Raisins and almonds - Poisoned Pen Press (UK)

Raisins and Almonds 1
‘Now pay attention, because this is the best pasta you will
ever have,’ she instructed.
Simon found that spaghetti, which he had only previously
experienced as white gluey worms in a tinned tomato sauce,
could melt in the mouth. The sauce was sharp, almost sweet, and
strongly garlicky. He was glad that Phryne was eating the same
thing. It was so delicious that he put off his further declarations
of eternal passion until he had wiped his plate with a piece of
bread, as he saw Phryne doing. It would have been a sin to waste
any of that sauce, anyway.
‘Tell me about Zionism,’ she said, as Robby filled her glass.
He had the talent of being always there when needed and impalpable
and invisible when not needed. Phryne had noticed this
admirable quality before and wondered if he had any will o’ the
wisp in his family.
‘Zion has always been the hope of the Jews,’ said Simon.
His face lit with a fervour almost as strong as his passion for
Phryne. She was pleased with the success of the question. She
had distracted him from making any more unwise speeches,
and she needed to know about Zionism. ‘Every year when the
youngest child asks the questions, he asks, “Why is this night
different from all the other nights?” And he is told that it was
the night that God chose us and brought us out of Egypt and
bondage. But we pray “Next year in Jerusalem”. Next year in
Zion. One day it will be next year in Zion.’
‘Palestine. Your father says it is desert and swamp.’
‘It will bloom,’ said Simon confidently. ‘We just need the will.’
‘Tell me about this movement, then. Is it a political party?’
‘No, not at all—well, yes.’ Simon explained. He started again.
‘It used to be wholly religious until late last century, when Herzl,
Theodore Herzl, didn’t actually found but crystallized Zionism
as a political movement at the first Zionist Congress in 1897.
People went to Palestine and started farms, businesses, bought
land from the Turks; they owned it then. Later we bought land
from the Arabs. Baron Rothschild has poured money into it,
although patronage has its own problems, but everything has