the gun, the barrel extended by a silencer, and dropped it in Silver’s lap. “Keep it for your protection.”
The professor raised the gun, examining it.
Rajid’s hand left the steering wheel and pushed the gun out of sight. “The Israeli police don’t appreciate guns in the hands of Palestinians.”
“Then how do you get through the Israeli checkpoints and the separation wall? Aren’t you afraid?”
The handler laughed. “I have enough sets of ID papers to pass a soccer team from Ramallah to Tel Aviv and back. The Israelis’ underestimate our capabilities. They don’t realize that we’ve been watching them and learning!”
They drove in silence for a few minutes.
“So,” Rajid said, “the Jews fixed your eye?”
“It’s a process.” To change the subject, Silver told him about the ceremony he’d promised Elizabeth. “We’ll tell her the event had to be cancelled for security reasons.”
“Where is she?”
“At the Kings Hotel. We can have a ceremony in her room. You’ll thank her on behalf of Palestine and give her a medal.”
Rajid waved his hand dismissively. “Forget her. She’s already done what we needed.”
“She could be useful in Phase Two.”
“You want her involved?”
“She is a prominent lawyer in America. The next phase of my plan-inciting an international boycott of Israel- would benefit from her legal expertise in drafting documents for the various human rights organizations, press releases, legal opinions and so on.”
“Would she do it?” Rajid drove by the Ramban Hostel and continued at a moderate pace.
“I guarantee it. She’s susceptible to threats and temptations. In her position, she could be very influential for the cause.”
“I’ll discuss it in Ramallah, see what our leaders think.” Rajid turned onto a side street.
Silver found the door handle. “You can drop me off here.”
Rajid slowed down but didn’t stop. “I need your papers about Phase Three. To keep in a safe place.”
“It’s safe.” Silver opened the door, though the car was still moving.
“Just think.” Rajid tapped the brake, inching forward. “How terrible it would be for Palestine if the media got hold of it.”
“Are the Israelis looking for me?” Silver tried to read Rajid’s expression. “They have informants in our ranks, that’s known.”
“The Israelis?” Rajid laughed. “They’re chasing explosive belts, not papers.”
“So why?”
“The leadership in Ramallah is nervous about you, Abu Faddah.”
“Then it’s time I presented my plans in person!” Silver stuck his foot out through the open door. “Pick me up tomorrow morning at the cafe. I’ll bring my papers, and you’ll take me to Ramallah.”
Rajid gripped Silver’s arm. “My orders are to pick up all your papers now. The president himself is concerned. Exposure at this time would ruin everything.”
“There will be no exposure.” Silver tried to free his arm. “Let go!”
The light came on above Elizabeth’s head, a single bulb dangling from a wire in the middle of the ceiling. A key turned in the lock. She wiped her face and brushed back her hair.
The door opened. A veiled woman entered, closed the door, and revealed her face.
“Aunt Hamida!”
They hugged. Aunt Hamida was Father’s younger sister, who had taken care of his household after Elizabeth’s mother had died. She looked much older now. And very nervous. “Here!” Aunt Hamida unfurled a dark robe. “Put this on.”
“I like my clothes.” Elizabeth searched the floor, relieved to find her purse. She located Bob Emises’s card. “Call this man at the American consulate.” She pushed the card into Aunt Hamida’s hand. “Tell him to come and pick me up from the Israeli checkpoint in two hours.”
“Quick!” Aunt Hamida held forward the robe. “Put it on. I’ll show you a way out of the mosque. You can walk to the checkpoint and ask the Israelis to call a taxi for you.”
“I’m not running away. This time, I’ll be leaving through the front door with Father’s blessing.”
“Elzirah, listen-”
She felt the baby kick. “And bring something to eat, please.”
“It’s Ramadan. No food!”
“How about a bathroom?”
“They’ll come for you soon.” Aunt Hamida left, locking the door.
The baby gyrated, giving her that unique fluttering sensation. “Hey, little guy, calm down.” Not even born yet, and he was already making her laugh.
On his way back to the hostel, Rabbi Josh noticed a car cruising down the quiet street with the passenger- side door open and a foot dangling through. As the car passed by, he recognized Professor Silver. Despite the pain in his blistered feet, the rabbi gave chase, reaching the car just as it stopped near the end of the street. He pulled the door open. “What’s going on here?”
The driver removed his hand from Levy’s forearm. The fingers left red marks on the professor’s skin. Mirror shades hid the driver’s eyes. His yarmulke sat on slicked-back, black hair. Rabbi Josh smelled a strong fragrance in the car.
“Joshua!” The professor got out, forcing Rabbi Josh to step back. “What a pleasant surprise!”
The rabbi realized the aroma simulated citrus blossom. “Are you alright?”
“Shalom!” Silver waved at the driver. “All the best.” He slammed the door. Threading his arm in the rabbi’s. “What a beautiful morning!”
Rabbi Josh’s eyes followed the departing car. “What was that all about?”
“That nice young man gave me a ride from a little coffee shop on Ben-Yehuda Street. You know it?”
“He didn’t seem so nice.”
“Well educated, works for a large organization. We discussed the American vote, of course. I reminded him what the prophet Ezekiel said:
“I believe God is our real benefactor, not America or China.” Rabbi Josh’s feet were on fire. He found a low wall separating a private garden from the sidewalk and sat with a sigh of relief.
“I told you to see a doctor.”
The rabbi wanted to remove his shoes to air out the angry blisters but knew his swollen feet would not fit back into the shoes. “Let’s go,” he said, grimacing. “I need to lie down.”
They turned the corner onto Ramban Street and had to step off the sidewalk. A woman with a glue roller stuck a yellow placard on a wall, announcing a rally at the Jaffa Gate tonight. The wall was covered by different posters that alternately protested the American vote, accused the Israeli government of underhanded actions, faulted American Jews for electing a president hostile to Israel, or pointed out that everything happened because God had ordained it in His wisdom. The ads were signed by various organizations-Union of Orthodox Synagogues, Peace Now, the Chief Rabbinate, Reform Congregations of Israel, Boys and Girls Scouts, Hebrew Gay and Lesbian Society, Chabad of Israel, United Kibbutz Movement, Bnai B’rith, and others
Silver peered closely. “What a rancorous people.”
“Argumentative is a better word. And fearful, I think.”
“Why fear? Isn’t the Messiah due to come when Israel fights a great war against the whole world?”
“Gog and Magog?”
“
