The Dinner Party

Getting off the car Shatz caught a fleeting glimpse of a silhouette, fading into the dark shadows. Everon to whom he turned a worried look, was smiling his sly smile.

'Well, that's the local service of course and I don't have to tell you what kind of a service it is... Just like anyone else, they have to rely on such and such bodies... And our good health is one of their concerns.' He said with a satisfied chuckle. 'The French had set it up for them...' He added with that sly smile of his. 'But when it comes to modern training, to expertise in sophisticated and specific methods - they prefer our "Mossad" of course, and I'm the man who is in charge to keep in touch with them!' He summed the matter up nonchalantly, before Shatz could catch his breath. He was stunned, struck with awe. His only knowledge in these delicate matters after all, was limited to the fables and myths that were whispered in his friends' drawing rooms, on Friday nights.

'Come on, let's get inside!' Reminded him Everon, patting his shoulder in affection - pushing Shatz slightly forward, towards the entrance. At the door Everon knocked lightly on it, opened it up right away and entered - while Shatz followed him in haste.
'Bon soir Etienne!' Everon smiled to the old African house servant that hurried to his post, with a worried look on his wrinkled face.
'Bon soir, mon commandant!' Answered him the old servant smiling to him excitedly, with a beaming face - stepping aside obediently to let them pass; and then rushed to shut the open door they left behind them.

Loud sounds of voices in Hebrew reached their ears, and crossing the small but well lighted entry, they were on the threshold of a broad drawing room. In its center stood a huge carved teak wood table, while a few armchairs were scattered around it. The library, its loaded shelves reaching the ceiling, covered the opposite wall; between that impressive library and a low buffet topped with refreshments, in quite a surprising abundance - a small group of men and women were standing. Holding their drinks in their hands, they were watching the new comers in silence.

The huddled group of three couples opened up, exposing in their midst a short bald man, much older than the rest. His grey suit hung open on his drooping shoulders, the broad bright tie that he wore was lying on his protruding belly; a very disappointing figure at first sight, although he could be an outstanding diplomat just the same. Anyway, he was standing there surrounded by his towering personnel and their wives, as if they were sheltering him on both his sides.
'We haven't kept you long, I hope?' Remarked Everon turning to the whole group, though it was the ambassador he was aiming at.
'Quite right you haven't, and that's the young agronomist I presume?' Answered the short and bald man in the middle of the group - leaving Shatz with no doubts in identifying him and his status.
'That's him and nobody but him!' Assured them Everon sarcastically.

'Ladies and gentlemen! May I introduce Reuven Shatz, Priel's replacement!' He added in the same sarcastic manner.

The ambassador who must have surely been much more impressive and maybe better looking, two decades previously - introduced his young wife to shatz, and the two other couples including their various functions. Having passed the preliminary and short introduction, and the all round handshakes he pushed a glass into Shatz's hand, filled to the brim with some yellowish liquid; some drink which Shatz did not have the slightest idea what it was, and offered a toast to Shatz's success.

Apart from Everon and Peleg the embassy's first secretary, whom Everon cornered and kept all for himself, almost everyone else returned eagerly to discuss Hilla Priel, which was their main theme, and had been interrupted by Shatz and Everon's arrival. No one took her side or offered a good word on her behalf; on the contrary they were slandering her it seemed to Shatz - particularly the women, who seemed as if they simply hated her.

'We might as well get started, go upstairs I mean...' Suggested hesitantly the ambassador, glancing at his young wife. The heated argument plus the women's bickering was getting on his nerves that much, that he took the risk and asked his guests to mount to the dinning room - he should have let his wife announce it... But Rivka Doron his loyal and tactful wife met his worried eyes and nodded her head positively, affirming her consent.

Everon Joined the ambassador, giving Peleg his long wished break and they both led Shatz upwards to the first floor; while the rest of the group arguing yet with much enthusiasm, came right after them. The ambassador's dinner parties or rather his wife's, were a well-known treat no one would miss out of his own free will. They were climbing the stairs at last to the ambassador's ample dinning room, to the feast that awaited them, Rivka's culinary surprises caught, and attracted their curiosity; and thus the subject was changed and they calmed down gradually, just as the ambassador expected them to.

A huge colored print of Jerusalem and the old city in its center, was hanging on the wall in front of them, the enlarged photos of the prime minister and the foreign secretary, were hanging on both its sides.

Mixed emotions of longing and pride filled Shatz's heart, as soon as his eyes had rested on the magnificent view of Temple Mount. Taken from the air this magnificent landscape view filled his eyes with tears, and he was swept with compassion. He roamed about the room a bit confused, watching the crude West African oil paintings, which hanged on the walls around - till Rivka Doron grabbed his arm and led him to his seat. She settled him next to the ambassador who has already taken his, at the table's head.

Two servants of the ambassador's household were ready to serve his guests; watching the ambassador's wife movements intently, awaiting a sign from their mistress. Their first assignment was to remove two extra sets, as nobody expected the Priels' to come. When the sign came and their mistress summoned one of them to do it - as the Priel's did not show up and nobody seemed to have regretted it, except Shatz.

Next they had to help the guests to move a bit, towards the other end of the large table - closer to their hostess, who sat facing her husband the ambassador. Having crossed these few obstacles at last, dinner was served. Short verbal exchanges of a few words, the clatter of the energetically used cutlery, and the voice of the hostess full of authority, commanding her staff, were the only sounds that accompanied that festive meal, which took rather a short time...

Having satisfied their appetites, with the coming of the various assortments of cheeses, deserts, coffee and liqueurs - the conversation was resumed at full force again. Not before Shatz was asked to give a detailed report, on the last events that had taken place back home. A bit upset still with Everon's revelations, earlier that evening, he did his best to satisfy their curiosity; and ended it up by answering some specific questions that they had put forth, right after his little speech.

