lochart pulled the window closed. the door opened. lochart got up. "salaam, kalandar." "salaam. strangers have been seen in the forests nearby. the terrorists must be back so i have come to protect you." nitchak khan's eyes were hard. "as god wants, but i would regret it if there were more deaths before you leave. we will be here until sunset." he left. "what'd he say?" rodrigues asked, not understanding farsi. lochart told him and saw him tremble. "no problem, rod," he said, covering his own fear. there was no way they could take off or land without being over forest, low, slow, and in sitting-duck range. terrorists? bullshit! nitchak knows about scot, knows about me, and i'll bet my life he's got marksmen planted all around, and if he's here till sunset there's no way to sneak off, he'll know which chopper we're on. insha'allah. insha'allah, but meanwhile what the hell're you going to do? "nitchak khan knows the countryside," he said easily, not wanting to panic rod, enough fear on the base already without adding to it.
