What followed was no surprise. Protests and strikes intensified, rock-throwing confrontations with soldiers increased, and a few suicide bombings rocked Israel. Bilal and Ghassan busied themselves planning. Jumana and I knew little and were not to be involved unless necessary. With Samer gone off to graduate school in Moscow, we were the sole guardians of the underground and kept Wadee and Faisal in the dark on most things. Whatever Bilal and Ghassan were planning would involve nearly all the weapons. Jumana and I knew that much, because we helped smuggle pieces and ammunition out of the underground one by one. We took them wherever instructed; usually it was just to the trash dumpster down the road, where someone we didn’t know would pick it up. Once, we wrapped one of the crossbows like a giant present that we took to a baby shower. We didn’t even know the expectant mother, but her brother took the gift box and we pretended to be friends in front of their guests.

On a cool February evening when we all gathered at our house, Bilal and Ghassan gave us a bit more information.

“Listen,” Bilal started. “Many people are involved in what’s going down. Some will be caught, even killed. They know the risks, as do Ghassan and I.” Bilal looked at me, Ghassan at Jumana, the twins at each other—looks suffused with love and the terrifying realities of our fates.

“We’re covering our tracks, but it’s likely they will arrest us. That includes all of you by mere association.” They focused on the twins now. Wadee had joined this meeting reluctantly. He had made it clear he wanted nothing to do with any more plans, creating a rift with his twin that was painful to watch. He was desperately in love with his very pregnant wife, and though it was still clear to all of us that she did not reciprocate his affection in the same way, he had refocused his energy into winning her heart.

Wadee plunged his head into his hands. “Why am I here? What does this have to do with me?” he pleaded. Faisal turned to him in disgust, but Ghassan interrupted.

“Most likely they’re going to arrest us all,” Ghassan said.

Wadee flung his head back, exasperated. Faisal looked ready to punch his brother. I don’t think he was truly angry at Wadee for wanting out. Faisal was incomplete without his other half, who seemed oblivious to everyone but his wife.