Ilena Silverman belongs in a category all her own. A steady friend and incisive editor, she asked all the right questions at all the right times. Our debt to and respect for her is enormous.
And to Dr. Katherine Porterfield of the Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of Torture, who gave selflessly and expertly to this process in so many ways. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.
*
From Sara:
AMANDA’S FAMILY IN Canada opened its doors to me with uncommon warmth and generosity. I’m grateful to Lorinda Stewart, Jon Lindhout, and Perry Nietz for their excellent record-keeping and unending willingness to answer questions. Thanks to Pascal Maître for his time and beautiful images of Somalia, to Ajoos Sanura and Abdifatah Elmi for the hours spent with me in Nairobi, and to Sasha Chanoff and everyone at RefugePoint for the humbling introduction to the people of Eastleigh.
I am sincerely thankful for the friends, writers, teachers, and neighbors who support, inspire, and indulge me—the always-bright stars in my sky, so numerous they can’t all be named here. Specific gratitude goes to my family: to Dick and Marianne Paterniti; Manny Morgan; Lorraine Martin and Diane Bennekamper; my brothers and their families; the extended Simmons, Corbett, and Paterniti clans; and above all, to my amazing father, Chris Corbett, who gives me shelter in so many ways. I am grateful to others who’ve also kindly provided quiet places to work: Emily and Steve Ward, Melanie and Eliot Cutler, Patty and Cyrus Hagge, Aimee and Mark Bessire. Thanks to those who’ve kept me merry, fed, and generally together during this time: Andy Ward, Jenny Rosenstrach, Joel Lovell, Liz and Pierre Meahl, Lynn Sullivan, Derek Pierce, Andrea Hanson-Carr, Mark Bryant, Alan Liska, Kim Wasco, Ned Flint, Benjamin Busch (the Marine in my basement), Linda Murray, Lane and Brock Clarke, Joe Appel, Carlos Gomez, Angela Weymouth, Michael Seymour, Chris Bowe, and Stuart Gerson, not to mention the ever-vibrant crew of kids and adults at The Telling Room, who again and again remind me that the world is very much okay. And extra-deep thanks to Clare Hertel, Anja Hanson, Hallie Gilman, Susan Calder, Susan Conley, Lily King, Katie Redford, Peggy Orenstein, Sara Needleman, and Melissa McStay—my dear, everyday, lodestar friends.
To my husband, Mike Paterniti, who has shown me that life is much more fun when you dive headfirst and heart-first into everything: Thank you for all of it, big and small. And to our incredible children, exuberant divers-in, all three. I love you very much.
And finally, I’d like to express my love and gratitude to Amanda—for our three-year mind meld, for all you’ve taught me about being strong, for the many psychic miles we have traveled together, for the absolutely tireless way you worked on every line of this book, for staying open, for being a friend. I treasure all of it. I’m proud of what we’ve made together.
*
From Amanda:
I AM GRATEFUL, FIRST and foremost, to my mom Lorinda Stewart, and my two dads, John Lindhout and Perry Neitz, for their Herculean efforts to rescue me. I am humbled by their courage and love and have the deepest appreciation for what they have endured, the sacrifices made. My brothers, Mark Culp and National Lindhout, my grandparents, and the entire Lindhout and Stewart clans were anchors of strength throughout; and following, they have ensconced me in the warm embrace of family, tucking me into their hearts. Aunt Alison—an extra special thank-you. To my godparents, Wendell and Beryl Lund, for the many ways they have cared for me.
To those who have nurtured me, loved me, and encouraged me to play: Zoe, Brenna, Nicola, Zahra.
My dearest friend Kelly—for your generous spirit, your determination, and for giving me a beautiful, smiling goddaughter who delights in the wonders of the world.
In Calgary, Sarah Geddes, David Singleton, Michael Going, and Steve Allan took a stand for me, and because they did, I lived to write this book.
I am reminded, again and again, of the prevalence of generosity and goodness. In Red Deer, Calgary, Sylvan Lake, Rocky Mountain House, Ponoka, Nelson, and across Canada and Australia, people gave generously to bring Nigel and me home. These many kindnesses have shored me up. There are too many people to name, and I wouldn’t want to leave anyone out, but you know who you are. Allan Markin, Gord Scott, Dick Smith, and Bob Brown stand out for special recognition.
To the entire Brennan family for their perseverance and many contributions.
I recognize efforts made by the Government of Canada, RCMP, DFAIT, and CSIS on my behalf. In particular, I’d like to thank Ross Hynes and his lovely wife, Vanessa, for their steadfast devotion to my case. I am forever indebted to Richard, Jonathan, Chris, Matt, Evelyn, and their families.
A successful release would not have been possible without the assistance of AKE, and I am indebted to JC, Ed, Shaun, Alto, and Derek for swooping in to save the day.
