The Masada Complex

Palestine!

Forcing his head up, he detached from the rabbi and pushed through the crowd, showing himself to the Israeli policemen. He would not bow to them, even in captivity!

They ignored him.

A dozen steps to the side, Silver looked back, expecting them to follow.

Nothing.

He chuckled at his self-induced panic. He had tricked them after all!

Shaking his face with his hand, he took in the view. Beyond the airport’s fences, fields stretched afar, their green turning to hazy blue as they faded into the distant hills. “Praise Allah,” he whispered, “and Mohammed his prophet.” He dropped to his knees, leaning forward, laying his open hands on the hot tarmac. “Filasteen!”

His lips touched the asphalt, and Faddah’s lovable face came to him with all the sweetness and hope of their last day together, crossing the Dead Sea, climbing Mount Masada. “I’m back, Faddah,” he whispered, fighting off tears. “I’ll avenge you, my son.” He kissed the ground again, dust clinging to his moist lips, and rested his forehead on the ground.

Loud singing drew his attention. He turned to see more Jews in yellow shirts emerging from the door of the plane and descending the staircase, singing at the top of their voices, “We bring peace upon you.” They repeated the line, clapping rhythmically. He smiled, wiping his tears. The Jews had no idea they were lying prone in front of a speeding train-the train that he had set in motion!

Two blue-and-white buses arrived, and passengers boarded them for the short ride to the terminal while more emerged from the plane. He shut his eyes, weary of seeing joyous Jews around the blotch.

Without words, he thanked Allah again for clearing all the barriers from his path. Soon, he would meet the team at the Michener Eye Center at Hadassah Hospital, and on Sunday morning they would save his eyesight. And by Wednesday afternoon, Washington time, Phase One of his plan would be realized by the Senate’s vote, tearing the Jewish leech off America’s veins. He would return to the United States to begin the political campaign for the apartheidization of Israel and the imposition of international sanctions. He might relocate from Phoenix to New York to be near the center of diplomatic activity at the United Nations. Elzirah could become the legal director for the campaign-a reputable American lawyer who would lend credibility to their efforts and draft necessary petitions and resolutions. That thought reminded him that he must reach Elizabeth through her office to let her know about the “unexpected postponement” of her award ceremony. Otherwise she would be travelling to Israel in the next few days, complicating matters.

For a moment, he worried that Rajid was looking for him in Arizona. But if Rajid ever complained of searching for him in vain, Silver would respond: “I was in Canada, monitoring Masada per your command!” He laughed. Everything was working out for the faithful. He congratulated himself on the decision to observe Ramadan. Allah hu Akbar!

Up above, where the mobile staircase connected to the plane, a lull in the stream of yellow-shirted, singing Jews caused Silver to look up. He blinked a few times to moisten his eye. The doorway remained empty for a long moment until a tall figure appeared. He felt sudden pressure in his chest. He shielded his eye from the sun and looked again.

Masada?

She stepped onto the small landing at the top of the staircase. Her gaze dropped, she saw him, and her lips mouthed, Levy?

Rabbi Josh filled his chest with Israel’s air and recited from memory, “And God shall bring them to the domain of His Holiness.He shall drive off the gentiles. And settle Israel in their tents.”

There was great joy around him, fellow Jewish men and women singing, their voices strong, defiant of America and its shifting political winds. Masada’s expose had been a blessing in disguise. The wave of anti-Semitic attacks was causing thousands of American Jews to move to Israel. Rabbi Josh sighed. If only he had not waited, foolishly believing his son was safer in Arizona than in the land of his ancestors.

The first two buses departed for the terminal, and new ones arrived to pick up more passengers. He searched the faces around him. “Levy?” The rabbi stood on his toes. “Levy Silver!” He picked up the tied-up wood sections of the dais and approached the police officers leaning against their vehicle. “Did you see a little man in a black beret?”

One of them pointed, and the rabbi saw Silver sitting on the ground. He walked over and kneeled by the professor. “What’s wrong?”

A shadow fell over them. A familiar voice demanded, “What are you doing here?”

Rabbi Josh looked up, stunned. “Were you on our plane?”

Masada ignored him, her green eyes burning in her pale face as she leaned over the professor. “You lied to me!”

The rabbi felt drawn to her like a compass arm forced by a magnet. But he remembered Silver’s story, how she had lured Al Zonshine. Come, big guy.

Masada pointed a finger in Professor Silver’s face. “You promised to hire a lawyer-the best lawyer in Phoenix! Where is he?”

“Yes. I know.” Silver opened his arms helplessly. “But I thought you’d be free. The judge said they must release you in the morning, right?”

“Answer me!” She shook Levy’s shoulder.

“Leave him alone,” Rabbi Josh said. “Can’t you see he’s not feeling well?”

“Do you know what you’ve done?” She thrust her bruised wrists in the professor’s face. “I’m back in this hellhole because of you!”

“But I didn’t know,” Silver pleaded. “I thought you’d be released.”

“You promised a lawyer, and I get this?” Masada kicked the ground, her face twisting in pain. “Damn you!”

Unable to restrain himself, Rabbi Josh shouted, “Enough! Enough! Enough!”

Masada’s ears rang from the shouting. She had never heard Rabbi Josh raise his voice, let alone shout at her. After twelve hours of seething, being stuck in the rear of the packed plane, with her hopes for a lawyer dashed, she could no longer contain her rage. Without a second thought, she raised her hand and slapped the rabbi across the face.

“Oy,” Silver said.

She stepped back, shocked at what she’d done.

The rabbi touched his cheek. “Haven’t you sinned enough already?”

She didn’t answer.

“Pray for forgiveness,” he said. “That’s why God brought you here, to his holy land.”

“It’s not me who should repent,” Masada said. “You’re not fooling me Agent Frank! ”

He continued to look at her with innocent eyes. “Yes, I also have to repent. I do repent. Every moment that I’m awake. But you, after all you’ve done, have you no remorse at all?”

“Kinderlakh, please!” Levy Silver reached up, and they helped him to his feet. “Joshua, Masada, I beg you like I would beg my own children. This isn’t a place for fighting.” He closed his eyes and recited, “Go, depart from your birthplace, from your father’s home, and travel to the land that I will show you.”

“Give me a break,” Masada said. “Enough with the quotes!”

Silver looked up at her. “Didn’t I plead with you to stay in Phoenix and show them how my girl fights back? Didn’t I tell you to ignore the self-interested TV reporter? I assumed you’d be at your house by now. I was going to phone you as soon as we landed to discuss the lawyer. We have to make a choice and move forward!”

Masada tried to read his eyes through the thick glasses. “Why didn’t you tell me you’re going to Israel?”

“I didn’t want you to worry. I have an appointment at Hadassah.”