Mitla Pass (56 page)

“And you, my little friend?”

“I’ve got her stumped, Shlomo. Europeans, Czechs, Hungarians, Romanians, people who live by their wits and guile are her meat. I’m nobody’s sweetheart, but my mind can only get so crooked. I’m not up to games. What you see is what you get. I’ve done all the mean shit before, and it’s out of my system. Natasha has a hard time dealing with that. She knows I’m on to her game, her reasons, and that I can handle her sexually. Then, she made the cardinal error of falling in love with an intended victim. She loves me. I love her in a way. Real messy. It drives her nuts, but she can’t put the sword through the bull’s neck.”

“Fucking to the death. It sounds like a great sport,” Shlomo said.

The officers broke up a meeting with the major and commanded the troops to pack up and prepare to go down to the airstrip for evacuation.

“Isn’t he early?” Gideon asked.

“No, it’s almost time. The first Dakota is due in about twenty-five minutes.”

The bulldozer had just finished the job and hand crews were filling in the potholes.

“God-damned, shit, piss, and corruption,” Gideon blurted angrily. “Jesus, this has been like washing your feet with your socks on.”

“Win some, lose some,” Shlomo said. “Let’s hope to hell the Dakotas are able to land.”

At that instant, a jeep out on the perimeter raced toward the command post. The officer shouted at the top of his lungs, “I see Para 202! Zechariah is here!”

October 31, 1956

1700 HOURS, D DAY PLUS TWO

Lions to Southern Command 1700 Hours STOP Para 202 has linked up with us STOP Cancel Dakota air evacuation STOP We will radio list of most urgently needed supplies and equipment within the hour SIGNED Ben Asher

Central Command Tel Aviv to all Southern Command Air Units 1720 Hours STOP Anglo-French squadrons have commenced bombing Egyptian airfields STOP Stay clear of eastern side of Canal and Gulf of Suez SIGNED Hod, Air Chief, more follows, more follows, more follows, more follows Central Command to all Ground Units STOP Anglo-French Expeditionary Force has launched an attack on Port Said area with objective of seizing Canal STOP Israel has agreed to ultimatum to halt our forces eight miles from Canal STOP Confirm and comply SIGNED Dayan, Chief of Staff

Just before nightfall an air drop replenished the diminished inventory of Para 202, and a full assessment of the brigade’s battle-ready condition was under way. A hundred and fifty miles of cruel desert had savaged men, vehicles, and arms.

Zechariah’s paras were grungy and exhausted and craved sleep, like men in battle since ancient times. Most of them had been getting by on catnaps since the mobilization over a week earlier. They were punch-drunk, thick of tongue, and their mouths were too tired to chew food.

In the command tent, Colonel Zechariah studied the map with Major Ben Asher. The famed Colonel Z was both large and well-muscled, with a shining black beard that gave him a look of madness, like an ancient prophet in a rage. It seemed as though half the desert was caked on his face, his eyelids, his beard, and his baked, cracked lips. His clothing was torn in several places, sticky with sweat. He took no time for the luxury of a cleanup until plans were settled for tomorrow. Outside the tent, men were in deep sleep on the ground.

His aide, Captain Kofsky, entered with Dr. Schwartz.

“What’s the story?” Zechariah asked.

“There is no way you can push this unit out tomorrow,” Dr. Schwartz said. “They are beyond exhaustion and they will not perform. If you try to go tomorrow, you’re going to lose half of them. They’re just going to fold, collapse.” The doctor was pointed in his opening remark because he knew Zechariah would drive them before they were ready, unless he made a stand.

“They’ll rest at the end,” Zechariah said. “I’ll give them all a week to sleep after we take Sharm al-Sheikh.”

“It’s a hundred and seventy miles down the Gulf of Suez,” the doctor retorted. “They need two days’ rest and regrouping before they can go.”

“Not before November third! Yoffe’s Brigade is moving down the other side. He’ll beat me to Sharm al-Sheikh! Half of his men are reservists. I will not let Yoffe beat the paratroops! I must get there first. I want to have a welcoming committee for Yoffe when he arrives!”

Captain Kofsky, the doctor, and Major Ben Asher held their tongues while Colonel Zechariah fumed. He peered out of the tent. It looked like a battlefield full of dead men.

“Why don’t we wait till morning, see what shape the equipment is in, let the men have a night’s sleep, and we’ll also be in better shape to make a decision,” Ben Asher said.

