584
PARTISAN REVIEW
We left the central bus station, I think it was eight-thirty, no, quarter to
eight, I think. I didn't have the patience to wait for the express bus.
We were held up in Hadera, because of the bombing.
You're right, the station here is miserable-looking. Even the station in
Nablus is not like that."
On the right-hand pocket of his blue shirt he has his name engraved
in metal letters, Said Khamid.
He says,
"In our town Shfar'am it's the best, Moslem and Christian Israeli cit–
izens, living together in peace; there are no problems. They tell me in the
territories, 'How can you be a Moslem and not be ashamed?' I'm not
ashamed; this is my job, to serve the country. I've been in the police for
seventeen years now. When I was still a boy I wanted to be a policeman,
like my uncles...."
Two military jeeps stop with a screech in front of the platform. A sol-
dier hops out of the first jeep:
"Whose package is this?
Yours?
Keep an eye on it.
And whose is this bag? Guys! Check every button! And every pen and
everything! Open your eyes, each person should do their job, every button,
pen, check it! Whoever seems like he should be checked, check him! Yes,
you over there, come here!" He raises his voice to a youth in a faded
flower-patterned shirt and greenish trousers, who looks at him with an
empty stare when they lead him to be checked.
And the jeep with its soldiers drives off to callout warning calls at the
neighboring platform.
The policeman Said Khamid nods.
"He's right; I agree with him. You have to check everything carefully,
even a pen, everyone. I don't trust any Arab anymore. I don't trust any
Arab."
A young woman on the bus leaving Afula toward Nazareth, on the
adjacent seat, points with her chin: "Here, that's where the bombing
was!"
You say,
"What bombing? Oh, long ago."
She combs a black curl, looking at you with surprise: "What 'long
ago'?! Last week!"
On the street, demonstrators carrying large red signs are standing
beside a commemorative pile of stones.
The woman collects her black plait, talking with pins in her mouth:
