The journey back to the hospital was made in a heavy, contemplative silence. Ayham and Shihab moved with a new urgency, the image of the flower seller's terror and Shareef's smug cruelty burned into their minds.
They found Karam and Jalal in the recovery ward, the former practicing moving with his wrapped ribs, the latter looking stronger but still pale.
"If you feel better then we should go back." Shihab had said, his tone brooking no argument.
Once they were back within the relative safety of their own hideout, the four of them, along with Jawad, gathered in the dimly lit command room. The hand-drawn map of the city was now joined by a crude sketch of the market plaza, hastily drawn by Ayham.
Shihab recounted everything they had witnessed, the false negotiations, the calculated lead
