Yoni had left home sometime during the night, Hava said. He might have taken a gun with him. That feeble-minded wife of his had remembered this morning that he had been talking about traveling abroad. “But no one knows better than I do that you can’t trust a word that demented child says. Whatever he may have been planning, it would take an imbecile to assume that he left with no passport or money, only with his gun and army uniform. Srulik, you know you’re the only one here I can talk to. The rest of them are all just petty, narrow-minded, and selfish. Deep down, they’re thrilled to bits because they know this will be the end of Yolek. They’ve been out to get him for years. I’ve come to you because you’re a decent man, if no genius. A mensch, not a monster. He might as well have murdered his father with his own hands. Yolek will never survive this. He’s in bed with pains in his chest, having trouble breathing. Blaming himself for everything. And that moron Rimona, who took in that filthy little murderer to destroy Yoni, says to me in cold blood, ‘He left because he wasn’t happy. He said that he would and he did. I don’t know where he went. Maybe he’ll come back when he feels better.’ I should have slapped her face then and there. I didn’t say a word to that skunk, that diabolic smut pusher who probably knows everything. Oh, I’ll bet he does and is laughing up his sleeve and won’t tell us a thing. Srulik, I want you to go right this minute and make him tell you where Yoni is. And don’t be squeamish! Take a pistol if you have to. What are you waiting for? For God’s sake, Srulik, the last thing I need now is a cup of coffee and a speech. You know I’m made out of iron. All I’m asking is for you to go right now and do what has to be done. You can leave me here. I’ll be fine. Just go!”

The water, however, had already boiled, and I went ahead and made the coffee whether she wanted it or not. Urging her to remain in the office and rest in my chair, I excused myself, put on my hat and coat, and went out to look for Rimona. On my way I stopped at the infirmary and asked the nurse to look in on Yolek and stay with him until I arrived. People kept stopping me to give advice, ask for the latest news, or spout all kinds of wild stories. I told them all that I was sorry but I had no time. Except for Paula Levin, whom I asked to check up on Hava and keep everyone else out of the office.