by Ehud Diskin
I briefly told him about Krakow—and Nelka—and our journey to Israel. And then I said, “There’s more. I trust you completely, but I must emphasize that this has to remain between us.”
“Of course.”
“Like you, I wasn’t done fighting on behalf of the Jewish people. I considered joining one of the underground organizations, but their internal security is terrible. Instead, after I got here, I struck out on my own, and I’ve been assassinating the British soldiers and policemen who hunt down members of the resistance.”
“You always were a fighter,” Alec said in admiration. “Do you need any help?”
“Of course,” I said. “But you must be careful. There are spies everywhere. I haven’t told anyone about this, not even my girlfriend.”
Alec nodded.
“We should visit together more often,” I said. “And I think you should meet the people I spend time with.” I told him about Hannah and Avrum. “If you’re free this Tuesday, I’ll ask Hannah and Avrum to invite you to breakfast.”
“I’ll try to take Monday night off; otherwise, I’ll have to come straight from my shift.”
“That’s the other thing I wanted to discuss with you,” I said. “Perhaps you should come work at Café Pinsk. Max has been looking for another waiter for a month now. The hours at the restaurant are easier, and it’ll allow us to spend time together.”
He agreed to think about working at Café Pinsk. I left his apartment, feeling happy that my old friend was in Jerusalem, ready to join me in this new fight for independence.
The following Monday morning, at Hannah’s, I told her about my reunion with Alec.
“Bring him along for breakfast next time,” she said. “I’ll prepare an extra plate.”
“Don’t you think you should ask Avrum first?” I asked.
“I’ll ask him. But I have no doubt that Avrum will be happy to have your friend join us.” She laughed. “I think Avrum likes you as much as I do.”
Alec showed up at my apartment the following morning, and we walked with Shoshana to Avrum and Hannah’s place. As usual, Avrum gestured for me to join him in his study.
“David, I’m sick of working for the police. The place is rife with anti-Semitism, and if it weren’t for my boss, I would have left already. My boss secretly supports the struggle for unrestricted Jewish immigration. He told me, in absolute confidence, that his grandmother was Jewish. And do you know what else he said?”
“He wants to help us?”
“I certainly couldn’t ask him that, but he told me a lot. You know that CID officer who was murdered a few days ago? Apparently, now his superior officer is on the rampage. He’s a particularly bigoted inspector by the name of Jeffries, and the CID has given him a special budget to create a unit of six senior investigators who will gather intelligence about the resistance. My boss was shocked that they’d give so much power to a man who has so much hate for Jews—especially after so many of us volunteered to serve in the British army during the war.”
“Calm down,” I said. “And don’t even think about quitting the police. Use your position to get more information about this Inspector Jeffries. Any bit of information could be useful. I’ll pass the information to Yaakov, and I’m sure they’ll put it to good use.
“You’re right,” he said after a moment. “But make sure that Yaakov has no idea where the information is coming from.”
With that, we returned to the kitchen. Shoshana, Hannah, and Alec were talking about a ship carrying illegal immigrants that had been waylaid by the British navy off the coast, not far from the city of Netanya.
“Sometimes the British seem just as bad as the Germans,” Alec said.
To my surprise, Hannah, who usually refrained from political discussions and was in favor of good ties with the British, adamantly agreed. “Your friend is right, David. Preventing these poor refugees from coming here is practically the same as killing them.”
I didn’t want to upset Avrum, whose mental state regarding the British he had admired so much must have been precarious at that moment. Instead, I changed the subject by complimenting Hannah on the delicious omelet she had made.
After the meal, Shoshana, Alec, and I walked together to Café Pinsk. When we arrived, I told Max that Alec wanted to quit his job and be one of our waiters.
“I’m willing to take you on a trial basis,” Max said with his usual unsmiling growl. “Your friend may be a coward, but he’s improving as a waiter. I hope to see the same from you.”
