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Back at the cave, the lesson plan for Naveed was much different from what his older brother was studying.
Naveed had been home from the training camp for less than twelve hours when his father roused him from bed and ordered, “Get dressed. Today you will become a man.”
Naveed sleepily put on the new jihadi fatigues his father had laid out for him. The teen then walked to the mouth of the cave to discover eight men waiting for him. His father and his men carried weapons ranging from automatic rifles to grenades and RPGs.
The men made their way down the hill and into the town below. A furniture truck waited for them at the base of the hill. Naveed read the words Chiniot Furniture painted on the side of the cargo box.
The back doors stood open; inside were four benches running the length of both walls of the cargo box. Naveed noticed that ventilation holes had been cut into the front of the box as well as a few on the side. Three lights dangled from a cord that ran the length of the cargo enclosure.
Farwan motioned for his son to get inside. He stepped onto the thick bumper of the truck, climbed inside, and took a seat on one of the benches. His father sat next to him. The rest of the men followed suit and someone on the outside swung the doors shut and latched them.
“We are going on a long drive,” his father told Naveed. “If you get thirsty or hungry, food and drinks are in the cooler.” His father pointed to the two large white coolers sitting at either end of the benches. “We will stop just a few times to use the bathroom.”
Naveed didn’t ask Farwan any questions. He simply nodded to show comprehension.
His father continued, “Tomorrow, we will attack our enemy—the enemy of our family and the enemy of our fathers. We will kill as many of them as we can. Are you prepared for this?”
Naveed had learned techniques at the terrorist camp, but he hadn’t ever had to execute anyone. So with no experience in attacking or killing other people, Naveed didn’t understand why he was nodding his head again. Was he ready to kill people? Was he ready to become a man? He guessed those questions would soon be answered whether or not he wanted to know the answer.