A Late Divorce (54 page)

“Excuse me, Mr....”

“Kaminka.”

“I don't remember what you said about supper.”

“Supper?”

“When is it served? And where?”

“Usually here on the ward, but because of the holiday it's in the big dining room tonight.”

She nods wringing her hands.

“I feel so lost here. I can't even get myself to unpack my suitcase. This whole place makes me sick ... they didn't allow my husband in, and so he left me ... he's an officer, he's always in a hurry ... he has to get back to his regiment...”

“You'll get used to it.” I nod back with my head on the pillow my mind somewhere else. “You'll see that you will.”

“But how?” she asks hopelessly. “How?”

“You'll see. They'll take good care of you.”

“I certainly hope so.” She smiles childishly. “Do you think they'll let me swim in the ocean?...I like that so much...”

“Why shouldn't they?”

She regards me sharply stricken with new anxiety.

“But where is your wife? Where is she?”

“She'll be here any minute.”

“What kind of woman is she? Do you think that we'll be friends?”

“Of course you will. She's a very nice woman. You'll get to know each other.”

Suddenly the sound of people running. I jump up instinctively and dash to the kitchen seeing Yehezkel hearing him call from the door:

“I tell you, that wasn't him! You're wrong.”

He runs to Naomi's bed he opens the drawer he takes out the broken half of the dog's chain he runs back out again.

I return to the bed. All things mesh together. The sun enmeshed in the middle of the square windowpane. The tailored lady sits there helplessly tears running down her cheeks.

All at once gripped by the thought.

“Why are you crying? What are you here for?”

“They thought I wanted to kill myself. But I didn't. I only wanted to try it ... to frighten them ... and they thought I meant it...”

“There, there. Look, they'll take good care of you here. And soon you'll be able to leave.”

I can't tear myself away from Naomi's bed I don't lie down on it though I just stand there looking at the straw hat on the pillows at the open drawer. Fragile inner workings of. Thinking of your regained half a house. Half a guest room half a bedroom half a kitchen half a bathroom the whole place halved by an imaginary line. Taking off my soft felt hat and putting on her straw one in its place. The lady in the corner looks at me but there's no turning back now. I lift Naomi's cotton dress I finger it crinkling the fabric I sniff it she's lost her old smell these last five years and gotten a new one. I can't put down the dress. Shaken annoyed at myself I wriggle out of my jacket I hold up the dress and slip into it struggling with the fabric caught for a dark moment but then it falls freely over me stiff and clean. I see the little face in the corner fill with terror the lips are trying to speak.

“Oh, no ... why are you ... you're frightening me ... oh, don't! Don't frighten me, please ... why didn't you tell me you were sick too?”

I frown at her watching the dress swirl lightly around my legs bending to roll up my pants until my white ankles show. The sun sinks slowly beneath the square window I take the soft gray shawl and cast it over my shoulders looking for a mirror. The woman trembles bites her fingers sobs.

“Don't ... don't ... please...”

I walk to the door the giant is standing there limply holding his pitchfork listening. Cars keep coming down the road now Asi rushes up too. I run back to hide in the corner the woman watching every move white-faced falling apart eyes sputtering in the dark. Asi steps inside and gropes for the light switch. History as closure? No children there is always a way out. I freeze in my corner the hem of the dress flutters slightly while he steps warily into the dark room and finds my jacket on the bed.

“Father?” He halts calling softly. “Father ...”

He senses me for sure but doesn't dare come closer he stops I'm ready now. Murder me. I am that I am. Let her rip. I've done all I could. Suddenly I dart from my place I spin around and race to the kitchen and out the back door. In the open again. I have plenty of time my ticket my passport my money. Plenty of it. And half the house mine again. The taxi is waiting. I hurry down the path by cars unloading patients more depressed than ever after a day with their families. In female garb I slip past them an unaccustomed draft around my ankles suddenly a flood of lunar light. The dogs are still barking faintly but the howling has stopped. 'Ratio must have been freed he's galloping toward me I mustn't miss the hole in the fence.

I head straight for it the outline of my plump woman's shadow trailing clearly after me. A cool wind. Scudding clouds. All symbols. I know and smile to myself. And supposing that the pleasure that it gives me does destroy my very self?

All at once I see him before me the giant mute colossus of a man just standing there moving in slow motion as though remote-controlled he faces me on the little path blocking my way staring at me hard. They call him by some Arab name Musa I think that must be it but I'm sure that he's a Jew. Well what's on your mind? Have I disappointed you too? “Naomi...” he mutters. “Naomi...” Meaning you or trying to warn her? Can he really have confused us? He mutters some more or rather groans it's all too much for him I'd better calm him down he's humorless that's your original your unilateral your unadulterated form of madness. I take off the shawl and toss it on the ground I unbutton the dress but it just puts him into a Neanderthal rage. He's actually growling now. The main thing's not to panic not to touch them they're like dogs fear only makes it worse. Perhaps he needs to be scolded. A fateful man. Better to humor him. But now he's waving his arms he doesn't even know he's got a pitchfork in them. What a predicament. Suddenly you're in a dreadful mess.

 

Visit
www.hmhbooks.com
to find more books by A. B. Yehoshua.

 

A. B. Y
EHOSHUA
is one of Israel's preeminent writers. His novels include
Journey to the End of the Millenium, The Liberated Bride,
and
A Woman in Jerusalem,
which was awarded the
Los Angeles Times
Book Prize in 2007. He lives in Haifa.