From the chapter: Zaid and the "double-stepover"

Zaid is sitting opposite me, silently. He is a good-looking boy. He probably knows that, because when he talks to his female cousins, he deploys his charm strategically. But I sense that he is trying to cover something up. Whenever he thinks nobody is watching, his eyes look sad and thoughtful. His sunny-boy laugh is that of a young man desperately trying not to lose his mind in this mad war.

I very much want to hear his story. But Zaid does not want to talk. He does not want to endanger his family, he does not want to be sent to Guantánamo on Cuba or to one of the Guantánamos in Iraq. Nor does he want to tell me about what he and his family have gone through. I try for half an hour to persuade him, but I see that he cannot and will not talk."

Abu Saeed, who is listening to our dialog silently, puts his arm around Zaid's shoulder and says to me: "Give him time. He has to sleep on it. Perhaps tomorrow he will tell you his story. He has to talk to his father first; it is not only about Zaid. And in any case you are going to get to know many other resistance fighters, just like you wanted to.

"I understand, but I don't want a story that has been specially selected for me," I reply. "I want Zaid's story." Abu Saeed smiles. "Be patient. You shall hear his story, insha'Allah."

Zaid wants to go home, and we accompany him to the front gate. Abu Saeed then resumes his favorite activity, talking on the phone. He makes a number of calls on his big old mobile phone. He evidently talks to Zaid's father, because he mentions his name several times.