A cold breeze welcomed them at the summit. A few dark
clouds traveled overhead. Talia zipped up her sweatshirt.
“Since the ‘70s we have been fulfilling the biblical promise of
populating this land, from the sea in the west to the Jordan River in the east,”
Gideon’s booming voice sounded. “For the past few decades we were able to
reclaim much of our ancient land. With God’s will, we shall have it all before
too long.” He stopped for air, before concluding, “As someone famous once said,
we stand here on the land of liberated Israel.”
“Haven’t these people
lived here for a long time?” asked Talia, pointing to the Palestinian village at the hill’s foot. “Shouldn’t they
have some of the land too?”
“And how do you
reckon our country was made possible?” replied Gideon. “It was always us versus
them.”
“But—“
Gideon turned to
the group. “Let’s keep walking,” he said. “I have much more to show you.”
Talia stood
there confused as everyone began descending the hill. Noam smiled at her.
“Shall we join the herd?” he whispered.
Stepping down
the hillside the two trailed behind the others.
“I wish I could
meet these people,” Talia said, gesturing to the village below.
“It’s illegal
for us to go there.”
“I know.”
“And dangerous,
of course.”
“I tend to
believe they won’t harm a seventeen-year-old girl.”
“You’re naive.”
She shrugged. “I‘ve heard that
before.”
“And they’ll
probably force you to marry one of their ugly old men.”
Annoyed, she
replied, “I will push you down if you
keep talking like this.”
“I actually
believe you,” he said with laughter, then asked in a more serious tone, “You’re
leaving tomorrow morning?”
“Yes.”
“Will you visit
here again?”
“Not sure. I
might have enough material for my paper, and I do have lots of exams coming
up.”
“I hope
to see you again.”
“You could come
to Tel Aviv.”
“My parents
won’t be crazy about the idea.”
“Well, I might
visit during Passover vacation, I’ll see how things go.”
Seeing his pleased expression, she added
with a playful smirk, “But only ‘cause you’ve asked.”