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Laila waited. Nahid and Amira and Darius didn’t really have many choices. They’d already agreed to leave Al Kamen, but she needed to speed up the timetable. “We need to leave quickly,” she finally said. “Do you have everything? We don’t want to give anyone in the village time to wonder about what’s happening and come outside to look.”
Amira’s lip trembled. “I’m afraid for Farah and Sadira,” she said in a low voice.
A lump filled Laila’s stomach. “I’m sorry they’re not coming,” she said softly. “I’m afraid of the price they will pay.”
“Sadira’s father is rich. He will be able to protect her,” Amira said. She bit her lip. “Farah? I’m not so sure.”
“We can’t drag her out of her house,” Laila said, wrapping her arm around Amira’s shoulders and squeezing. “You did the best you could.”
A timid knock at the front door interrupted them, and Amira hurried to open it. Gasped. “Farah! What are you doing here?”
“I want to leave with you,” she said. She carried a large backpack and a piece of soft luggage. “I know what will happen if I stay here. My parents refused to even consider it, so I packed and waited for them to go back to sleep. Then I ran to your house.”
Amira looked at Laila. “Can Farah come with us, even if her parents don’t?”
Laila had no idea what the regulations were, but she wouldn’t leave this child behind. “Yes, she can come with us,” Laila said.
Nahid emerged from the back room. “I heard what Farah said. She will join our family and I will say she’s my daughter. Your sister, Amira.” She gave Laila a fierce look. “No one will refuse to let this child leave with me.”
“No, they won’t,” Laila said, although she was far from sure.
Nahid turned to Laila. “Everyone knows Farah’s parents will be happy to have her gone. They have three daughters younger than her.”
Laila stared at Nahid, horrified. How could anyone give up their daughter?
Shaking her head, Laila said, “We’ll need a truck, and it won’t be a comfortable journey. But we will survive together.”
The appearance of Farah seemed to have energized Nahid. “I have packed my things and Darius’s. Amira, make sure you have your things together.”
She watched as Amira grabbed Farah’s hand and drew her into the back of the house. Then she turned to Laila. “What about Bahram?”
Laila swallowed. “I didn’t think Bahram would want to join us. But now?” She shrugged. “We’ll see.” She suspected Jase wouldn’t allow him into the truck. Not a Taliban warrior. “Do you have family in another village he could stay with?”
Nahid nodded slowly. “I have an aunt, and uncle and some cousins in a village about four hours away. He could go there.”
“That will be up to Bahram. But I think you should suggest it. He needs to leave Al Kamen.” If the boy was smart, he’d jump at the chance to get away from the Taliban.
* * *
Ten minutes later, Jase returned with a shaken Bahram. The kid hadn’t said more than a few words since they’d dumped Feroz into the back of the Humvee and covered his body with a tarp.
Jase returned the wheelbarrow where he’d found it. Then he grabbed Bahram’s arm before he could enter the house.
“What are you going to do now?”
The kid swallowed. “Tell the Taliban what happened,” he said.
“Hell, no,” Jase said immediately. “Don’t do that.” He drew the kid away from the house so his mother and sister couldn’t hear them. “Feroz threatened your family. You were protecting them. You did nothing wrong. But if you tell the Taliban you killed Feroz, you’ll die, too. And it won’t be an easy death.”
He stared at the kid, trying to force him to understand. “Go to a relative’s house. Somewhere far away from Al Kamen. And don’t come back for a long time. Your mother, sister and brother have to leave this village. Don’t make them grieve for their son and brother while they’re grieving the loss of their friends and their home.” He punched Bahram’s shoulder, and he wasn’t gentle. “Think of someone besides yourself for a change.”
“I won’t be safe in my country,” he said, staring at the ground. “The Taliban are taking over, and they will hunt for me. I want to go with my family. Leave Afghanistan. Please,” he pleaded. “The Taliban will kill me if I stay. Maybe not tomorrow, but eventually they’ll find me.” He grabbed Jase’s arm. “I have information,” he said, stumbling over his words. “About the man who came to our village. I could describe him for you. Maybe you can find out who he was.”
Jase studied the kid for a long moment. Chances were he had nothing to barter with. But that was above his pay grade. Mel could sort it out in Kabul.
“All right,” he said. “You can come with us. We’re going to need a truck. One that’s enclosed. Is there such a truck in this village?”
Bahram nodded vigorously. “Saeed has a large, white truck. Enclosed. He uses it for deliveries.”
