248
CAIRO TO DAMASCUS
come alarmingly widespread. It was apparent that neither side
would wait for the Mandate to end officially at midnight, and
that the battle for Jerusalem would begin immediately. Suddenly I began cursing myself. What a fool I had been for
taking my suitcase to the Armenian compound! I should have
taken it instead to the American Consulate, It would be far
safer there than in the Old City, which was certain to become
a center of fighting in a matter of moments. Even though the
Vank would withstand shelling, I might not be able to get to
my suitcase for heaven knew how long.
Could I, at this stage, cross from the Jewish to the Arab
side? If, by way of the back streets, I reached the monastery
safely, would I have time to return? The scramble for the
seizure of strategic buildings was on. The few blocks that
separated the Jewish- and Arab-held areas were about to be
converted into a bomb-wrecked no-man's land. Literally there
wasn't a second to lose, for once the two sides were locked in
house-to-house combat, not only would it be impossible to
cross in either direction, but even if—through a sheer miracle
—I succeeded, I'd have been nailed as a spy.
I raced for the Old City. Shops and stores were boarded
everywhere, the corrugated metal covers drawn and locked.
The streets were utterly deserted. I ran through back alleys
where the fighting hadn't yet reached and at last plunged
through Jaffa Gate, one of seven entrances to the Old City.
I fought my way in against the current of shouting Arab soldiers streaming out to fight the Haganah.
I arrived breathless before the monastery. Armenian lads in
Boy Scout shorts and trench helmets halted me. They insisted
on reporting me to the Patriarch before letting me in. I argued
that Jaffa Gate might be closed any minute for civilians and I
would never get out. Orders were orders! ... I was ushered
into the Patriarch's presence once more. As he rose to greet
me, I bent down and kissed his ring hurriedly and, I thought,
quite irreverently. He was calm.
"You are welcome to live with us," he said. "We have