Rimona locked the door behind him, drew the curtains, and stood between the couch and the bookcase like a mechanical doll whose spring has unwound.

“Is that it?” she asked, then added with a half-smile, “Yes. All right.”

To which Yonatan replied, “Yes. That’s it. Let’s go to bed now.”

“Now,” she repeated.

He couldn’t tell if her response was meant to be a promise, a question, an expression of surprise, or maybe just consent.

“In the end I never talked to Shimon. Never went to see Udi about the accounts either.”

“So you didn’t,” said Rimona, “don’t let it bother you. You’ll go tomorrow. Maybe tomorrow the weather will clear.”

In their double bed, each curled in a separate heavy winter blanket, Rimona by the wall and Yonatan nearer the window, they shut out the pelting of the storm with late music on the radio and spoke in whispers.

“Yoni, on Thursday you have an appointment with the dentist. Don’t forget.”

“I won’t.”

“It’ll start clearing tomorrow. It’s been raining for three straight days now.”

“Yes.”

“Yoni, listen.”

“What?”

“The thunder! And the wind is so strong. The window panes are rattling.”

“Yes. But don’t worry.”

“I’m not worried. I just feel sorry for the birds. Should I turn off the radio?”

“Yes. And go to sleep. It’s almost eleven, and I have to be up at six-thirty.”

“I’m not worried.”

“Go to sleep, Rimona. We’re not out in the storm.”

“No. We’re at home.”

“Then try to fall asleep. I’m tired. Good night.”

“But I can’t fall asleep. You always fall asleep right away, but I don’t.”

“What’s the matter, Rimona.”

“I’m worried.”

“Then don’t be. That’s enough. Go to sleep. Good night.”

The two of them lay still in the dark with open eyes, not touching. She knew that he wasn’t asleep, and he knew that she knew. Outside, low clouds were swept eastward toward the mountains that kept their own peace, massive and congealed, belonging only to themselves, yet to themselves strangers.

2

It took Tia two weeks to recover from her sores. She was again drowsing by the heater. One evening, when she stopped breathing for a moment in her sleep, Yonatan was terrified that she might have slipped away. Once he discovered it was a false alarm, he made up his mind: Tomorrow night.