Page 264 of 5+Us Makes Seven

“You’ll be fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“I haven’t lost a reporter in my charge yet.”

“No? How many reporters have you helped before?”

“Well, since you ask, you’re my first.”

I grinned. She rolled her eyes then quickened her pace.

After stopping, I stared at her a moment, loving the way her body moved. The women of the village would treat her nice and keep her safe. My conversation with Aamir couldn’t wait.

* * *

“You can’t let anyone know what we’re doing,” I said to Aamir as we sat on cushions on the floor in his living room. “Do you understand? It’s important.”

He waved my concerns away with his hand.

“Are you ready to see the samples?”

“Yes,” I said nervously.

Max had gotten me involved with some crazy shit.

Aamir pulled out a wooden box and opened the lid. Inside, I saw what appeared to be a metallic rock of some sort.

“This is one of the smaller pieces we have mined.”

“How much can you get?” I asked, reaching for it.

He pulled the box away.

“We can get as much as you want for the right price. I do not want to sell poppies like the others. You must give us a fair price. Two men have died so far getting this material.”

I nodded my head.

“I’ll need to bring the sample to Max.”

He stared at me with his ancient eyes, wrinkles running like rivers from them.

“I will trust you, but do not cross me.”

“You have nothing to worry about,” I said. “We need to keep this quiet, though. As I told you before, we’re not supposed to be transporting this stuff.”

“I will sell to the Chinese if you do not want. Rare Earth minerals are booming business.”

Logan stepped into the room.

“You ready to leave?” he asked, holding his rifle at the ready.

I glanced up at him.

“Give me a minute, okay?”

“I’ll be outside,” he said.

I turned back to Aamir.