Several hours later the now bright moon was starting to give way to the first blues of dawn. They had made good headway and had already crossed the unmarked border back into Pakistan. Reports from the AI told Shahim that throughout the mountain range insurgent forces were awakening to radio reports from the destroyed encampment and stragglers from the mad firefight were stumbling out across the bleak mountain range. Shahim assumed that many of the surviving fighters there now knew that most of their casualties had been caused by ‘friendly’ fire, but he was happy to hear that this was not what was being disseminated.

There was news of an attack, and there was news of the deaths of the two generals who had been encamped with the decimated force, but few would be willing to admit that there had been no sign of an actual attacking force. Few would be willing to admit they had been part of some misconceived gunfight that had killed two prominent generals. Instead, stories of the nonexistent Pakistani force became distorted and overwhelming, as Shahim had hoped they would.

The reports the AI was relaying to Shahim even included details of the flight of two men in a jeep, the AI unaware that Shahim was one of them. From these images, Shahim confirmed that he was, as he had thought, approaching the camp that he called home, the camp the AI believed he was still in. Without warning, Shahim pulled the car to a halt.

The other man was delirious after the brutal punishment of the drive, but he came to as the car stopped and turned to Shahim. Shahim spoke as he climbed from the car, “You must go on from here on your own, my friend. My home is near here, but you must take news of this attack back to the main camps deeper in the Kush. For my part, I am going to rejoin the Great Shahim Al Khazar who camps near here. He will know what to do about this attack. When you get back, listen for word of his response and make sure your own brethren join the cause.”

The other man stared at Shahim and nodded. This man by his side knew the Great Shahim Al Khazar! No wonder he had known what to do when the attack came.

Bolstered by the mention of the now legendary Shahim, the weary soldier smiled and climbed over into the driver’s seat, saying, “Praise God, my brother. I will listen for news from Shahim Al Khazar. Thank you for saving me, you are indeed a messenger from almighty God. I will make sure everyone knows who perpetrated this great injustice this night.” said the grateful soldier, still clutching the Pakistani army jacket Shahim had given him early in the night.