some head covering, anything to conceal the weird new shape of his
scalp.
One of the nurses found him a cloth cap, and then told him that a
visitor was waiting for him in the hospital superintendent's department.
He was a major from the military provost marshal's office, a lean
grey-haired min with cold grey eyes and a tight hard mouth. He
introduced himself without offering to shake hands and then opened the
file on the desk in front of him.
I have been instructed by my office to ask for the formal resignation of
your commission in the Israeli Air Force, he started, and David stared
at him. In the long pain-filled, fever-hot nights, the thought of
flying once more had seemed like a prospect of paradise.
I don't understand, he mumbled, and reached for a cigarette, breaking
the first match and then puffing quickly as the second flared. You want
my resignation - and if I refuse? Then we shall have no alternative
other than to convene a court martial and to try you for dereliction of
duty, and refusing in the face of the enemy to obey the lawful orders of
your superior officer. I see, David nodded heavily, and drew on the
cigarette. The smoke stung his eyes. It doesn't seem I have any
choice. I have prepared the necessary documents. Please sign here, and
here, and I shall sign as witness. David bowed over the papers and
signed. The pen scratched loudly in the silent room.
Thank you. The major gathered his papers, and placed them in his
briefcase. He nodded at David and started for the door.
So now I am an outcast, said David softly, and the man stopped. They
stared at each other for a moment, and then the major's expression
altered slightly, and the cold grey eyes became ferocious.
You are responsible for the destruction of two warplanes that are
irreplaceable and whose loss has caused us incalculable harm. You are
responsible for the death of a brother officer, and for bringing your
country to the very brink of open war which would have cost many
thousands more of our young people's lives, and possibly our very
existence. You have embarrassed our international friends, and given
strength to our enemies. He paused and drew a deep breath. The
recommendation of my office was that you should go to trial and that the
prosecution be instructed to ask for the death penalty.
It was only the personal intervention of the Prime Minister and of
Major-General Mordecai that saved you from that. In my view, instead of
bemoaning your fate, you should consider yourself highly fortunate. He
turned away and his footsteps cracked on the stone floor as he strode
from the room.
In the bleak impersonal lobby of the hospital, David was suddenly struck
by a reluctance to walk on out into the spring sunshine through the
glass swing doors. He had heard that long-term prisoners felt this way
when the time came for their release.
Before he reached the doors he turned aside and went down to the
hospital synagogue. In a corner of the quiet square hall he sat for a
long time. The stained-glass windows, set high in the nave, filled the
air with shafts of coloured lights when the sun came through, and a
little of the peace and beauty of that place stayed with him and gave
