During the U.S. war in Afghanistan, a squadron sets up a patrol base in an Afghan village. A mysterious young Afghan boy leaves suspicious containers on the “no-man’s-land” surrounding the base, putting the men in the U.S. squadron on high alert. In the past several weeks, the squadron has lost three men to explosives. After one man, an overweight but skilled sniper named Kahananui, dies by stepping on an explosive, a middle-aged replacement named Feldman takes Kahananui’s place. Feldman was a teacher, who enlisted after his wife cheated on him with another teacher at his school. Feldman proves to be an inept member of the team, giving up their position during a night patrol. During regular excursions and missions through the village, the squadron is pursued by the mysterious young Afghan boy. The U.S. squadron is unsure how to view the child—is he an enemy, or a civilian? In response to their predicament, a soldier named Murray recounts the story of a squad leader he served with in Iraq. Before entering a building during a mission, the squad leader was confronted by a young Iraqi boy who spoke to him in Arabic before running off. The squad leader, not knowing Arabic, nevertheless entered the building, setting off explosions that kill many of his men. As their campaign in Iraq continued and several of his men died, the squad leader continued to be haunted by the Iraqi boy’s words—did the boy warn them, or trick them? 
During one battle, the men spot the Afghan boy, who clearly does not want to be caught in the middle of the violence. Nevertheless, the inept Feldman shoots the boy dead. After the fight, the men try to console Feldman, who is traumatized by his actions. Feldman is reminded of his own children.

One day, the men are attacked by a single shooter—a physically disabled man, revealed to be a father or relative of the boy, attempting to avenge his son’s death. After killing the disabled man, the soldiers find explosive materials and the boy’s clothes in his home. Months later, all of the men in the squadron progress with their lives. The narrator receives military awards and one of the men obtains U.S. citizenship; but Feldman remains silently out of place among his squad.