"Mm."

"That was very moving, the way the two of you said hello."

"Who?"

"You and Coby."

"What do you mean?"

"The way you both looked at each other. As if you were incredibly happy to see one another."

"I guess we were close once. Coby was a sniper, though; so a lot of the time we had different assignments."

"I asked him about the lynching. He said he had no idea what I was talking about."

"Is that what he said?"

"Yes."

"He was standing right next to me. He threw up. A lot of us felt like puking, but he actually did. Then he reported the two guys."

"Is he married?"

"Yes, he has two daughters, he's done well for himself."

"I shouldn't have brought that up."

"I don't mind. Maybe you're trying to get your mind off other things. Or to talk about them in terms of my experiences."

"That's an odd way of looking at it ... I forgot to tell Volvo I won't be looking in tonight. Oh well, he'll manage."

"I wonder whether he was so aggressive before he lost his legs."

"I met someone who knew him from before-he said Volvo was one of the funniest and most upbeat people he knew. He always had a mind of his own, though. He left his family, became secular, not a lot of people do that. I think they told him that was why he lost his legs, that it was a punishment from God ... Listen to us! This is what lovers talk about in this country! What a place to live!"

"How about we banish the world for the next twenty hours?"

"What did you tell Graciela?"

"I told her you'd found Daniel. She was very happy for you."

"She's really strange."

"She's pimping for me. It makes her feel in control, she thinks she chose you. You're a safe partner in her eyes, and this way she doesn't feel as bad about not sleeping with me."

"You didn't tell me that before."

"Besides, she really does like you, Dana. Is there anyone who doesn't like you, by the way?"

"Lots of people. My sergeant hated me with a passion. I ran into her a couple of years ago and she still hates me. And one of the journalists who interviewed me about Daniel said I was pathetic, neurotic, self-absorbed. She thought waiting for Daniel was self-indulgence of the first order, and also selfish of me. The woman at the photo shop can't stand me-she's always making snide remarks."

"Did you tell that interviewer to go to hell?"

"No, she was right. She was right about me. Beatrice also thinks it's self-indulgence, and she's my friend."

"Are you and Beatrice close?"

"Not really, though she sometimes stays the night. It's nothing serious. It worked out for me too, it was my way of having sex without betraying Daniel."

"That sort of turns me on."

"It was nothing special. She's not the romantic type. I'm not going to continue seeing her now, of course."

"How old is she?"

"Who knows! Impossible to tell. She lost a son in '89, if that's a clue. But I think she had him very young, he was her eldest. She has a five-year-old, too. I thought we were banishing the outside world."

"Harder than it sounds."

"You understand people better than I do, Rafi."

"I don't understand anyone."

"I love you."

"I love you."

"I love Daniel."

"So one gathers."

"You have a scar here, I didn't notice before."

"Yes, a knife found its way to my thigh. I didn't even feel it when it happened. Guy grabbed my rifle strap, stuck a knife in my leg. I wasn't aware it was happening, I didn't feel a thing. Someone pointed out to me afterward that I was bleeding."

"I guess it's hopeless. We'll never succeed in having the sort of conversation lovers have in Hollywood films. We're doomed."

"We're haunted."

"We're possessed."

"We're horny."

"We're in love."

"We're sexy."

"We're fabulous."

"I love your body. I love your breasts."

"You're handsome. Extremely handsome."

"Yes, everyone always said so. Especially my mother."

"Your eyes are black."

"Dark brown."

"They look black. I love your mouth. Are we doing better now?"

"Much better."

"How come I don't feel guilty, Rafi?"

"Because you're angry at Daniel."

"I'm not. I understand him. I feel bad for him."

"Okay."

"I'm happy I'm here with you. Thank you for coming, thank you for staying with me until I go. Thank you for not minding that it's the last time. You're very nice to me, Rafi."

"I'm hoping it won't be the last time. I want you to find Daniel, of course. But I hope we can go on being lovers."

"I'm not the type."

"I don't think Daniel's going to come back here, Dana."

"He will."

"He's probably become attached to his home."

"This is his home."

"Well ... I'm sure he's missed you. I'm sure he still misses you."

"You must have women falling in love with you all the time. You're so cute ..."

"Some women have come on to me, but whether it's love ... I have no idea."

"I hope I didn't hurt Benny too much."

"Benny again! What's Benny doing in this room? I'm ready to put up with Daniel, but that's my limit."

"I forget you're not my therapist. Rafi, what do you see in me? I can't figure it out."

"I like your breasts."

"Seriously."

"Well, what do you like about yourself? The things you like are probably the things I like."

"I don't like myself that much. I'm boring."

"Boring ... is that what you think? What's boring about you?"

"I do the same things all the time."

"Yes, but they're charming things, Dana. But I'm not going to tell you what I like about you, because it's going to make you too vain. Especially since I am possibly on the verge of losing you forever and being heartbroken for the next few years."

"You're just joking around."

"No, I'm not joking around. If you don't see me anymore it's going to hurt me. What do you think?"

"I guess I find it hard to believe you're really attached to me."

"You don't want to believe it, Dana, because it's inconvenient."

"I told you this would be a mess. And you said no. You said you believe in happy endings."

"If only life would cooperate."

"Let's not talk anymore, Rafi. Words ruin things. Let's just love each other."

"Fine with me."

"Do that thing you did last time."

"You mean this?"

MONDAY.

I LEFT THE HOTEL ROOM BEFORE RAFI WOKE. I was glad he was sleeping; I didn't want to say good-bye. I dressed quietly and left him a note, telling him I'd call him from the Coastal Strip to let him know I was all right, and asking him not to phone me. Then I went back to my flat and packed the dressing gown and the photograph of the men and the birds. I decided to take my toothbrush and a change of clothes as well, since I would be staying overnight. I assumed Daniel would need time to get organized, and that I'd stay with him until he was ready to come back.

In the taxi to the train station my heart was pounding, and I was having difficulty breathing. The driver asked me whether I was feeling unwell.

"I'm just excited," I said. "I'm going to see my husband. I haven't seen him in eleven years." Telling a stranger something that was utterly meaningless for him, but of such immense significance to me, was a diversionary tactic. Or maybe I was trying to pull this event out of the realm of the supernatural to the surface of normal life, in order to give it weight and presence.

"He's been out of the country?"