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it.
    â€œI mean, he and I follow a different kind of Islam from each other. And while it’s true that you’ve got to look a little harder for the ‘turn the other cheek’ kind of forgiveness you guys have, it’s there. I know you’re kinda familiar with the Koran. Surah 42:40 says, ‘And the recompense of evil is punishment like it, but whoever forgives and amends, he shall have his reward from Allah.’
    â€œBut mostly, though, I just see my faith as trying to emulate the character and qualities of Allah. God is forgiving, so I too should be forgiving. God is merciful, so I too should be merciful. God is generous, so I too should be generous.”
    â€œBut Zerin doesn’t see it that way. . . .”
    Hawker gave an involuntary twitch as hands began probing his ribs. “No, he doesn’t. I talked to him after the taping incident. I could see his heart was going the wrong way. He didn’t say much, even to me. But what he did say got me a little scared for him. He’s big into the whole honor thing, which I know is important among Middle Eastern Muslims. But the kid’s from Atlanta!
    â€œStill, he feels like his honor has been wounded and he needs to avenge his name. So you got that, and you combine it with his focus on the more controversial parts of the Koran, and you got trouble.”
    â€œControversial how?”
    â€œWell, you got passages like Surah 22:60—‘He who retaliates with the like of that with which he has been afflicted and he has been oppressed, Allah will surely aid him.’ And 5:45—‘Life is for life, and eye for eye, and nose for nose, and ear for ear, and tooth for tooth.’ But you guys got that one, too, don’t you?” Hawker said with a grin.
    â€œYeah, that’s Old Covenant. Hey, Fletch, any farther center and you’ll have to buy me dinner,” Riley called back to Fletcher, who was working his fist into Riley’s glutes.
    â€œOld Covenant, New Covenant. You Christians make things so complicated. We’ve got one God, one book, and one truth—there is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger. Plain and simple.”
    Riley chuckled. “Yeah, one God, one book, one truth—and five pillars and five prayers and six articles of belief and two descending lines from Muhammad and twelve imams . . .”
    â€œOkay, okay,” Hawker laughed, “I guess we both have our little complications.”
    â€œBut that’s just the thing, Hawk. Christianity isn’t complicated. It’s the simplest belief system in the world. It’s all about a free gift of salvation you don’t have to work for.”
    â€œYeah, I know. Believe me, I’ve heard it all before. But, Riley, man, if it’s all the same to you, I’m not in the mood to get all theological right now. You wanted to know about Zerin, and I told you what I know. Let’s leave it at that. Cool?”
    â€œCool with me,” Riley said just as Fletcher reached his fingers into Riley’s armpit. “Ow! Come on, Fletch, do you love me or do you hate me? You gotta decide, because I can’t take this split personality thing you’re giving me much more.”
    A sharp dig into his serratus anterior gave Riley his answer, although it wasn’t the answer he was hoping for.

Monday, July 13, 12:10 p.m. MDT
    Inverness Training Center, Centennial, Colorado
    As Riley toweled off from his shower, he thought about what Hawker had said. How do two followers of one religion have such different opinions on how it should be lived?
    He tossed his towel into the hamper in the center of the room, then began pulling his clothes out of his locker. As he did, he saw his ever-present Bible sitting on the top shelf. He picked it up and held it in his hand. But I guess that’s not too different from how people have used this over the centuries. In these pages, people have found