position with his finger on the trigger of twin 30-mm. cannons, capable
of pouring twelve thousand shells a minute into you, then your chances
were considerably lighter than three hundred to one.
Joe also had his own special talent. The forward scanning radar of the
Mirage was a complicated and sophisticated body of electronics, that
required firstly a high degree of manual dexterity. The mechanism was
operated entirely by the left hand, and the fingers of that hand had to
move like those of a concert pianist. However, more important was the
feel for the instrument, a lover's touch to draw the optimum results
from it. Joe had the feel, David did not.
They flew training interceptions, day and night, against high-flying and
low-altitude practice targets.
They flew low-level training strikes, and at other times they went out
high over the Mediterranean and engaged each other in plane-to-plane
dogfights.
However, Desert Flower steered them tactfully away from any actual or
potential combat situation. They were watching David.
At the end of the period, David's service dossier passed over
Major-General Mordecai's desk. Personnel was the Brig's special
responsibility and although each officer's dossier was reviewed by him
regularly, he had asked particularly to see David's.
The dossier was still slim, compared to the bulky tomes of some of the
old salts and the Brig flicked quickly over his own initial
recommendation and the documents of David's acting commission. Then he
stopped to read the later reports and results. He grinned wolfishly as
he saw the gunnery report. He could pick them out of a crowd, he
thought with satisfaction.
At last he came to le Dauphin's personal appraisaclass="underline" Morgan is a pilot of
exceptional ability. Recommended that acting rank be confirmed and that
he be placed on fully operational basis forthwith. The Brig picked up
the red pen that was his own special prerogative and scrawled J agree at
the foot of the report.
That took care of Morgan, the pilot. He could now consider Morgan, the
man. His expression became bleak and severe. Debra's sudden desire to
leave home almost immediately David arrived in Jerusalem had been too
much of a coincidence for a man who was trained to search for underlying
motives and meanings.
It had taken him two days and a few phone calls to learn that Debra was
merely using the hostel room at the University as an accommodation
address, and that her real domestic arrangements were more comfortable.
The Brig did not approve, very definitely not. Yet he knew that it was
beyond his jurisdiction. He learned that his daughter had inherited his
own iron will. Confrontations between them were cataclysmic events,
that shook the family to its foundations and seldom ended in
satisfactory results.
Although he spent much of his time with young people, still he found the
new values hard to live with - let alone accept. He remembered the
physical agony of his long and chaste engagement to Ruth with pride,
like a veteran reviewing an old campaign.
Well, at the least she has the sense not to flout it, not to bring shame
on us all. She has spared her mother that. The Brig closed the dossier
firmly.
Le Dauphin called David into his office and told him of his change in
status. He would go on regular green standby, which meant four nights a
week on base.
David would not have to undergo his paratrooper training in unarmed
combat and weapons. A downed pilot in Arab territory had a much better
chance of survival if he was proficient in this type of fighting.
David went straight from le Dauphin's office to the telephone in the
crew-room. He caught Debra before she left the Lauterman Building for
lunch.
Warm the bed, wench, he told her, I'll be home tomorrow night.
He and Joe drove up to Jerusalem in the Mercedes, and he wasn't
listening to Joe's low rumbling voice until a thumb like an oar prodded
his ribs.
Sorry, Joe, I was thinking.
Well, stop it. Your thoughts are misting up the windows. What did you
say?
J was talking about the wedding, Hannah and me. David realized it was
only a month away now, and he expected the excitement amongst the women
was heavy as static on a summer's day before the rain. Debra's letters
had been filled with news of the arrangements.
I would be happy if you will stand up with me, and be my witness. You
fly as wingman for a change, and I'll take on the target.
David realized that he was being honoured by the request and he accepted
with proper solemnity. Secretly he was amused. Like most young
Israelis David had spoken to, both Debra and Joe claimed not to be
religious. He had learned that this was a pose. All of them were very
conscious of their religious heritage, and well versed in the history
and practice of Judaism.
They followed all the laws of living that were not oppressive, and which
accorded with a modern and busy existence.
To them religious meant dressing in the black robes and wide-brimmed
hats of the ultra orthodox Mea Shea rim, or in following a routine for
daily living that was crippling in its restrictions.
The wedding would be a traditional affair, complete with all the
ceremony and the rich symbolism, complicated only by the security
precautions which would have to be most rigorously enforced.
The ceremony was to take place in the Brig's garden, for Hannah was an
orphan. Also the secluded garden and fortress-like walls about it, were
easier to protect.
Amongst the guests would be many prominent figures in the government and
the military.
At the last count we have five generals and eighteen colonels on the
list, Joe told him, to which add most of the cabinet, even Golda has
promised to try and be there. So you see, it's going to make a nice
juicy target for our friends in Black September. Joe scowled and lit
two cigarettes, passing one to David. If it wasn't for Hannah, you know
how women feel about weddings, I would just as soon go down to a
registry office. You are fooling nobody, David grinned. You are
looking forward to it. Sure, Joe's scowl cleared. It's going to be
good to have our own place, like you and Debs. I wish Hannah had been
sensible. A year of pretending, he shook his head. Thank God it's
nearly over.
He dropped Joe in the lane outside the Brig's house in Em Karem.
I won't bother to invite you in, Joe said. I guess you've got plans.
Good guess, David smiled. Will we see you and Hannah? Come to dinner
tomorrow night.
Joe shook his head again. I'm taking Hannah down to Ashkelon to visit
her parents graves. It's traditional before a wedding. Perhaps we'll
see you Saturday Right then, I'll try and make it. Debra will want to
see you. aloin, Joe. Shalom, shalom, said Joe and David pulled away,
flicking the gears in a racing change as he put the Mercedes at the
hill. Suddenly he was in a hurry.
The terrace door stood open in welcome, and she was waiting for him.
Debra was vibrant and tense with expectation, sitting in one of the new
leather chairs with her legs curled under her. Her hair was freshly
washed and shimmering like a starling's wing. She was dressed in a
billowing kaftan of light silk and subtle honey colours that picked out
the gold in her eyes.
She came out of the chair in a swirl of silk, and ran barefooted across
the rugs to meet him.
David! David! she cried and he caught her up and spun on his heels,