A OWN UNTIED THE LEGS OF THE RABBI AND LED HIM TO THE lidless toilet and watched him urinate into it, then brought him back to his seat and lashed his legs. Then he led Efrayim to the toilet. When the secretary was back in his seat Aown removed their hoods and gave them each a cup of tea and several biscuits, and settled onto the cot to watch them eat.
Efrayim whispered to the Rabbi, “I read somewhere that if kidnappers get to know you personally, they can’t bring themselves to hurt you.” The secretary turned to Aown. “So do you have a name?” When the young Palestinian didn’t respond, he said, “My name’s Efrayim. Efrayim Blumenfeld. Actually, I’m glad to meet you. I’m not just saying that. I really am. I never talked to a live Palestinian before. Don’t get me wrong—I haven’t talked to dead ones either.” Efrayim indicated the Rabbi with his chin. “His name is Rabbi Apfulbaum. Rabbi isn’t his Christian name. His Christian name is Isaac. So how old are you? Me, I’m going to be twenty-seven next month.” Confronted with Aown’s obstinate silence, Efrayim cast about desperately for something to say to break the ice. “I’m not actually Israeli,” he hurried on. “I’m American. I suppose from your point of view that’s just as bad. I was thinking of emigrating to Israel but I haven’t made up my mind yet. I have a mother and a father and a teenage sister living on Long Island. They’re not so excited about me moving to Israel. They think it’s too dangerous. You’ve probably heard of Long Island? It’s the largest island on the continental United States. I suppose they call it Long Island because of how it sticks out like a sore thumb into the Atlantic Ocean. You’ve probably heard of the Atlantic Ocean?”
The Rabbi said, “Enough already, Efrayim. Chances are he’s not going to Long Island anytime soon. If he does go there it’ll be to plant a bomb in a Walbaums.”
“I only thought—”
“You should stop thinking and give your brain a rest.”
“Rabbi, it’s impossible to stop thinking.”
“You can stop thinking if you pray.”
“What should I pray for?”
“Pray to God to let you live long enough to celebrate your twenty-seventh birthday.”
“Rabbi, you terrify me when you say things like that.”
“You terrify me when you say I have a Christian name.”