Wait! Zechariah did not like waiting! He did not like assessing! He did not like delaying decisions! Bang on through, that’s the way! Damned! Damned! What if Yoffe actually got there first?

He dismissed Kofsky and the doctor with a wave of the hand, then turned to Ben Asher.

“We can’t just screw up a day sleeping here while the whole Sinai is in flames. Ben Asher, your Lions have been sitting on their asses for two days now. They should be ready to do a little work tomorrow.”‘

“What do you have in mind?” the major asked.

“Before we swing south, I want Mitla Pass secured. We go in with your battalion and take it tomorrow at dawn.”

“Sorry, Zech, I’ve got specific orders from Dayan that we are not to enter Mitla under any circumstances.”

“Since when can’t the commander in the field change orders?”

“That’s up to you, but you’ll have to relieve me of my command first, I won’t take them into the Pass until Central changes my orders.”

“Come on now, Ben Asher. For Christ sake. You want me to move the brigade south and leave Mitla Pass wide open and our backs exposed?”

“I’ve had a chance to examine every piece of intelligence for two days. True, the Egyptians don’t have a large force in the Pass. They are in there to try to prevent us from reaching the Canal. Okay? Purely defensive. But God dammit, Zech, even a few hundred Egyptians dug in in those cliffs and defiles could really mess us up. Besides, we are complying with the ultimatum to stop eight miles before the Canal. If we go in and take the Pass, we’d be in violation.”

“Don’t give me any political shit. I’m not going to let the Egyptians jump me in the back.”

“Zech, there’s no way on God’s earth that Egypt can mount an offensive. Israel is winning on four fronts. The French and the British have jumped Egypt. Mitla Pass isn’t worth a pound of camel shit. And we may get slaughtered if we go in.”

“I gave you an order, Ben Asher. Yes or no?”

“No. I will not commit my troops to you without orders directly from Central.”

“Your troops! Since when have the Lions been your troops? I created the paratroops. I put you in this command. Now get this, very clearly. At zero five three zero tomorrow, either you will lead the Lions into the Pass or the new commander will.”

“No, not unless I get an order from Central,” Ben Asher repeated softly.

It was concrete facing off against granite. Zechariah snarled over the map, took a message pad from his kit, and scribbled out a communication.

“Runner!” Zechariah yelled. A para spilled into the tent.

Para 202 to Central Command STOP 1800 Hours STOP Urgent STOP Most secret STOP It is my considered opinion as the commander in the field and on the scene that Mitla Pass poses a threat to our rear STOP Request permission to remove Ben Asher from his command and use Lions to take the Pass SIGNED Colonel Z.

Zechariah settled in on a canvas field chair, propped his boots up on the map table and tilted back and forth and sipped from his canteen, waiting for the return message.

Central Command to Para 202 STOP 1820 Hours STOP Permission to relieve Ben Asher denied STOP Permission to capture Mitla Pass denied STOP REPEAT denied STOP Late intelligence via Cairo now indicates full infantry battalion inside Pass with one dozen medium machine guns STOP One dozen 57MM anti-tank guns and forty Czech recoilless rifles STOP Enemy dug in at Heitan Defile STOP Egyptian posture is entirely defensive to block a move against Canal STOP They pose no offensive threat to our forces in the Sinai STOP We consider it extremely dangerous to try to dislodge them. CONFIRM, SIGNED Dayan, Chief of Staff

Zechariah was a man known for his power to bulldoze his way through anything, circumvent orders he did not care to read, run his own show. He almost always won his battles, so opposition usually melted before his wrath. Not so this time. Everyone at Central was aware. The Lions’ commander was aware. It was no go into Mitla Pass. He wrote out another communication and handed it to the major.

“I hope you’ll see my point, Ben Asher.”

“All right, I’ll agree to this,” the major answered.

“Let’s shake hands and forget the threats and harsh words.”

“Of course, heat of the battle.”

The two men shook hands like two pieces of steel clanging and embraced with rib-breaking slaps of affection.

Para 202 to Central Command STOP 1830 Hours STOP Confirming orders not to capture Mitla Pass STOP Nevertheless our defensive position around the airstrip and Parker Monument is extremely exposed to both artillery and air STOP Ben Asher is in agreement with me that we should probe into the Pass with a patrol to see if we can find a better defensive position STOP We will stop short of the Egyptian defensive position at the Heitan Defile STOP We will withdraw patrol as soon as it meets enemy opposition STOP With our new defensive position inside the Pass I will feel safe to swing south STOP Will try to find a position inside Pass that can be held by no more than two infantry companies STOP Brigade plans to move south along Gulf of Suez at 0600 November 3 STOP Confirm SIGNED Colonel Z.

