“Zvi? Is that you?”
Scarecrow was walking with Hutch, their duty shift over, on their way to the wardroom for a late sitting. He peered down the passageway at a group of pilots rounding a corner ahead of them.
“Zvi!” Scarecrow shouted again. A tall, handsome, olive-skinned man with a thick shock of curly black hair crowned by a yarmulke stopped and turned to face Scarecrow and Hutch, smiling as he did.
“Ah, my old friend the Scarecrow,” he replied with a matching decibel and ring of enthusiasm. He walked toward the Nautilus pilots and extended his arms. He and Scarecrow crashed together in a huge bear hug. They slapped each other’s backs with the brio of long-lost comrades reunited.
“What are you doing here? I had no idea you were in the Program? I thought you were dead,” Scarecrow said, his face etched with surprise.
“I’ve been in the Program for many years, my old friend. My death was staged, as was yours. I heard about your so-called crash in Afghanistan. It was on the news. But I knew that instead you had joined us, and I was hoping I would meet you here. Everyone keeps talking about the new pilot who destroyed a BCMS by himself. I didn’t need to know his name. I knew that there was only one pilot who could achieve such a feat.”
Scarecrow stood speechless and stared at the tall Israeli, his eyes welling up with tears of joy at the realization that his friend was alive after all these years. He turned to his CAG. “Hutch, you have to meet my best friend in the whole–”
“We have met,” Zvi said with a warm smile. “Hutch and I went through our TR-3B flight training together. It is good to see you again, CAG.”
“You too, Zvi.” Hutch smiled back as they shook hands with the vigor of good friends.
“You two know each other?” Scarecrow said with an ironic lilt. “Go figure.”
“Zvi’s the CAG on Rapace. We’ve been flying together for years.” Hutch nodded at the tall Israeli.
“How come you weren’t at the meeting on Mars? All the other CAGs were there.”
“My squadron leader went in my place,” Zvi replied. “I was escorting a COD of transfer personnel when the meeting was called.”
“I don’t believe it,” Scarecrow said. “My two best friends in the whole world, and you guys know each other? I told you I flew with the Israelis at Red Flag, Hutch. Why didn’t you tell me Zvi was in the Program?”
“Because when you were telling me about your training with the IAF, the admiral’s daughter was busy batting her eyelashes at you, and I didn’t want to break her stride.” Hutch offered a smirk and a wink with his explanation.
“Still up to your old tricks, eh Scarecrow?” Zvi punched him on the arm.
“You have no idea,” Hutch said, his tone cryptic.
“Every bah’ura at Red Flag was in love with him,” Zvi said with pride. “I lost count of the number of marriage proposals he got there and afterwards when he visited me in Israel, not to mention all the ‘other’ offers.” He flashed a mischievous grin.
“What’s this about marriage proposals?” Major Cooper’s voice rang with Marine authority, startling Scarecrow as he spun around to find her standing behind him. “Hello Commander Rosenberg. It’s good to see you again.” Her face was stern as she greeted her beau’s long-lost comrade.
“Major.” Zvi was just as stone-faced.
“No way! You two know each other as well?”
“We served aboard Avarice together for a couple of years.”
“Wow … this is just nine kinds of cool! C’mon, let’s all go to the officers’ club. I want you all to help me celebrate the reunion of two old friends.”
“I can’t Commander,” Cooper said. “I’ve got some other business–”
“Please?” Scarecrow’s eyes pleaded with her. “We’re all off-duty. Please, Major? It would mean so much to me if you would join us.”
Cooper hesitated for a moment, trying to think of a convincing excuse, but Scarecrow’s entreating gaze won her over. “Alright. But I can only stay for one drink. Only one.” She held up her index finger in confirmation.
“Thank you,” he replied, his excitement unbridled.
The group turned and headed for the officers’ club. Scarecrow slapped his old pilot companion on the back with one hand while offering Cooper his other as he grinned from ear to ear. “It is so good to see you again, Zvi. You don’t know how happy I am that you’re not dead.”
“Not as much as I am, my old friend.”
The group settled around a table in the officers’ club as the mess specialist came over to take their drink order.
“Still drinking sweet tea?” Zvi asked.
“Yup,” Scarecrow replied. “But this calls for something a little more special.” He turned to the mess specialist. “You wouldn’t happen to have any Manischewitz wine, would you?”
“I think we may have a few bottles. I’ll have to check.”
“If you please? And four glasses?”
“Right away, Sir.” The mess specialist turned and left as Cooper rose from her seat.
“I have to use the head. I’ll be right back. Gentlemen.” The three officers stood with her. Her expression betrayed a hint of nervousness as she left.
