Page 44 of What is Found

“Oh, the Taliban know. They just don’t care. A pack of them will happen by the Panjir Pump every now and again to beat people up and show a presence, but they don’t want to tangle with the Zeroes,” Driver said. “They want to engage in an out-and-out fight withuseven less. Remember, they want us gone.”

“Wow.” All his focus had been with hispatients and the chaos on the south side. The north side of the airport was only a place where he slept.Or not, thinking of the nights of his and Roni’s lovemaking. All this was going on virtually outside his window. “How long has this back door been up and running?”

“About a week.” Driver capped his pen. “This is our way in with Shahida’s kids, but it’s got to be tonight.”

“And the Zeros will cooperate?” He remembered what Roni had said on their way into Kabul. “I’ve heard they can get pretty rough.”

Shahida had been silent through Driver’s explanation but now stirred. “Zeroes hold grudge. Like to settle score, get even. With womans…they like boss around. Not all time. Some have good heart. But they scared, too. Don’t want get left behind. This, I tell Mac manys times. This, I worry about.”

“And I keep telling you,” Driver said, with the air of a person’s who gone through this same conversation a dozen times over, “the Zeros will not be a problem. For starters,we’llbe there.”

“More Zeroes with guns thanyouwith guns,” Shahida said.

“But,second,that’s where Mac comes in. CIA’s got authority over that gate. They also have some of our Delta Force people if things get out of hand.”

“As in,” Flowers said, “if, you know, we’re coming in hot.”

“As in, followed by a hail of bullets,” Meeks added. “Or RPGs.”

“Wait, what? Why would anyone try to interfere?” John asked. “Why would anyone shoot at kids?”

There was a long moment where the others tossed looks, and then Flowers said, “Well, I guess…because these kids know how to shoot back?”

CHAPTER 5

He’d beenafraid of this.

To Shahida: “You trained them?”

“Yes, andso?” Shahida’s glare was both stony and defiant. “They have nowhere go. They have only each other. So, if boy can pick up rifle, can shoot…then, yes, I show him for how to defend himself, defend his friends. For how tofight. No golookingfor to fight, but for to save his life…why for not?”

He didn’t have a good answer for that one. In fact, he knew, from personal experience, how a child in that situation might feel and what he might do. “Where are the kids now?”

“Are you with us?” Driver asked.

“You going to kill me if I say no? I asked a very simple question.”

“They safe,” Shahida said.

“Yeah, I got that. I askedwhere.”

Shahida opened her mouth, but Roni—also quietduring Driver’s explanation—said, “Why does that matter?”

“What is this? I got to take a vow of silence? You think I’m going to run out and tell Command what’s going on?” Now he was hot. “You and your new buddies here are asking me to risk my ass shepherding a bunch of wanted kids—anddon’t.” He held up a hand when Roni opened her mouth. “Don’t try to dress this up as being any better than what it is. These boys have been abused; I get that. But they are not misplaced, they’re not lost, they may not even be orphans. Whatever their pasts, they have also been fighters, and now they are on the run and probably from someone who wouldn’t mind shootingmeto retrieve their property. If I were placing bets, my money would be on Shahida being the one with a target on her back. For all any of you know, she might be your weakest link here. Eyes in the sky work both ways, you know.”

“He ain’t wrong about that,” Flowers put in and then, at Roni’s glare, spread his hands. “Hey, call it the way I see it. Man has a right to know what he’s signing up for.”

“Thank you.” John turned back to Shahida. “So, where are they? How far away?”

She regarded him with a flinty expression. “You knowkarez?”

He shook his head. “What is that, a village?”

“No. For to bring water. Big tunnel.”

“What? They’rebelow-ground?”

“Yes, but no far down. Karez must be below…” Turning to Driver, she let out an exasperated snort. “You for to tell.”

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