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Jade dropped her arm, not getting upset.
“They are peaceful now,” he said. “Have you come for the samples?”
I glanced over at Jade then back to him.
“We’ll talk about that later,” I said. “We brought gifts. Maybe Jade can speak to your wife and daughters?”
“Fine,” he said then raised his hand into the air.
A half-dozen men all dressed in similar attire stepped out from behind two of the mud-brick houses and made their way over to us.
“Help with the gifts,” Aamir told them.
They walked to the back of the Humvee as Logan opened it then set cases of water onto the dry, dusty ground.
It’s gonna be a long day.
“I’ll take you to the other families who want to talk,” I said to Jade.
“I’d like to talk to Aamir too,” she said, looking at him. “Is that okay?”
“Maybe later.” I took her hand. “Let’s go.”
She pulled her hand from mine as we walked away.
“I’m trying to keep the friends I have here,” I said. “You have to understand the culture is different.”
“I don’t care about the way they treat women. There’s something he’s hiding. What did he mean by samples?”
“Don’t worry about it,” I said then pointed. “Look, there’s Malilah. She’s a terrific person to interview.”
“I’ll sort this out,” Jade said as we continued walking toward the Afghan woman.
“I don’t doubt it. You stay here with Malilah. I need to talk to Aamir alone.”
“Is it safe?”
“You’ll be fine.”
“Are you sure?”
“I haven’t lost a reporter in my charge yet.”
“No? How many reporters have you helped before?”
“Well, since you ask, you’re my first.”
I grinned. She rolled her eyes then quickened her pace.
After stopping, I stared at her a moment, loving the way her body moved. The women of the village would treat her nice and keep her safe. My conversation with Aamir couldn’t wait.
*
“You can’t let anyone know what we’re doing,” I said to Aamir as we sat on cushions on the floor in his living room. “Do you understand? It’s important.”
He waved my concerns away with his hand.
“Are you ready to see the samples?”
