Raisins and almonds - Poisoned Pen Press (UK)

1 4 Kerry Greenwood
problems. Herzl said we had to find political support or we would
never survive, but no one likes Jews, and although some of the
most anti-Semitic countries supported a homeland—they want
to get rid of us—Herzl was in favour of Uganda and we cannot
have that. Who is to say that Africa would be safer than anywhere
else? And there must be a place which is ours—ours alone.’
‘Africa, certainly, would not seem to be a good choice. It’s
just a little unstable—but surely, so is Palestine?’ Phryne was
interested. She saw his point.
‘Herzl died in 1904, I think it was. Then there was a terrible
quarrel which led to some people leaving—the ultra religious, for
instance, who believe that only God can restore us and wait for
a Messiah. We divided into Practical Zionism and Theoretical
Zionism, which was eventually resolved in 1911 into Synthetic
Zionism, largely due to Chaim Weizmann arguing everybody
into a reasonable frame of mind; a mensch, that Weizmann. The
Zionists kept the faith through the Great War….’
‘Pesce,’ said Robby, who was worried that the food would get
unacceptably chilled if he waited for a break in this discourse.
‘Grilled mullet, steamed celery and boiled potatoes. Eat it while
it’s hot,’ he chided. Simon, startled, picked up his fork without
thinking.
‘You sound like my mother,’ he said to Robby, who smiled
mysteriously and wafted off in his will o’ the wisp fashion.
The fish Phryne was eating was soaked in butter, but that
given to her escort was brushed lightly with olive oil. Phryne
was immensely impressed. Her faith in the Society had not been
misplaced. The fish flaked away from the fork, perfectly cooked,
perfectly delicious.
‘Simple cuisine is the hardest to manage,’ said Phryne, trying
not to gobble. ‘There are no rich sauces to mask overdone food
or disguise something not quite fresh.’
‘Certainly,’ agreed Simon, through a mouthful.
A respectful interval followed. When Robby had cleared
the plates and poured the last of the wine, Simon continued.
‘Then there was the Balfour Declaration. 1917. Weizmann