The Zahir

"Why?"

"Because you're pregnant! You don't want the baby being exposed to all the negative energy of a war, surely."

"The baby? You don't think a baby's going to stop me working, do you? Besides, why should you worry? You didn't do anything to contribute."

"Didn't contribute? It's thanks to me that you came here in the first place. Or doesn't that count?"

She took a piece of bloodstained cloth from the pocket of her white dress and gave it to me, her eyes full of tears.

"This is for you. I've missed our arguments."

And then, after a pause, she added:

"Ask Mikhail to get another horse."

I placed my hands on her shoulders and blessed her just as I had been blessed.