I am earnestly learning about trauma recovery and feel gratitude for the education I received at Sierra Tucson on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The serenity of the facility and gifted therapists gently helped me move forward, mindfully, into the sunshine. I am especially thankful to Dr. Mark Pirtle, Joanne Sorenson, and Dr. Judy Gianni.
To Katherine Porterfield, again, for understanding all the parts of this journey. I am so fortunate you held out your hand to help me along. I love you.
Many top-notch professionals have supported my recovery process: the doctors and nurses at The Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi, Karen Barker, Dr. Charl de Wet, Patti Mayer, Dr. Tim Kearns, Dr. Lizette Lourens, Dr. Rick Balharry, and the wonderful teachers at the Hoffman Institute Foundation in Canada.
Eckhart Tolle, your teachings, gentle guidance, friendship, and thoughtful insights encourage me and have shaped my perspective in more ways than you could possibly know.
Heather Cummings and João Teixeira de Faria have shown me that anything is possible. Thank you to the generous patrons of the St. Ignatius Fund.
The entire team at the Global Enrichment Foundation, past and present, in Canada, Kenya, and Somalia, for working so very hard with open minds and hearts. I am proud of what we have done together and excited about what the future holds.
To Nigel: As our old friend Thierry once told us at the Baro Hotel, “Many good things.” Wishing you, Nigel, many good things.
And here at the end, to Sara, my coauthor, confidante, and friend, who saw the promise in this project from the very beginning. I am immeasurably grateful. Three years ago we took a leap of faith and began a long journey. Much more then merely writing, we lived this story a thousand different ways together. Without your meticulous intelligence, infinite patience, and precision, I doubt it could have been told. I have the deepest appreciation for your wisdom, your commitment, and your faith in me. My life is infinitely richer because you are in it.
© STEVE CARTY
AMANDA LINDHOUT is the founder of the Global Enrichment Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports development, aid, and education initiatives in Somalia and Kenya. Amanda lives in Alberta, Canada. For more information, visit amandalindhout.com and globalenrichmentfoundation.com.
© MELISSA MULLEN
SARA CORBETT is a contributing writer to The New York Times Magazine. Her work has also appeared in National Geographic; Elle; Outside; O, The Oprah Magazine; Esquire; and Mother Jones.
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Scribner
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This is a work of nonfiction. We have drawn from a number of sources—including journals, corr
espondences, media reports, interviews, and transcripts of recorded conversations and other communications with investigators, negotiators, and kidnappers. It is also a memoir, which is to say that the story reflects Amanda’s recollections and interpretations of events. Dialogue has been re-created from memory. We have changed the names of a few characters and compressed timelines or omitted details in places. The English passages from the Koran are taken from translations by H.M. Shakir and Abdullah Ali Yusuf. Any dollar amounts are referring to U.S. currency, unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2013 by Amanda Lindhout and Sara Corbett
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information, address Scribner Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.
First Scribner hardcover edition September 2013
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Jacket Design by Jennifer Heuer
Endpapers are notes from Amanda to her mother while in captivity
Library of Congress Control Number: 2013016015
ISBN 978-1-4516-4560-6
ISBN 978-1-4516-4562-0 (ebook)
Contents
Epigraph
Prologue
Chapter 1: My World
Chapter 2: The Drink
Chapter 3: Going Somewhere
Chapter 4: A Small Truth Affirmed
Chapter 5: A Haircut on a Lake
Chapter 6: Hello, Madame
Chapter 7: The Rule of Proximity
Chapter 8: Don’t F*** with Afghanistan
Chapter 9: The Start of a New Sentence
Chapter 10: A Camera and a Plan
Chapter 11: Press Pass
Chapter 12: The Red Zone
Chapter 13: Doors Wide Open
Chapter 14: Crossing
Chapter 15: My Hurricane
Chapter 16: Taken
Chapter 17: Tuna Fish and Tea
Chapter 18: Ransom
Chapter 19: Electric House
Chapter 20: Amina
Chapter 21: Paradise
Chapter 22: Today’s a Good Day
Chapter 23: Blame the Girl
Chapter 24: Maya
Chapter 25: Catch-22
Chapter 26: A Feast Is a Feast
Chapter 27: The Desert
Chapter 28: Call Home
Chapter 29: Christmas
Chapter 30: Escape
Chapter 31: My Sister
Chapter 32: Tacky House
Chapter 33: Documents
Chapter 34: New Rules
Chapter 35: A House in the Sky
Chapter 36: Danger Is Coming
Chapter 37: The Snap
Chapter 38: Omar
Chapter 39: Positive House
Chapter 40: Wife Lessons
Chapter 41: Everything Is Changed
Chapter 42: The Bird
Chapter 43: A Notebook and a Promise
Chapter 44: Beginning to Understand
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
About Amanda Lindhout and Sara Corbett
A House in the Sky: A Memoir Page 39