"Your children are also dead?" he asked, and I could only nod in response, as my throat had closed up. "I'm sorry," he said. "I know what you mean about guilt." But otherwise he remained silent, offering no platitudes or hollow words of encouragement. There was no pity in his eyes, and he made no effort to affect an expression of commiseration. I was grateful for that. Too many Israelis, those who had lived in Israel while the Nazis strove to eradicate the Jews of Europe, did not know how to act around survivors such as I. The discomfort we aroused in them was palpable. They sought to ease their consciences by trying too hard to ease our pain. I liked that Michael did not try to make me feel better. He probably knew all too well that there was no way to do that. The loss of his wife would have taught him that some wounds cannot be salved by mere words or sympathy.

At the corner of Allenby and Tchernichovsky, we said our goodbyes. We shook hands, and for a second I thought of suggesting I'd walk him to the Reading Power Station. But I was dead tired and ached all over. I needed to get in bed.

"Let's meet at Greta's one of these evenings. You can claim your free meal."

"I'd like that," he said. "She seems like a good woman."

"She is, and her food is excellent. Tell you what, I'll give you a number where you can reach me. Just let me know when you plan to stop by." I recited the number at Levinson Drugstore and he repeated it back to me. We shook hands again and he walked off. I watched him for a few seconds, then turned to Hamaccabi Street.

At home, I peeled off my clothes and let them drop to the floor. In the bathroom mirror, I examined my torso. Beside my two bullet wound scars, there were patches of discolored skin where Davidson had kicked me. My lower back was abraded from being dragged across the pavement. I turned on the shower, standing under the hot jet for five minutes, letting the water sluice off the sweat from my skin and the tension from my body, but took care not to let any of it touch the plasters on my head.

After drying myself, I crawled into bed, leaving all the windows open. My mind started to drift, but it didn't get far. In less than ten seconds I was asleep.

27

It took me all morning to find her.