The Code

"It seems like maybe we should be more worried about how to stay alive," Ammar suggested.

"No, this seems important," I said. "Call it a hunch."

"But what if they--"

"Fine, call it: Trying to keep my mind off getting captured and tortured. Now shut the hell up."

I looked at the piece of paper again: XOO OOXO / XXX XO OXOXOX / XOXO XXX XX O / XXO O X / OOOO O OXO OXOXOX

"Wait," I said, after a moment. "I think I know what this is."

• DFONCO...