Suddenly we hear a sharp, hoarse shout. Sancho is standing next to the jeeps with the radio, waving the headset, and shouting. At first it looks as though he is having an epileptic fit. But some comrades gather round him and then they all shout at the same time. They get up one after another - Tarzan, Nachshe, Joker, Kebab, Zuzik. On their faces is written doubt. Then they all grin like little children.
HQ has announced: the ceasefire is in force.
There really is a ceasefire!
Jamus and I stay on the ground. I can feel a massive emptiness. Although we have been given the gift of life, we don’t know what to do with it. During the eleven terrible days we lived in total uncer-tainty. We didn’t even think of the next day. The next week seemed to lie in the remote future that you dream about without really believing in it.
Something strange has happened. Something is missing. We don’t know what it is. We listen. We narrow our eyes and try to grasp what is happening.
The artillery at Manzuva is silent.
For a brief moment all we can hear is Sancho’s cries. Tarzan puts his big hand over his mouth and the shouting stops. The whole area is completely still.
* X *
From the other side of the village, where the battalion staff are sta-tioned, the chief comes over. He is beaming. He has been wounded twice and wants to get married soon.
He has a last task for us. Around Manzuva some fallen Egyptians are lying. He wants us to search them and collect any papers they may have on them. That is a popular job with plenty of volunteers. My jeep goes along too.
Manzuva looks like an Arab souk in a Hollywood film. Yashke’s company, which captured the town, is in the process of being relieved. They are assembling in the central square, surrounded by massive piles ofbooty. A colorful collection. The men are lying on fibrous mats between stools, petrol stoves, chickens, water pipes, swords. Dozens of sheep and goats are running around and making a hellish din.
I look for fat Shmuel. He is sleeping next to his machine gun while goats walk around him and even lick his neck. I give him a kick in the ass.