One evening, while posted in Beirut, Andrew and Jacqueline hosted a dinner for their staff. Afterward, Andrew volunteered to drive one guest home.
‘At 11 o’clock, driving through the back streets of the city,’ Andrew recalls, ‘we came upon a large crowd. I slowed the car right down to a crawl, moving ever so slowly, and one by one, the people moved out of the way.
‘Suddenly an elderly lady looked at me, screamed, and fell down just in front of the car, even though the car had never touched her.
‘Scores of people swarmed out of the tenements, and before I knew it I was pulled out of the car and thrown to the ground. I really feared for my life.
‘A young man appeared—a show–off type—and he began asking me questions. He spoke to me in French, [then] in Arabic. That was enough to slow the hysteria down somewhat.
‘Then he got a little audience participation. Bystanders said, “Ask him this. Ask him that.” That dragged things out some more. Finally the police arrived and dispersed the crowd. Fortunately, I was not injured. But that’s as close as it gets.’
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