The leader ignored him. "Then what's all this?" he asked again, indicating the weapons.

"We thought we'd try and see if a jeep with insurgents comes by," Derek continued. "Then when they stop, we'll ambush them. We need rifles, and a jeep couldn't hurt."

The three boys behind the leader relaxed their stances, but the blonde leader was still unconvinced. "Why?"

"We're going to fight." Derek didn't relax his stance, his voice filled with conviction.

"Then ...