I had already told Alec about Max’s moods, so he put on his most captivating smile. “Thank you for the opportunity. I will do my best, and I hope I won’t disappoint you.”
When our shift was over, Shoshana and I walked home together. When we reached Kerem Avraham, Shoshana took my hand and asked if she could come with me to my apartment.
I was afraid the night would once again end with me sleeping alone, but at the same time, the fact she was willing to try meant a great deal. I silently reminded myself of the advice Brigita had given me.
We walked to my apartment with our arms around one another, and once inside, Shoshana led me to the couch and we sank down on it together. She pressed herself against me and put her lips on mine. After a few minutes of passionate kissing and intimate touching, she undressed and started to undress me too. I stopped her and, picking her up in my arms, carried her to my bed, where, for the first time, we made beautiful love.
Afterward, as we lay wrapped in each other’s arms, breathless and trembling, I whispered, “I love you,” my lips against her neck.
She pressed her body against mine and kissed me again. “Thank you for your patience,” she said. “It felt wonderful with you, and I love you.”
We lay together for a long time, dozing and waking, until she whispered that she had to go. I wanted to walk her home, but she told me to go back to sleep. I watched her dress, and then she blew me a kiss and closed the door softly behind her.
I didn’t fall asleep right away, and when I did eventually drop off, I had a strange dream. I saw myself lying helpless on Hannah’s bed, my body limp. Hannah lay next to me with an intense expression on her face, her brown eyes fixed on mine.
Brigita Shlaufer stood next to the bed. She said to Hannah in a stern voice, “This young man’s body belongs to you—take him!” Hannah’s expression changed to one of satisfaction, and she wrapped me in her arms.
I woke up with a start, and at that moment I knew Hannah and I could no longer be lovers. That chapter had ended, and a new one was beginning.
10
“MANNING THE BARRICADES, WE WILL MEET”
(FROM “MANNING THE BARRICADES,” A POEM BY MICHAEL ESHBAL, 1946)
The next morning, I went to visit Hannah with a sense of dread in my stomach. I was relieved when she offered me coffee and cookies instead of pulling me straight into the bedroom.
“It was so nice to meet your friend,” she said as we sat at the table. “Not only is he handsome, but he’s smart and sweet too. It’s amazing he doesn’t have a girlfriend.”
After our coffee we had sex, but my heart wasn’t in it.
“What’s up with you?” Hannah asked. “There was a time when you couldn’t wait to jump into bed with me, but now it’s as if you’ve lost all interest.”
I was grateful that she had initiated the conversation. “You’re a wonderful woman, Hannah, but I have to tell you something. During all the time you and I have been seeing each other, my relationship with Shoshana has been purely platonic, but she and I have grown closer now. I love her, and I can’t keep seeing you like this. I hope I can keep you and Avrum as friends, but I understand if you don’t feel the same.”
“Oh, David, I understand,” Hannah said with sadness in her voice. “But I’ve become so attached to you, and Avrum just can’t satisfy me the way you do. Can’t I see you a few more times before we break it off completely?”
I had no intention of ever getting back into her bed, but I di
dn’t want a huge scene. “I’ll come for breakfast next week,” I promised, trying to change the subject. “And I’ll bring Alec again.” She brightened at that idea.
I hugged her briefly and left with a sense of relief. The next visit, I hoped, would net me new information from Avrum about Inspector Jeffries. And although I intended to use Avrum’s information myself, I did want to renew contact with the Haganah.
The next morning, I went to the Tnuva plant and asked to see Yaakov. He came down to meet me, clearly surprised. “Where did you disappear to?” he asked.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I’ve been very busy.”
“Well, I’m pleased to see you again. We’re meeting on Saturday. Same place. You want to come?”
“Gladly. Can I bring a friend with me?”
“Certainly,” Yaakov responded.
