Jihad

CHAPTER 91

Asad heard the call to prayers far in the distance, the eloquent reminder of his faith waking him. He shook off his slumber and started to push himself off the bed, determined to make his devotions to God. As he did, he realized that he wasn’t alone in the room, and that he hadn’t heard the call to prayers at all — that had come from a dream, or a snatch of memory. Three men were coming through the door. They had guns.

The room exploded with light. Asad thought of his trip to Medina two years before, the glory he experienced when he understood the full meaning of the words that had been spoken to the Prophet: You are a mercy to all creation of the world.

Then Asad thought of nothing and felt nothing, and experienced nothing more of this world.