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“She’ll be here soon. Amira is a smart young woman. She knows we have to leave quickly, before the village wakes up.”
Nahid nodded, then stepped into the other room. Laila paced the kitchen, watching down the alley for Amira. Finally she saw the girl hurrying toward the house.
When she stepped into the kitchen, Laila embraced her with relief. Then stepped aside, holding her shoulders. “Did you talk to all the girls?” What did their families say?”
“Cyra, Hester and Mitra are coming with their families. Farah’s parents refused. So did Sadira’s.” The girl sighed. “Both of their families are wealthy. They are not alarmed about the Taliban.”
Laila frowned. “Do you think they are aligned with the Taliban?”
Amira shrugged in a too-grown-up way. “I don’t know.” Her mouth tightened. “But Farah looked scared. So did Sadira. I whispered to them they could leave their parents’ houses and come with my family, but I don’t think they will.”
Laila squeezed the girl’s shoulder. “You did the best you could. Do the other families know they need to hurry?”
“Yes. They’ll be here soon.”
“I’m going to ask my friend Jase to help us move your things. Is that all right?”
Amira frowned. “My brother isn’t home. It’s not proper.”
“We have to put proper aside for now,” Laila said, sad for all the change and disruption Amira and her family were facing. “We need to move quickly.”
“What’s that?” the girl said suddenly.
As the tension in the room ratcheted tighter and tighter, Laila heard men’s voices behind the house. She glanced out the door and froze. Bahram and Feroz were walking up the alley. Clearly heading for Bahram’s house.
