Crossing Divides by Andrew Grey

Author:Andrew Grey [Grey, Andrew]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Chapter 7

HE WOKE what felt like almost immediately when he heard excited voices outside. He sat up and looked around. There was light coming in from around the door. Nemat stirred next to him, and within seconds he was out of bed and had the door open. Before Carter could ask him what was going on, he was gone and the door had closed behind him.

Carter listened for a few minutes as the commotion got louder, a mixture of excitement, happiness, and crying reaching his ears. He got out of bed and checked that he looked presentable before pushing open the door and peering outside. Jalal turned to look at him, appearing confused for a second. Then he nodded, and Carter knew he’d recognized him.

He stepped out, and Jalal came over to him and embraced him tightly. “When did you arrive?”

“Yesterday,” Carter answered.

Jalal looked around and his momentary joy dissipated. Jalal and Nemat walked toward the burned-out shell of the house, and Carter stayed back, letting the two men share their grief. Carter wanted to ask about the rest of the men he’d met, but now wasn’t the time. Jalal needed time to grieve the loss of part of his family, and that was more important. He wasn’t sure what to do, so he stayed out of the way and waited for Nemat and Jalal to return.

When they did, they both appeared shaken up. “Nemat says you want to see where the government is using chemicals,” Jalal said in his heavily accented English, and Carter nodded. “South of here, in a few villages.”

“I have a map,” Carter told him, and Jalal paused at his Arabic.

“I will show you, and Nemat will take you there,” Jalal said with conviction in Arabic. “Nemat told me what you said to him. You are right. We cannot avenge our family unless we bring pain to the government. You are family. You will be the instrument of our revenge.” He reached out and clapped Carter on the shoulder. “Will you do this?”

Carter nodded. “I’ll do my best,” he said. Jalal looked into his eyes for a few seconds and then turned away. He stood still for a moment and then slowly wandered toward the house. Carter watched as he stepped inside the building.

“This is a terrible shock for him,” Nemat said softly. Carter watched as Jalal moved through what was left of the house. “He wants me to help you.”

“I don’t want to put you in danger,” Carter whispered.

“You’ll never find what you seek unless I go with you. There are too many patrols,” Nemat said. “So I will take you. Jalal knows the way, and he’ll tell us what we need to know.”

“Why won’t he take me?” Carter asked. He was worried about putting Nemat in danger, and if Jalal already knew the way and the lay of the land, maybe it would be better if he went.

“Jalal is the head of the family now. He needs to stay and take care of them. That’s his job now.

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