 Early in the book, Achmed writes about the day of his arrest, when he's being taken to prison in the police car, when he knows he will never see the world again. And in that back seat, he experienced a transformative moment that shook his fear, a lesson for us all. The policeman next to me lit a cigarette and held the packet out to me. I shook my head no, smiling. I only smoke, I said.