Amir has a flashback, he is playing with Hassan and they've caught a turtle. Hassan has an idea to paint its shell red so that they won't lose it in the high grass. They play with a wooden wagon Ali build for Hassan, fireworks in the background. They pretend to be the world's greatest explorers.
Despite his house still standing, it's beginning to wither. A jeep is parked where Baba's black mustang once stood parked. As he looks at his house and front yard he has several flashbacks to when Hassan and Ali still lived with them all those years back.
Farid is impatient, but Amir asks for ten more minutes and walk up the hill north of Baba's house. The old pomegranate tree is still there, but dead. Amir remembers how he and Hassan used to climb it with ease as children. He looks for their carving "Amir and Hassan. Sultans of Kabul." Amir sits down and remembers how his home looked like many years ago. Farid honks again, and Amir walks back to him.
They check into a old run-down hotel. They hear that Kabul has been without electricity for two days. Amir sleeps in the bed while Farid sleeps on the floor. Farid talks about his childhood and youth, he asks Amir about America, and Amir draws a picture of America that's in stark contrast with the reality Farid is familiar with.
Farid asks Amir if he's really returned for the boy. Amir confirms and Farid wants to know why he is willing to risk so much for a Shia. Amir doesn't reply, just tells him to get some sleep. Amir wonders if Afghanistan really is a hopeless place after all.
The next day they visit Ghazi stadium that once used to be used for soccer playing. They're there to witness the stoning of a man and a woman, and to get in touch with a specific person. Amir is horrified by the stoning, but they manage to agree to an appointment at three o'clock that day.
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