Chapter 22

When Amir arrives at the house of the unnamed man so far, he is shocked to find out that the show at the stadium was not the only atrocious public display of power that the Taliban uses to keep bystanders in order. He learns that Assef is the one behind the Taliban, and that he believes he is liberating the people. He believes he has chosen rightness, just like George Bush in the Riswold reading. “You don't know the meaning of the word 'liberating' until you've done that, stood in a roomful of targets, let the bullets fly, free of guilt and remorse, knowing you are virtuous, good and decent. Knowing you're doing God's work.” (The Kite Runner, 187). After the discussion about who is right or wrong, Assef says to Amir to take the boy, but as soon as they are about the leave the room, Assef states that he is allowed to take the boy, but not without a price. The price turns out to be that Amir and Assef fight. In the end, Sohrab saves Amir in the exact same way that Hassan did when they were children fighting Assef. Sohrab pleads for Assef to stop beating up Amir, and when Assef lunges at Sohrab, he fires a brass ball into the eye socket of Assef. The two flee from the household and it ends with Amir passing out in the car with Farid and Sohrab