Summary

Chapter 7

Private security firms are taking over a lot of work in Baghdad, especially protecting important Iraqis. Getting in and out of the city means going through a maze of concrete roadblocks and obstacles. Rios gets a letter from his mom who is upset because his younger brother wants to join a gang back home. Jamil, one of the Iraqis hired by the military to do small odds-and-ends jobs, says that he and his people want to live and worship in peace. Birdy receives a letter from his mother, along with her prayers and well-wishes. She asks him if he needs anything. She tells him he is the hero type, but Birdy disagrees.

Chapter 8

Although the official war has ended, there is still combat going on. When Birdy goes out on patrol, he sees many civilians who have been killed by the enemy...