They were meant to be dead, buried under sand. But they survived. Two young Kurds manage to miraculously escape Saddam Hussein's killing sites and eventually find their way to America - to live the protected but split-soul lives typical of first-generation immigrants. A story of luck, pluck, and perseverance, and many setbacks along the way.

This is the fictionalized story of a genocide as told by some who lived it - as victims, perpetrators, or witnesses. The story is based on the author's testimonial and documentary research for Human Rights Watch in northern Iraq in 1992-1994 and thereafter. He has remained in regular contact with the two survivors and their families to this day. In particular, it's the story of two young men who were dragged to Saddam Hussein's killing grounds and, separately, managed to escape. Eventually they found their way to America - to live the protected but split-soul lives typical of first-generation immigrants. It's a story of luck, pluck, and perseverance, and many setbacks along the way.