All We Have Left

Alia and Travis notice smoke seeping into the elevator and a strong burning smell pervades the space. Travis notes that his grandfather had given him a tour of the basement control center in the past, and that someone manning the monitors should be aware that they are trapped. He repeats his assertion that this may have been a bomb, and notes that “It was Muslims who planted the bomb the last time…” (155), stating that his religion does advocate killing non-believers. Alia rebuts this by saying that religion itself should not be condemned, even when its followers twist its meaning to justify violence.

Travis explains that his grandfather had helped to build the World Trade Center in the late 1960s, following his return from Vietnam. Enchanted with the idea of the Towers, his grandfather had brought his wife to see the top prior to its completion, and had believed that the buildings would stand for a thousand years. Finally, Travis tells Alia that his grandfather died five days ago.

Jesse returns to the Peace Center to find Adam alone, waiting to help her make posters. He states, “You didn’t know I was Muslim, did you?” (161), and Jesse is rendered speechless.