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
