The Last Israelis - an Apocalyptic, Military Thriller about an Israeli Submarine and a Nuclear Iran Read Free Page B

distinguished by a few deep creases, all accentuated his masculinity by attesting to decades of leadership, tough decisions, and duties of the highest order.
    Daniel stooped a bit lower to include Esty in the hug but the trio’s interlocked arms were soon broken apart as Esty had something urgent to declare: “Daddy, I can draw you a stick or a star. What do you want?”
    He shared a repressed smile of amusement with Sivan, as he tried to treat the decision with the same seriousness as Esty had presented it. “How about a star?”
    “Hmm…But I don’t really like the star as much. And I can draw a much better stick.”
    “OK, then how about the stick?”
    “Great! I knew you’d pick the stick. So now watch how I do it.” And Esty, who already had her red crayon and pad of paper ready, proceeded to draw a line that was mostly straight.
    Moments later, she proudly waved the pad of paper, displaying her masterpiece.
    “Very nice, Esty! But why don’t you use the starfish I gave you as a stencil to help you draw a star? Did you bring it with you?”
    “Of course she did. She takes it with her everywhere,” Sivan said with a smile.
    “You said it would protect me, so I always keep it in my pocket,” Esty explained, pulling it out of her pant pocket.
    Daniel crouched down to Esty’s level, and started demonstrating how to trace a line around the sides of the starfish with her crayon.
    “Let me do it! Let me do it!” she exclaimed, seizing the crayon and star from her father.
    Esty quickly finished one star and then moved the starfish to another part of the paper and drew another.
    “Good job, Esty-leh! Can I keep this picture with me?”
    “OK,” she said. “I’ll draw another one for me. And one for Mommy. And one for Amir. And I’ll draw another one for Hila,” she said, referring to her older siblings.
    Daniel and Sivan shared a look of smitten delight as Esty began to prepare similar drawings for the rest of her family.
    “So why the sudden reunion?” Sivan asked. “And what happened to your two-week break? What’s going on?”
    There wasn’t much that he was allowed to tell his wife. Of course, Navy regulations didn’t prevent him from saying that there was a vague, ominous feeling in his gut. But what was the point of sharing that? Why make her needlessly worry for the coming weeks about a captain’s foreboding?
    “You were still at sea when this came out but headquarters must have told you about the latest.”
    “The latest?”
    “That Iran’s nuclear program can no longer be attacked by the Israeli Air Force,” she explained. “So maybe you’re back for a quick visit before a special operation related to Iran’s declaration yesterday?”
    “Even if I knew, do you think I could tell you?” Daniel’s quasi-playful tone successfully concealed his premonition.
    “Of course not.”
    “So why do you ask me about things I can’t discuss?”
    “Just to see if you’re still following orders,” she said with a mischievous smile.
    “Yes. Still following orders,” he smiled back.
    “And when do you start following my orders?”
    “When I get back from this mission.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I’ve decided that this is my last mission. I’m retiring.”
    “Really? What happened?”
    “It wasn’t an easy decision. But it hasn’t been easy to be away from you and the family for so many long stretches of time. And for so many years.”
    “One year longer than our marriage.”
    “Yes. It’s hard to believe that I’ve been a submariner for exactly half of my life…And that I’ll be ending this phase of my life.”
    “I won’t believe it until I see it with my own eyes.”
    “You will.”
    “Does anyone else know?”
    “No.”
    “So Yisrael will be promoted to replace you?”
    “It’s very likely.”
    “Well, don’t mention your decision to anyone until you’re done with this mission. I wouldn’t want him to think his promotion happened before you actually