I thanked him and walked to Alec’s apartment. He was home, and we decided to go for coffee at Café Europa. Our waitress was Shoshana’s friend Eva, who was always smiling and full of life. Her chestnut-brown eyes framed by curly auburn hair sparkled with life, and her shapely figure drew the attention of several men in the restaurant, including the two of us. She clearly took a liking to Alec, fussing over him constantly.
When she left us alone for a moment, I said, “You’ve certainly managed to charm our waitress.”
“Yes, I noticed,” Alec responded. “But she’s too sweet for my taste. I’d prefer a wildcat, like your friend Hannah.”
I thought for a moment and then told him about my affair with Hannah. “As far as I’m concerned, our relationship is over,” I said. “If you want to get involved with her, I don’t mind. She even told me that she likes you.”
“Hmmm,” Alec said. “I’ll think about it.”
“I wanted to talk to you about one of the underground groups.” I began telling him about my previous experience with the Haganah and invited him to the meeting.
“They want to bring Jews to Israel,” he said, “so sure, I’ll come along.”
On Saturday, we met and walked to the Haganah meeting at the Glicksteins’. I introduced Alec to Yaakov and pointed out that they both lived in the Bukharan Quarter. Yaakov got excited and started telling Alec all about the wonders of the neighborhood. They agreed to meet so Yaakov could show him around.
Yaakov opened the meeting with a brief overview of the Haganah’s latest activities, specifically their activities regarding immigration to Israel. In recent months, he said, the Berl Katzenelson and Hannah Senesh ships had made it through the British blockade. The Enzo Sereni, however, was spotted by British destroyers and escorted to the port in Haifa, where all 908 Jews on board were transferred to the Atlit internment camp near Haifa.
A discussion ensued once Yaakov finished with his report. I didn’t speak, and neither did Alec. When the meeting was over and everyone but Yaakov and the hosts had left, I asked Yaakov if there was anything we could do to prevent the British from apprehending and detaining the Jews attempting to flee the morass of Europe.
Yaakov hesitated for a moment before responding. “Maybe,” he said. “The issue is of paramount importance to us, and we’re working to resolve it at the political level. The Jewish Agency is trying to get international support, mainly from the Americans. But the Haganah is also attacking British targets related to their blockade. Our strike forces, the Palmach, have been destroying the radar stations the British use to locate immigrant ships along the coastline.
“After one of these operations, the British laid siege to the settlement of Kibbutz Givat-Haim. When our people protested, British policemen opened fire on them, killing seven and wounding dozens. We won’t be deterred, of course. If you and your friend really want to help, you can join one of our Palmach units. I can connect you with the right people.”
“The assaults on the radar stations are good,” I said, “but the British can rebuild such things quite easily. From my experience as a partisan, there is always someone among the enemy who acts as the driving force, who’s indispensable within his own sphere.”
Yaakov nodded. “Unlike the Irgun and Lehi, the Haganah usually doesn’t target specific individuals, only military objectives. When we face a specific problem with a British individual, we may forward it to the Irgun. Recently, we chased out a man by the name of Raymond Cafferata, who led the British police in Haifa and the north region. He tortured and killed Irgun and Lehi members and many civilians. With our help, the Irgun nearly assassinated him a couple weeks ago. Cafferata returned to England shortly after the assassination attempt. We won’t be seeing him again.”
I praised the operation, all the while thinking that if Alec and I had carried out the attack, Cafferata would have gone back to England in a box.
Alec and Yaakov confirmed their plans to get together for a tour of the Bukharan Quarter, and we said goodbye. I took Alec to Amos Street and showed him the spot where I had killed Sergeant Perry. I also told him about the red berets I had injured in the Schneller Barracks and on the street.
Alec asked if I had considered Yaakov’s suggestion of joining the Haganah. “I’ve thought about it,” I said, “but there are people in the Haganah who collaborate with the British. More importantly, I think we can prove more helpful on our own.” We arranged to walk together to the restaurant the next day for Alec’s first shift as a waiter. I went home and spent a few hours reading and napping, and it was already evening by the time I woke.
