The Haj - Leon Uris [25]
‘We have been measuring the brook for two years. There is enough for present needs. However, we are opening new acreage and plan to experiment with overhead sprinkling irrigation. Below the terracing we will be building a dam and reservoir. With the winter flash floods there will be enough water—for peaceful neighbors—for this century.’
A dam! A reservoir! These were staggering things to contemplate. The Jews were ingenious!
‘As long as you are here ... Your shepherds have broken the fence on your south pasture where it meets our northern fields. Your goats are ruinous. They dig for water with their hooves and destroy the fragile vegetation.’
Ibrahim was careful not to be offensive.... ‘But these goats have survived here for thousands of years.’
‘The goats have but the land hasn’t,’ Gideon said. ‘I notice you have been drying up swamp and I understand it is your personal land. If you are looking for high profit I suggest you get rid of the goats entirely and try some of the cattle we have brought in.’
Ibrahim came to his feet determinedly. ‘Understand this, Gideon Asch. I have made a bargain with you because I have no choice. We want nothing but our share of the water that was stolen from us. We do not want your cattle, your machinery, your medicine. You are deceiving yourself if you really think this is a land of milk and honey, just as the spies of Moses deceived him. Canaan has always been dust. The ancient Hebrews fled Canaan to Egypt because of drought.’
‘Perhaps we’ve learned something in the last three thousand years,’ Gideon said, ‘and perhaps it’s time you started learning.’
‘And perhaps you will learn that what the Prophet has willed to dust, will be dust. Wait until there is no water for any of us. Wait till the earthquakes come. Wait till your medicine cannot cure the scourges. Wait till the sun breaks the rocks. They will break your spirit as well.’
‘Perhaps even Allah needs a little help,’ Gideon answered. ‘It is time you stopped picking at the bones of dead earth.’
‘You are a fool, Gideon Asch.’
‘We’re going to be neighbors for a long time, Haj Ibrahim. I was hoping you wanted something better for your people.’
‘Not from you,’ Ibrahim answered, and mounted his horse.
‘We must meet. We must agree to talk about things like fences and pestilence. Things that concern us both,’ Gideon said.
‘How can I meet when you select a woman as your muktar?’
‘We choose our leaders. Our leaders do not choose us,’ Gideon said.
‘It is a very bad system. It will never work,’ Ibrahim said. ‘I will meet, but only with you and only at my knoll.’
‘Once at the knoll. Once here at the stream,’ Gideon answered.
As Ibrahim rode off he wondered why he was more angry with the Jew than he was at the Effendi Kabir. From Kabir this kind of trickery was expected and understood. But charity from the Jews? Never!
Ibrahim rode into a terrified assemblage at the café. He sat calmly at his table outside the door as Farouk groveled and put a finjan of coffee before him. He poured it deliriously slowly and sipped as he studied the fear-filled eyes before him. ‘The Effendi has sold our water to the Jews,’ he said. He held up his hand before mass hysteria could break out. ‘However, I told the Jew to have our well filled by the time the sun is high or fifty English warships won’t save his ass.’
‘What happened!’
‘The Jew got the message. I gave him a choice of having the hairs of his beard pulled out one at a time or by the handful.’
‘Is it war?’
‘No. He pleaded for peace. I gave him mercy!’
‘Haj Ibrahim!’ someone called from the back of the crowd. ‘Water is filling up in the well!’
Cheers and whistles of joy and triumph ascended.
‘Haj Ibrahim is great!’
The father of Hani pushed through to the table. ‘My son, Ibrahim. What of Hani?’
‘Oh yes. I told him that a fine boy like Hani could not do such a thing. He is merely visiting relatives. The Jew agreed to remain quiet on the subject and after a time Hani can slip back