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.