I missed Shoshana, so I went to visit her at the restaurant. Her face lit up when she saw me, and when her shift was over, I helped her clear the tables and wash the dishes. We walked home afterward wrapped in each other’s arms, and again she suggested that she come back to my place.
When we got to my apartment, she quickly undressed and started unbuttoning my clothes. Making love to her was even better than before, and as she lay on her side next to me, with her legs resting on mine, she nuzzled my neck, pressed her lips to my cheek, and said in a soft voice, “It would be so wonderful to sleep together every night. I love you and want to be with you all the time. Why don’t we move in together?”
I was taken aback. In Minsk, living together before marriage had been unheard of. Among the partisans, the attitude toward sex before marriage had been very liberal—with the shadow of death hanging over us every day, we’d taken whatever truth and happiness we could snatch from the moment. When I had first reached Israel, I had heard that couples in the kibbutzim tended to live together before getting married. But the people in the cities were more conservative.
“Are you sure?” I asked.
“I’m lonely, David. I don’t have parents to object.” And before I could respond, she added, “I’ll cook for you and take care of you all the time. Eva will be disappointed to see me leave, but I can’t stay with her forever.”
I hugged her tightly. “I think it’s a wonderful idea. I’ll speak to my landlords, and hopefully they’ll agree. If not, we’ll find another apartment.”
As we lay in bed, wrapped in each other’s arms, Shoshana said, “I’m too excited to sleep. I can’t wait to get up and start packing.”
I thought about Brigita and her wise advice. “Are you still seeing Brigita?” I asked.
“Certainly. She’s a big part of why I’m in your bed right now. Her counseling and her sexual guidance have been very helpful. I’m meeting with her tomorrow, actually.”
“Would you ask if she can see me this coming Monday?”
“Sure.” She kissed me and slipped off to sleep.
The following morning, we walked to Café Pinsk with Alec. Max and Shoshana gave him a basic lesson in waiting tables as I busied myself rubbing the spots off the silverware. I knew Max would scoff if I gave Alec any advice about being a good waiter.
ON MONDAY, I WENT TO see Brigita. She served tea and asked how things were going with Shoshana.
“That’s precisely why I asked to meet with you,” I said. “She’s going to move in with me. We’ve grown very close in all respec
ts. I feel wonderful with her, and I think she’s enjoying the sexual side of our relationship. You have played a big part in it all, and I want to thank you for your help.”
The expression on her face told me she wasn’t surprised. “I’m very pleased to hear that. You must continue to be gentle with her, allow her to take the lead, and make her feel safe and secure.” Then she looked me straight in the eyes. “And how is my friend the partisan? Is he playing a role in the national struggle yet?”
“I’m still looking for a path,” I said.
Her smile was wry. “I’m sure you were a lot more decisive during your time as a partisan. What’s happened to you, David? Have you changed? Or perhaps you simply don’t want to share your secrets?”
“I have a question for you,” I said, trying to move our conversation in a different direction. “You must have heard about the attempt on the life of a British officer by the name of Cafferata, the police commander in the north. The Irgun carried out the assassination attempt, claiming that Cafferata was responsible for the detention and torture of Irgun and Lehi members in the region. Do you think the Irgun did the right thing by trying to assassinate Cafferata?”
After pondering my question for a moment, Brigita said, “I’ll answer you both as a psychologist and as a Jewish woman living in this country. If the plan to kill Cafferata was motivated purely by revenge, then I don’t think I could justify it. But as I see it, it was motivated by the desire to prevent him or other British officers from hurting more of our people. And even though the assassination was unsuccessful, Cafferata and his cronies will certainly think twice about their methods. All told, I do justify the deed.”
Before I could respond, and with her eyes still fixed firmly on mine, she added, “A British officer who arrested members of the underground was recently killed in our neighborhood. I have no objections to that. On the other hand, as I said before, I think whoever fired on the Schneller Barracks was very wrong to do it. What do you think?”