Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 37 of a new online serial novel, If Anyone Is Listening, by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every week.  Click here for previous chapters.

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

“I don’t know how this is all going to end up, Shimmy.” Despite the ominous context, Gedaliah actually sounded pretty normal. He was driving while speaking on the phone with Shimmy. “The government has declared semi-martial law in order to try to take control of the economic chaos. They are giving out vouchers and subsidizing basic essentials and medications, just so people can live. But the business sector is on the verge of collapse, the stock market is almost paralyzed, stocks are sliding at a dizzying speed…”

“I don’t know how things will end up on my end, either.” Shimmy’s voice was laced with melancholy. “My father is in the hospital with a serious infection—though they’re saying it’s not dangerous, baruch Hashem—but the people here are trying to convince me to stay.”

“Don’t do it.”

“That’s what I thought at first. I mean, Shabbos here was really awful…”

“You were in the room that they gave you?”

“Only for part of the time.” Shimmy sounded very irritated. “I walked seven kilometers for davening and the seudos. I demanded that the bat should not accompany me, but I’m not sure I really wasn’t under surveillance. On the other hand, they’re paying me very well.”

“In dollars? Hard cash?”

“Yes, cash. I think that’s a commodity worth a lot these days, isn’t it?”

“Apparently. Though from everything that has happened, I’ve learned that it’s impossible to really rely on any money. Oops.” He slammed on the brakes. “What is this, a demonstration? About the new laws?” He muttered something to himself.

“Who are the demonstrators? Blacks?”

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 36 of a new online serial novel, If Anyone Is Listening, by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every week.  Click here for previous chapters.

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

“In serious condition! He wants people to pray for him! So now at least we know he’s not dead, but go figure what’s going on with him…”

Steve was getting more agitated by the minute. He got up and then sat down again. He opened the cabinets that were packed with boxes of food that could last even through a three-month siege, and then closed them. He strode to the other room and then came back. “His voice was cut off suddenly, as if someone had stopped the recording right after he’d asked for prayers. I hope they didn’t catch him.”

“They didn’t. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be here, waiting patiently for you,” Rudy reminded him as he wrapped himself in a thin woolen blanket he’d found in one of the cabinets.

“Their patience is holding only because of what I buried all around this cabin.”

“What difference does it make why they are still being patient? They are surrounding you, so they are not surrounding him. That’s encouraging, right?”

“Right.”

“And it’s also encouraging to hear that he asked for prayers. This way we know he’s not an atheist,” Rudy added, trying to pull Steve out of the black mood he sometimes sank into.

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 35 of a new online serial novel, If Anyone Is Listening, by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every week.  Click here for previous chapters.

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

“There still are no new recordings! It’s been so long, I’m losing my mind!” Steve griped as he paced back and forth.

“Take a drink, and calm down,” Rudy said with a yawn.

“And did you see what they informed me? That they don’t believe that it’s me! Do you know what I’m going to do to them? I’m going to go into those accounts again and reset them! If some corrupt guy was happy to earn his ten thousand dollars this month, he’ll find that his account is empty all over again!”

***

“Tzippy, what day is today?”

Tzippy started. “Thursday night, Tatty.”

“Have you spoken to Mommy at all?”

“Yes. She’s very worried about you.”

“Oy. It’s late already… I see it’s dark outside. Go home, Tzippy.”

“Yes, I’m leaving soon, and I’ll be back early in the morning, b’ezras Hashem.”

“But you can’t be here for Shabbos,” he said, his eyes closed. “What are the doctors saying? They don’t plan to release me just yet, do they?”

“Your fever hasn’t gone down for three days, Tatty. You can’t go home now.”

“If you’ll be home with Chumi for Shabbos, I’ll manage by myself here. Do the neighbors know you’re alone? Maybe tell them something, so they’ll know to bring you food.”

“I don’t know who knows and who doesn’t,” Tzippy said. “You know how it is, everyone is busy with their own lives. Oh, Hirschbaum’s son did come up and say that his father wanted to know how you are doing, because he hasn’t seen you in shul for a long time. And he asked me to tell you refuah sheleimah.”

