Chapter 29

He laughed. “No. You would get a very poor exchange rate there. Come with me, three blocks down, then I want you to wait for me on the other side of the street. If you are with me I will not get as good an exchange rate.”

We walked a few blocks, then stopped. I gave him $400 and he motioned me to the other side of the street to wait. I watched as he crossed the street, a street where cars were lined up and every twenty yards or so a man waited, holding out a wad of cash.

Amir went to the first, and after words were exchanged for a minute or two, he moved to the next. Then the next, and the next. Finally, around the corner onto a side street. Not wanting to lose sight of him, I followed down the side street, still on the opposite side, and at a safe distance, where I didn’t think he—or anyone else—would see me. Finally, after six stops, Amir handed my money to a man and was given Algerian dinars in return.