Chapter 8- The Strike Ends and the Arrival
Hadassah woke up, rubbing her eyes sleepily. Shimon and Tikvah had begged for a story the night before about Yeshua and Hadassah just couldn't say no.
"The sound of Captain Caldwell's aide's voice came over the intercom just then. Hadassah hoped this was the announcement they were all waiting for. Hadassah made the sign of the cross and noticed that Joseph and the other Christians did the same thing.
Hadassah also found herself saying over and over again the Lord's Prayer and hoping Heaven heard the prayers offered at this moment. "This is Captain Caldwell," a voice said over the intercom.
"This is the Exodus," Ari's voice came over, steady and firm.
"Stand by for Captain Caldwell," the voice said. The intercom must have been passed as they heard Caldwell's voice.
"General Sutherland at his own request has been relieved of his duties on Cyprus. I have just received a message from the Colonial Office in Rotterdam. I quote, his Majesty's government, having no desire to witness needless suffering, grants permission for the Olympia to sail to Palestine and to disembark its passengers at the port of Haifa. That is all," Captain Caldwell said dismally as everyone cheered aboard the Exodus.
Hadassah hugged Karen, Kitty, and her Christian friends, wondering if her father would come down and join the celebration. She saw him come down the steps and some of the men hoist him into the air on their shoulders. He was smiling and laughing as others pumped his hand, hard.
"Papa! Papa!" Hadassah screamed over the cheers.
Ari looked in her direction as the men put him down. He all but ran to her as men and women clapped him on the shoulder. He gathered her into his strong arms and kissed her gently. "Hadassah, we're leaving," Ari said as Hadassah cried and hugged him back, wrapping her slender arms around his hard muscular shoulders.
"Thank God! It was a stretch of faith. Even for me," Hadassah said, burying her face in Ari's chest.
"Mrs. Fremont, you do not have to stay here any longer," Ari said. Hadassah turned to look at Kitty. Karen stood next to her, a happy, jubilant look on her face.
"I would rather stay onboard with Karen and Hadassah. That is, if the two of them don't mind," Kitty said said with a kind smile.
"I'd like her to come with us. She promised to help me find my father," Karen spoke up.
"I'd like her here to, Papa. She said she'd help me with getting my Nazi identification number removed. I want it removed," Hadassah said, taking Kitty's hand and squeezing her fingers.
"I guess that's that, Mr. ben Canaan. I'm not about to go against two stubborn 14-year-olds," Kitty quipped with a grin.
"I suppose it is if my daughter wants you here," Ari conceded.
"I hate to say this, but can we accept food now?" Hadassah asked, looking up at her father. Everyone on the deck laughed joyously as Ari kissed her forehead.
"If any food comes onboard, we'll take it. Can you wait until then, Kichel?" Ari asked, cupping her face gently.
"I think so. I can drink another cup of broth while we wait. Even though I feel like if I see another cup of broth I'm going to be sick!" Hadassah said, making a face.
"Ari, it's Mandria!" Reuben shouted. Ari ran to the railing, followed by the 600 people onboard. A man was standing in a car, followed by a marching band and cheering crowds. The cheers from The Exodus matched that of the crowd on the dock. The man got down from his car and cheered The Exodus as it sailed past.
After the ship was filled to nearly sinking with food, the ship sailed without a hitch to Haifa. Hadassah either was with her father or Karen and Kitty for all of the five days that they sailed.
They arrived in Haifa, Palestine in record time on a warm, sunny day. Ari was getting some papers together since he and the rest of the Haganah- with the exception of Hank- were leaving the ship before the ship docked. Ari looked up at Hadassah. "Kichel, you can't come with me to Jerusalem this time. Go to the Gan Dafna Kibbutz. Your aunt Jordana runs it. Stay there until I come for you," Ari said, touching her face with his fingers.
"How do I get there?" Hadassah asked.
"There will be a bus with the name in English and Hebrew. Get on it. I will come for you, my little Hadassah. Just tell Jordana who you are and she and your grandparents will take care of you until I arrive. Now, kiss me goodbye and I'll see you soon," Ari ordered gently. Hadassah threw her slender arms around him tightly and kissed his cheek. Ari kissed her forehead gently. Hadassah had been able to accept his orders without much complaint. She hadn't kicked up a fuss because he was leaving her for just a day or two. She had obeyed him with the expectation that he would come for her like he had promised. She would wait at the kibbutz or at his father's farm like he wanted her to and Ari wouldn't have to worry about her. This time he would know where she was and that she was safe.
