rich people designed and built by structural engineers and architects like mysel f ? Does He hate the poor that much, do you think?’
‘I didn’t come here to discuss theology, Benyamin,’ said Avram. ‘I know you don’t believe. But I do, others do. Others who’ll be moved to do the things we both want precisely
because
of their belief,
because
of these signs. And do you honestly care why they do those things, so long as they do them?’
Benyamin shrugged. ‘You’re right. I don’t care. The earthquake was a sign. What do you need?’
Avram realized, a little too late, that he’d just set himself up for mockery. But there was nothing for it now. ‘I want to be sure that our charges work,’ he said. ‘I want to make sure the Dome implodes completely.’
Benyamin shook his head. ‘Implosion is a technical term,’ he said. ‘It happens when exterior pressure is greater than interior pressure. What you’ll be doing is knocking out support pillars and letting gravity go to work.’
‘But we’ll bring it down, yes?’
‘Oh, yes. You’ll bring it down.’ He frowned. ‘Why would you even think otherwise? Has something changed since we last …’ He realized the answer for himself, burst out laughing. ‘It’s the earthquake, isn’t it? They’ve put up scaffolding and buttresses in case of another shock. And now you’re worried that even if you take out the pillars, the Dome will stay up. That’s it, isn’t it?’ He rocked delightedly back in his chair. ‘Your sign!’ he taunted. ‘Your precious sign! What a perverse God He is, to make your task so difficult.’
‘Please keep your voice down,’ said Avram. ‘Do you want people to hear?’
‘Why? Won’t your God protect us from eaves- droppers?’
‘I’m getting tired of this,’ said Avram. ‘Will you help or not?’
‘I don’t see how I can. A situation like this, I’d need to get inside, examine the work up close. Not a chance in hell they’ll let that happen. Not a chance in hell they’ll let
any
kafir inside. Not with the repairs going on. It’s your precious sign at work again, making life easy.’
Avram leaned forwards. ‘Signs aren’t meant to make things easy,’ he said. ‘They’re meant to make them significant. They’re meant to make our people receptive
to His message, so that their hearts will flood with belief and they’ll have the strength to do the hard things that will need doing. The things that need
steel
.’ He forced a smile, let his anger subside, sat back in his chair. ‘What if I could get you footage?’
Benyamin shrugged. ‘It would be better than nothing. But not much. It’s impossible to gauge structural strength accurately from video. You need to see the thing itself, the materials, the workmanship. My advice, just put charges on everything.’
‘We don’t have enough. Or the men to carry them.’
‘Then you have a problem.’
Avram nodded. ‘There is one solution I can think of.’
Benyamin gave Avram a sour look. ‘One more than I can,’ he said.
‘Perhaps you’re weakening,’ suggested Avram. ‘I could understand that. It’s been three years now, hasn’t it? Over three. Perhaps you don’t feel so strongly any more.’
Colour flushed Benyamin’s face. ‘I feel strongly.’
‘Then come with us tomorrow night. See the repairs for yourself. Examine the pillars and the scaffolding. Tell us where to place the charges. You can finally do something to avenge Elizabeth. It was Elizabeth, wasn’t it?’
Benyamin’s expression stiffened. ‘You know it was.’
‘And Judy and Rosanna?’
‘I remember their names,’ said Benyamin tightly. ‘You think I could ever forget their names?’
Avram nodded. ‘You don’t have to decide now,’ he said. ‘All I ask is that you listen to my plan.’
‘Go on, then.’
‘Not now. Tomorrow night. I’ll explain everything then, and I’ll show you something that will make even
you
believe.’
‘What?’
Avram got to
‘I didn’t come here to discuss theology, Benyamin,’ said Avram. ‘I know you don’t believe. But I do, others do. Others who’ll be moved to do the things we both want precisely
because
of their belief,
because
of these signs. And do you honestly care why they do those things, so long as they do them?’
Benyamin shrugged. ‘You’re right. I don’t care. The earthquake was a sign. What do you need?’
Avram realized, a little too late, that he’d just set himself up for mockery. But there was nothing for it now. ‘I want to be sure that our charges work,’ he said. ‘I want to make sure the Dome implodes completely.’
Benyamin shook his head. ‘Implosion is a technical term,’ he said. ‘It happens when exterior pressure is greater than interior pressure. What you’ll be doing is knocking out support pillars and letting gravity go to work.’
‘But we’ll bring it down, yes?’
‘Oh, yes. You’ll bring it down.’ He frowned. ‘Why would you even think otherwise? Has something changed since we last …’ He realized the answer for himself, burst out laughing. ‘It’s the earthquake, isn’t it? They’ve put up scaffolding and buttresses in case of another shock. And now you’re worried that even if you take out the pillars, the Dome will stay up. That’s it, isn’t it?’ He rocked delightedly back in his chair. ‘Your sign!’ he taunted. ‘Your precious sign! What a perverse God He is, to make your task so difficult.’
‘Please keep your voice down,’ said Avram. ‘Do you want people to hear?’
‘Why? Won’t your God protect us from eaves- droppers?’
‘I’m getting tired of this,’ said Avram. ‘Will you help or not?’
‘I don’t see how I can. A situation like this, I’d need to get inside, examine the work up close. Not a chance in hell they’ll let that happen. Not a chance in hell they’ll let
any
kafir inside. Not with the repairs going on. It’s your precious sign at work again, making life easy.’
Avram leaned forwards. ‘Signs aren’t meant to make things easy,’ he said. ‘They’re meant to make them significant. They’re meant to make our people receptive
to His message, so that their hearts will flood with belief and they’ll have the strength to do the hard things that will need doing. The things that need
steel
.’ He forced a smile, let his anger subside, sat back in his chair. ‘What if I could get you footage?’
Benyamin shrugged. ‘It would be better than nothing. But not much. It’s impossible to gauge structural strength accurately from video. You need to see the thing itself, the materials, the workmanship. My advice, just put charges on everything.’
‘We don’t have enough. Or the men to carry them.’
‘Then you have a problem.’
Avram nodded. ‘There is one solution I can think of.’
Benyamin gave Avram a sour look. ‘One more than I can,’ he said.
‘Perhaps you’re weakening,’ suggested Avram. ‘I could understand that. It’s been three years now, hasn’t it? Over three. Perhaps you don’t feel so strongly any more.’
Colour flushed Benyamin’s face. ‘I feel strongly.’
‘Then come with us tomorrow night. See the repairs for yourself. Examine the pillars and the scaffolding. Tell us where to place the charges. You can finally do something to avenge Elizabeth. It was Elizabeth, wasn’t it?’
Benyamin’s expression stiffened. ‘You know it was.’
‘And Judy and Rosanna?’
‘I remember their names,’ said Benyamin tightly. ‘You think I could ever forget their names?’
Avram nodded. ‘You don’t have to decide now,’ he said. ‘All I ask is that you listen to my plan.’
‘Go on, then.’
‘Not now. Tomorrow night. I’ll explain everything then, and I’ll show you something that will make even
you
believe.’
‘What?’
Avram got to
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