by Amalie Coles
“Oh my God! I definitely saw it coming!” she exclaimed without letting me finish.
“What do you mean?” I asked in fear. Maybe she was judging me.
“Remember when you were getting married, and I kept telling you to wait?”
“Erin, please! That’s the most annoying thing anyone can say to me in my situation.”
“I’m not saying anything, Becky. All I want to say is this attraction was almost inevitable.”
“I try not to dwell on this feeling too much, but it always haunts me. Besides, he’s so nice. He helped me to get to the bomb shelter today when the siren went off.”
“Wait, what bomb shelter? What siren?” I could sense a bit of shock in her voice.
“Didn’t you know? I thought you heard the news.”
“I hardly ever watch TV. You have to tell me.”
“We had several rockets coming towards our city, and—”
“Holy shit! I had no idea it was that bad! No wonder Mom has been so worried lately. I visited our parents yesterday, and they both looked distressed. I thought maybe it was just the middle of the week or something.”
I was overcome with a feeling of sadness. Why did this war have to start when I was living my dream? Now everyone I cared about was worried about me.
“OK, tell them I’m really sorry. I don’t know what to do. I can’t just leave.”
“Well, I hope your group comes up with some plan before the situation gets worse.”
“Me too. So do you still think I should stay?”
“It’s up to you, Becky. I’m in no position to tell you.” At this moment, I really wanted her to tell me to stay, but she was right; I would have to decide for myself.
“I’m so sorry for causing all the distress!”
“Just remember to keep us posted if you choose to stay.”
“Bye, honey.”
“Stay safe, Becky. Best of luck with finding gold.”
“Thanks. I need it.”
I hung up the phone and let my thoughts unravel. Finding a reasonable solution, which would allow us to stay without being in any danger, would be amazing. However, I couldn’t see anything viable on the horizon except for interrupting the dig and sending everyone home.
By the time I returned to the room, everyone was already asleep. I tiptoed to my bed and lay down without even changing my clothes.
***
The following morning, I tried my best not to think about the events of the last night. In the meantime, I became paranoid of the airplanes that continued circling around our site. At some point, I became so scared that I dropped my bucket right next to the sifter and began to run.
“Where are you going?” George asked me as I was trying to find the bomb shelter.
“To the shelter.”
“Why? There isn’t any threat at the moment.”
“Look, there’s a plane!” I pointed to the sky.
He looked up quietly and laughed.
“What’s so funny?” I asked, getting angry.
“It’s the United Airlines.”
Then we both laughed out loud. He probably thought I was being silly.
After lunch, I considered my options of what I could do during my spare time. I no longer felt safe enough to walk to the beach, so I decided to check out the pool instead. At the lobby, I run into Karen, who was wearing a floral sundress and a pair of flip-flops.
“Hey, Rebecca. Want to join us at the pool?”
“Oh, I’m actually heading in that direction.”
When we reached the area, Janice and Madeline were already relaxing on the sun beds, drinking cocktails. I decided to order one as well.
“I heard they are going to move us to the north,” Janice said, running fingers through her hair.
“Really?” I asked, unsure if that was good or bad news.
“It’s totally true,” Madeline said. “It’s becoming unsafe in Ashkelon. To be honest, I’m getting sick of these alarms constantly going off.”
“Me too,” Janice said, nodding.
“What about Eilat and Beit Guvrin?” Karen asked. “Weren’t we supposed to check out car rentals tomorrow?”
“Do you honestly think we would want to do that after yesterday?” Madeline sounded slightly annoyed. If there was anyone in greater denial than I, it was Karen.
“Well, I was hoping for a safe window perhaps,” Karen replied.
“No way!” Madeline protested. “I no longer want to leave our hotel, let alone drive somewhere. Like, what if we get lost and end up in Gaza?”
“Hey, ladies, may we join you?” I heard someone ask. I looked to the side and saw George and Luke standing with cans of beer in their hands.
“Go ahead,” Karen replied.
The guys took two adjacent sun beds.
“We were just talking about the possibility of our dig being moved,” Janice began.
Suddenly, the alarm went off.
“What the fuck!” Luke screamed, bolting up and spilling his beer.
Everything happened in less than a minute. Everyone started running towards the shelter. I dropped my drink and ran after the rest. From the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse all the hotel personnel, from receptionists to bartenders, drop their work and run for their lives.
As soon as we reached the shelter, I heard the sound of an explosion. Everyone gasped. Some began crying and shaking. Relieved to still be alive, I hugged the closest person standing next to me, who happened to be George. He held me tight in response. Perhaps he, too, was experiencing this rare moment of gratitude and was eager to come into a contact with another human being. It was during this moment of despair that I realized we were all in this together.
***
The rumours about the evacuation were confirmed during the pottery washing session, when nobody could concentrate on anything other than the last alarm. Most of us were fiddling with shards and discussing news. Many volunteers were still trying to recuperate from the aftershock of the afternoon siren. Before the session ended, the directors declared they had an important announcement to make.
“Recent events have forced us to reconsider the Leon Levy program,” Lawrence Stager began.