“So, you and the Major are friends, yes?” Zvi inquired as they sat. His eyes followed Cooper as she walked away. “On Avarice, everyone called her ‘Major Hard-Ass.’”
“Zvi. Please.” Scarecrow cast a punitive glance at his friend.
“I’m sorry. I meant no disrespect. Are you two–?” He turned and offered a broad smile to his friend. “So the fish that could never be caught has finally been landed, eh? And here I thought it would be some little kusit that would have put her hook in your mouth. I never thought you would fall for a tall, blonde, EDF Marine.”
“What can I say? She’s the one for me.” Scarecrow leaned forward and looked his friend in the eye. “And not necessarily because she’s a tall blonde, EDF Marine.”
“Well, my old friend, now we have something else to celebrate. You should plan a traditional Jewish wedding, yes? It lasts for days.”
“I haven’t asked her yet.”
“You better hurry up, buddy,” Hutch said. “Zvi here had his eye on her at one point.” He took a mild, somewhat perverse pleasure in Scarecrow’s shocked reaction.
“Seriously? You two?” Scarecrow shot a glance towards the women’s head, almost expecting Cooper to be able to hear their conversation from such distance, and come storming out to scold the three of them. “Did you two ever … date?”
Zvi sat and stared for a moment, casting an impish smile at Scarecrow, taking pleasure in making him squirm. Hutch leaned forward to gawp at Zvi, revealing an obvious, intense interest in his reply, whatever it might be.
Finally, Zvi looked down as he spoke, “Let your mind and your heart be at peace my old friend.” Then he looked back up and returned Scarecrow’s stare. “As you know, I have always had a weakness for tall Scandinavians.” He smiled. “Alas, I offered, but she was pining for her lost love.” His mirth changed to a more serious air. “Jimmy was a good man. A great pilot. We all miss him.”
“Amen,” Hutch said as he sat back and sighed.
Cooper arrived back at the table just as the mess specialist brought their wine, pouring each of them a glass while the major slid into her chair and sidled up to her new beau.
“So, talking about me behind my back, eh boys? Did Zvi give you lots of juicy gossip about me?” Her glance at Scarecrow had a mild, accusatory bearing.
“Actually, it was the Scarecrow who told me about you. About the two of you. And I wish to say that I am very happy for you both. I would like to propose a toast. A very old Jewish blessing, from the Tanakh.” He lifted his glass to the couple as they and Hutch followed suit. “May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up his countenance toward you, and give you shalom. Peace.”
“L’Chaim.” Hutch added.
“Ah, to life. Yes, may your lives together be filled with much happiness. Always.”
They tipped their glasses to touch with a slight chime, and together, the four officers sipped from the dark, kosher liquid, its aroma reminiscent of fresh-baked cherry pie.
“Thank you, Zvi,” Cooper replied. “That was nice of you.” She smiled at him and began to relax.
“Ah, man …” Scarecrow beamed as he leaned back in his chair and scanned those seated at the table before him. “This is so great.” He continued to stare at the three most important people in his life as he reached under the table and wove his fingers in amongst Cooper’s own elegant digits. “Thanks for joining us.” He smiled at her. “This means a lot to me.”
“Well, for your sake, Lover, I think Zvi and I can find it within ourselves to bury the hatchet.”
“I would like nothing better, Major.”
Zvi cast a genuine smile at the female Marine company commander. “Another toast. To fresh starts, and old friends reunited.” Zvi raised his glass and they drank a second time. He turned and stared at the couple with a stern gaze. “Now, I expect an invitation to the wedding. And make sure you don’t hold it on Shabbat. I want to be able to drink a toast to each of the many future children Yahweh is sure to bless you with.”
Scarecrow and Cooper turned a bright shade of crimson as they glanced at each other and then down at their wine in an attempt to remain inconspicuous.
Zvi smiled at Hutch.
The new reptilian commander stood before his Ba’al once more. He kept his gaze down at the deck, his apprehension evident. He could sense the Other was not pleased. He knew why, and the thought terrified him.
“Your mission to capture the human female Lindsay Vickers was a failure.”
“My Ba’al, we are not to blame. According to my subordinates, the fee-male oo-mann Vickers invoked the name of the Nemesis. Our agents indicated she had no relationship with Him. You know we have no defense against–”
He stopped talking and counted his life in seconds. At his statement, the Other winced. Her anger flared, but she wrestled it under control.
“Very well. But this failure better not be repeated. I warned you what would happen–”
A palpable darkness crept into the chamber as the reptilian commander shuddered with terror. Fingers of black, malevolent mist swept across the deck, reaching for the large reptile, swirling around his feet, slithering up his tail and legs, threatening to choke him within its sinister grasp.
“What of the other tasks I gave you?” The darkness retreated as the Other reigned in her fury.
