A Far Away Home

by Howard Faber

  The plane started back to Kabul, waving its wings one last time as it flew down the valley. The principals called off school for the day and asked anyone who had a pick or shovel to come back to help on the airfield. About a hundred did, so the dirt flew. They made a lot of progress that day. The next day, about four hundred men came to work on the airfield. Everyone saw the plane and now believed the plane and hospital were really coming. The boys’ school had two shifts. Ali was a morning student so he could come to work on the airfield in the afternoons.

  Ali and his dad were figuring out how to get the drag up to the airfield. It was really heavy. They put it on the back of a gaudi, a two-wheeled cart usually used to carry people. The horse struggled to get it up the hill. They unloaded it on the low end, near the cliff. The plan was for a team of cows to pull it, so they brought a team of cows with wooden yoghs (a sort of collar) that fit on the cows’ necks. When the team of cows was hitched, the owner urged the cows to pull. They tried, but the drag was too heavy. They couldn’t pull it. “It was a good idea, but your drag won’t work. It needs a truck to pull it.” The owner of the team of cows was giving up.

  Ali thought about it for a while, then thought about a picture that he saw in his social studies book about America. The picture was of horses pulling a wagon, four horses. So, why couldn’t four cows be used to pull their drag? “Dad, could we get another team of cows?”

  “Maybe, but why would we want another team? They won’t be any stronger than this team. It’s the best team around.”

  Ali knew he shouldn’t argue with his dad, but this was important, and he was sure it could work. “I saw a picture of four horses pulling a plow. Why wouldn’t it work with cows?”

  “OK, let’s try it. I’ll find another team. You get the hitch ready.” Hassan left to find another team. Ali went down to town to find a long rope. When he got back, he figured out the length that would work with two teams of cows. Soon, Hassan returned with another team. The men there laughed at him and asked each other if they had ever seen two teams working to pull one of anything. No one had. Ali hoped his idea would work. The teams’ owners lined up their teams. Ali attached the pulling rope to the two yoghs. The cows pulled, the drag moved, and they were off. The only problem was keeping the two teams going in the same direction. Ali solved that by putting a man on the outside of each cow, directing them by keeping a hand on the outside horn of each cow. The drag worked like a road grader, leveling out the ground. Once in a while it would catch a rock and drag it. Hassan started walking behind it, lifting the back to let the rock out.

  The local commandant organized his police to lead groups of workers on different sections of the field. First a group of pick-wielding men would loosen up the dirt and dig out rocks. Then shovel-wielding men would follow, leveling out, and filling in holes. The drag was the final step, making the surface level and smooth. As the drag went by, the men in that area would stop and cheer, “Wah, wah!” This was followed by admiring looks, filled with pride at what they were accomplishing. At the end of the day, almost one-fourth of the future airfield was looking a lot smoother.

  After five days, the field looked great, all leveled, all stones out of sight, buried, or at the edge. Ali wasn’t sure, but he thought it might be ready for the airplane, so he talked to the doctors. They radioed the pilot, and he agreed to come up by pickup to see if it was ready. He got there the next evening and immediately went to see the airfield. He came by pickup and used the pickup to test out the field. Takeoff speed was seventy-five miles per hour, so he drove at seventy-five miles per hour. It was pretty bumpy. What looked so level wasn’t so smooth at seventy-five. Ali and Hassan rode in the pickup with him, and they were worried it might not be smooth enough for the plane. Dan, the pilot, tried it several times, looking for the best path. The field was plenty wide. He also measured the length, and seemed satisfied. He told them he had to land and take off one way. That wasn’t exactly the best. It would be great to be a two-way strip, but there was no way to do that. Because it was uphill, it did help him land and take off. He would land going uphill, so that helped to slow him down. He would take off downhill, which would help him speed up to get the plane in the air faster. He told them the plane would have power to carry three other people with him. The first flight would be the day after tomorrow! Ali ran to be the first to tell everybody.

  ***

  The plane was coming at ten o’clock, and everyone was going to be there. The governor was coming, too. School was out for the day. Sharidure was going to have an airfield, a plane, doctors, and a hospital! This was the biggest day in the history of the town. Sure enough, right at ten, someone heard the buzz of a plane. Everyone looked down the valley. The commandant and his police made one last check to be sure no one was on the runway. The red and white plane flew over once, then circled lower, and came directly at the runway from the valley end. It came almost to the ground but skimmed up over the hill and circled around to the valley again. It approached again and eased its front wheels down on the field. It slowed gradually, stopping after rolling to the very top, and turned around to face down the hill.

  © Don Beiter

  The pilot stepped out and climbed down, heading for the crowd. Everyone cheered.

  The governor stepped out to greet the pilot. They shook hands and exchanged greetings. The governor made a short speech about the future hopes for Sharidure, Afghanistan, and for the children. It was all very positive, very hopeful, very satisfying. Then the pilot said he wanted to give the governor, the commandant, and the local Qauzi (Islamic judge) a ride in the plane. They walked up to the plane and Dan helped them up. There was a little step halfway up to the door. The governor sat on the seat beside the pilot, the commandant and Qauzi sat behind them. The pilot taxied back up to the top of the hill and turned to speed down the hill and airfield to take off.

