Read Online Living Stones by Lloyd Johnson - Free Book Online Page B

brothers’ house occasionally to not arouse anyone’s suspicion. But he’d gradually disappear, even from Ali. His plan included taking classes at Seattle Central Community College so he would have student credentials. He decided to stay away from the Islamic Center or any other mosque that could be targeted for investigation.
    So Robert moved back, out of the brothers’ house, to his rented room. His jihadist fervor and hate of the establishment was tempered by a constant nagging fear of discovery. That the country boiled with anger didn’t help. No effort would be spared to find him. He rehashed the scene of the bombing in his mind, going over and over it, trying to remember all the details. He had briefly exchanged glances with the girl. She probably couldn’t see his face with the hood covering some of it, or the red birthmark on his forehead. Toofar away. He still didn’t know for sure whether she survived and had no way to learn that since she had dropped out of the news.
    History and psychology interested Robert, so he asked whether he could pay to audit courses already underway for spring quarter at the Seattle Central Community College on Capitol Hill. He began to sit in on two classes. The first morning he sat next to a girl in the psychology class and struck up a conversation. That led to an invitation later in the week for coffee in the student cafeteria. He led her to a table in the corner, away from most of the students. The noise of conversations seemed loud. Jenny, a short, dark-haired girl with a pixie haircut, smiled a lot. She seemed quiet, but friendly. Robert learned that she wanted to transfer to the UW next year when she completed her associate degree.
    “What then, Jenny?”
    “I’m thinking of a counseling career. But that takes years of training, so I don’t know. God must have something in mind for me.”
    “You must be religious.”
    “Oh, maybe. But I do believe that God leads us somehow. Do you, Robert?”
    He thought for a minute. What to reply? Didn’t he try to fit into Allah’s plan? “I, um, guess I do. You probably go to church somewhere.”
    “Yeah, I do. It’s one I’ve discovered that is quite interesting. Partly because they teach about Israel and believe that we are close to the end times.”
    “I don’t get it. Why would they care about Israel? And what do you mean, ‘end times’?”
    “Oh, that’s easy! They believe that Israel becoming a nation in 1948 represents the beginning of the end, you know, when Messiah returns.” Jenny smiled, but with a quizzical furrowed brow.
    “So they are all supporters of Israel?” he asked.
    “Right. We even wave Israeli flags once in a while. There is an association of churches who support Israel in every way they can. They are all over the country.”
    “I had no idea churches like that existed.”
    “Would you like to come sometime? I’d be glad to take you.”
    “I guess it wouldn’t hurt, you know. Why not? I’ll look at my calendar and get back to you.”

    Watching television news in the living room of his landlord’s house, Robert realized the intensity of the national frenzy. He understood the corresponding determination of the FBI to find the bomber. What should he do to lie low? No way could he get out of the country without raising suspicion, not with a Pakistan visa in his passport. They would have that in their computers even in the process of getting a new passport.
    OK, he would avoid any close contact with anyone. He would not even eat dinner at the brothers’ house. The FBI could be tracking them, or Imam Jabril. He would miss seeing Ali, but it would be better that way. With his small refrigerator and stove, he’d cook his own food in his room or eat out occasionally.
    Then he thought of Jenny’s invitation to visit her church. He smiled. What could be better for his cover than attending a church that is known to be pro-Israeli? What a great idea for a jihadist looking for a place to hide.
    The