thanks.
My people, he thought. He was still high on the adrenalin that had
poured into his blood, and he felt a fierce elation. He grinned
wolfishly at the men below him and lifted one gloved hand in salute
before climbing up to where the Brig was circling, waiting for him.
The artificial lights of the bunker were dim after the brilliance of the
sun. An engineer helped David from the cockpit as his mates swarmed
over the Mirage to refuel and rearm it. This was one of the vital
skills of this tiny airforce, the ability to ready a warplane for combat
in a fraction of the time usually required for the task. Thus in
emergency the machine could return to the battle long before its
adversary.
Moving stiffly from the confines of the cockpit, David crossed to where
the Brig was already in conversation with the flight controller.
He stood with the gaudy helmet tucked under one arm as he stripped off
his gloves, but as David came up he turned to him and his wintry smile
exposed the gold tooth in its nest of fur.
Lightly he punched David's arm Ken! Yes! said Major-General Joshua
Mordecai. You'll do.
David was late to fetch Debra for dinner that evening, but she had
already learned the reason from her father.
They went to the Select behind David's Tower, inside the Jaffa Gate of
the old city. Its unpretentious interior, decorated with patterns of
rope upon the walls, did not fully prepare David for the excellent meal
that the Arab proprietor served with the minimum of delay, mousakha
chicken, with nuts and spices on a bed of kouskous.
They ate almost in silence, Debra quickly recognizing and respecting
David's mood. He was in the grip of postcombat tristesse, the adrenalin
hangover of stress and excitement, but slowly the good food in his belly
and the heavy Carmel wine relaxed him, until over the thimblesized cups
of Turkish coffee, black and powerfully reeking of cardamon seed, Debra
ask, What happened today, David? He sipped the coffee before replying.
I killed a man. She set down her cup and studied his face solemnly, and
he began to speak, telling her the detail of it, the chase and the kill,
until he ended lamely, I felt only satisfaction at the time. A sense of
achievement. I knew I had done what was right. 'And now? she prompted
him.
Now I am sad, he shrugged. I am saddened that I had to do it. My
father, who has always been a soldier, says that only those who do the
actual fighting can truly know what it is to hate war. David nodded.
Yes, I understand that now. I love to fly, but I hate to destroy. They
were silent again, both of them considering their own personal vision of
war, both of them trying to find words to express it.
And yet it is necessary, Debra broke the silence. We must fight, there
is no other way. There is no other way, with the sea at our backs and
the Arabs at our throats. You speak like an Israeli, Debra challenged
him softly.
I made a decision today, or rather I was press-ganged by your father. He
has given me three weeks to brush up my Hebrew, and complete the
immigration formalities. 'And then? Debra leaned towards him.
A comnission in the airforce. That was the only point I scored on, I
had just enough strength to hold out for the equivalent rank I would
have had back home.
He haggled like a secondhand clothes dealer, but I had him, and he knew
it. So he gave in at last. Acting major, with confirmation of rank at
the end of twelve months. 'That's wonderful, Davey, you'll be one of
the youngest majors in the service.
Yeah, David agreed, and after I've paid my taxes I'll have a salary a
little less than a bus-driver back home. 'Never mind, Debra smiled for
the first time. I'll help you with your Hebrew. I was going to talk to
you about that, he answered her smile. Come on, let's get out of here.
I'm restless tonight, and I want to walk. They strolled through the
Christian quarter. The open stalls on each side were loaded with garish
and exotic clothes, and leather work and jewellery, and the smells of
spices and food and drains and stale humanity was almost solid in the
narrow lanes where the arches met overhead.
Debra drew him into one of the antique stores in the Via Doloroso, and
the proprietor came to them, almost wriggling with pleasure.
Ah, Miss Mordecai, and how is your dearly esteemed father? Then he
rushed into the back room to brew more coffee for them.
He's one of the half-honest ones, and he lives in mortal fear of the
Brig. Debra selected an antique solid gold Star of David on a slim
golden neck chain, and though he had never before worn personal
jewellery, David bowed his head and let her place it about his neck. The
golden star lay against the coarse dark curls of his chest.
That's the only decoration you'll ever get, we don't usually give
medals, she told him laughingly. But welcome to Israel anyway. It's
beautiful, David was touched and embarrassed by the gift, thank you. And
he buttoned his shirt over it and then reached awkwardly to kiss her,
but she drew away and warned him.
Not in here. He's a Moslem, and he'd be very offended. All right, said
David. Let's go and find some place where we won't hurt anybody's
sensibilities. They went out through the Lion Gate in the great wall
and found a stone bench in a quiet place amongst the olive trees of the
Moslem cemetery. There was a half moon in the sky, silver and
mysterious, and the night was warm and waiting, seemingly as expectant
as a new bride.
You can't stay on at the Intercontinental, Debra told him, and they both
looked up at its arched and lighted silhouette across the valley. Why
not? Well, first of all it's too expensive. On your salary you just
can't afford it. You don't really expect me to live on my salary? David
protested, but Debra ignored him and went on.
And what is more important, you aren't a tourist any more. So you can't
live like one. 'What do you suggest? 'We could find you an apartment.
Who would do the housework, and the laundry, and the cooking? he
protested vehemently. I haven't had much practice at that sort of
thing. I would, said Debra, and he froze for an instant and then turned
slowly on the seat to look at her. What did you say? I said, I would,
she repeated firmly, and then her voice quavered. That's if you want me
to. He was silent for a long moment.
See here, Debs. Are you talking about living together?
I mean, playing house-house on a full-time basis, the whole bit? 'That's
precisely what I am talking about. But - He could think of nothing
further to say. The idea was novel, breath-taking, and alive with
enchanting possibilities. All David's previous experiences with the
opposite sex had been profuse rather than deep, and he found himself on
the frontiers of unexplored territory. Well? Debra asked at last.
Do you want to get married? his voice cracked on the word, and he
cleared his throat.
I'm not sure that you are the finest marriage material in the market, my
darling David. You are as beautiful as the dawn, and fun to be with,
but you are also selfish, immature and spoiled stupid Thank you kindly
Well, there is no point in me mincing words now, David, not when I am
about to throw all caution aside and become your mistress. Wow! 'he