“Who will this minder be?” David asked. “You?”
“Goodness, no. I suppose the joint committee will have picked someone. It will depend upon availability and schedules. You know how it is. It would help if you can agree to keep the visit short, say two, three days at the most. It will be difficult to get a faculty member for more than that. An imposition, in fact.”
“I didn’t ask for a minder, Professor.”
“You asked for unusual access to Metsadá, Mr. Hall. That is the same thing. Of course, if you object—”
“Yeah, right. I can always go away.”
“That is an option, as you say.”
They traveled in silence through more heavy traffic for the next twenty minutes. I should have expected this, David thought. Except that I thought any minder would be someone who was already at the site. Archaeologists, security guards, tourism bureau people, but not an escort from the Hebrew University. I wonder what the hell changed to provoke this? Oh, well, his plan was flexible. This would just mean he would be doing his real explorations at night. If nothing else, he thought, the time zone differential would work in his favor.
“The committee will want to know what you already know about the site, Mr. Hall,” Ellerstein said, breaking the silence as the car sped up a landscaped four-lane parkway toward what looked like the university buildings visible in the distance.
“A little examination, I suppose?”
“Yes, something like that. They assume you have studied the site. That you have read Yigael Yadin’s final reports, and the relevant history — Josephus, Tacitus, for instance.”
“Of course.”
“Very good. There is much controversy surrounding Josephus, as you probably know.”
“Colored somewhat by the fact that he went over to the Romans after Jotapata fell.”
“There is that. We Jews have no tolerance for traitors. Still, he survived when no one else did. Without his so-called history, we would know next to nothing about what really happened at Metsadá.”
You still don’t know what happened there, David thought to himself. That was not a notion he wanted to advertise to these people, however. When he found what he had come to find there, if he found it, there would be time enough for bragging rights. Right now, the game was to reveal less rather than more about what he knew. Convince them he was just another amateur, a know-nothing with more zeal than real knowledge, and they would dismiss him and his one-man expedition as a trivial matter. Success, in fact, depended on that. The assignment of a minder showed that they weren’t completely lulled yet. Then something occurred to him — maybe the minder had been Ellerstein’s idea.
“You’ve been on faculty here since you emigrated, Professor?”
“No, no. For a while I worked for the government, doing research. Then I got tired of that and came to the university to teach graduate-level mathematics. Now I am emeritus, semiretired, on some boards. I am called in to consult on little projects like yours. Just here, driver.”
He paused before getting out of the car. His eyes were distorted through the thick lenses of his glasses as he peered at David.
“Mr. Hall,” he said, “we have arrived. To review: we will be meeting with Professor Armin Strauss, chairman, and Professor Reuven Bergmann, who holds academic responsibility for the Metsadá site. There will be two of his assistants present as well. Perhaps others, yes?”
“A regular crowd.”
“Well, yours is a unique request. There are some details to be worked out, such as how long you will be at the site.”
“Which is a function of how long the minder can be spared.”
Ellerstein beamed. “Full marks. I assume you are ready to go right away? You are sufficiently rested from your trip?”
“Yes, I am,” David said, mentally reviewing his equipment list. For the preliminary search, he had everything ready to go.
“Very well. I suspect that Professor Strauss will offer a three-day stay, beginning as soon as tomorrow. That would give you Tuesday through Thursday at the site, with a return Friday.”
“In time for the minder to begin the Sabbath Friday evening.”
“Just so. If you are amenable to that schedule, this meeting can be brief. Yes? Okay?”
“Okay.”
“Splendid. Let us proceed.”
The conference room was spacious, with a central table, a stage and podium, and chairs for twenty people at the table. Ellerstein introduced David to the two senior professors and their assistants. David wondered briefly which one was the minder as he sat down with Ellerstein. Professor Strauss took the lead. He spoke in English with a trace of a British accent.
“Mr. Hall, welcome to the Hebrew University. Professor Ellerstein has asked us to assist you in your project of personal exploration at Metsadá.”
“Thank you for your hospitality, Professor,” David replied. “I am aware that my request is somewhat unusual, and I do appreciate your helping me out.”
“Yes, Mr. Hall. We are aware that Professor Ellerstein has been interceding for you with the government authorities. May we assume you have obtained the necessary permissions from the IAA?”
David fished the collection of forms out of his briefcase and passed it to the nearest assistant, who passed it over to the second professor. The chairman continued while his colleague inspected the paperwork.
“We also assume that you realize that this site is of profound significance to the modern state of Israel, Mr. Hall. The events that happened there in A.D. 73–74 have some dramatic analogies to offer our countrymen, even to this day.”
“I am aware of that, Professor. Even though I am not a professional archaeologist or historian, I am equally aware of the requirement for me to respect the site and to cause no harm.”
“Exactly, Mr. Hall. We are reassured to hear that. Which brings me to the matter of an escort. Has Professor Ellerstein explained to you that we will re—. Let me rephrase that, that we wish to appoint an escort for you during your stay at the mountain?”
David decided this was the time to take the initiative. It was imperative that he give no inkling that he might not want an escort. “He has, Professor Strauss. I would very much appreciate an escort. In fact, I would have asked for one except that I knew I was already imposing too much as it is.”
David knew he had said the right thing when the old man almost beamed, although Ellerstein was now giving him a distinctly speculative look. The chairman had obviously been anticipating some objections. David decided to press on, aiming to neutralize all the contentious issues. “Professor Ellerstein tells me that you propose a three-day stay at the site, departing tomorrow and returning on Friday of this week, which also is most amenable and generous. I am prepared to leave for the site tomorrow morning.”
“Wonderful, Mr. Hall. We will inform your escort.”
“He’s not here?” David asked, looking around the table.
“She is not here, Mr. Hall. We have appointed Dr. Judith Ressner, who is a faculty member of this institute with extensive knowledge of the site. In fact, I have excused her for the morning in order to let her prepare for your trip. I hope you will meet her at lunch today, as soon as we are completed here, if you will honor us with your company.”