

　　"Okay，" I said."Let's give him a sabagh，teach him a lesson，nay？" I glanced over at him.The glassy，vacant look in his eyes was gone.His gaze flitted between our kite and the green one.His face was a little flushed，his eyes suddenly alert.Awake.Alive.I wondered when I had forgotten that，despite everything，he was still just a child.

　　The green kite was making its move."Let's wait，" I said."We'll let him get a little closer." It dipped twice and crept toward us."Come on.Come to me，" I said.

　　The green kite drew closer yet，now rising a little above us，unaware of the trap I'd set for it."Watch，Sohrab.I'm going to show you one of your father's favorite tricks，the old lift­and­dive."

　　Next to me，Sohrab was breathing rapidly through his nose.The spool rolled in his palms，the tendons in his scarred wrists like rubab strings.Then I blinked and，for just a moment，the hands holding the spool were the chipped­nailed，calloused hands of a harelipped boy.I heard a crow cawing somewhere and I looked up.The park shimmered with snow so fresh，so dazzling white，it burned my eyes.It sprinkled soundlessly from the branches of white­clad trees.I smelled turnip qurina now.Dried mulberries.Sour oranges.Sawdust and walnuts.The muffled quiet，snow­quiet，was deafening.Then far away，across the stillness，a voice calling us home，the voice of a man who dragged his right leg.

　　The green kite hovered directly above us now."He's going for it.Anytime now，" I said，my eyes flicking from Sohrab to our kite.

　　The green kite hesitated.Held position.Then shot down."Here he comes！" I said.

I did it perfectly.After all these years.The old lift­and­dive trap.I loosened my grip and tugged on the string，dipping and dodging the green kite.A series of quick