The mini Bridge tournament

An excerpt ot the novel AN AFRICAN SUNSET.

The mini Bridge tournament

An African Sunset

An excerpt

'Any news of our very important neighbor, is he present at the farm at all?'  Everon asked munching a sandwich with much zest. 'I'd like to have a meeting with his Excellency, that's one of the reasons why we are here by the way.' 

'Not in this house please,' Hilla reminded him.

What's the problem why not? Why shan't we dine together all of us? The whole thing is almost over, aren’t you leaving in a few days?  So let's end it up in a civilized manner, as if nothing bad ever happened between you and the farm's manager. '                            

 'Sure, splendid idea indeed!' her husband hastened to support his boss. 'But he left for Dialo this very morning, his little son is sick.'

'That's very bad and regretful,' Everon remarked feigning disappointment. 'That means we can't have the farm's Land Rover at our disposal, he must be using it right now.'

'That's right, his own car is out of action and the "Quat-Cent-Quat Bacher" (404 pickup truck) has ignition problems.' Priel agreed letting them know exactly how things are. 'I've given them a hand in pushing it this morning,' he added an additional important bit of information.

'Our lucky day isn't it?' Everon retorted feigning once again his deep disappointed. 'And I've planned to take Reuven out, to an excursion to see the farm's fields. All right, never mind we'll do it some other time. By the way,' he added without a pause. "Reuven is going to spend the weekend with you, there’re no objections I hope.'    

Everon's last phrase crashed upon the Priels’ right out of the blue, and Shatz who managed to relax at last, was overwhelmed again with deep embarrassment.

'We wouldn't have minded it in any other circumstances but right now we're terribly busy, we're packing our things!' Hilla reminded him dryly. From the moment Everon suggested to invite Da-Silva to dine with them, she became sullen and watchful.

'There's no need to get excited!' Everon answered her raising his voice. 'Reuven has to get into Moshe's shoes and needs Moshe's guidance while doing so and there isn't much time left. That's my opinion and that's what Yossef thinks too by the way.' He added rather haughtily. 'Reuven checked out of the Etoile this morning, and as far as I know you've got two vacant bedrooms upstairs; let's see now, if you'll give it a second thought you'll realize that in having him with you this weekend, you’ll be much better off! For Reuven here is ready to share your expenses.'

That settled the matter, and Everon who had enough experience, knew he had the Priels’ approval for it. 'You'll get along, no doubt; I don't see any point in getting into further details.' He concluded smiling.                                      

'All right, we'll get along, no problem.' Moshe Priel said with a sidelong glance at his wife. 'Yes, it'll be all right.'      

'Fine that matter is settled then.' Everon summed the delicate matter up with much satisfaction. 'I'll come back on Sunday night, to pick Reuven up; we have to arrange him with wheels. Well then, if it would work out as I believe it should, he'll stay with you up to the end �" up to your last moment in this god-forsaken hole. You’ll have two cars at your disposal and the support and help of an enthusiastic young man.'  He added chuckling slightly.

'Oh! I have almost forgotten you're my guests from Wednesday on. I am throwing a farewell party for you two on Wednesday night.  Moshe you've to return your car to the agency yet, and there're some more arrangements you'll have to deal with during the day.  Reuven and I will drive you around while your wife and the kids will rest at the hotel's pool or at my place. Anyhow we'll spend the last night before your flight back home at my place, though Reuven might prefer the Etoile...' He remarked laughing.        

The threat of a heated argument simply vanished, without a slightest trace; everything was set and settled and everyone seemed satisfied. The kids who could not suspect anything were quite, their parents seemed serene enough compared with other past circumstances. Uncle Abe had the floor as always and he did fascinate them as ever.

The Priels’ little daughter sat on her father's knees while their eldest stood beside his mother, watching uncle Abe with awe.       

'Okay everybody,' Everon declared clapping his hands together, to retract his audience's waning attention. 'We're having a mini Bridge tournament. Reuven and me are on a test run as a pair, and that's your once in a life time chance to beat me.'

'Why not tour the farm first, introduce Reuven to the farm's workers and staff, it won’t take more than half an hour till lunch will be ready.' Priel dared to suggest what seemed to be the right thing to do.

'Without the farm's manager, that's out of the question but you may do it tomorrow, I mean, introduce Reuven to Da-Silva then tour the farm's fields, etc' �" where are the cards?'                               

'We can't play before putting the kids in for their afternoon nap, they'll mess everything up.' Hilla reminded him.                                                  

‘All right, all right call that boy of yours, he must not sit on his a*s and watch the pots in the kitchen. Tell him to feed the kids in there and put them to bed right afterwards. We are wasting precious time, don't you think?'                           

To Shatz's amazement Everon's instructions were carried out right away, Pascal their boy was summoned to erect the green-topped bridge table and took the kids with him to the kitchen. Hilla who supervised the whole operation followed the three of them, to prevent any unexpected naughty reaction. Returning she found the three men round the bridge table ready to play.

'What's the matter with you all, what's the rush? Lunch would be ready in less than half an hour.' She reproached them as if they were her little kids.

'That half an hour of yours is going to take a long time sit down and let's start our game.' Everon had as usual the last word.

© Haim Kadman 1987 �" all rights reserved.

 

AN AFRICAN SUNSET is my first novel after having written 75 short stories; it's a fictitious plot, which describes the bond between the Israeli delegation members in general; and the trials and adventures of a young agronomist Reuven Shatz his name, his short love affair with Hilla Priel, the wife of the expert that he was sent to replace, and his relations with the head of the delegation, and the embassy members in Mouaka the Capital of "The Coast of Hope." Here is a glimpse of the novel's plot: A slight squeaking noise hardly audible reached Shatz’s ears, penetrating his brain in a repeated echo. Rising on his elbows excitedly, he could see his door opening slowly and Hilla’s silhouette on the threshold; she was covered with a gown down to her ankles, just the pallor of her face glowed in the darkness �" like a film’s negative. She closed the door slowly and moved towards him, dropping her gown to the ground. Groping her way she was getting closer to him with just the glowing contour of her body clear to him, as if she was crossing a foggy field while covering the short distance to his bed.

Shatz was swallowing the saliva that gathered in his mouth with a heaving chest, waiting for her to get nearer, like a predator lurking to its prey.

She bent over him putting her hands on both sides of his head, and clambered with her knee upon the bed’s edge. The warmth of her body tickled his nostrils, and sending both his arms forth he pulled her towards him, clutching her to his chest.

‘You belong to me, to me alone,’ he growled while adhering to her lips like a predator that sticks its fangs in its prey’s flesh.

"AN AFRICAN SUNSET". An absorbing and gripping read. ganxy.com/i/89369

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