Fiction

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Proof of Respectability-1940

Avi Barack strode down the streets of Jerusalem, satisfied that his mission of vengeance was complete. No longer would the foes of Israel feel safe.
Suddenly he felt a hand on his mouth. Then a painful blow to the head.

When he woke up he was in a small house. He looked and saw two figures guarding him. He spit the cloth in his mouth and said, "Asher? David?"

David said, "Asher, you didn't gag him tight enough. Sometimes I think you're to tenderhearted for the job."

Asher said, "Well it does kind of feel like abducting family"

David said, "not him."

Avi said, "How can you do this to me Asher? At least David's a goy."

Asher then became grim, "First of all you killed three innocent Arab children who were to young to fight and had nothing to do with all of this. If you wish to call yourself a Jew you should at least take THAT part of the Law seriously. If you are not inclined to do so, the Haganah is unfortunatly forced in this instance to take those parts of the Law that deal with such circumstances seriously. Secondly I wish Israel to be a real State someday and not just another lair of bolshevics, fascists, or whateverists. "

Avi then said "You will just make a martyr out of me".

Asher said, "Martyrdom is unfortunatly overrated, and if martyrdom was all that it is said to be there would have been a State of Israel at least five-hundred years ago. Besides some associates of ours should be arriving soon to take care of that problem."

Then Asher softened, "If it is any consolation, I do not take pleasure in this assignment. But I have no doubt you shall die bravely. Shalom." Then he retied the gag, more carefully.

Soon there was a knock on the door. Asher looked at several men walking in. He untied Avi and pushed him toward the men. Asher said with a mild bitterness,"Here is your 'proof of respectability' Milord".

Lord Wilberford said, "Yes I see. I am sorry to have put you to such difficulties."

Asher then said, "We were assured that you would do us a favor?"

Lord Wilberford said, "Yes, there shall be one-hundred and twenty extra visas for immigration into Palestine."

Avi then said, "Well then I die for something."

Lord Wilberford said coldly, "You will die because you killed three innocent children that we will prove before the judge and who knows how many others that we can't prove because of a quarrel you had with their reliatives. You have also forced a friend of mine to go through a very excruciating duty and I take friendship seriously. As it happens the price negotiated was one-hundred extra visas."

Asher then said, "But you said 'one hundred and twenty'"

Lord Wilberford said,"My dear sir, I have been at this work for to long not to know how to make some arrangements." Then he said more quietly,"And perhaps, suprisingly enough I still have a conscience, even though twenty extra is perhaps a pitiful demonstration."

Asher said, "Those twenty will have cause to bless you."

Lord Wilberford said,"Yet they will in fact never hear of me. The nature of the work." Then he sighed,"Come along Avi. And may God have mercy on your soul."

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