Shaken (42 page)

Eli and Moishe moved in slow motion. Their chests heaved as their lungs filled with oxygen. They struggled to their knees. It was like watching a newborn animal standing for the first time. Then they gained strength and put hands on the pavement in front of them and rose. As they stood, people throughout the plaza whimpered and moaned with fright.

Their skin, black and purple from lying in the sun, began to fade until it was flesh colored again. Their wounds healed.

Lionel couldn't take his eyes from them. The two gathered their robes, which had also become like new, and stood strong and tall. They gazed at the crowd, then looked up.

A voice spoke so loud that people covered their ears. “COME UP HERE!”

Lionel noticed the music from a few blocks away had stopped. Everyone watched as Eli and Moishe slowly rose into the air. People fell on their knees and buried their faces. Others cried out in horror as the two disappeared into a cloud. The cloud moved higher and higher until it vanished.

Lionel fell to his knees. All he could think to say was, “Thank you. Thank you for letting me see that.”

Mr. Stein began to sing and other believers picked up the tune. The crowd that had been so happy now wailed and cried, drowning out the praises of the believers.

I have to get to Judd and tell him about this,
Lionel thought. But just as he stood, the ground shook beneath him. Lionel grabbed the iron fence and held on. People nearby tumbled against each other. Some were thrown high into the air.

The bright blue sky blackened, and cold rain pelted the ground. Then came the crash of buildings and the smash of metal and glass from a few blocks away.

“Earthquake!” someone shouted.

Lionel held on to the fence until the rumbling stopped. The sun shone through the dark clouds, casting a green shadow on the area.

Mr. Stein said, “We must help those who may be trapped.”

While the rest of the crowd looked for safety, Lionel followed his friends into the death zone. Lionel's one question was whether Judd had survived the quake.