“I think he might have called too, but I couldn’t answer. My two chavrusos also called. I answered one of them, barely, and then I didn’t pick up for the second.”

“Would you want them to come visit?”

He shook his head in an ambiguous way, and was quiet for two long minutes, until Tzippy thought he might have fallen asleep. But suddenly he spoke again. “So what’s with Shabbos, Tzippy? What are you and Chumi going to eat? There’s money at home; go tomorrow and buy takeout if you don’t have the time and energy to cook.”

“I won’t leave you here by yourself.” Her teeth were clenched. “And it will be fine here, b’ezras Hashem. At the Yad Sarah building next door, there’s a guesthouse with rooms to sleep, and there are meals in the hospital courtyard, from Bikur Cholim. Chumi will stay with the Grossmans, her friend.”

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 34 of a new online serial novel, If Anyone Is Listening, by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every week.  Click here for previous chapters.

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

Steve ignored the booming voices coming from the megaphones and turned over to the other side. He glanced for a moment out the only window in the hut, and then his gaze moved to the door. They wouldn’t burst in and kill him; that much was clear. Because if they did that, they’d never get to his security code, and then the dumb computer experts at the banks would have to continue groping their way in the dark. Let’s see if they’d find a solution.

“Steve?” Rudy approached from the other side of the room with a cup. “Do you want a hot drink?”

Steve threw off the blanket and stood up. “I heat my own water.”

“You don’t trust me?” Rudy sat down on the mattress that had just become available and sipped from his cup.

“I don’t trust anyone.”

“So why’d you bring me to be here with you?”

“Because I had no other choice.” He filled a little pot with water and turned on the fire beneath it. “Tell me, while I was sleeping, was a new lecture posted?”

“No.”

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 33 of a new online serial novel, If Anyone Is Listening, by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every week.  Click here for previous chapters.

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

“Moni has turned himself in.”

The message popped up in front of the CEO of Centrabank, Jean Preisler, a second after he took the first sip of his ice water.

He picked up the phone to call Roy, nearly choking on his drink. “You’re not serious!” he said. “Where is this information from!?”

Roy chuckled. “Don’t get too excited—he didn’t actually turn himself in. He just informed us of his exact location. He’s in Pennsylvania, in one of the remote villages where the Amish people live.”

“And is he really the brain behind the hack? So he’s also a genius, in addition to being so charismatic?”

“According to his message, yes.”

“That’s strange. The Amish people don’t even use computers. They’re anti-technology.”

“You’d be surprised—there are exceptions among them, too. In any case, as we speak, the FBI is very close to there, but he warned them that he is barricaded inside his cabin, and he’s armed, so they shouldn’t even try to storm the place. At this point, they’re only going to negotiate with him.”

“Sounds like he’s totally nuts.”

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 32 of a new online serial novel, If Anyone Is Listening, by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every week.  Click here for previous chapters.

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

“How are you, Shimmy?” Gedalya asked as he paced up and down his office, from wall to wall. “What are you doing there all this time?”

“I’m letting a bat-robot analyze my behavior,” Shimmy said, and then added theatrically, “Which is why I’m trying to behave nicely, of course.”

Gedalya chuckled. “Very important. Where are you now?”

“In Yang Yang’s complex. I’m just waiting for the mess with my passport to get sorted out, and to see when a flight will depart to Israel. I’m not the only Israeli who is stuck here; I’ve met a few others in shul. They tell me it’s going to happen in the next few days, b’ezras Hashem.”

“That’s great! And what’s with our Tanchum?”

“It came out really good. Now the factory is waiting for the final payment, and then they’ll send out the shipment.”

“Well, they’ll have to wait,” Gedalya said grimly. “I’m pretty sure you’ll get to Israel before the Tanchums do.”

“I guess so.”

“And tell those Chinese guys to be a little patient, until I’m able to put together the money. I hope it will work out within two weeks.”

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 31 of a new online serial novel, If Anyone Is Listening, by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every week.  Click here for previous chapters.