  Ali was the one who saw the dog. It was on the runway, right in the middle, just sitting there watching. It was in the way of the plane. The plane was going to hit it and, probably, crash. The plane couldn’t swerve because it was already building up speed. Ali hopped out toward the dog. He had a couple of stones and his slingshot in his hand. He swung the sling around his head, once, twice, then flung the stone as hard as he could, hoping his aim was true. It just took one throw. The dog felt the stone whack his hip, put his tail between his legs, and ran across the runway to the other side. Probably no one else in the crowd realized how dangerous the situation had been, but Ali did. He used his slingshot many times, mostly in play, but this had been a pressure shot.

  Inside the plane, Dan also realized the danger and had been sorting through his options, none of them good. The rear wheel was already off the ground because of the built up speed, so he could see the runway directly in front of him. When the dog disappeared from in front of the plane, he breathed a sigh of relief. He didn’t know why it had run away, and later, after landing and helping the passengers off, he asked about the dog and found out someone hit it with a stone.

  There was one more short flight to be made around Sharidure, one for the common people. Dan explained this to the governor. Who would be selected? The word went around, to choose someone to ride in the plane. The people selected an elderly, gray headed, gray bearded man, who was greatly respected in Sharidure. Dan asked who hit the dog to get it off the runway. When Ali was brought forward, Dan smiled
and invited him to ride, too. Ali and the older man got into the plane. Dan taxied to the top of the runway, and they zoomed down, then up over the valley, and circled Sharidure Ali looked out the side window, seeing how small the people appeared, seeing his home, seeing further than the town, and seeing forever. He didn’t have to hop. This was so great a thing. After they landed, the older man stepped out on the little step of the plane, raised his hands over his head, and beamed a smile about a meter wide. The crowd cheered. It was all glorious.

  Old Man for Plane Ride • By Rex Blumhagen

  Back down on the ground, Dan thanked Ali for averting a dangerous situation, then asked him if he would be his ground crew. Ali wasn’t sure what that meant but quickly agreed to be the pilot’s helper. He also told Dan that he wanted to be a pilot, and now he was even more sure that’s what he would be when he grew up. Dan waited for him to finish, then shook his hand, and said he would help him achieve that dream.

  The doctors Hagel promised that when the airfield was finished, they would build a hospital in Sharidure. The very next day after the plane landed, a man arrived from Kabul who said he was going to start building the hospital. He staked out an outline of a building, right on the main street of town. The next week work started. Town people volunteered to help, carrying, digging, and moving things. It took about four months. Everyone was proud of the beautiful new building.

  © Don Beiter

  There were twelve beds for people who had to stay overnight or longer. The most intriguing thing was the operating room. It was lined with tiles and had a huge light hanging from the ceiling, balancing so it could be easily moved into the right position. It was the only hospital for miles, the only one for the whole province. Its name went exactly with Sharidure. It was the Shafakhona Sharidure, the hospital of Sharidure. There was a pharmacy with lots of medicine and nurses to help the people and the doctors.

  “Ali, do you still want to be a pilot? I saw you talking to the hospital pilot. Did you ask him about being a pilot?” This was Hassan. Ali’s dad was wondering if Ali would like to follow him in being a carpenter.

  “Yes, he said I could be a pilot, and he would help me. He showed me how to fly his plane. It’s so great flying, and I know I could do it. So far, I know how to turn, speed up, and slow down. There are a lot of clock-like things that show him how to fly that I don’t know about, yet. He also taught me about the gasoline he uses to fly. He keeps some here, in a secret place, up on the airfield. I have to keep it safe and clean. I help him fill up his tanks if he needs gas. We have to pour it through a clean cloth, to keep any dirt out of his plane. He’s very careful about everything. Sometimes, he opens up the cover on the engine to check it. He showed me what to check. I’m learning some of the things he does. His name is Dan.”

  “Ali, I think you can be a pilot, too. I think it would be scary, flying in the air, but I would like to fly in that plane. Do you think I ever could?”

  “I think so, but I don’t want to bother him. He just flies for the hospital.”

  Chapter Four

  Ali’s Knee is Straightened

  When Doctor Hagel saw Ali coming from school, he greeted him, “Salomalaykoom.”

  “Peace be with you. How are you? Are you well? How is your family?” replied Ali.

  “Thank you. How are you, and how is your family?” answered Doctor Hagel.

  “We’re all well, thank you,” replied Ali.

  “Ali, remember when we looked at your knee? I have a plan for how to straighten your leg. I need to do an operation. I am ready to do the operation on Monday. I can explain my plan to you and your parents, and if you want to go ahead with the operation, we will do it.”