“My … Ba’al,” the reptilian commander coughed, “the … plans for the assault are progressing. And we have captured three oo-manns to test the new devices. We require the oo-mann spy to co-ordinate with us.”
“I have contacted him. He assured me he is ready. And a pilot?”
“My Ba’al, I have a pilot for you. We have prepared a margidda, and the challenge has been given.”
“The Bird Frightener must die.” Through her rage, the Other winced once more.
“I assure you, my Ba’al, soon, he will be no more.” The reptilian commander dared to look up at his overlord as he flashed a malevolent smile.
The quaternion of Solar Warden officers reminisced for some time, regaling each other with old stories and new. Cooper relaxed and joined in the revelry, recounting a few embarrassing tales about Zvi and his antics aboard Avarice. Scarecrow confirmed he hadn’t changed a bit. His time spent with Zvi at Red Flag and in Israel was just as fraught with his hijinks.
“Well gentlemen,” Cooper said as she pushed her glass to the center of the table and stood, “I’m sorry, but I must be going. I have several reports to complete for tomorrow. Zvi, I wish you only happiness, and I pray for the peace of Jerusalem.”
“Thank you, Major Cooper,” Zvi replied as the men stood.
“Will I see you later?” Before she was out of reach, Scarecrow reached for her hand. She received it and gave it a gentle squeeze.
“Of course, Darling.”
“Same time?”
Cooper smiled and nodded. “CAG. Commanders.”
“Major,” they replied in unison. The three pilots watched Cooper as she walked to the hatch and disappeared.
“You are a very lucky man, my old friend,” Zvi said as they returned to their seats. “I only hope that one day I too can woo such a remarkable Scandinavian specimen as your Major Cooper.”
“Luck’s got nothing to do with it, Zvi.”
“Yeah, it was his rugged good looks and winning personality,” Hutch said with a chuckle.
“I’d like to think it was more Providential than anything,” Scarecrow replied with a smirk of his own. “I’m not that good-looking, y’know.”
“You sell yourself short, my old friend,” Zvi said. “Even I will confess that you are the male equivalent of your Major Cooper. I’m sure every man on this Boat wishes they could have her. It was so aboard Avarice. And I’m sure the female crew feels the same about you. Regardless, you and the major are well matched,” Zvi said with a smile.
“At least in the looks department,” Hutch replied. “I don’t know about personality, though. I think you’ve got her beat there. She’s a little gruff for my taste. Kinda like 80 grit sandpaper.”
“That’s because she’s a Marine, and all Marines are ‘gruff,’ as you say. Perhaps the Scarecrow can tame her.”
“He already has, to a certain degree.”
“Alright, enough, you guys.” Scarecrow hurried to change the subject. “How’s your family, Zvi?”
“Alas, my mother believes I sleep with my fathers,” he said. “I’ve heard she visits my grave daily. It is very hard for a Jewish boy to know his mother thinks he is dead and mourns for him.”
“And your little sister, Miriam? The last time I saw her was at her bat mitzvah. She was what? Twelve? Thirteen?”
Zvi grew a broad smile at the memory. “Yes, 13. She was in love with you, you know.” Zvi leaned forward to emphasize his words. “I remember the day she declared to my father that she was determined to marry you. He smiled and told her that if she insisted on marrying a gentile, you would be his only choice.”
“She must be in her mid-twenties by now.”
“Twenty-six. And she is married. To a nice Jewish boy, much to my father’s relief.”
“Good for her. I’m sure she was a catch.”
“Not really,” he said as he laughed out loud. “She now has four children, and is over 200 pounds! And only four foot-eleven!”
The Nautilus officers joined in Zvi’s mirth.
Scarecrow had switched to sweet tea after his first glass of wine, and his comrades each had a second glass while the three pilots spent another hour reminiscing before their Jewish friend was forced to take his leave of them.
“This isn’t fair, Zvi. I just get my friend back from the dead, and now you have to go.”
“Yes, unfortunately I’m only here escorting a COD with transfer personnel, and we must now return to Mother.”
“When will I see you again?”
“Join the Rapace Air Wing, and you can see me every day.”
“It’s tempting, believe me. But my place is here. Besides, if I had to choose between you and Sandy … well I’m sorry, my friend, but I think you know how that would go.”
“I certainly do,” he said with a laugh. “Watch your six, as you Americans say.”
“You too, Zvi.”
“Hutch, it was good to see you again. Shalom, my friends.”
“Shalom aleichem, Zvi. Safe journey back to Mother.”
They shook hands and then Hutch and Scarecrow sat back down as they watched the ex-IAF pilot saunter out of the O-club.
“Does he still have the same call-sign?” Scarecrow asked.
“You mean ‘Bad Boy?’”
“That’s the one.”