Nuremberg Tour 20

Lt says, "ok, rest of the afternoon, no one leaves this room except to go to the washroom or coffee urn. I'll take attendance at 4:00 so no one sneak out. Talk on anything you like, what you heard this afternoon, politics, hobbies, travel. Main purpose is just to get you used to each other. We have to break you up into small groups, so we want a good fit."
The only other Jew in the place, Sarah jumps on me instantly, "I was thinking of going to Israel, to dodge the Canadian draft. Then I realized, cure is worse than the disease."
Her tone sounds funny, so I laugh.
Then she makes the plunge, "all the older relatives, just death on you. Younger set, wonder what the hoohaw is all about."
Drily, "I take that to mean you don't blame me for the death."
Laugh, "of course not, so what you gonna do with the story line?"
"Ever hear of suspense? If I tell you, you tell one person and so on, there is no suspense left when it's published."
Knowing look, "come on, what do you take me for? I know the only way out is to move the story to late 1940s Israel."
I nod, "intend to make them heroic, larger than life."
"Good, might even buy it myself. During university I did an internship at a publishing house. Now here is a good angle of attack. First, for Ariel's hard core fans, the full length book. Two thirds of it is what they're used to, should sell well. There is a way to tap into the non-Jewish and secular younger Jewish market with a novella. Just guess."
"Novella starts with the survivors already aboard ship, bound for Israel. It includes everything, word for word, that appears in the full book after that point."
"Very good, so if that publisher is asleep at the switch, you suggest the novella. Is it true, you passed the radar exam?"
"Oh yes."
"Then you're gonna be bored to death on this tour, darn good thing you have the novella to do."
"Yourself, any ideas?"
"A murder mystery."
I laugh, "well, you'll do lots better than I. Just go stand in a bookstore for an hour, see twenty mysteries sold for every historical novel."
Sly look, "you could too. There is no legal obligation, just because your name was mentioned in the suicide note."
I groan softly, "Sarah, standing over this thing is a giant flashing neon sign, guess what it says."
She sighs, "that you can forget any peace or social acceptance until it's been dealt with."
"You see, Ariel was a decent guy, even though a bit egotistical. I feel I have a duty to him, to those kind colleagues of his, and even to the fans. By the way, where do you plan on setting your mystery?"
Wicked smile, "Israel of course, Canada is so deathly boring it's hard to generate energy. Be on a kibbutz."
"Meaning you ah?"
"Bingo, parents insisted I spend a year between high school and university."
"And you still don't want to go back? I'm lost here, you just said Canada is boring."
"Boring is nice. Far better to sip coffee in a coffee house and debate literature than to dodge RPG's (rocket propelled grenades)."
"You might be on to something, univeral appeal. Your book could connect with young or old, religious or secular, Israeli or Canadian Jew. Who knows, maybe a printing run in Israel."
"I like you, let's stick together when the split comes."
"I'm already spoken for, Farzana, one of the NCO's. So, if you can't deal with an Afghan well"
"Advice taken, I'll stay with a white person. How'd you meet her?"
"She insulted me in a coffee house and one thing led to another."
Howl of laughter, "you're gonna be fun on tour. So, friends even though not in the same group?"
I nod.
Next morning Sarge rises, "by now everyone understands just how important their duties are to Canada as a whole. Now let's talk about ourselves. Whatever you people had for civvy jobs, you have no concept of how much downtime there will be. Centuries ago, there was a saying, the devil finds work for idle hands. It is absolutely true. We have ways of keeping you out of serious troubles. Forget any illegal drugs. Booze, you can almost forget. All the stores in that border zone cooperate with our ration program. You get one coupon a day, good for buying a beer. Which leaves lotsa time to fill," looks at me, "we have a celebrity among us. I am told you have inherited a manuscript, have something of an obligation to complete it."
"Yes Sarge."
"Don't Yes Sarge me, give the girls the story."
"A famous author-professor recently suicided. He was not, as much of the media claimed, either my boyfriend or fiance. We were coffee friends only, mostly talked of literature. And unless I choose to finish this, I can look forward to the Jewish community hating me for the rest of my life."
Sarge grins, "don't stop now, what are your plans?"
"It's about 200 pages now, needs another 100 to 150. I have succeeded in borrowing 24 books from the university library and about an equal number from Prof friends of his."
"Good, now resta you listen up. We want people to come back happy, with some achievement. We don't want you returning bored and homicidal. Any one else with definite plans?"
Sarah say, "yes Sarge, plan to write a murder mystery."
Sarge laughs wickedly, "I see you have a good bit more economic sense than Rachel."
Roars of laughter.
"Anyone else with definite plans?"
None.
"Ok, idea time. We've had people get a full year of academic credit at the university level or on accounting designation courses. Others learned languages, with books and cassettes. Hands up all of you who had really crappy jobs."
About half.
"If you choose to play along, you can become a journeyman cook. Theory courses while out in the field. Sign up for one additional army year and get your practical. Auto mechanics, same mechanism, just more time, take you two additional army years. Anyone who can pass the Officer Entry Exam can take correspondence courses. If you need to upgrade to complete high school, it costs nothing in fees or books, we pay all. For now, we drop the topic, everyone start to think on it. There is no escape from the tour, but there is a chance to make it pay off. And now what you're all dying to know, the Phys Ed program."
Loud groans.
"I can only assume you've watched old movies, it ain't that bad now. See we only get you six weeks, enough to get you basically fit but still unathletic. Week One and Two, you'll walk four miles a day. Week Three and Four, six miles. Week Five and Six, eight miles."
Loud groans.
"So, let's get those asses in gear."
Loud complaining.
"Save your breath, lotta you look like you'll need it."