"Upstairs! Second floor, on the right!"
"Wait there until you are called," adds the girl.
I climb the dark staircase. A few boys of my age are sitting on a bench in the corridor, just as nervous as I am, all trying unsuccess-fully to appear experienced and knowledgeable. From the end of the corridor, through a closed door, we hear occasional stamping. Like exercises on a parade ground. I am getting more and more excited. I can hardly breathe.
A group of young people goes up the stairs whispering to each other. Scraps of conversation reach my ears:
"... the one with red hair was arrested yesterday..."
"... he won’t talk..."
"... they will beat him up ... "
"... they should have used their guns ..."
One of them looks across to us and sneers: "It looks as though they are starting a kindergarten here!"
"No need to be so proud of yourself," answers one of the others. "They will soon be better shots than you are!"
Arrest! Shots! Beatings! We will have our tasks. Something that makes life worth living, makes it worth taking risks.
A door opens, and a beam of light illuminates me for a moment. "You there, come in!" Someone grips my arm, guides me into the room, pushes me onto a chair, and disappears.
I can’t see anything. A bright light on the table in front of me is shining straight into my eyes. But I can feel that there are people sit-ting in front of me. Maybe three, maybe four. A deep, unnatural voice announces my name and my address. I nod. I am afraid to speak in case my voice is hoarse. My throat is dry.
"Where do you go to school?" asks the voice.
"I... I don’t go to school. I work for a lawyer." Thank God I can speak. My voice sounds almost normal.
"You are working? Hmmmm ... for how long?" It seems that the Irgun people are not used to young people working.
"More than a year."
There is whispering behind the table. One of the voices is that of a woman. Then the deep voice asks me some questions about my political views. When I decided to join the Irgun. If I know its aims. If I am prepared to put myself in danger.