Central Command to Para 202 STOP 1900 Hours STOP Permission granted to use Lions for a limited patrol into Pass stopping short of the Heitan Defile STOP Withdraw immediately if opposition is encountered. SIGNED Dayan, Chief of Staff

“Put the Lions on alert to jump off at zero five three zero.”

“What do we need the entire battalion for? This is only a limited patrol,” the major said suspiciously.

“Calm down, Ben Asher. I’m not going to use the full battalion. I’m too damned tired to make out a plan now. Just have them at the ready; I’ll only use a part of them. I can’t think straight at the moment.”

Ben Asher gave a reluctant “Very well.”

Shlomo and Gideon caught up with Colonel Z. at the water tanker, stark naked and chipping away at his grime.

“Ah, there’s my writer,” Zechariah said. “I heard you got a few bumps on the parachute drop.”

“I’m okay.”

“Well, are we as good as the Marines or not?”

“Pretty close, I’d say.”

He dried himself and put on the same uniform he had been wearing for over a week. “Airplane hit the truck with the extra clothing. Everything went up in smoke ...
pssst.
The Egyptians will probably run when they smell us.”

“You in a good mood?” Gideon asked.

“Why not? I’ll still beat Yoffe’s Brigade to Sharm.”

“I want permission to go into the Pass on the patrol.”

Zechariah dug his fingers into his beard and thought as he scratched. “Sure,” he said at last, “you ride in the command vehicle with Ben Asher.”

“That includes me,” Shlomo said.

“Fine. You two can handle the machine gun in the command car. You want a game of chess later, writer?”

“I think I’d better get some sleep,” Gideon said.

G
IDEON HUMMED
a tune as he checked his gear for the morning patrol.

Shlomo was very pensive. He didn’t like the idea that the entire Lion’s Battalion was on standby. Colonel Z. had also ordered halftracks and the three operating tanks to be ready. He wouldn’t back away from a fight, no matter what the orders were. Zechariah had punched through the Egyptian position at Thamad like a battering ram. That one was vintage Colonel Z.

Gideon sang his song louder and louder... .

“What the hell’s the name of that song? You sing it all the time.”

“It’s an old American Civil War tune, ‘Just Before the Battle, Mother.’ We sang it in school when we were kids.”

“Sounds like you’re hoping for a fight,” Shlomo said.

Gideon became serious. “Maybe that’s why I’m out here. To see how Jews fight in rocky places. Shlomo, I meant to tell you, this patrol is not a Foreign Office assignment. I really don’t think you ought to come. It’s not really your business, but it is mine.”

“I’ve got nothing else to do tomorrow,” he answered.

“You sure?” Gideon asked.

“I’m sure.”

Gideon rolled up in his blanket fairly close to his mate. “I think I’m too damned excited to sleep,” he said.

“Who is Pedro?” Shlomo asked abruptly.

“Why did you ask that?”

“You’ve called me Pedro a half-dozen times since we’ve been here.”

“Freudian slip, I guess.”

“So, who is he?”

“Just a buddy in the Marines.”

“What happened to him?”

“Let’s get some sleep,” Gideon answered.

“I thought you said you couldn’t sleep. What happened to Pedro?”

“I didn’t get to him fast enough.”

“What do you mean?”

“I hesitated. He was killed.”

Shlomo heard Gideon’s hard, nervous breathing. Just before the battle, Mother, he thought. Oh boy, Gideon had come home. “Don’t do anything foolish tomorrow,” he said.

November 1, 1956

0515 HOURS D DAY PLUS THREE

ORDERS OF THE DAY 11/1/56
The following units will fall in at 0530 in full combat gear:

Company A Lion’s Battalion

Company B Lion’s Battalion

Company C Lion’s Battalion

Recon Unit—Para 202—with full rock-climbing gear

Tank Squadron B—remaining three tanks

Heavy Mortar Platoons—Para 202

Companies A and B will proceed into Mitla Pass in half-tracks.

Company C will be in ready reserve west of Parker Monument.

Medical and Command Post units will follow into Pass and establish communications center in secure area around map coordinate A-16.

Recon unit will enter by heavy truck to map coordinate C-17 and then proceed by foot to climb to the top of cliffs and attack enemy from above.