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coughing uncontrollably. Others lay motionless in their bunks. “Why aren’t you coughing? Is this some kind of spell you’ve put over the jail?”
    Mr. Stein shook his head. “This was predicted thousands of years ago in the Scriptures. A third of those still living will die because of this terrible judgment. But you can be saved from it if you will—”
    The jailer stood and waved the gun frantically. “All right, everybody back in their cells.”
    Mr. Stein moved back. He motioned for the others to leave the cellblock. “The Lord has provided a way of escape. I won’t allow our friends, who are innocent, to suffer any longer.”
    The jailer coughed again and put his hand to his mouth. Mr. Stein turned to leave. The jailer raised the gun.
    Before Judd could react, Nada lunged at the man. People screamed and fell to the floor as muffled gunfire echoed through the jail.

5
    FOR A few seconds, everything went into slow motion for Judd. Nada staggered backward and slumped to the floor. The jailer coughed and waved the gun around. Mr. Stein subdued the man and took the gun away.
    Judd rushed to Nada’s side and pulled her close. He pushed the hair from her face and saw a red spot appear on her shirt.
    Jamal knelt beside his daughter and screamed, “No!”
    Nada’s mother burst into tears.
    Judd felt Nada’s neck. “She’s alive. I can feel a pulse.”
    Nada coughed and struggled to breathe. Jamal leaned over her. “Daughter, speak to us.”
    Nada’s eyelids fluttered. “Hard to … breathe …”
    â€œLie still,” Jamal said.
    â€œSomebody get a doctor!” Kasim shouted. “She’s losing blood!”
    Jamal and Kasim ran into the next room. Judd shook with fright. He didn’t know what to do.
    â€œJudd?” Nada whispered.
    â€œI’m right here.”
    â€œI can’t feel anything. My legs and arms won’t work.”
    â€œYou’re going through a big shock. Just … we’ll get some help.”
    Nada opened her eyes. “I had it all planned. We were going to spend … the rest of our lives …”
    â€œWhy did you do that?” Judd said.
    Nada ignored his question. “Promise me you won’t forget.”
    â€œDon’t talk like that! You’re going to be all right. We’ll get a doctor and …”
    Nada took another painful breath. “Go to your friends … take Sam and Lionel.”
    Nada’s mother knelt and wept by the girl’s side. She took Nada’s limp hand and kissed it. A trickle of blood ran from the corner of Nada’s mouth. Judd dabbed it with his shirt.
    Nada looked at her mother and smiled. A tear ran down her cheek. She tried to speak but couldn’t.
    Nada let out a breath and rested her head on Judd’s chest. He felt Nada’s neck, then her wrist. Nothing. He held her body tightly and cried.
    The air seemed to go out of the room. Judd’s mind spun. He wanted to run, to hide, to get away from this awful scene. But here he was, holding the body of his friend. She had given her life for him and the others. How could he ever thank her? Or forgive her?
    Jamal and Kasim rushed in with a stretcher. They stopped when they saw Judd’s face. Nada’s mother lay on the floor, weeping. Jamal and Kasim both collapsed beside Nada’s body.
    â€œI’m so sorry,” Judd managed.
    Mr. Stein, who had been standing nearby, knelt beside the group and placed a hand on Nada’s head. “Father, we commend the spirit of our sister to you. We are thankful you allowed us the privilege of knowing her. She was filled with courage and truth. You have said that there is no greater love than for someone to lay down their life for a friend. Surely, Nada has done this today. Comfort us now with this loss, and we look forward to the day when we will be united again when you return to rule and reign.”
    Jamal