- The group sets out on their long trek into Afghanistan, camping out and riding horses.
- They decide to cross the mountains at night, though, which is quite a challenge given the sheer rock wall and single-file trail. They are buzzed by jet fighters, which scare the horses and cause lots of chaos. Lin almost falls off a cliff, but his sheer strength saves him.
- Khaled is worried about Habib, who is setting traps and carrying grenades, but doesn't tell Khader because he thinks he's got it under control.
- They are stopped by pirates and Khader pays them off, and then uses them as opportunities to get new supplies.
- On the third pirate attack, they are trapped in a gorge by men with guns. Khaderbhai makes Lin talk to their leader, acting as an American.
- The man wants to know when the Americans will give them Stinger missiles, so Lin lies and tells him soon.
- The pirate leader, Hajji Mohammed, likes that answer and invites everyone to his son's wedding. They agree, and a good time is had by all.
- Khader quizzes Lin on his own philosophy of the universe, to see if he's understood it yet. He's satisfied that his student has learned the song and dance, and so he lets Lin ask some questions of his own about philosophy.
- When Lin asks him how he knows so much about physics and philosophy, Khader explains that he's been meeting with a teacher weekly for seven years. He tells Lin that sometimes it's okay to do the wrong thing for the right reasons, as long as it's done consciously.
- The wedding ends and the men set off again, through another mountain pass.
- They are attacked again, this time by guns, and they fight back.
- Lin, Khaled, and Khader survive, but Lin's horse is badly wounded and has to be put out of her misery. Habib does the honors. One man, a local, is also killed.
- Ever the hero, Lin goes to check on the wounded. He has to set a broken arm, which causes lots of pain, and patch up some bullet wounds.
- After the first-aid stop, the party continues up into the mountains. Lin, not such a great rider, falls off of his saddle and is hanging underneath his horse, providing comic relief for his fellow men and the new group of fighters they're meeting.
- Their laughter is cut short, though, by Habib, who has put a badly wounded man out of his misery. He looks like he'll attack Lin next, so Lin draws his gun.
- Habib escapes into the night. Khader prays over the body and sets up guards for the night.