It made Anuar stop in his tracks. ‘What is wrong?’ the man with the wounded face demanded. ‘Do not tell me you have suddenly gone weak, Amir.’ ‘Don’t be stupid,’ Amir spat. ‘They are no use to us dead. We need to take them with us.’ ‘But they will slow us down,’ Anuar said. ‘We cannot risk it.’ Amir narrowed his eyes, then stepped forward and grabbed Anuar by the throat. ‘You will take your orders from me. Is that understood?’ Anuar’s lip curled, but he nodded. ‘Yes,’ he hissed. ‘It is understood.’ ‘Good. I am leaving now. I can move more quickly by myself. You take the children. Meet me in the caves behind Sangin. We will be able to hide there while things quieten down. Then we will continue our journey.’ Anuar nodded, a surly look on his face. He turned and headed towards the place where the children were imprisoned while Amir, the suitcase bomb still strapped to his back, moved swiftly across the compound. He needed to get out of here, quickly, before the British soldiers arrived.
