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“You’re right. I’ll head in that direction.”
Fifteen minutes later, a small copse of trees appeared in the truck’s headlights. He saw the pale shape of the Humvee parked in front of them. The back door was open, and he assumed Dev and Cody were busy burying Feroz.
“You see the oasis?” he asked Laila.
“Yeah. Hard to miss the Humvee,” she said.
“We’ll go past the Humvee,” he said. “No reason the people in the back of the truck need to watch us bury that dirtbag.”
“Thanks, Jase.” Her fingers brushed his arm, and even through the shirt, her touch sent shivers rippling over his skin.
He sucked in a breath, then blew it out slowly. “Hauling these people to Kabul is a pain in the ass,” he said quietly. “It would have been a hell of a lot easier and simpler to go straight to the embassy. But I’m glad you pushed us to make the detour. Seeing you with those girls and their parents made them real to me. Fellow human beings who desperately needed help. I realize now how devastated you’d be if we’d left them behind.”
He shook his head. “We can’t save everyone in this God-forsaken country. But we need to save the ones we can. There are thirteen people in the back of this truck that might not have survived if we’d left them behind. And that’s on you, Laila. You saved them.”
“I couldn’t have done it without you,” she said quietly. “Without you persuading Cody and Dev. Pushing them to agree.” She touched his leg. “I’d say we make a good team.”
“Hell, yeah,” he said roughly. “We make a great team.”
He felt Laila’s gaze on him but didn’t look at her. In the darkness, he needed to focus on the bumpy road. Finally she said, “I know you, Dev and Cody weren’t happy about our detour. But I’m so grateful you agreed to it. If I’d left those girls behind to be victimized by the Taliban, I would have regretted it for the rest of my life.”
He fumbled for her hand. Squeezed it, then let her go. “I know that, bae.” He blew out a breath. “It was dangerous as shit, and it’s a miracle that we got out of that village with no trouble. But we did it, so no regrets. No second thoughts.” He slowed the truck as they approached the oasis. “Quick stop here, then on to Kabul.”
As he slowed the truck and finally stopped several yards beyond the Humvee, he saw shadowy figures in the small clump of trees. Dev and Cody burying Feroz. As he turned off the truck’s ignition, he swiveled to face Laila. “Let’s give the guys a minute to finish up. Then we can let everyone out of the back to stretch their legs and take care of business. While they’re doing that, I’ll change my clothes.”
“Sounds good,” Laila said, easing open her door. She jumped lightly onto the packed sand and disappeared around the back of the truck.
Jase grabbed his carbine, slung it over his shoulder and eased out of the truck. He found Laila standing at the back of the truck, and he rolled up the door. Thirteen sets of eyes watched him warily.
“Tell them the plan,” he told Laila.
He knew enough Pashto to understand oasis, clothes, and bathroom break. Everyone in the truck stood up and stretched. The parents helped their kids out of the back and Jase subtly steered them in the opposite direction from Dev and Cody.
Bahram was the last one out of the truck, and he held an armful of clothes. He stopped in front of Jase and swallowed hard. Extended the clothes to him. “These were my father’s clothes,” he said, and he caressed the fabric with his fingers. “I’m honored to let you wear them. I think they will bring us luck.”
Bahram took a shuddery breath. “If you want to put on the pants and the tunic, I’ll tie the turban for you. It takes a little experience to tie it correctly.”
Even in the darkness, Jase saw tears well in Bahram’s eyes. “My father taught me to tie my turban.” He touched his own turban. “I think of him whenever I tie it.”
Instead of asking Bahram why he’d chosen the Taliban, Jase set his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Thank you, Bahram,” he said. “I would appreciate that very much.” He swallowed. “I think your father would be very proud of the way you protected your sister and your mother.”
“I don’t know what I was thinking, joining the Taliban,” the boy confessed. He shook his head. “Several other boys from the village joined them. It sounded exciting. Important.”
“Maybe you made a mistake, but you made the right decision when it mattered,” Jase said. He squeezed Bahram’s shoulder. “Think hard during the rest of the trip. You’ll need to give my boss solid information if you want to leave with your family. The man who came to the village? Describe him for her. Things you heard Feroz and others saying about their plans? Give them to her in detail. Anything you can think of.”
Bahram nodded. “I will do that. I have a good memory.”
“Good,” Jase said. He took the clothes from Bahram, holding them gently. “I’ll get changed, then you can tie my turban.”
The pants were too short, and the tunic was too small. But if they were stopped, he’d be sitting in the truck. If he had to get out of the truck, they were already in trouble.
Once he was dressed, he squatted in front of the boy to let him tie the turban. After a few moments, Bahram stepped away and Jase stood up.
The boy studied him, then nodded. “Now you look like an Afghani.”
Jase quickly folded his camo and handed them to Bahram. “Can you hold onto these for me? I don’t want them in the cab if we’re stopped.”
“Yes,” he said, straightening his shoulders. “I’ll take them.”
