The Judgement of Solomons

Chapter Eight

The familiar sound of an apparently ceaseless matkot game echoing along Gordon Beach greeted them as they took their seats at Lala Land, even though it was getting dark. Sitting down opposite his wife, Dov remembered how that old American journalist had used the bat and ball beach game as a metaphor for Middle Eastern conflict - ‘No rules, no winners and it never ends’ - and reflected sourly that it might also serve as a metaphor for his marriage.

He scowled at Jackie, who was smiling in what she thought was a flirtatious manner at the dreadlocked young waiter, who was probably wondering how she had managed to swing such a late outing from Abarbanel, the local psychiatric unit. ‘Why couldn’t we meet them for lunch instead?’

‘Candy’s been chasing a story in Haifa - ‘

‘Chasing cock, more like - or pussy. Not fussy…’