Summary

In Part Two, Chapter 3, the German officer picked Hamza out “during the inspection” on his first morning with the schutztruppe (55). Hamza was one of 18 new recruits. Though he had hoped to fight, Hamza was chosen to be the Oberleutnant’s signalman (69). Over the following weeks and months, he became the Oberleutnant’s private assistant. The other soldiers and officers mocked Hamza, believing he was the Oberleutnant’s sexual slave.

In Chapter 4, after Khalifa rescued Afiya, he brought her to his home to live. It took time for the injuries from her uncle’s beating to heal. Meanwhile, they waited for word of Ilyas, which did not come.

Asha prayed for Afiya and “taught her to read the Koran” (74). Afiya became a voracious reader and storyteller. She continued visiting her friends Jamila and Saada. She fell into a pattern of life with...