BY R. HEYDRICC, IN JERUSALEM

“GOD MAY NOT be willing to help this time. The children of Israel may have to look elsewhere for assistance in this one. In darker places.”

Jerusalem Professor Melchezidek Maccabbee sat drinking strong Turkish coffee, and playing backgammon with himself, as he spoke. Between moves he drew on a small cigarette and tapped the fingers of his left hand.

“Two states is dead. And one state will tolerate only one people. Where have I heard that before … one people, one state … and, of course, one leader? I forget. Because I want to forget. I didn’t come here to be the thing I fled from. I came here to be safe. But the thing has followed me here. And now it is among us, I fear.”