Whispers passed around the room. I heard someone say something about getting a university credit.
“Ashkelon is under direct fire from Gaza,” he continued.
Everyone, including myself, gasped. We all knew the truth, but hearing it from someone else had a stronger impact.
“However, our team is still committed to teaching its student volunteers about the archaeology of Israel. Therefore, we are moving our dig to the north.”
Madeline and Janice breathed with relief. I could imagine what this course meant for them, especially since I’d heard that tuition fees for American universities were insanely high. I was relieved, too. Moving to a different location would be the solution I needed to keep my parents’ and Jason’s worries at bay.
“We are leaving tomorrow at seven sharp. Please be ready,” he declared.
“What are we going to do?” Carol asked.
“We will take a mini tour in the Galilean region and excavate in Megiddo. By the way, those who are not getting a course credit are welcome to stay but aren’t obliged to.”
“Does it mean we can return home?” Jocelyn asked.
“If you wish,” Lawrence replied. “The rest of you are staying in Megiddo.” He looked directly at the Harvard students. “Does anyone know anything about the site?”
“I do!” I instinctively raised my hand.
“Can you please tell us what you know?”
I cleared my throat and began speaking: “Megiddo was a very important site in the ancient times, as it was a trade route connecting Egypt and Assyria. Several historic battles happened there.”
Everyone looked at me in amazement, making me feel proud of my spiel.
“Thank you, Rebecca. Do you remember which battles?”
“No, sorry.” I lowered my eye
s in an attempt to hide my embarrassment. After all, I wasn’t as educated as I wanted to be.
“That’s all right. No need to apologize. Before you go, are there any questions?”
“What are some other sites we are going to visit?” I asked, unable to hide my curiosity.
“You will get more information about the itinerary tomorrow. For now, all I can say is there will be some interesting stops along the way.”
“All right, thanks.”
As soon as the pottery washing was over, I decided to share the exciting news with my family. First, I dialled Jason’s number.
“Hi, Rebecca! I’m so happy to hear from you,” he said as soon as he heard my voice.
“How is everything?”
“Busy as always. Only a week and a half left before our vacation. Can’t wait.”
“How do you feel about coming here after everything that’s been happening recently?”
A few days ago, a rocket landed near Ben Gurion Airport, causing all flights to get cancelled. Even though they resumed twenty-four hours later, I started doubting our vacation plans.
“It’s too late for me to do anything. Besides, I can’t wait to see you, Becky!”
“Aren’t you worried about the news?”
“Of course I am. But like I said, it’s way too late to cancel the tickets.”
“So far, most of the rockets have been repelled by the Iron Dome, but it’s still so scary when the alarm goes off.”
“Tell me about it. I don’t even want to watch TV anymore, knowing that the love of my life is in a warzone.”
“Guess what? I’m calling you to let you know that I won’t be living in a warzone anymore.”
“What do you mean?” He sounded a bit dazed.
“Our team is departing north tomorrow. We will be working on a different site for the last week.”
“Really? What site?”
“Megiddo. Do you remember it?”
“Of course I do! Wasn’t it the one with a long staircase leading to a dark tunnel?”
“Yes, it was.”
“It was also where you regretted wearing flip-flops.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Then we went to Haifa to see the Baha’i Gardens, and they wouldn’t let us in because of your sleeveless T-shirt.”
“Come on, Jason. We were on our honeymoon! What was I supposed to wear? An old lady’s gown?”
“You are funny.” He laughed.
“Anyway, I’ll text you tomorrow as soon as we arrive in Megiddo.”
“Have a safe ride, Becky.”
“And you have a nice last week of work.”
“Goodnight.”
I wanted to dial my mother’s number but decided to send a brief email explaining our change of plans. I also cc’ed my father and Erin to keep them posted about our group’s whereabouts. Then I proceeded with packing my suitcase. Rachel walked in and started packing her stuff without saying a word to me. Janice and Madeline joined us a few minutes later.
“I hope there won’t be any alarms tonight.” Janice finally broke the silence. “I’m getting sick of constantly running to the bomb shelter. What if I’m washing my hair at the moment?”
“I agree. Soon we will be away from all this craziness,” Rachel said. It was the first time in the longest while that I heard her speak.
“Maybe we should sleep with our clothes and makeup on,” Janice suggested, “just in case an alarm goes off.”
“No need to be crazy,” Madeline said. “If it goes off, everyone will be wearing pyjamas, and no one will care.”
“I agree,” I said, trying to imagine George in his boxers. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
I grabbed my towel and my pyjamas and proceeded to the bathroom. As I was removing my black mascara and eye shadow, all I could hope was that I wouldn’t have to run for my life at this precise moment. Perhaps running in pyjamas in the middle of a night was acceptable. Having mascara smudged all over one’s face mixed up with makeup remover would be a bit too extreme.
“I’m not going to the shower,” Janice protested after I stepped out. “I don’t want everyone to see me in a bathrobe.”
“Come on, just do it!” Madeline nudged her.
“Nope, I’m scared.”
“Come on. It won’t ring this time,” I found myself saying.
We ended up laughing and pushing each other under the cold shower. Rachel slowly joined us, for our gaiety was contagious. We fooled around with the shampoo and the toothpaste, challenging each other to take the risk. At last, we were too exhausted to continue on and were soon sleeping soundly, oblivious to all the danger that was surrounding us.
Chapter 12
Staying in bed past four-thirty began to feel like a sleep-in. When I woke up around six the next morning, I was feeling better than ever. I quietly proceeded to the bathroom, where I splashed cold water on my face. In the mirror, I saw a girl in her middle twenties with shiny chestnut hair and glowing skin kissed by the Mediterranean sun. I put on the first thing I found in the suitcase, which was a bright orange dress decorated with funky beads. Then I slipped into my sandals and quietly walked out the door.
I knew that going outside alone wasn’t the wisest thing to do in light of the recent threat, but I had to walk the streets of Ashkelon for the very last time. The moment I stepped into my favourite alley, I saw the outlines of flowers and trees basking in the rays of the morning sun. The air was still chilly from the night, and the morning breeze from the sea felt welcoming.
As I walked down the street, I felt both happy and sad. I was sad about being forced to leave Ashkelon so early but also happy because the journey wasn’t over yet. The evacuation turned our project in a new direction, and I had a strange feeling that something good would come out of it.
Having removed my sandals, I entered the sandy area and walked straight to the sea. The waves were still strong after the night. As I stepped into the salty water, a sense of calmness and peace overcame me. Who could tell I stood all alone in a city threatened by rocket fire?
Suddenly, I realized I didn’t need anyone to find happiness. Surely, I loved my soul mate, Jason, and looked forward to seeing him after the dig. I had a loving family who cared about me. Yet I felt perfectly complete on my own. This realization was frightening and yet empowering.
I walked back to the hotel slowly, hoping to stop at Shlomo’s booth and order the last drink. However, it wasn’t open yet. I said a quick prayer wishing him safety. Over the last week and a half, I became so attached to the city and its people that I couldn’t imagine anything bad happening to anyone. I could only hope the Iron Dome would continue repelling rockets until the conflict was over.
By the time I returned to the hotel, my roommates were already up and getting ready for breakfast. Madeline and Janice were discussing their final course project while Rachel was quietly applying her makeup in the bathroom.
“Good morning,” I said, walking into the room.
“Hey, Becky. Where have you have you been?” Madeline asked.
“Just walked outside to get some fresh air,” I replied. “Cannot sleep past six anymore.”
Janice laughed. “I’m starting to have the same issue,” she said. “Maybe I’ll finally transform into an early bird.”
“Well, there isn’t much of a choice when you are in archaeology,” I commented. “Anyway, should we get going?”
“Definitely,” Madeline replied.
During breakfast, I learned that Gloria, Jocelyn, and Carol were planning to return to the States. Because of all the threats, they could no longer enjoy the program. I asked them if they regretted the turn of the events, but all of them told me the evacuation was for the best.
“I can’t wait to see my husband and my kids,” Jocelyn admitted.
“Me too,” Carol added. “Better to go home before it gets worse.”
“I agree,” Gloria said.
“Well, I’m going to miss you all,” I said.
By the time we finished our coffees, the airport shuttle was already waiting for them outside. We shared our last group hug in the lobby and wished each other the best.
“Goodbye and have a safe stay in Megiddo,” Carol said.
“And remember that you’ve got a brilliant future,” Jocelyn added.
“Thanks, Jocelyn. I’m flattered.”
“No kidding. We all heard you speak about Megiddo last night.”
“I wish my boss would appreciate it,” I said, thinking about how little my knowledge meant in the real world.
“If you are not happy with your job, then change it,” Gloria advised, making me wonder if she’d overheard my conversation with Karen the other day.
“Easier said than done.” I sighed.
It didn’t take long for our bus to arrive. As we were taking off, I looked outside the window and said my silent goodbye to Ashkelon. Soon the city faded in the distance.
I hoped that the rest of my adventure would be free from sirens and evacuations. Fortunately, the bus ride went uninterrupted except for one bathroom break in the middle of the journey, during which we had ten minutes to roam around a gas station and buy snacks. I decided to get a pack of Bissli.
“How was your night?” George asked me as I was paying the cashier.
“It was OK. Thanks for asking.”
“I could barely sleep.”
“Fear of the missile threat?” I asked while opening the pack.
“Yep. Too much adrenaline rush every day. The war is sick.”
“Want some?” I offered him a few Bissli.
“Sure. I think we should get going.”
We walked back into the half-empty bus talking about the dig. I told him about my hopes to come back to Ashkelon another year and to finish the fieldwork I had started earlier. He, in turn, told me more about his research project with Daniel Master.
Soon enough, we arrived at our kibbutz near the new site. As I stepped outside, the air felt quite hot but much milder than in Ashkelon. Having looked around, I saw a nice, cozy village surrounded by small houses. While we were registering for our rooms at the reception, I was pleased to learn that I no longer had to share a room with Rachel. Instead, I would be placed with two local volunteers, whom I had yet to meet.