Cha[ter 73
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On Thursday September 1st Eve was waiting at the airport for Nadia's plane. She'd been doing relief work in Sangala, her parents were doing something in Iran their plane was arriving in a few hours. When Nadia's plane arrived Eve was waiting. Eve was grateful to this woman for saving her life, introducing her to islam. Nadia and Eve hugged. then went to an airport restaurant for french fries and soda.
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Eve: I'm so glad to see you. This place has been lonely without you.
Nadia: I'm glad to see you too. Please tell me you quit smoking.
Eve: I'm trying, it's harder than I thought. Anyway I started a new job. I'm a secretary at Ravenwood. I could probably put in a good word for you if you want.
Nadia: Sorry, I think I'll be busy. Have you heard of the obitoriums?
Eve: Yeah, they call themselves "mercy clinics." They perform abortions and now, assisted suicide.
Nadia: Correct. Allen signed it into law while acting president, but Mason supports this policy. Some from our mosque are working with some christian and jewish groups. Basically we'll be standing outside, try to persuade people not to commit these terrible sins.
Eve: Like what you did for me at Jack's party?
Nadia: Yes. Thurty people took their owns lives that night, three people changed their minds. Doing this, we might have even smaller success rate. Will you help me?
Eve: I'll help when I can. You saved my life, and my soul that night. It's only fair that I try to help others like that.
Nadia: Thank you my friend.
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On Friday Eve and Nadia went to their mosque for early services, then Eve went to work. On Saturday she worked her first 8 hour shift. This job wasn't too bad. Eve's body had already adjusted to working a regular job, this was just a different job. It probably wasn't a bad idea to have another skill set, especially when government agents were determining which people to take on the Arks. On Sunday Eve and Nadia went to a picnic at Eve's old church. Father Mcnamara was hosting this event. He also used this opportunity to coordinate the multiple groups. At the picnic they ran into Benson, one of the boys that Nadia saved that fateful night. He was grateful to Nadia, and tried to help her. Since then Benson had become a born-again christian, believed that it was the only way into Heaven. Benson realized that, according to this logic, he would've been sent to Hell if he'd committed suicide. It also meant that Nadia and Eve would be sent to Hell if they remained muslims. Thus Benson tried to convince them that they should become "saved." Nadia seemed just as convinced that islam was the true way, and tried to convince Benson to become a muslim. She realized she had given him some time, but it might be for nothing if he continued to blasphem the prophet Jesus by calling him a god. Later Eve went with father Mcnamara and a small group. Syed Ali, who was fast becoming the un-official imam of their mosque, seemed to be their group's representative. These two leaders briefed their teams on what to do. They were to stand outside the mercy clinics, speak politely, try to dissuade people from entering the clinics. Do not physically stop, don't threaten anyone. Father Mcnamara gave them a list of clinics to target like this. Syed Ali asked about another one, but was told it was "one of theirs." Eve asked what that meant. That particular clinic was fake, once people entered the doctors would attempt to talk them down. Eve understood why people would want to die, why they wouldn't want to bring a child into this world. It wasn't death, or even ELE, that people feared. It was after impact, the freezing cold, starvation, people killing each other for the last remaining food. These were the things that truley frightened Eve, and not just her. But Nadia's strength showed Eve the way. As bad as this world might becomem it was temporary, Hell was permanent. Nadia risked her life to save the souls of strangers. Eve felt it was now her duty to do the same for others.