// 845.371.2222 rubble and threw him over his shoulder, while his friend took care of Naomi. Jamil did not think that anyone else had survived. They ran away the moment they saw additional helicopters coming from the Iranian side of the border. They assumed that the fallen helicopter must have been carrying important people from the Shah’s government, and that the rebels had shot it down as it crossed the border into Turkey. Jamil devotedly cared for Rachamim until his fractures had completely healed. Rachamim offered to pay him, but Jamil refused any monetary compensation. He shared his meager bread and water with his guests. Rachamim did not touch any other food. During that time, Jamil and Rachamim became close friends. With tears in his eyes, Jamil asked Rachamim and his wife to remain, but Rachamim was determined to move to the United States. “I must go,” Rachamim apologized. “I want to use the money that I smuggled out of Iran to search for my missing children.” As Rachamim was getting into the ancient car that Jamil had hired to drive him and Naomi to Ankara, the capital city, Rachamim suddenly asked, “Jamil, maybe you would like to travel with me to package inside. Yes, it was still there. Rachamim saw Jamil’s eyes grow wide in amazement. “I will give you this money as a present if you can bring me my children,” he insisted. He knew that Jamil could easily take the money without doing anything. He had to rely on the strong Arab tradition of hospitality. “I don’t want your money,” Jamil retorted. “But I’ll leave right now to search for your children.” Jamil walked over to a dark corner of the room and picked up an old Army pistol. He placed the pistol on his belt and then concealed it under his ancient jacket. It was then that Rachamim noticed that there was someone else standing in the corner. “Come on, let’s go see if there are any other survivors,” Jamil said to his friend. The two men left, and Rachamim fell into a light, troubled sleep. Jamil and his friend returned two hours later. They told Rachamim that they could not find a living soul. There were no bodies. In fact, the debris from the helicopter was nowhere to be found. “How did you discover us?” Rachamim asked, hoping that Jamil’s answer would help him find out what had happened to his children. Jamil told him that he had seen their helicopter explode over Turkey. He and his friend were standing nearby when it happened, and they raced to the scene. Jamil pulled Rachamim out of the 175
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