Zion (19 page)
Authors: Colin Falconer
Tags: #History, #Middle East, #Israel & Palestine, #Mysteries & Thrillers
It was almost three weeks since he had been arrested. After his initial interrogation he had seen no one from the administration or the military, and had been allowed no visitors.
The government had communicated with him just once. He had received a letter, bearing the official emblem of the Guards Regiment, informing him that his brother had been killed while on active service in Samaria.
There were no other details.
Two nights ago, the warden told him, the British imposed a curfew throughout Palestine and moved in force against the Yishuv.
“One hundred ’fousand men,” the warden had said. “One hundred ’fousand! Faaaaark! All over far kin’ Palestine! Reckon that’s farkin’ it, mate! We even ’it the farkin’ Jewish Agency itself in J’rusalem!”
I wonder if the Haganah were ready, Talbot thought. I wonder how many they actually caught?
He heard footfall in the corridor outside, and the less familiar clip-clip of stiletto heels. The key turned in the lock and the warden put his head into the cell. “A’ternoon, Mister Talbot. Got a visitor for ya!”
Talbot stood up.
The scent of perfume preceded her. She wore a red silk dress and a black hat with a gauze veil that covered the top half of her face. Tomato-red lipstick, black gloves, and an ivory cigarette-holder completed the vision.
She swayed into the middle of the room and looked around, her nose twitching in disgust. “How quaint.”
A soldier with a drawn bayonet attached to his rifle followed her into the cell. The door slammed shut behind him. The man stood to attention, his eyes fixed on some point high on the far wall.
Elizabeth examined the tin bucket that stood in the comer. “Have you availed yourself of the facilities today, Henry?”
“Not yet, dear.”
“Thank heaven for small mercies.” She indicated the archer’s slit. “What happened to the window?”
“Builder made a mistake with the plans.”
She smiled at him and drew on her cigarette. “Well.”
He smiled at her. “Well.”
“Have you complained to the management? They could have at least offered you a room with a view.”
“This is the presidential suite, I’m afraid.”
“Ah. Pity the poor peasants then.”
“Quite.” He indicated his cot. “Would you like to sit down?”
“I’d rather jump into a pool of vomit.” She crossed the room and pinched his cheek. “You look rather pale.”
“Haven’t been getting out much lately.”
“You also smell rather badly.”
“Do I? I hadn’t noticed.”
She turned and glanced at the guard, then at her husband. “Did you hear what happened the other night?”
“I heard there were a few unscheduled night maneuvers.”
“Complete fiasco. The army arrested three Jewish schoolboys and confiscated a couple of pistols. The High Commissioner has egg on his face.’
“It must be very embarrassing for him.”
“The army say it’s the CID’s fault, the CID are blaming the police and the police are blaming the army.”
“That’s good. I was afraid someone might try to blame me.’
“Frankly, Henry, I wouldn’t care less about any of this, but your behavior has ruined my social life.”
Talbot put his hands in his pockets. “Chisholm been round?”
“Neanderthals have a certain exotic attraction but not for very long. I get so bored listening to him rant about the Jews all the time. It’s like going to bed with Heinrich Himmler.” She stopped and drew on her cigarette. “You don’t mind if I talk about this?”
“It’s conversation.”
“Just one question. That afternoon you found me with the good major’s cock in my hands . . . who were you jealous of? Him or me?”
Talbot looked up at the guard. Still no change in his expression but his cheeks were flushed a cherry red.
“I do have some standards, Lizzie. I just wish you did.”
She started to fuss with the collar of his shirt. “Who does your washing?”
“No one.”
“I didn’t think so.” She stared frankly into his face. “I didn’t know you had it in you.”
“Neither did I.”
“I’m leaving Palestine.”
“Actually, I am surprised you are still here.”
“You’ll find this hard to credit, but I’ve been trying to persuade Sir Alan to help you. Perverse of me, isn’t it?”
“A little.”
“Didn’t have much success until the army’s Noel Coward farce the other night. The next morning he seemed undecided.”
“Undecided?”
“Whether to have you dismembered or to hush the whole thing up. I think he favors the latter. Otherwise there has to be a trial and no one wants that now. It would make everyone look bad. So it seems they’ll just have to let you go. You’ll have to resign of course.”
“Oh? I was hoping they’d give me my old job back.” Talbot sat down heavily on his cot. Freedom. The last thing he expected.
Elizabeth finished her cigarette and flicked the butt into the pail in the comer. Class will out, Talbot thought sourly. She took out her compact mirror and examined her lipstick, then snapped it shut with a gesture of finality. “I’m rather fond of you, you know, in my own way. Not the way a woman is usually fond of a man, I suppose. You’re more like a toothless old dog that suddenly proves its worth and chases off a burglar. Yes. More like that, I suppose.”
“Aren’t you ashamed?”
“Because you’re a faggot or because you betrayed your country?”
“Both.”
“Yes to the first, no the latter. Politics doesn’t really interest me. What you do with other men’s bottoms does.”
Talbot checked the guard. The man’s jaw muscles were clenched and rippling. “So?”
“So, I shall return to England with you and after a decent interval we shall part in a civilized English manner. I do think that’s really the only sensible option, don’t you?”
“Thank you, Elizabeth.”
She sighed and rested her hand gently on his shoulder. “Why on earth did you marry me?”
He shrugged helplessly. Perhaps I just didn’t want to face the truth about myself, he thought. Whoever does?
“Goodbye for now. Do try and have a wash before they let you out.”
She turned to the guard and raised one eyebrow to signal that she was ready to leave. Rather good at wordless commands, Talbot thought. Her talent will be wasted back in England.
After she had gone he sat for a long time, staring at the wall. He had lost his career, and his wife, but apparently he would not also lose his liberty. The rest of his life yawned before him and he wondered with this second chance whether he might make better sense of it next time around.
THE END
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