A Long Way to Shiloh Read Online Free PDF Page B

? Everything moving a bit too fast here. Too many wheels turning too audibly.
    I said, ‘Well, I’d have to have a word with my principal, of course–’
    ‘No,’ Agrot said.
    ‘What?’
    ‘No.’
    A certain silence fell on the room.
    I said, ‘How do you mean?’
    Agrot looked at Uri. Uri said, somewhat wheedlingly, ‘ Because  there’s no need . I mentioned everything was working out very propitiously. And so it is. Next week you leave on your library travels. So Dr Silberstein or one of his assistants will do it for you. Any place they happen to go, you happen to be somewhere else. Who needs to know where?’
    ‘Why shouldn’t they know?’ I said.
    ‘Because,’ Agrot said, somewhat reluctantly, ‘we don’t want it to get back to our neighbours that you are involved. It could very easily. It’s better they don’t know – and of course I rely on you not to mention any of this. The fact is, some of the background to this business is Classified. Don’t ask me why now. I’ll tell you in Israel, together with a lot of other interesting things. But don’t expect me to go on my knees. If you want to come, come. If not, we’ll have to manage without. It’s been known before.’
    He said it very soberly, very reasonably, with a built-in annoyance factor peculiarly Israeli.
    I said, ‘Let me think about it.’
    ‘Who has to let you?’
    ‘When do you go back?’
    ‘In the morning. I came only to see you.’
    ‘Well. I’ll have to let you know, then.’
    ‘Good. Shalom.’
    ‘Shalom.’
    ‘Just a minute,’ Uri said, somewhat bewildered at the rapid turn of events. I was a bit bewildered myself. ‘I have Dr Silberstein below. Don’t you want to see him?’
    ‘Not now.’
    ‘But he came specially. He’s waiting to see you. He’s sitting with a glass of tea.’
    ‘Then we hope he enjoys it,’ Agrot said calmly, still pumping my hand. ‘On Israeli territory nobody forces anybody. Shalom. Shalom.’
    He shook Uri’s hand, too. I thought he had a quiet word with him as I went to the door.
    Just a few minutes later we were on the road again.
    On the North Circular, these fantasies reverting to proportion , more prosaic matters came to mind. I said, ‘How did you come to get her number?’
    ‘Lady Lulu? From Birkett. I rang and asked him.’
    Of course.
    ‘Was she really going out?’
    ‘I don’t know. I told her I wanted to see you at four.’
    ‘Was she surprised at your calling her?’
    ‘Yes. Startled,’ Uri said.
    Better. A clearer picture emerged. All was not lost.
    I said more cheerfully, ‘So what’s your trouble, buggar-lugs? You’re morose.’
    ‘Just thoughtful.’
    ‘Are you disappointed in me?’
    ‘I can’t tell you what assignments to accept.’
    ‘It’s fantasy, Uri. The thing can’t exist.’
    ‘Okay.’
    ‘Besides, I’m in the knowledge business, love – a very international business. We’re supposed to publish things, not hide them.’
    ‘Do me a favour,’ Uri said, ‘and keep that crap for your students. I don’t see the Arabs hurrying to publish.’
    ‘Maybe that’s why they got stuck with Sidqui.’
    ‘Maybe.’
    Silence. A long silence.
    I said, ‘Also, it’s a serious step taking on a thing like this without telling the principal.’
    ‘Don’t take serious steps.’
    ‘It’s not a thing I could decide on the spur of the moment. I don’t even know if I’m capable of it now.’
    ‘Am I arguing?’ Uri said. ‘The decision is yours. Who wants challenges? You’ve earned yourself reputation and position. Nobody says you have to keep testing yourself.’
    Agrot had certainly had a word with him; some other, subtler kind of hustle going on here. They’re kind, the Israelis, and hard-working, and accommodating, and conscientious; all these things. Also frigging bright.
    I relapsed into silence myself.

2
    ‘Where is it you’re going exactly?’
    ‘Nottingham, Shrewsbury, Liverpool. Places like that.’
    ‘Alluring.’
    ‘Isn’t