Damascus
9: 06 a.m.

     Jason Littrell had joined Shelomo ben-Shuraqui and several other men already in conversation as they stood in the meeting room where that morning’s lecture was to be given. He was especially looking forward to hearing Cantara’s discussion. Even if he could not understand the language, he was sure that the translators would make it worth his while. He listened to the small Sephardic rabbi as he stood in the center of the group and tried to make a point.             
     “They all say so, but they don’t want peace, don’t you see?” Shelomo argued vociferously. “If they were all rational, they would, of course, both Syria and Israel. For Iran I cannot speak. They are powerful in their own right. Of course they want nuclear weapons. So do many newly industrialized countries both here and elsewhere. Why does anyone need nuclear weapons? Nuclear power for energy, yes! But weapons, no!       
     “Your country,” he turned to the venerable old rabbi from Israel’s Hebrew University standing on his right, “of course, has the weapons. We all know that Israel has had them for more than fifty years.” 
     Shelomo tried to impress his small audience with his distinction as a Jew, but not a believer in the increasingly warlike posture of Israel’s government.
     “Yes, but there is a difference, isn’t there,” Yitzhak Dorfman replied. The man was a leading American rabbi with a major congregation in Miami. He was well known for his strong vocal and monetary support of Israel’s conservative parties. “Unlike Syria and Iran, it is not our goal to kill Iranians or Syrians. We don’t want to kill any Arabs, for that matter. On the other hand, they clearly state that they want to destroy Israel.”           
     “Yitzhak, you know that so much of that is just political posturing. If anyone uses a nuclear bomb, they would devastate the entire region, you know that! I doubt that anyone is that foolish or zealous! I doubt anyone would seriously use a nuclear weapon. It’s a political threat, nothing more.” Shelomo’s face began to match his red hair, as his dark skin reddened.
     “And why has Israel not opened its reactor at Dimona to international inspectors like other peaceful countries? I may be Jewish, but to thumb its nose at the rest of the world? Especially when Israel could not survive for one year without the United States? I am sorry. I am Jewish, yes; but I am Syrian, not Israeli. Of course I want to see the Holy Land protected. I simply cannot support the Israeli position today any more than I could support apartheid or the Nazis.” stated Shelomo somewhat defiantly.             
     Jason was about to interject when the glasses filled with water for the morning meeting suddenly rattled. A few large bottles and some silverware fell from the shelves next to the meeting room’s small portable serving bar.
     “God save us, Jesus!” Jason managed to breathe between his lips. “Let’s go. Let’s stand underneath the doorway!” he shouted to the others as he ran for the doorway leading to the lobby off the hall. He had been in San Francisco twice when earthquakes had struck the city. A friend of his working at State Department in Peru had been killed in one of that country’s many temblors not too long ago. Jason was truly frightened as he stood underneath the doorway gesturing to the others to follow. It is surely one of the preludes to the Lord’s Rapture, he thought and prayed the Lord’s Prayer silently as he felt another small quake rumbling underneath the building.           
     Pandemonium broke out instantly as scores more of men and women scrambled for safety as the building shook. Several long exterior glass panes shattered and crashed to the ground outside the modern structure. Although the attendees for the morning lectures were considerably fewer than on previous days, nearly a hundred sought shelter in the university’s auditorium. Others tried just the opposite and jostled to move outside to the wide lawns. For a second Jason spied three of the nuns he had briefly met yesterday. They were crossing themselves silently as they calmly awaited what they seemingly deemed to be God’s will. Others, mostly university staff to serve the conference meeting, milled about the hallways. Lights in the building dimmed, flickered momentarily and died. They were instantly replaced by emergency lights mounted in the ceiling every few yards.                    
     “Rabbi!” Jason shouted as he crouched down by the doorway, intending to get Shelomo’s attention. Several bearded faces looked in his direction.
    Shelomo scooted a few yards along the floor. “Are you alright, my friend?” he asked when he had reached Jason.         
     “Yes, are you? Let’s get out of here!” Jason’s voice was tinged with fear.
     The pair rose from the floor and dashed towards the exit. The entrance was crowded with people. Most were now attempting to leave the building and move outdoors. An emaciated old man standing in the middle of the crowded hallway, flailed his thin arms and muttered incomprehensively as he raised them to heaven. Half blind, the old man almost embraced Jason.
     “What is he talking about?” Jason muttered, sidestepping swiftly.
     “He is reciting from the Qu’ran. It is an old tale about the meaning of earthquakes. It says that if you do not believe in Allah, you shall surely perish and that an earthquake will seize you and you will be dead and prostrate.”
     “Charming,” said Jason as he finally managed to push their way to the outside. He and Shelomo ran past the reflecting pool which was forming small waves and made gurgling, lapping sounds as it overflowed its manmade embankments. The two men rushed forward across the lawns to the street where dozens of people pushed and vied for one of the several taxis that were parked along the curb. Several of the tour buses for the conference had started their engines as people boarded them.    
     “Listen,” Jason said as he breathed heavily. “I’m just as afraid of earthquakes as the next guy, but I do know what makes earthquakes happen. It’s got nothing to do with being a believer or an unbeliever!”
     “Really?” said Shelomo quizzically. “But only believers in Jesus Christ will join you in the Rapture and be saved? Maybe this earthquake is the first warning! Let’s go, let’s get on this bus!” 
                                                     
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