The Grey Area (Book 1)

Child of War: Karim's Viewpoint

"He gives wisdom to whom He wills, and whoever has been given wisdom has certainly been given much good. And none will remember except those of understanding." - Al Qur'an 2:269

        12 February 2009

        Village near 391st Combat Support Hospital, Kandahar Provence, Afghanistan

It was dark when my uncle awakened me, shaking my shoulder.

"Come, Karim. We must go to the American base, a soldier was brought in from the next village."

I got out of bed and yawned, stretching. I took the piece of bread Uncle offered me and slowly ate it while I slipped my shoes on. I walked out of our small house and into the street, still dark and cool in the early morning air. My uncle followed me, and we started to walk out of the village.

"Uncle?"

"Yes, Karim?" Uncle was pulling a matchbook out of his pocket.

"Why do the Americans take care of our soldiers when they don't have to?"

Uncle struck a match and lit a cigarette, inhaling deeply. "Because they want to."

We walked in silence for several minutes, and Uncle finished his cigarette. We came upon the first guard in the 391st CSH, as the American soldiers called their hospital, and the Private smiled.

"As-salamu 'alaykum, Sahar, Karim. Come to 'terp?"

"Waalaikum as-salaam, Private James. Yes, we have."

"Waalaikum as-salaam." I gave him a high five.

Private James pulled a pencil and a small notebook out of his pocket and handed it to me. "School starts soon. Might need this."

"Thank you."

Private James checked us both for weapons, the let us in. I put the notebook and pencil in my pocket. I liked to write stories, and now I had an extra place to write them.

"Hey, what's up?"

Captain Caddock, a big tall black man, walked up to us He was wearing ACU pants, combat boots, and a t-shirt, and was accompanied by a small soldier who only came up to about his elbow. The soldier looked at Uncle Sahir, and I noticed that the soldier was a woman. She was dressed in full ACUs, boots, and had on body armor, a Kevlar helmet, and had a large pistol on her left leg.

"Salaam. I was told I was needed?"

Caddock nodded. "Come with me." They walked off, and I heard Caddock introduce his companion, Major something. I walked towards the hill where the Blackhawks landed. Maybe one would land today.

"Attention on the compound: Mass-cal, Mass-Cal, Mass-Cal."

I looked to the sky as the intercom clicked off, and saw a black speck in the east. The sun had come up, and was glaring off the sand, making it hard to see. The big black helicopter grew in size, and I could now hear the feathery beat of the rotors with the low growling of the motor underneath it. Lots of people came running out of the main tent at the sound, and I saw the new soldier was one of them. I shielded my eyes and turned away as the big Blackhawk landed, kicking up sand. This was the closest I had ever been to a helicopter. The whine of the engine slowed, and Caddock and the new Major stepped up to the side as the doors opened. Two men came out, one wearing blue gloves that fit tight to his hands like the doctors wore, the other with an M16. They pulled a stretcher out after them. On it was a young man not much older than my brother Rafi, covered in blood.

I turned away and started to walk towards the top of the hill.

"Hey! Stop there!"

I turned around, and the soldier with the M16 was pointing at me. I started to walk back over. "What? You need a 'terp?"