From Night On: Pathways

Chapters 7-8

Chapter 7:

The Student

(Hessa)

March 9th Continued

After making another run back to the stream, Yael had used the water to freeze the mine solid and then we tossed it as far away as possible. One good thing came out of the whole ordeal: we knew which way to go to avoid anymore landmines by the direction the soldiers ran, but it would mean that we would likely follow them into more trouble. We weren't even completely sure which direction we were walking aside from away from the battlefield. It was more important that we find the nearest village and blend in as quickly as possible.

After only a couple more hours of hiking, the sun started to come up, which was both a relief and a reminder that we were exhausted. Those soldiers had to have been wandering for some time before they ran into us because we didn't find a road along their path until it was clearly day. Maybe they didn't go straight back to the road and got themselves a little lost, first. Maybe they were trying to avoid their own military, following what I had told them by taking the peaceful path.

Along this trek, Fatah began to ask more and more questions. He was more curious about our histories and encouraged Hessami to listen. Yael and I took turns until our stories crossed at Norm's compound. Fatah was very interested in learning more about Norm, but Yael said the same thing to him as she did to me, "You'll have to ask Chuluun." That turned into a long conversation about how Fatah could contact or meet Norm, what the compound was, if there was any work there for a man like Fatah, and what kind of life his children could have there.

"I fear," Fatah said, "that Hessami will continue to leap into problems, as good as her heart is, regardless of her own safety."

"Does she have a history of doing that?" Yael asked.

Fatah threw an arm around Hessami out of pride. "Oh, yes. She is a very courageous girl," he answered, but his pride turned back to concern, "but that has already proven to be the end of her." He sighed and looked at her with defeat in his eyes, "Perhaps it is I who should think differently."

"What do you mean?" she asked him.

"It means," he began, "that I have long thought of how to keep you safe by keeping you away from danger, but, perhaps, you should be trained in how to face the dangers you are obviously going to keep throwing yourself at." The look on her face was absolutely hilarious. Hessami looked at her father like he had just lost his mind: eyebrows knitted, eyes wide, and mouth hanging open. "I don't want you to ever join the military," he continued. "Those battles are not for the people, but for the people who have the problem in the first place." Fatah looked at Yael and me and saw the shock on our faces, "Don't look so surprised. I received my degree from Harvard."

I was definitely surprised. Not that he was well educated, but that he would have returned to this region after experiencing someplace a little less plagued by war. "What made you return to Afghanistan?" I asked.

He smiled, "We always try to return to what we know only to learn that we can never return." He looked back at the other children who had begun playing an Arabic word game. "I wouldn't change it, either. I met their mother when I returned home. She was a terror of a woman who had my heart from the moment I saw her." He rubbed Hessami's back as he continued, "She passed not too long ago, so, when I learned that the dead were returning, I stayed by her grave for four days, hoping to see her again."

"But she didn't come back?" I said sympathetically.

"No," he answered, "she lived a good life. Allah must want her by His side."