'Yossef if there's anything on your mind, whatever you think you should tell him, go ahead!' Reminded Everon the ambassador and the rest of the company, what a busy person he is and how precious his time was; and that the dinner party as far as he was concerned, was over.
A sudden silence ensued, Everon's whims and his unexpected pranks, were well known among the small group - particularly on such occasions. On this certain occasion he did cross some red lines - Rivka's red lines...

'You must have brought him up to date in some matters, I assume. I don't wish to repeat things you've already told him.' Answered him frankly the unsuspecting ambassador.

'I haven't unpacked him yet, I dare say! He is all yours!' Remarked nonchalantly Everon, sweeping almost everyone in a loud burst of surprised laughter.

Shatz was deeply hurt and sat straight and stiff with a pale face, watching the laughing gay and flushed faces of his new companions; his only consolation was the puzzled look on the ambassador's face.

'Is it that urgent? Can't it wait till tomorrow...?' Wondered aloud Rivka Doron, rushing to her husband's aid.

'It's all right dear, we'd better spare a few moments right now, it's rather important - yes it's urgent!' Called back her husband decisively. Her support right at the crucial moment did it as usual, and he assumed his authority once more.
Getting to their feet, pushing their chairs backwards noisily; the two couples Peleg and Avisar were ready to take their leave.

'Hey Abe!' Called out Ehud Avisar as they were about to leave, accompanied by the ambassador's wife. 'See you two at the club tonight and don't let us down, do you hear?'

'Not tonight sorry, there're still a few more loose ends I've got to deal with, when this trifle is over...'

'Well if you'll find the time or change your mind, we'll be there!' Called back Avisar with a mocking laugh. 'In any case Abe.' He added. 'See you at the embassy tomorrow.'

'You must have had a busy day, though I understand, nothing much have been arranged and settled yet, the plane was late as usual.' Remarked the ambassador, as soon as the three of them were left alone. 'The first thing you'll have to accomplish tomorrow, and most urgently - is his registration at the home office, I mean Reuven's, sorry...!' He added, turning to Shatz with a smile of apology.

Everon was sprawled on his chair bored, examining his fingernails. 'A temporary stay permit must be issued for him, as soon as possible; so he would be able to deposit his passport at the embassy right afterwards!' Went on the ambassador turning to Everon, as if Shatz didn't exist. Then as if some sudden fear seized him, he turned back to Shatz: 'you do carry your passport with you, don't you? You haven't left it in your hotel room...?'

'Of course not!" Interfered Everon before Shatz could answer. "Oh come on...! He was briefed back home according to the usual procedures, and he wasn't born yesterday after all, was he!?!'

'Nevertheless we must remind ourselves time and again that there's no place for negligence in these matters!' Persisted the ambassador. 'We've or rather we must take the most strict precautions...! He has a service passport that should be kept in the embassy's safe, the sooner the better!' The ambassador turned back to Everon. 'With this urgent matter done while you're at the embassy take him to Ehud straight away, and see to his financial rights; he needs some money handy, the loan, the advance, a letter of introduction to the bank - and all the rest of the paper work that goes with it. Well all those things are much less urgent... but try to have it done within this very week.'

'It will be all right, you really mustn't worry that much. He isn't the first case we deal with, and he won't be the last.' Reminded him Everon, who was getting tired and sick with the ambassador's fears and worries.

'That's right thank you Abraham, nevertheless I have to point out two more aspects of the same problem - and if I'm invading your domain, you shall have to excuse me. Now then...'

He made a short pause and turned back to Shatz. 'Reuven, the first thing you must keep deep in your mind, is the fact you were not sent over here to administer, or run the country as you young folk term it. Our aim is to advise not to decide. You're an adviser nothing more than an adviser, and according to that definition, you'll have to act! The locals are very sensitive, and are easily hurt, so even if your advice is rejected, remember you have done your share and that's it. Otherwise you might miss your aim and damage the efforts of all of us...

The second aspect is the climate's conditions over here, you must grind your teeth and get used to it as quickly as possible, and be conscious to its hardships and effects. It's the only way to avoid impatience, harsh talk or futile rage. Such mishaps might lead to needless conflicts, in your daily work with the locals. Or even to bad relationship within our own circle, I mean between the delegation and embassy members...' Right here the ambassador's voice betrayed him and became a bit screechy, as if he himself took a sudden fright - of the possible threat he himself have brought up...

Everon started to fidget nervously in his seat, and fumbling hard in his pocket brought out a cigarette packet; he struggled a bit to get one out of it. He lighted the crumbled cigarette at last, with unsteady fingers. The ambassador's hidden fears were getting on his nerves.

'The fact you're a bachelor worries me...' Continued the ambassador his speech, without surrendering the slightest sign of reaching its end. 'You haven't got Abraham's age and experience to count on, you're a young man after all. Right now, while you're still among us in Mouaka, you can't appreciate the acuteness of that problem. I mean, but being on your own, when you'll stay out there at the range, all by yourself...'

'I'll take care of that problem, you can count on me Yossef! There is no need to worry!' Declared Everon solemnly, clearing his throat.
A door opened up at the other end of the room, and Rivka Doron made her second appearance that night; standing on the threshold her hand still on the door's knob, she was watching her husband with a reproachful look.

'I'm glad to hear it!' Answered the ambassador in haste. 'Now then to sum our meeting up, all the arrangements should end up within this week; thus Reuven would be free and ready, to enter his work in correlation with Moshe - before the Priels' leave... I don't have to tell you how important it is! I think he should check out of the hotel, at the end of the week, and stay with them instead... Do check if the thing is feasible, and see how they're - and how does Hilla feel...'