Free All Backs Were Turned by Marek Hlasko Page B

believe I can turn your luck.” He went up to Dov, who had lowered himself into a chair, and looked at his heavy brown shoulders, glistening with sweat. “I’ll go back to Tel Aviv, Dov. I’ll find myself a job there.”
    â€œYou won’t find one,” Dov said. “You couldn’t find one before.”
    â€œNobody will ever like me as long as I tag along with you,” Israel said. “You know that. They all think I’m a burden to you. The worst thing is, I’ve begun to think so myself. Maybe I was afraid to admit it until now.” When Dov remained silent, he said, “Yes, I was afraid to admit it. I was too weak even to admit that.”
    â€œThe plane’s landing any minute now,” Dov said. “Get moving, Israel. Nobody’s going to pay us for sitting on our butts.”
    Israel stepped to the door. He stopped and once again looked at Dov, who was sitting motionless, breathing hard, his arms lowered, a grimace on his face.
    â€œRemember what I told you,” Israel said.
    â€œWhat was that?”
    â€œI don’t believe I can ever turn your luck, and nobody’s going to like me as long as I tag along with you.”
    â€œIt’s too hot for me to rack my brain over people’s likes and dislikes,” Dov said. “Find me a simpler problem.”
    â€œIsrael is right,” Esther said.
    They both turned to her. “
    Anybody ask your opinion, Esther?” Dov said. “
    No,” she said. “You’re just like your brother. Neither of you has ever asked for my opinion. You love only each other. Dov loves Dov, Dov admires Dov, and Dov listens only to what Dov says. You need women only between ten in the evening and six in the morning, and only for one reason: so you’ll fall asleep more easily and dream of each other. But I shouldn’t be telling you all that. I should be listening to what you’re saying so that I can repeat it all later to my Dov and finally hold his attention.”
    She walked past Israel. As he moved out of her way, he felt the heat from her body. She left the kitchen, softly closing the door.
    â€œSee?” Israel said. “
    She shouldn’t have opened her trap,” Dov said. “I’m surprised my brother never taught her better. Look, the problem is not you; the problem is me and my unwillingness to get involved in their squabble with those fishermen. I won’t get involved. They can talk themselves blue in the face; it won’t help.” He gave Israel his sunglasses. “Forget the whole thing.”
    â€œThey won’t.”
    â€œNow go to the airport and try to pick up a tourist,” Dov said. “If you see a Jew in a suit with a camera in his hand, walk up to him and be ready to bargain about the price, because he’ll never pay as much as you ask. Since you’ll probably be talking in English, at some point just say to him, Man, I need the gelt. He should understand; if he does, take him where he wants to go. If he looks like a religious man, charge him double.”
    â€œWill you remember what I said?”
    â€œNo, I’ve already forgotten. It’s a hundred and forty degrees outdoors and probably more inside. People who live here have to take salt pills because if they don’t, their bones snap like twigs. If we stay here two years longer, we’ll lose all our teeth and hair. We’ll never look like those actors who play sons of the desert and heroes of the tropics. I’m sorry, Israel. I’m locked up in my body as if it were a cage nobody’s going to open until my death. That’s all I can think about. Or maybe I can’t. Maybe it just seems to me that I’m thinking. There’ll be no rain here until the end of October.”
    â€œYes,” Israel said. “Or even until the end of November.”
    He stood for a moment in the doorway staring at Dov who continued to sit inert, his eyes closed,