Azit In The Judaean Desert

By MOTTA G UR

Ruthie and Hayyim knew all
about the flowers and animals and
bugs in their neighborhood. They
wanted to find exciting new species,
like the strange plants and animals
that live in the hot, dry Judaean
desert.
Hayyim borrowed a canteen
and a map of the desert from his
brother Rami, a paratrooper. Ruthie
borrowed a first-aid kit from her
uncle, a medic with the tank corps.
And they pooled their savings and
bought a guide book of desert
plants and animals.
Early one spring day they took
a bus down to Arad, a town on the
edge of the desert, and began to
hike along a path that led deep into
rocky wilderness.
When the sun was high they
spread out the map and located the
nearest water well. They soon
reached the mound of rocks topped
by a concrete platform with a round
opening. A cool clump of trees grew
in a hollow beside the well. Hayyim
climbed to the top of the mound,
lowered a can on a string through
the opening2and brought up cold,
delicious water. When they had
enough to drink they scrambled
down into the hollow to rest.
Suddenly, Hayyim saw a

64

FRIDAY, MAY 1, 1992

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movement out of the corner of his
eye. Two desert antelopes were
coming toward the well.
The children held their breath
as the antelopes jumped lightly up
to the well platform and began to
drink from the half-empty can.
"There's not enough water in
there," Hayyim whispered. "I'll get
some more." He started to tiptoe up
the rocks.
The antelopes raised their
heads in alarm, sniffed, turned, and
seemed to float from the platform.
"Stop!" yelled Hayyim. "Don't
run away. We want to help you." He
scrambled higher.
"Wait, you'll fall," Ruthie cried.
Just then, just as he almost
reached the fleeing antelopes,
Hayyim's leg twisted, and he
tumbled over and over down the
mound. A shower of stones came
rattling down with him.
Ruthie grabbed the first-aid kit
and slid down to him. Hayyim lay
silent, biting his lips to keep from
crying. Ruthie quickly bandaged his
leg.
"Swallow this pill," she said.
"It'll stop the pain." Then she
tucked the knapsack under his
head.
"I can't walk," said Hayyim
after a few minutes. Ruthie's eyes
grew wide and anxious. "Don't

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worry," he said. "My brother. will call
home and find that we're missing.
Then he and his buddies will come
and find us."
"But our parents will be
frightened," Ruthie said.
"We can't help them," said
Hayyim sadly.
"No," said Ruthie. "We'd better
help ourselves. I'll collect twigs to
make a fire; then we'll have some
tea. It'll be a cold night."
At dusk Rami called home to
ask how the trip had been.
"Hayyim and Ruthie aren't
back,"his mother told him anxiously.
"Don't worry," said Rami. He
rushed to tell his commanding
officer.
Within half an hour the unit was
on the road to Arad. Two hours later
they were searching the dark
desert, flashing their lights under
every tree and behind every
boulder. At dawn a scout plane was
sent up to search from above. But
Hayyim and Ruthie were tucked
deep in the hollow under the trees.
The pilot saw nothing.
Suddenly Rami had an idea,
"We forgot about Azit. Let's call her
in."
"Azit?" asked a new
paratrooper. "Who's she? Your
girlfriend?"
The men burst out laughing.

"Azit is a special rescue dog.
She has saved many of our boys,"
Rami told him. "If anyone can find
Hayyim and Ruthie, Azit can."
A short while later Azit's master,
Dr. Haruvi, received an SOS call
from paratroop headquarters.
"We have a job to do, Azit,"
said Dr. Haruvi to his big German
shepherd dog. Azit's ears perked
up, and her tail wagged. They

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hurried to the airport, where a
paratroop carrier waited. Rami had
put some of Hayyim's and Ruthie's
clothing aboard the carrier for Azit
to sniff.
Dr. Haruvi put a special
parachute on Azit. Then she trotted