“Then you understand that what your brother has done, his betrayal, calls for it.”

“Death!”

“Death.”

“So be it.”

“But, my fellow Arabs, if tomorrow or the next day someone in the tribe should waken and feel that retribution should be meted to those who meted retribution, then—”

Big brother cut in: “No such thing will take place.”

“The human heart is willful and unpredictable.”

“Our tribe is at your command. What do you wish from us?”

“Your word, on your honor and the honor of your tribe and your ancestors, that the matter will end upon the justice handed to your brother and that there will not be an extension of this feud.”

“Allah! There is no feud. This will end with the end of a man who is no longer our brother. He is disowned for his infamy.”

The stillness was the quiet of the sater on nights when you imagined you could feel the hot breath of the enemy upon you. All these months I had thought Cleric J was doing me favors. And he was. But favors have a price. I had been brought here for a reason.

The men stood up. Kisses on the right side of the cheek and shoulders followed. They walked quietly to their trucks and drove away. The gas station was ours.

Cleric J turned to me. “Be that as it may, Saleh, I cannot allow any of my men to do the deed. This tribe is strong. Some young hothead might take upon himself the thought of revenge. Then there will be no ending to this blood on blood. You understand, yes?”

“What are you telling me, sayedina?”

“You have a chance to redeem yourself for not exacting justice on the North African. You do recall the North African, yes?”

“Allah is my witness, yes.”

“You are not from here. If you were to carry out the punishment, it would end with you. It would finish here tomorrow when the man gets out of prison.”

I put the camera down. “Tehran is not Sweden, sayedina.”

“Explain!”

“They can get to me easily over in Tehran.”

“What then? What do you suggest I do? Have one of my own men draw blood?”

As soon as he’d said it, his attention went to the window and outside. I followed that gaze until both of us were staring at Abu Faranci.

Cleric J said, “That man came here to die. He told me so.”

I nodded. “Is that why you brought him along today?”

“I was not sure you would take the call, Saleh.”

“Why were you not sure?”

“You are not the kind of man who takes the call. You only want to be near the men who do. There is a difference. Your commitment is to something other than commitment itself.”