The Kite Runner, Chapter 10

It’s March 1981. Amir and Baba are in the back of a truck with several other Afghani people on their way to Pakistan. The uncomfortable ride makes Amir sick, and once again Amir feels like he embarrasses his father. Because of the situation in their homeland, they can no longer trust anyone. Therefore, they left in the middle of the night in order to leave without anyone knowing. Because of the rafiqs, the society is now divided and people turn each other in for money or under threat. Karim, the owner of the truck is a people smuggler and he has a business arrangement with the Russian soldiers guarding the road. When the truck finally arrives at the checkpoint, one of the Russian guards eyes a woman sitting in the back of the truck, and out of nowhere, he says that the price of passing is half an hour with her. As the woman bursts into tears, Baba says that he won’t allow it to happen. The Russian soldier threatens to shoot Baba and raises his handgun. Fortunately, another Russian stops him. After they eventually have passed the checkpoint, the husband of the woman kisses Baba’s hand.

When they arrive in Jalalabad where they are supposed to switch truck, Karim says that the truck they need broke last week. Baba erupts in anger and attacks Karim for not telling them this earlier.

For about a week, they stay in an apartment with several other refugees. Amir counts around thirty people. He recognizes one of them to be Kamal. Kamal looks sick and depressed and his father is there as well. Amir overhears a conversation between Kamal’s father and Baba, where Kamal’s father tells Baba about the incident that has made his son so weak. Kamal is in bad condition and he no longer speaks, he just stares.

Finally, Karim finds a new truck that can take them to Pakistan. It’s a fuel truck, and the air is so thick that it causes difficulties breathing. Once they arrive in Pakistan, Kamal’s father suddenly starts screaming. His son is not breathing anymore. He attacks Karim and wrestles his handgun away. Before anyone manages to act, Kamal’s father put the gun in his own mouth and shoots.