The Pit

"It will be dark soon," Ammar said. "I will come back for you. I have a motorcycle. We can make it over the border into Iraq within a day or two. I know a road. Fighters used it to enter Iraq, but now they know that the U.S. military is watching it. They avoid it."

"So your plan is for us to get blown up by a Predator drone," I said.

"You will signal the Americans when we get close. Tell them that we escaped," he said.

"Oh, now I'm telling them that you're a good guy?" I said.

"That would be our deal. I made a mistake. Now I make amends. I put myself at your mercy."

"What about Jim?" I said.

"No room," Ammar said. "Sorry. Besides, you shouldn't trust him."

"Whatever. Screw him," Jim whispered. "We'll jump him and take the bike."

• I went with Jim's plan...