Day’s End

Though the day is cool and windy, Khalid is sweating profusely by the time he rounds the south corner of the market’s main avenue. The entire marketplace is more than ten blocks long, and the choice of precise location is entirely his. Do not attract attention, they had said. Ride at the same speed as everyone else. Best if you do not stop before pushing the button. Just keep riding.

“Mrs. Levin,” Ariella calls into the rear of the shop. “I think I’ll take you up on that delivery. There’s a man coming just n—”

The first sprinkles of late morning rain have begun to fall on the marketplace. At that moment, the center of the avenue, the vegetable stand, nine other shops, the old woman, the young girl, and more than a dozen others much like them all disappear in one apocalyptic flash of brilliant white light. And with them, a young man who has closed his eyes at the last moment, just as his trembling thumb pushes firmly down on the button.