The view from the observation tower was one Mike never got tired of. The tower above the main house provided an excellent three-hundred-and-sixty-degree view. Amadulah’s family had controlled the wide brown river for centuries, flowing north to south. Sandbars interrupted the flow of water at irregular intervals up and downstream. Large patches of green crops grew on both sides of the river. The plants enjoyed the primitive irrigation techniques employed by generations of Afghani farmers and are still used today. On the far side of the fields, the color of the harsh, dry land turned sandy brown, interspersed with dark patches of rock.

The sun, about to fall below the mountain tops to the west, cast its last rays of light before night, a red hue slowly falling below the peaks many miles away. It was a sight best viewed from the tower, and one Mike had appreciated many times before and, for the moment, a reminder that there was beauty and peacefulness on this earth. But fleeting seconds of reflection were all he allowed himself, thoughts of peace and happiness hadn’t intruded into his mindset for a long time. Those things were for people back in the world. His focus would always remain on the death of his brother and how he would enact revenge on any and all responsible for Paul’s death.

“I wish I were going with you,” Farid said, leaning over the parapet. His gaze rested on his family’s crops and the river that gave them life.

It was a tight fit with Farid and the four Americans.

“I begged my father to let me come, but I’m the heir to this land.” He turned around and leaned on the edge of the tower’s lookout. “He knows he has little time left. I think what keeps him alive is the fulfillment of his promise to God.”

“I’m still not happy with your dad.” Mike laid both hands on the edge, watching the river.

Farid dropped his head. "Yes, I understand."

“In this situation, I hope that he will fulfill his promise.” Mike’s hands balled into fists, then relaxed. “When we leave tomorrow, my only focus will be to make that happen.” He let his eyes follow the current edging around a sand bar. “In the next few days, I imagine either Hotak or I will be dead.” The sentiment was supposed to have been a silent declaration to himself, but it slipped out between his lips.

“Ease up there, big dog.” Al chuckled.

Facing the others, Mike let them know his thoughts. “I don’t have a death wish. I don’t.” He made eye contact with the other three Americans. “But, Paul, the ambush, then finding out about Ahmad and what happened to the rest of Farid’s family. I was dedicated to doing this before. Now. Nothing is going to stop me. If I have to sacrifice myself to avenge Paul, so be it. I don’t expect any of you to go as far as I do.”

“I’m with you, boss.” Tom’s tone and body emphasized his words.

Al pointed a thumb at Farid. “I don’t have the same feelings about his family. But I would never desert a brother, and Bruce and Maheem need payback. You know I’m in.”

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Julia looked at the four men. “Why’s everyone staring at me?” She shrugged. “I said I’m in.”

Al grinned. “You haven’t heard the best part yet, so…”

“Right,” Mike said. “If Captain Amadulah’s intel is right, Hotak should be back at the valley no later than the day after tomorrow. Farid’s men are going to drive us up tonight. They will supply us with everything we need for a couple of days.”

“Yes, I was there when we talked about this.”

Mike lifted his hand and rubbed his chin and mouth. “The rest of it, then.”

She caught on. "And when you say the best part, you mean the worst part."

Mike's lips turn up. "Exactly. We don’t have an E&E plan.”

“A what?”

He pulled his hand down and sighed. “We don’t have a way out. We don’t have an escape and evasion plan. Amadulah's people aren't staying, they can’t. Nobody is coming to help or rescue us. We’re on our own.”

“Oh, is that all? I thought there might be some worry that you'll be the last men I ever see.” She smirked at them.

Tom chuckled.

“This is serious.”

“So, how do we get out?”

“We’ll figure it out when we get there. Look. The three of us are all retired. We’re old, over the hill, divorced. Those of us who have kids are adults now with their own lives. We don’t have real jobs. We do this shit, and we’re good at it. We’re former action guys trying to hang on, I guess.

Al smiled. “FAG’s.”

Farid cocked his head. “FAGS? Former Action, oh, excellent.”

Mike lifted his shoulders. “The point is, you’re young. You have a life ahead of you. I’ve spoken to Amadulah about your staying; he’ll get you out of the country.”

“You have, huh?” Julia stood full up, arms across her chest. “That helicopter ride in, I’ve never been so excited. The ambush. I’d never been so scared. I knew going in this would be dangerous, and I wasn’t happy about it. I was good with that. The thought that it might worsen means I’m even less happy now, but I’m going.”

Mike drew in a breath to speak, but Julia cut him off.

“Don’t talk, listen.” She raised her voice to make sure she had their attention. “I have devoted much of my professional and personal life to this mission. And while there are some new wrinkles to the parameters we started with, it is still my mission. I’m more invested in this than anything I’ve ever done before. I will see this to the end, and I will not accept anything else from you or anyone else,” her eyes moved to Al and Tom, “don’t even think about trying to stop me. You better get it in your heads, we, all four of us, will finish this mission. And the three of you, the over-the-hill gang, will do what needs to be done, and after, you’ll get me home alive. I won’t accept anything less.” She put her hand out. “This is it, you’re in, or you’re out.”

“Man.” Tom’s lips turned up into a smile. “You remind me of my ex, most of my exes. Well, all my exes.”

“You shut it and put your hand in here.”

“Yes, Ma’am.” Tom placed his palm on the back of her hand, smiling.

Al reached in and put his hand on Tom’s.

Mike stared at the three of them, shook his head, and put his hand in.

Tom moved his hand up and down. “Ready, ready break.”

“Now, let’s get ready to go,” Julia said.

The over-the-hill gang all grinned and filed down the ladder.

Julia waited until the last man descended the ladder, turned, and leaned over the parapet beside Farid.

Finally, Farid turned one elbow resting on the mud ledge. “That was very impressive. I’ve never seen anyone talk like that to men like them, let alone a woman doing it.”

Julia leaned against the half wall and took a few measured breaths. “Impressive? Do you think so? I’ve never done anything like that before. Tell people off.” She pushed off and moved to the ladder, her teeth exposed through her smile. “I was almost as scared there as when we hit that ambush.”

Farid laughed. “I don’t believe that for a second.”