“He’s a monster!” she snapped. “Can you imagine? The very first thing this morning he wanted me to get Rimona and her sewer rat to keep him company. And I’m going to do it. Why not? Let them put on a show, all three of them. The skunk can strum, the moron can dance, and the murderer can give the curtain speech. Let them enjoy themselves because I’m taking my toothbrush and my pajamas and getting out of there. Today.”

“And where will you go, may I ask?”

“I’ll move in with you. Will you take me?”

Her face was as puckered as an infant’s. She was close to tears.

“Will you?”

God in heaven, I thought. But I said yes.

“You’re a magnificent man, Srulik. Humanly speaking, I mean. I didn’t sleep a wink all night. I was thinking of you and Yoni. If there’s anyone in this whole world besides me who really wants him back and is trying to save him, it’s you. The rest of them are all murderers. They’d just as soon never see him again. Don’t argue with me. Instead of arguing, I want you to make an announcement to the press this morning. I want you to lie. You can say that his wife has been committed to a mental hospital. Or that his father is critically ill. A white lie, that one. Or better yet, announce that his father has died and that he’s being pleaded with to come for the funeral. That ought to bring him back. And don’t forget to have it broadcast on the radio too.”

“Hava,” I said with unaccustomed firmness, “you’re being ridiculous. I must ask you to excuse me and leave me alone for now. Please go home or to work. You’re no help at all to me here.”

I waited for the fireworks, but to my great surprise she obeyed at once, though not before begging me to forget her outburst, swearing she had faith in me “as in an angel of God,” promising to bring a better electric heater for my office, and ordering me to continue taking aspirin. From the door she exclaimed, “You’re a dear.”

I wish she hadn’t said that. That’s no way to talk to me.

As soon as she was gone I panicked. Had I actually invited her to move in with me? Suppose she took me up on it? Was I out of my mind? What would I do with her? What would Yolek say? What would the whole kibbutz say? What would P. think? Madness.

In any case, I didn’t have long to regret it. Within a few minutes a police van pulled up in front of the office. Out of it stepped a captain and a sergeant, who asked to talk to the secretary.

“The secretary is indisposed,” I said.