Promised Land by Martin Fletcher

Author:Martin Fletcher
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

TAMARA and DIANA, PETER and ARIE

HERZLIYA, ISRAEL

August 1962

The cabbie was so excited to pull in to the circular driveway of such a mansion that he leaned on the horn as if summoning a flock of servants. “Whose palace is this, Nebuchadnezzar?”

Three fully grown and freshly planted palm trees lined either side of the cobblestoned entry. An ancient olive tree topped a new hill with patchy grass. Water dripped over a rock into an empty fishpond.

“My brother,” Peter said, “and this is his Hanging Garden of Babylon.”

“Well, lucky him—and you. Does he need a driver?”

“I’m sure he has several. How much do I owe you?”

“Can I double the fare?”

“Sure, if he pays. Unfortunately, I’m paying. Can I have a reduction?”

“You’re in a good mood. I would be too if I had a brother like that. Mine’s in jail.”

“What for?”

“He says he didn’t do it.”

“Well, my brother did do it. That’s how he got this place.”

There was a shriek from the house. Tamara was at the door, arms wide, sweeping up Ezra and Noah with a cry of welcome.

“Boys, come back and get your bags,” called Diana.

“Don’t tell me the poor lads have to carry their own bags!” the cabbie shouted as he drove away. “What is this country coming to?”

Peter shook his head and picked up two shoulder bags, two suitcases, and some packages, which fell as he walked through the door.

“My God, this is beautiful,” Diana said, as she entered the kitchen, “it’s huge.” At the double sink she looked through a large picture window onto the lawn that stretched to the cliff. Beyond it lay the Mediterranean Sea, blue and bright to the horizon, its waves whipped white by the wind.

“Awful wear and tear, so close to the sea. All that salt in the air,” Peter said. “Everything will rust.”

“Don’t be so miserable,” Diana said.

“I’m joking.” Peter put his arms around Tamara and kissed her on both cheeks. “Tamara, thank you so much for letting us stay. You’re saving us.”

“No, you’re saving me. I hardly ever see Arie, and Daniel and Carmel can’t wait to see Ezra and Noah. They’ll be home from school soon. It’ll be such fun, all the twins living together. Here, let’s do the tour and I’ll show you to your rooms.”

The twins carried their bags, bounced on their beds, and explored the house until they all met again on the terrace for orange juice.

“It’s amazing,” Diana said. “Such an enormous garden.”

“Not forever, though. You know Arie, he thinks ahead,” Tamara said. “The land wasn’t very expensive, most people don’t like to be by the sea, but he says that will change. He says the location is the best in Israel, even if people don’t know it yet. He built the house on one dunam, and he says in a few years he’ll build houses on the other three dunams and sell them. That way the profit will pay for our home and a lot more. We’ll have got all this for nothing.”

“You have to laugh,” Peter said, pouring more juice.

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