port, unaware of their presence until that moment.
Joe slept that night, exhausted with grief, but David lay in the bunk
beneath him and listened to him. In the dawn he rose and showered and
left Joe still asleep. He drove into Jerusalem and reached the hospital
just as the sun came up and lit the hills with its rays of soft gold and
pearly pink.
The night sister at the desk was brusque and preoccupied. You shouldn't
be here until visiting hours this afternoon, but David smiled at her
with all the charm he could muster.
I just wanted to know if she is doing well. I have to rejoin my
squadron this morning. The sister was not immune either to his smile or
the airforce uniform, and she went to consult her lists.
You must be mistaken, she said at last. 'The only Mordecai we have is
Mrs. Ruth Mordecai. That's her mother, David told her, and the sister
flipped the sheet on her clipboard.
No wonder I couldn't find it, she muttered irritably. She was
discharged last night Discharged? David stared at her
uncomprehendingly.
Yes, she went home last night. I remember her now.
Her father came to fetch her just as I came on duty.
Pretty girl with eye bandages - Yes, David nodded. Thank you. Thank
you very much, and he ran down the steps to the Mercedes, his feet light
with relief, freed at last from the gnawing doubt and dread.
Debra had gone home. Debra was safe and well.
The Brig opened the door to him, and let him into the silent house. He
was still in his uniform, and it was wilted and rumpled. The Brig's
face was fine-drawn, the lines crudely chiselled around his mouth, and
his eyes were swollen and bloodshot from worry and sorrow and lack of
sleep.
Where is Debra? David demanded eagerly, and the Brig sighed and stood
aside for him to enter.
Where is she? David repeated, and the Brig led him to his study and
waved him to a chair.
Why don't you answer me? David was becoming angry, and the Brig slumped
into a chair across the large bare room, with its severe monastic
furnishings of books and archaeological relics.
I couldn't tell you yesterday, David, she asked me not to. I'm sorry.
What is it? David was fully alarmed now.
She had to have time to think, to make up her mind. The Brig stood up
again and began to pace, his footsteps echoing hollowly on the bare
wooden floor, pausing every now and then to touch one of the pieces of
ancient statuary, caressing it absently as he talked, as though to draw
comfort from it.
David listened quietly, occasionally shaking his head as though to deny
that what he was hearing was the truth.
So you see it is permanent, final, without hope. She is blind, David,
totally blind. She has gone into a dark world of her own where nobody
else can follow her Where is she? I want to go to her, David whispered,
but the Brig ignored the request and went on steadily.
She wanted time to make her decision, and I gave it to her. Last night,