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

“If Ruchi is wearing her jewelry?” Yudi parrots his father-in-law, from the doorway of the room. “I don’t think so, because it annoys her. She sometimes puts on a necklace, only for Shabbos. But nothing else.”

“So where is everything? This jewelry box is completely empty.”

“Maybe the jewelry is in the dresser drawers?” Yudi suggests as he steps into the room.

“No,” his father-in-law says as he opens and closes one drawer after another. “There’s no jewelry here. And she has lots of beautiful pieces, doesn’t she? Your parents sent her jewelry during the engagement, we bought her things here and there, she got something when Isamar was born… Let’s call the house and ask if she has it with her.” He turns to Yudi. “Do you want to call? Or should I?”

“She probably threw it all out of the window. Downstairs.”

“Who, Ruchi?”

“No, the CPS lady.” Yudi looks at the open window. “So that if the aide would meet her on the way to the front door, she wouldn’t see what she was holding.”

***

“You didn’t make a mistake,” Uncle Yankel responded after a second of silence. “It’s this number. But I get a message that I have no access. Maybe the line has been cut off?”

“It hasn’t been,” Tzippy replied. “I called myself and I heard the different options.”

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 30 of a new online serial novel, If Anyone Is Listening, by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every week.  Click here for previous chapters.

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

“No, don’t turn it off!” Ruchi shouts, her eyes red as she tries to block the power button with her finger. Isamar is sitting in the infant seat, moving his hands about.

“But it’s been on all morning long,” her father says firmly. “It’s enough!”

Ruchi is miserable. “I can’t stop listening to it…” she says. “I have to hear what his mother did after his accident and how she managed, and he’s talking about it in this speech!”

“Nu, so you heard this speech seven times in a row already,” her mother interjects. “You didn’t hear Yudi or Chana’le or me taking care of Isamar, and you didn’t hear me calling you to eat—all you’re doing is listening to this over and over! You probably know it all by heart by now.”

“No, I don’t, it’s not registering!” Ruchi sniffs. “I’m so stressed, I can’t concentrate.”

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 29 of a new online serial novel, If Anyone Is Listening, by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every week.  Click here for previous chapters.

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

Shimmy’s eyes opened wide. “The surveillance on me has gone up a level?”

“Yes. We have two assessments. Either the bat’s system has gone totally haywire…” It was strange to hear these words coming from the bat, as if it was complaining about its own messed-up system, though Shimmy knew that whatever the bat said was not a product of itself; it was only an audio translation of Yang’s words, coming from wherever he was sitting.

“Or?”

“Or its conclusions are correct. Do you have any idea which of the two it would be?”

Shimmy stared at the Tanchum doll standing near the wall and and then at the bat. “Maybe it’s because I’m here, on the premises of your factory, and that makes it suspect that I’m a spy.”

“No.” Yang Yang was definitive. “We input the information that you came here for research purposes in partnership with us.”

“You can’t simply ask the bat what it thinks I am? Who it thinks I am?”

“We asked. It calls you by a code name, but for some reason, it won’t give details beyond that. I told you from the start, there’s a bug in the system here. And we expect that you, working together with us, will help us reach a solution.”

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 28 of a new online serial novel, If Anyone Is Listening, by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every week.  Click here for previous chapters.

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

The problem was that Shimmy had forgotten how hard it was to get rid of the bat. All his verbal efforts at persuasion were ineffective, and his vigorous hand motions were useless. At one point, Christopher flew up so high it became a tiny dot in the sky, but when Shimmy squinted, he was still able to see it.

What was the point? It didn’t seem that anything was threatening his freedom. The situation was no different than it had been on his first visit, when the bat had accompanied him to the airport and then disappeared. The minute he would receive a message about an outgoing flight to Israel, he would go to the airport and make his way home, no matter how much that nudnik Christopher would film and photograph him.

Shimmy walked to the sidewalk, feeling foolish as he held the box with the oversized doll. What were people thinking of him? Or maybe they realized that when a man walks in a central industrial zone for toys in Beijing, holding a box with a huge doll, that doesn’t mean he plans to play house with it?