An Unexpected Afterlife_A Novel by Dan Sofer

Author:Dan Sofer [Sofer, Dan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dan Sofer
Published: 2017-03-25T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 34

The sudden screech of tires on asphalt made Irina grab Moshe’s arm again. All eyes turned to the white car that had halted before the bus shelter on Jaffa Street where they sat. The man in the passenger seat lurched forward and whipped back in his seat. The smell of burning rubber wafted in the air. On the roof of the car, the word “taxi” was displayed in a yellow half-moon.

Hearing no crunch of fenders, the startled pedestrians continued on their way, but Irina’s relief was short-lived. The driver’s door opened, and a short, dark-skinned man of middle age walked around the car and marched toward her.

Moshe stood and the man stopped inches from him. “Moshe Karlin,” he said, “is that you?” His voice had a rough, raspy edge.

The old man didn’t wait for an answer. He threw his arms around Moshe and hugged his chest. Moshe gave Irina a helpless, bemused look.

The driver held Moshe at arms’ length and inspected him like a long-lost lover. “Great God! Moshe Karlin. I thought you were dead.”

“Hey! Driver!” the passenger yelled out the window. “The meter is running.”

The cabbie didn’t seem to hear. “I heard rumors but I didn’t dare believe them. How can this be?”

“God alone knows,” Moshe said.

“Fantastic! Wonderful news!”

He seemed to notice Irina for the first time.

“This is Irina. Irina, meet Rafi. A very dear friend.”

“A friend?” Rafi seemed insulted. “More like family. I’ve known Moshe since he was in his mother’s womb.”

The passenger got out of the cab, slammed the door, and flagged down another taxi.

Rafi wiped a tear from his crinkly eye. “I didn’t hear you on the radio. Are you back at work?”

Moshe’s smile faded at the mention of his company. “It’s complicated.”

“Of course,” Rafi said, as though not keen to pry. “And Galit? She must be overjoyed to see you.”

“I’m afraid that’s complicated as well.”

“I see.” Rafi seemed genuinely distressed at his friend’s plight. “I can imagine. After, what, two years? Where are you heading? Let me give you a ride. Let’s talk in the air conditioning.”

They got inside and the taxi pulled off.

Irina had the back seat to herself. The soft upholstery was a welcome change after the hard plastic chairs of the Ministry of Employment.

Rafi caught her eye in the rearview mirror. “Let me tell you about the Karlins,” he said with pride. “Moshe’s father, David, got me into this business. I was a young soldier when the Yom Kippur War hit. The Egyptians crossed the Suez Canal and marched across Sinai. Syrian tanks rolled through the Golan. Iraq and Jordan joined the assault. Their leaders talked of driving us into the sea. In Tel Aviv, the government dug mass graves. This was the end of us.” His face sobered in the mirror.

“My battalion charged the Golan Heights. Brothers-in-arms died around me. Of my whole platoon, only I lived to tell the tale.” He drew a labored breath at the memory. “We survived the war but the country was a mess. Hard to believe that now.

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