  Many conflicting thoughts raced through Ali’s mind, and there were many questions. He didn’t dare ask them just yet, but maybe his parents could ask them for him. He thanked Doctor Hagel and went straight home. “Mother, Doctor Hagel says he can straighten my leg and wants to talk to us about it. Could I do it? I never really thought it could happen, but he has a plan, and he thinks it will work. Where’s father? Mother, I know it might be expensive, and I know we don’t have a lot of money. Maybe I could quit school and get a job to pay for it. What do you think?”

  “I will talk to your father about it as soon as he gets home. It’s a great opportunity. We have to think very carefully about it. Will it be dangerous?”

  “I don’t know about that, but I don’t think so. What happens in an operation? We can ask Doctor Hagel about it.”

  That afternoon, even before Hassan came home from work, Ali went to his father’s carpenter shop. He couldn’t wait any longer, so he told his father about the operation. He explained all he knew and said he knew it would be expensive, and that he was OK with his leg like it was, and that maybe he could wait and earn money to pay for it. He said this with his head down and his heart hoping.

  “I have finished the work I needed to do today. Anything else can wait until tomorrow. Let’s go home to talk.”

  Ali knew he was lucky to have his family. They were always doing something to be proud of. Neither his father nor mother said right out that he couldn’t have the operation. He thought they would both want him to have it. He remembered going to Kabul to see about an operation and coming home so disappointed. He thought his family was disappointed, too. But the money. How much would it cost? How could he pay for it?

  When they got home Ali’s mother had some tea ready. They sat on the cushions and started to talk about the operation. Hassan began. “This is your best chance. I have always imagined you walking on both legs. You are doing so well in so many ways. I think we should try to have the operation.”

  Mariam agreed. “Ali, you are growing taller and soon you will be a man. If the doctor can do this, we should try.”

  Now, it was Ali’s turn. “Dad and Mom, I dreamed for a long time about throwing this crutch away and walking on both legs. I hope, I hope I can do this. I’m not afraid to do it, but I don’t know about how to pay for the operation. I’m afraid it might cost a lot, and I know we don’t have a lot of money. How much will it cost?”

  “Ali, I can work more every day. The new hospital and the new people coming to town have made my business grow. This year we have saved some money, more than ever before. You leave the paying to me. I am your father.”

  So, that was it. Ali went directly over to the hospital where he hoped to find Doctor Hagel. He waited outside the front door. Pretty soon Doctor Hagel and Mrs. Doctor Hagel emerged from the hospital. They saw him waiting and smiled and greeted him. Ali replied politely, then said, “We want you to operate on my leg. I do have a question though. How much will it cost?”

  Doctor Hagel looked at Doctor Hagel, smiled, looked again at Ali and explained that it would cost the usual fee for operations, one hundred afs. Ali’s mind raced to figure it out. One hundred afs was as much as he got from the pilot for a month of helping him at the airfield. He could do this! He could earn it in a month, but the doctors told him they wanted to do the operation on Monday. He wouldn’t have the money for about three weeks. “Doctor Hagel, could I wait to have the operation? I can pay you after three weeks. Could we wait that long?”

  “Ali, we know you are a trustworthy young man. We will trust you to pay us at the
end of the month.” Dr. Hagel looked at his wife. “What do you think, Doctor Hagel?”

  She smiled and nodded her head. “I agree. I know you and your family. We won’t worry at all about whether you will pay. I know Dan, the pilot, depends on your help. We’ll see you early Monday morning.”

  Ali practically floated back to his house. “Dad, Mom, I arranged all the details, and I can pay for the operation myself. It’s going to be Monday morning. I don’t know just when, but I know I will soon be walking without my crutch. I will be walking, tall, and strong. I’ll be like all the other boys. No one will be talking about how it’s too bad. It’s really going to happen.”

  When he hopped into the hospital on Monday morning, Ali put down his crutch and hoped it was for the last time. He was helped into the small operating room. It was so shiny, so new. The overhead light fascinated him. He watched the nurse aim it down on him. He breathed in from the cup like thing they placed over his mouth and nose. Then he fell asleep.

  He awoke to the murmur of voices, which gradually turned to talking. He didn’t know the words he was hearing, but then he heard his dad’s voice, asking how the operation turned out. Someone explained that it had gone well. When he heard that, Ali reached down to feel his bent leg. He reached for the ankle that should be sort of behind him and even with his knee. It wasn’t there. For a moment he panicked, wondering if they had to take off his leg, but no, his leg was there. He felt for his knee, then lower to his lower leg, where it had never been before. Was it the right or left leg. Maybe it was just his right leg, like it had always been. No, it was his left leg. There was a lot of wrapping around his knee, in fact around most of his left leg. He didn’t dare move it. It didn’t hurt, but he couldn’t really feel it. Was that how it would stay? He couldn’t reach any further down. He wanted to see his foot and ankle. Then his dad and mom walked into the room. He was in one of the small rooms where hospital patients could stay overnight. They were smiling, which was good. “How are you? Are you tired? Are you thirsty? You look well.”