Alvarez took out the half piece of chocolate from his pocket, the wrapper wrinkled, broke it in half and put it in his mouth, very sweet. The other half was handed to the old man, who took it, put it in his mouth, chewed for a long time, unable to bite, just holding it.
"And, Maher got married. He found a teacher from Damascus University, teaches Arab literature. The wedding was simple, just invited a few relatives. Assad didn't go, his legs are inconvenient, can't walk far. Maher took his new wife to visit him in the village, and the three of them had a meal under the olive tree. Assad laughed, Maher said he hadn't laughed in a long time."
Alvarez put the last bit of chocolate into his mouth, stood up and patted the dust off his pants.
"Once the beans are dry, roast them, once roasted, send them. Send them to Damascus, send them to the olive tree courtyard. Assad can receive it."
"Lieutenant, will you go to Lake Tiberias again?"
"I will. When the bridge is built."
