A House in the Sky

As Lindhout tries to cope with the aftermath of the assault, she begins to internalize the trauma, blaming herself for her situation and spiraling into a dark state where she contemplates suicide. To combat her despair, Lindhout forces herself to maintain a routine of walking around her room. She creates a mantra for herself, “I will get out of here. I will be okay” (211), which she repeats as she walks, trying to build her physical and mental strength.

During one of Donald Trump’s visits, Lindhout takes a risk and informs him about Abdullah’s actions, describing them as haram, or forbidden, under Islamic law. Donald Trump’s reaction is unsettling; he acknowledges her distress but implies that such behavior, while not obligatory, is permissible under the circumstances. His response reflects a rigid interpretation of Islamic texts that justifies the abuse, which leaves Lindhout feeling even more isolated and unprotected.

Lindhout and Nigel’s bond deepens into a deep friendship, as they find solace in their window conversations amidst the overwhelming isolation imposed by their captors. Lindhout grapples with a palpable hatred for Abdullah, whose unpredictable visits are marked by cruelty and violence, driving her to fantasize about retaliation.

Both Lindhout and Nigel receive a care package from Canada, containing essential supplies like medicine, books, including Nelson Mandela’s autobiography, and personal care items. This package, while uplifting, underscores the grim reality that their release might not be imminent. Lindhout finds particular resonance with Nelson Mandela’s autobiography, drawing strength from his reflections on resilience during his long imprisonment.

In a moment of vulnerability, Lindhout communicates with Nigel through a note left in the bathroom, expressing her deep emotional distress and subtly indicating that she has been experiencing unwanted visits from someone in the afternoons. She avoids delving into the painful specifics, though, not wanting to burden Nigel further or solidify the reality of her abuse.

Lindhout describes an abrupt relocation orchestrated by her captors. Late at night, Hassam wakes her, demanding she quickly dress and follow him, igniting a brief but intense hope of release. She is instead escorted to a car, where the atmosphere is tense and her questions about their destination and Nigel’s whereabouts go unanswered. The car journey deepens her fears as she is driven to a remote desert location under the guard of Ahmed, Abdullah, and others, including Donald Trump, who is a key figure among the captors.

Her initial hope turns to dread as she interprets the journey as potentially her final moments, fearing she might be sold or killed if a ransom is not paid. This fear intensifies when they stop in the desert, where she experiences a mock execution. Donald Trump intervenes, however, suggesting her family has one more week to meet the ransom demand of $1 million, which emphasizes the urgency and her perilous situation. The chapter concludes with a dire phone call to her mother.

The chapter documents a distressing phone call between Lindhout and her mother, Lorinda Stewart, facilitated by one of Lindhout’s captors, Adam Abdule Osman. This call is legally intercepted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

During the conversation with her mother, Lindhout tries to convey the gravity of her circumstances and her potential imminent death if a ransom of $1 million is not paid within a week. Her mother tries to reassure her, emphasizing their efforts to raise the demanded amount and urging Lindhout to stay strong.

Lindhout recounts her ordeal following a mock execution by her captors, designed to terrorize her. Exhausted and shaken, she confides in Nigel about the night’s events, omitting the most harrowing details to protect him. As they share their fears, it becomes clear they are entering a more dangerous phase with their captors. Nigel advises Lindhout to prepare for the worst by organizing her final messages for her family. He offers to deliver these messages should he survive their ordeal.

As December progresses, Lindhout observes the Eid celebrations, further highlighting her isolation and the cultural chasm between her and her captors. Despite their grim situation, Lindhout and Nigel find a semblance of solace in each other’s company and decide to make the best of the Christmas holiday. They engage in heartwarming activities to lift each other’s spirits, including crafting handmade gifts and singing carols. Nigel constructs a unique bracelet from tuna can pop-tops and a Christmas stocking, while Lindhout makes a doll from a cough syrup bottle.

Lindhout describes the meticulous planning and execution of her escape attempt with Nigel from captivity. The idea begins when Nigel, studying a seemingly secure window in the bathroom, notices that the bricks and bars could potentially be manipulated. Despite Lindhout’s initial skepticism due to the high risks involved, they proceed with the plan, driven by desperation after the murder of three fellow Somali captives.

Their escape plan involves discreetly loosening the mortar and bars of the bathroom window over several days. Lindhout describes a critical moment when she tries to exit through the partially dismantled window: “It worked until it didn’t: I pushed myself back and felt my rear end jam up against one of the bars still in the window. I pushed again but went nowhere” (254). This setback momentarily halts their plan, but they quickly regroup and make their move under the cover of darkness, with Lindhout dressed in a hijab and Nigel disguised as much as possible.

The environment outside is not as they had visualized, and they encounter unexpected obstacles. The chapter ends as they make a break for freedom, racing against time and the imminent threat of recapture.

Lindhout and Nigel seek refuge in a mosque after escaping. However, their captors, Hassam and Abdullah, follow them into the mosque. In a chaotic scene, Lindhout and Nigel plead with the worshippers for protection, declaring their Muslim faith and their plight. Amidst the chaos, a local woman extends a compassionate hand to Lindhout, declaring, “You are a Muslim? You are my sister then” (263). The woman bravely advocates for Lindhout after finding out about her abuse and rape, stirring the congregation with impassioned pleas in Somali, which causes a temporary shift in the atmosphere.

The relative calm is, however, shattered when the captors’ leaders, Ahmed and Donald Trump, burst into the mosque. Their arrival intensifies the situation, leading to gunfire and panic, which disperses the crowd and allows the captors to seize Lindhout.

Despite the woman’s efforts, Lindhout is forcibly removed from the mosque. In a final act of defiance and desperation, Lindhout recites the first surah (or chapter) of the Quran loudly, appealing to the bystanders’ shared faith and humanity, but finds no help as she is taken back into captivity.