Two towers stand a few kilometres apart near the Belgian-Dutch border. At Brunssum is AFCENT, NATO's command for Central Europe since 1967, which took over Charlemagne's arms and motto; its spokesman is Ed Frieser. At Eben-Emael stands the Eben-Ezer tower, foretold by the prophet Hermas, whose builder Garcet preaches a mystical pacifism: “Nation shall not lift up sword against nation.” A written monologue sets the two towers face to face, though neither hears the other.
