You come to me with the blood of my son on your hands, he said, and
David froze at the words and held his gaze. After a few moments the
Brig indicated the tall-backed chair against the far wall, and David
crossed stiffly to it and sat down.
If you had suffered less, I would have made you answer for more, said
the Brig. But vengeance and hatred are barren things, as you have
discovered. David dropped his eyes to the floor.
I will not pursue them further, despite the dictates of my heart, for
that is what I am condemning in you.
You are a violent young man, and violence is the pleasure of fools and
only the last resort of wise men.
The only excuse for it is to protect what is rightfully yours, any other
display of violence is abuse. You abused the power I gave you, and in
doing it you killed my son, and brought my country to the verge of war.
The Brig stood up from his desk, and he crossed to the window and looked
down into the garden. They were both silent while he stroked his
mustache and remembered his son.
At last the Brig sighed heavily and turned back into the room. Why do
you come to me? he asked.
I wish to marry your daughter, sir.
You are asking me, or telling me? the Brig demanded, and then without
waiting for an answer returned to his desk and sat down. If you abuse
this also, if you bring her pain or unhappiness, I will seek you out.
Depend upon it. David stood up and settled the cloth cap over his gross
head, pulling the brim well down.
We would like you to be at the wedding. Debra asked that particularly,
for you and her mother. The Brig nodded. You may tell her that we will
be there.
The synagogue at Jerusalem University is a gleaming white structure,
shaped like the tent of a desert wanderer, with the same billowing
lines.
The red-bud trees were in full bloom and the wedding party was larger
than they had planned, for apart from the immediate family there were
Debra's colleagues from the university, Robert and some of the other
boys from the squadron, Ella Kadesh, Doctor Edelman the baby-faced eye
surgeon who had worked on Debra, Aaron Cohen and a dozen others.
After the simple ceremony, they walked through the university grounds to
one of the reception rooms that David had hired. It was a quiet
gathering with little laughter or joking. The Young Pilots from David's
old squadron had to leave early to return to base, and with them went
any pretence of jollity.
Debra's mother was still not yet fully recovered, and the prospect of
Debra's departure reduced her to quiet grey weeping. Debra tried
without success to comfort her.
Before he left, Dr. Edelman drew David aside.
Watch for any sign of atrophy in her eyes, any cloudiness, excessive
redness, any complaints of pain, headaches! will watch for it.
Any indications, no matter how trivial, if you have any doubts, you must
write to me. 'Thank you, doctor.
They shook hands. Good luck in your new life, said Edelman.
