Chapter 15

Reza’s official military assignment is to drive pilots to their planes.  He feels like a coward in this assignment and convinces Amir to change his assignment to driving an ambulance to the front lines.  Kahn, the slightly unbalanced ambulance driver, enjoys Reza as a captive audience.

1. Soldiers 
2. Warriors  
3. Cowards

1. Analyze Reza’s reasoning to be sent to the front lines.
2. Is Amir a good brother to Reza?
3. Describe Kahn.
4. What are some of the conflicts between Iran and Iraq?
5. Analyze the metaphor of Iran being like a teenager with insights from Mr. Mehdian & Kahn.

Imagine that you are Amir just after Reza leaves your office and you’ve just assigned him to the front lines.  Write a one page journal expressing your feelings about Iran, war, Reza, and/or similar topics.

1. Reza bit his lip.  He thought of the soldiers standing outside the office. “So, that’s my choice?  Die in the name of Khomeini’s Islam or live like a coward?  Is that what this has come to?” 
2. They stared out the dust-coated windshield.  There is no silence like the silence brought to earth by the dead.  “Give them a minute.”  “Give who a min..”  “Shh, our soldiers.  Shhh….give them their final peace.  They will tell us when we can get out.” 
3. “It’s alright kid,” Reza said, backing out. “It’s a short ride and soon you’ll be at the base in a white hospital…” His grip tightened. “No!  Don’t, don’t leave me!  They smell and they’re creaking and I can’t…” he broke into hysterics as Kahn climbed into the cab and starting honking the horn.  “Let’s go Rahim.”  Reza paused.  Riding with dead guys.  Riding with Kahn.   “I’ll be riding back here.

An allusion is a reference in a literary work to a person, place, or thing in history.  List three allusions from history made by Kahn and explain the purpose in his use of each.

Against the dramatic landscape of world altering events, Reza’s heroric journey unfolds.