Imri pulled a multi-tool out of a cargo pants pocket and passed it to Dima. “Hand that to me when I’m up.” Dima took it, then squatted. Imri climbed on his shoulders and began working the screws.

“Okay, strip down,” Nir said to Lahav.

“What? Why?”

Nir was probably enjoying this more than he should. “You’ll need to shed every millimeter you can. Besides, those are new camos. I don’t want you tearing them up. Yalla! Let’s go.”

“Just pretend it’s intake day at Maasiyahu Prison and they’re giving you another strip search,” Yaron said, obviously relishing their hazing the analyst.

A thump sounded through the box, and Nir turned to see Imri back on his feet. Looking up, he saw that the clear starry sky of a late fall night showed through the hole, and the cool air wafted the stale air from the container.

Lahav had hold of the waistband of his boxers when Nir quickly said, “You can keep those on.”

“In fact, please keep those on,” said Dima. Then he squatted, offering his shoulders.

As Lahav rode the Kidon agent’s shoulders toward the hole, Nir said, “Stick only your head through first, then tell me what you see.”

Dima wedged his hands under Lahav’s backside and lifted the man until he could see through the open ceiling.

“I don’t know. It’s dark. Give my eyes a second to adjust. I see hills and dirt and rocks.”

“So we’re still in Iran,” Doron said, joking.

“What about people? Do you see the man and his son?” asked Nir.

“I don’t think so.”

“Okay, Dima, push him through.”

It turned out Lahav was slight enough to slip through easily.

“Probably could have kept his clothes on,” Imri said with a grin.

Yaron grinned as well. “Yeah, but what fun would that have been?”

Lahav stuck his head back through the hole. “They’re definitely gone. No sign of them anywhere.”

“Yalla! Just open up the back of the truck,” Nir said, a sinking feeling in his stomach.

“Oh, yeah. Just give me a minute first.”

“What do you need a minute for?” Nir yelled, knowing exactly what Lahav was going to do. But the man had already pulled his head back out. “Open the door!”

“This is not a good situation,” Yaron said. “I have a feeling we won’t be alone for very long.”

Nir had been thinking the exact thing. They hadn’t just been abandoned; they’d been left for someone else. There was no telling when that someone else would get there.

“Yalla! Let’s go,” he yelled, pounding the wall of the truck.

A minute later the metal from the latch clanked, the door slid up, and Lahav stood there with a relieved look on his face.

Chapter 28

CHAPTER 28

SOUTH OF DASH BOLAGH, KURDISTAN PROVINCE, IRAN—19:10 / 7:10 P.M. IRST