MUSIC. We hear the thump of goat-skinned drum or early "dumbegh"--a Middle Eastern drum in a one, two, one two three tempo. A flute wails its nuance in a minor key, keeping rhythm in a hypnotic dance, to the hand-drum wipe out. An attendant waves sheaves of wheat to the rhythm. Fanbearers slowly stir the heavily-incensed air. Astrologers from Babylon arrive.















As humans, we need com