He just hoped his business wouldn't take him that long in Jerusalem. He wanted to hurry and get to the Valley of Jezreel so he could see his parents and sister, and collect his daughter. Then the past 10 years could be made up between him and Hadassah.
Hadassah walked down the gangplank, keeping a tight hold on her suitcase and valise full of books. Ari had disembarked already and Hadassah could see the row of buses leading to shelters for the new arrivals her father had said would be there. Hadassah then saw Kitty, looking around in confusion, before going to Hank.
"Well, happy landing, Mrs. Fremont. You'll find your luggage at customs," Hank said in a jovial tone.
"Thank you. Have you seen Mr. ben Canaan? I've seen his daughter, but not him. I wanted to thank him for allowing me to come onboard the ship," Kitty said, looking around the dock.
"He and the other Haganah guys went to the base in Jerusalem two hours ago. He told me that Hadassah was going to the kibbutz run by his sister so she could wait for him and be safe. I think that's a good idea since he just got her back and doesn't wish to lose her like he did her mother. There were just too many British soldiers here for him to stay," Hank said, tipping his cap.
"Thank you. Hadassah!" Kitty ran to her and hugged her tightly.
"Hello, Kitty. I suppose you're going to stay here in Palestine for awhile?" Hadassah asked.
"I promised Karen I'd help her look for her father and I'll look into the surgery for your arm," Kitty said with a smile.
"That sounds great. Look! There's Karen!" Hadassah ran to her friend, Kitty following.
"Karen?" Kitty asked, touching Karen's elbow.
"Have either of you seen Dov?" Karen asked, a worried look in her eyes.
"No. Not since he left the ship," Kitty said, looking around as Hadassah shook her head no.
"But can he find Gan Dafna?" Karen asked.
"He'll show up. Look, I'm going to the American Consulate and then to the Jewish Agency. As soon as I find anything I'll come to Gan Dafna to see you and Hadassah," Kitty said, cupping both girls' faces.
"That's enough. Time to board now," a woman with a crisp British accent said.
"Good-bye Karen. Good-bye, Hadassah," Kitty said, kissing each girl's cheek.
"If you see Dov tell him where I am," Karen said, walking with Hadassah onto the bus. They managed to find seats on the rapidly filling bus.
"Well, here we go. I just hope Papa can find me there," Hadassah said, worrying her lower lip.
"I think Mr. ben Canaan will have no problems finding you. He found you at Carolas," Yehudit offered, her brown eyes sparkling happily.
"Purely by accident though," Hadassah said as the bus choked and wheezed to life. It sounded like her when her asthma caused problems and the bus lurched forward with a groan. Hadassah hoped they made it to the kibbutz before the bus broke down on the road. Hadassah had no desire to sleep on the road in a country she didn't even know.
By the time they reached the Valley of Jezreel Hadassah was more than ready to get off the bus. Her chest was starting to painfully tighten and she was getting short of breath. This time Ari wasn't there to hold her if she had an asthma attack. And by the way she was starting to wheeze, it wasn't that far in coming.
"Hadassah, look out the window! It's beautiful!" Yehudit gushed excitedly, oblivious to the pained look on Hadassah's face as her wheezing got louder. Everyone on the bus looked at her, making it even more embarrassing.
"I think she has more to think about than scenery right now, Yehudit," a boy said, a look of concern in his green eyes as he looked at Hadassah.
"I'll...I'll...be fine. I...just need...to catch my...breath," Hadassah said, gripping the back of the seat in front of her in a death grip and catching the attention of the bus driver.
"Young one, do we need to stop so you can get some air?" The driver asked, putting the bus in park.
"No. I'm fine now. My father told me to go to Gan Dafna. I don't think he meant for me to stop in the middle of the road to get air," Hadassah said weakly as her breathing slowed.
"But I'm sure he doesn't want you dead either. Who's your father?" The driver asked.
"Ari ben Canaan," Hadassah said, wiping her sweaty forehead with the sleeve of her blouse. The woman's eyes widened in shock.
"Ari is your father? I know your whole family! Just relax. I'll try to get you to the kibbutz and Dr. Lieberman as fast as I can," the driver said as she went back to the steering wheel and drove at breakneck speed to the kibbutz.
