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,
laughing with her.
Afterwards she led him proudly about the rooms and showed him the
changes and additions that had turned it into a real home during his
absence. David had convinced her that cost was not fundamental and they
had chosen the designs for the furniture together. These had been made
and delivered by Debra's tame Arab and she had arranged them as they had
planned it. It was all in soft leather and dark wood, lustrous copper
and brass, set off by the bright rugs. However, there was one article
he had never seen before, a large oil painting on canvas, and Debra had
hung it unframed on the freshly painted white wall facing the terrace.
It was the only decoration upon the wall, and any other would have been
insignificant beside it.
It was a harsh dominant landscape, a desert scene which captured the
soul of the wilderness; the colours; were hot and fierce and seemed to
pour through the room like the rays of the desert sun itself.
Debra held his hand and watched David's face anxiously for a reaction as
he studied it. Wow! He said at last. You like it? She was relieved.
It's terrific. Where did you get it? 'A gift from the artist.
She's an old friend. 'She? That's right. We are driving up to
Tiberias tomorrow to have lunch with her. I've told her all about you,
and she wants to meet you. 'What's she like? She's one of our leading
artists, and her name is Ella`Kadesh, but apart from that I can't begin
to describe her.
All I can do is promise you an entertaining day. Debra had prepared a
special dish of lamb and olives and they ate it on the terrace under the
olive tree. Again the talk turned to Joe's wedding, and in the midst of
it David asked abruptly, What made you decide to come with me, without
marrying? She replied after a moment. I I discovered that I loved you,
and I knew that you were too impatient to play the waiting game. I knew
that if I didn't, I might lose you again. Until recently, I didn't
realize what a big decision it was, he mused, and she sipped her wine
without replying. Let's get married, Debs, he broke the silence. Yes,
she nodded.
That's a splendid idea. 'Soon, he said. Soon as possible. Not before
Hannah. I don't want to steal her day from her.
Right, David agreed, but immediately afterwards. Morgan, you have got
yourself a date, she told him.
it was a three-hour drive to Tiberias so they rose as soon as the sun
came through the shutters and tigerstriped the wall above the brass bed.
To save time, they shared one bath, sitting facing each other,
waist-deep in suds.
Ella is the rudest person you'll ever meet, Debra warned him. She
looked like a little girl this morning with her hair piled on top of her
head and secured with a pink ribbon. The greater the impression you
make on her, the ruder she will be, and you are expected to retaliate in
kind. So please, David, don't lose your temper.
David scooped up a dab of suds with a finger and smeared it on the tip
of her nose.
I promise, he said.
They drove down to Jericho, and then turned north along the valley of
the Jordan, following the high barbedwire fence of the border with its
warning notice boards for the minefields, and the regular motorized
patrols grinding deliberately along the winding road.
It was hot in the valley and they drove with the windows open and Debra
pulled her skirt high around her waist to cool her long brown legs.
Better not do that if you want to be in time for lunch, David warned
her, and she smoothed them down hurriedly.
Nothing is safe with you around, she protested.
They came at last out of the barren land into the fertile basin of the
Kibbutzim below Galilee, and again the smell of orange blossom was so
strong on the warm air that it was difficult to breathe.
At last they saw the waters of the lake flashing amongst the date palms
and Debra touched his arm.
Slow down, Davey. Ella's place is a few miles this side of Tiberias.
That's the turnoff, up ahead.
It was a track that led down to the lake shore and it ended against a
wall of ancient stone blocks. Five other cars were parked there
already.
Ella's having one of her lunch parties, Debra remarked and led him to a