someone who looked like the German Arab. He was in normal Western style clothing and wearing a baseball cap, so I couldn’t be sure if it was actually him.
Fear was gripping me and as I got on the bus I decided to find a soldier to sit by. They always had their automatic weapons with them on the buses. I sat down next to the first soldier I spotted that had a window seat. The fellow I thought was Tajir got on and went to the rear. I pretended not to notice him and smiled at the soldier.
When I got to Jerusalem I didn’t see the German Arab. He must have gotten off from the rear door. There was about a half hour before the #444 was leaving for Masada, so I went around to where the Ne’eman Bakery was on the first floor to buy some pastries, coffee, and water for the rest of the trip. I wanted to get a particular coffee cake that I knew Arthur loved, to surprise him. I packed it into my backpack leaving a pastry out to eat while I waited for the next bus.
When I boarded the #444 I looked around carefully in the bus and did not see the German Arab. I breathed a sigh of relief, settled into a seat further back this time and drank my coffee.
It was a little after 1:00 PM when I arrived at Masada. I felt relief that the weather was cooler than it was the last time I was there. I texted to Dalia that I had arrived at Masada, and she replied that they had been delayed but were on their way. I texted back that I would wait for them at the top of Masada.
The cable car was starting to fill up and I got on. Suddenly, I realized that the German Arab was right by me. He stuck a gun in my ribs and put a finger to his lips to signal me to be quiet. The three minute ride seemed to take much longer. I noticed that he was licking his lips.
I was trying hard to breathe. There wasn’t much time to think. As the door slid open he pulled me back to the rear. The other riders got off. The cable car conductor also stepped out and then the German Arab somehow slammed the door shut and jumped into the driver seat and let the brake go. I was jolted to the floor and the cable car went in reverse.
I was howling, “Stop, stop, let me out!” He didn’t answer, but then the cable car stopped. I got up off the floor and looked out, we seemed to be halfway between the up and down route. He jumped off the seat and faced me.
“Don’t you see what you have done?” He was angry, and I didn’t respond. I was looking for his gun. I didn’t know where he put it but it wasn’t in his hand at that moment.
“What do you want from me?” My voice was hoarse from yelling. I needed a drink of water.
He started bellowing, “Shut up Jew! You think you can come here and stop our plans?”
“What are you talking about, I am just here to live my life! Who are you and what do you want from me?” I didn’t know what to expect, but I stopped talking in order to let him speak.
“You may as well know that my name is Tajir, and I am the son of Joachim. My father was a proud German soldier who worked with Millie’s grandfather in service of the Fuhrer. We have known of you for a very long time and we have been waiting for you to come to Israel. There is nothing you can do to stop the plan.”
“You mean I was in your scope? How dare you!” My anger was not getting me anywhere and I made a conscious effort to slow my breathing.
In the meantime, Arthur and Dalia had arrived and must have noticed that one of the two cable cars was stopped at the halfway point. I heard the notification sound on my smart phone that I had a text message. When I didn’t answer, Arthur would had alerted the Masada security. I hoped.
I was trying to keep Tajir talking. “Why do you think I am here to disrupt your plans? What plans are you talking about? Who do you think I am? I am your friend’s roommate, that’s all.”
“At first I only thought you were an annoyance, just the stupid daughter of a stinken
Fear was gripping me and as I got on the bus I decided to find a soldier to sit by. They always had their automatic weapons with them on the buses. I sat down next to the first soldier I spotted that had a window seat. The fellow I thought was Tajir got on and went to the rear. I pretended not to notice him and smiled at the soldier.
When I got to Jerusalem I didn’t see the German Arab. He must have gotten off from the rear door. There was about a half hour before the #444 was leaving for Masada, so I went around to where the Ne’eman Bakery was on the first floor to buy some pastries, coffee, and water for the rest of the trip. I wanted to get a particular coffee cake that I knew Arthur loved, to surprise him. I packed it into my backpack leaving a pastry out to eat while I waited for the next bus.
When I boarded the #444 I looked around carefully in the bus and did not see the German Arab. I breathed a sigh of relief, settled into a seat further back this time and drank my coffee.
It was a little after 1:00 PM when I arrived at Masada. I felt relief that the weather was cooler than it was the last time I was there. I texted to Dalia that I had arrived at Masada, and she replied that they had been delayed but were on their way. I texted back that I would wait for them at the top of Masada.
The cable car was starting to fill up and I got on. Suddenly, I realized that the German Arab was right by me. He stuck a gun in my ribs and put a finger to his lips to signal me to be quiet. The three minute ride seemed to take much longer. I noticed that he was licking his lips.
I was trying hard to breathe. There wasn’t much time to think. As the door slid open he pulled me back to the rear. The other riders got off. The cable car conductor also stepped out and then the German Arab somehow slammed the door shut and jumped into the driver seat and let the brake go. I was jolted to the floor and the cable car went in reverse.
I was howling, “Stop, stop, let me out!” He didn’t answer, but then the cable car stopped. I got up off the floor and looked out, we seemed to be halfway between the up and down route. He jumped off the seat and faced me.
“Don’t you see what you have done?” He was angry, and I didn’t respond. I was looking for his gun. I didn’t know where he put it but it wasn’t in his hand at that moment.
“What do you want from me?” My voice was hoarse from yelling. I needed a drink of water.
He started bellowing, “Shut up Jew! You think you can come here and stop our plans?”
“What are you talking about, I am just here to live my life! Who are you and what do you want from me?” I didn’t know what to expect, but I stopped talking in order to let him speak.
“You may as well know that my name is Tajir, and I am the son of Joachim. My father was a proud German soldier who worked with Millie’s grandfather in service of the Fuhrer. We have known of you for a very long time and we have been waiting for you to come to Israel. There is nothing you can do to stop the plan.”
“You mean I was in your scope? How dare you!” My anger was not getting me anywhere and I made a conscious effort to slow my breathing.
In the meantime, Arthur and Dalia had arrived and must have noticed that one of the two cable cars was stopped at the halfway point. I heard the notification sound on my smart phone that I had a text message. When I didn’t answer, Arthur would had alerted the Masada security. I hoped.
I was trying to keep Tajir talking. “Why do you think I am here to disrupt your plans? What plans are you talking about? Who do you think I am? I am your friend’s roommate, that’s all.”
“At first I only thought you were an annoyance, just the stupid daughter of a stinken
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