West Bank。 There the two Arab boys were born within weeks of each other； to be raised in the squalor of a vast tent city containing tens of thousands of grieving migrants； where there were no toilets； kitchens； or medical facilities； and where most days were spent awaiting the arrival of water trucks and supply convoys from Damascus and Amman。 The tents provided by the International Red Cross were of thin canvas which； unlike the tough Bedouin tents of animal skins and furs； were virtually useless against the rains and sandstorms。 Their beds were nothing more than light sleeping mats。 Running； open sewers and hills of rotting garbage were everywhere； attracting flies and mosquitoes by the millions。 Severe dysentery was rife。 Cholera； typhoid and other diseases claimed thousands of lives。 Fierce rainfalls and then intolerable heat brought in by hamsin winds from the desert weakened all。
The muktar of their old village； whom the clans gathered around； could offer no fort； for his spirit had been broken by the ignoble flight of his people and the hopelessness he saw all around。 Hate with all your heart； he could only tell them； despise the Zionist dogs who have brought you to this。 Nurture the hatred； live for revenge against the Jews。
Typhoid took Youssef's father； along with his two older brothers and a sister。 That the young baby and his mother survived was no miracle； for death was indiscriminate。 The widow and her child came under the protection of Asil's father； there being no energy for jealousy among the women。 And the Koran； which spoke severely against adultery and fornication； also preached the blessedness of caring for cripples； idiots； blind men and widows。 The boys grew up together and became closer than natural brothers。
Although rough hovels of mud bricks gradually replaced the tents； a form of rough villages taking shape along the Jordan； the rule of kaif…a passivity that might be described as idleness prevailed。 Few businesses were set up； no industries were started。 There were no schools for the younger exiles； no games or activities organised for them。 The demoralised Palestinians relied on the charity of others； as if content to wallow in their own hatred for the Jews and the foreign powers that had betrayed them。 The Moslem Brotherhood were eager to exploit the persecution and never tired of stoking the fires of vengeance against these infamous 'invaders'； while at the same time extolling the virtues of martyrdom for the great Arab cause of repatriation。
Asil and Youssef were children of a nibbled ghetto； existing on whatever was sparingly given； thriving on bitterness which was generously supplied。 When Asil's father was killed in a riot against the reviled Arab Legion of Jordan's King Abdullah who； along with certain leaders of other Arab states； saw the political advantages in keeping the Palestinians a nation in exile rather than weling and absorbing them as true brothers （acceptance of the State of Israel would be a threat to his own power in the Middle East）； the boys took on the responsibility for their family。 By then the United Nations had taken charge over the welfare of the refugee camps and at least some progress was taking place in these humble villages。 In Ein es Sultan there were mosques； a ritual slaughterhouse； stores； warehouses and food distribution centres。 The boys were lucky enough to find jobs as coffee vendors； passing from shop to kiosk with their trays bearing coffee finjans； cups and sticky sweets； often trekking out to the lines of lorries awaiting customs clearance at the Allenby Bridge。
For pleasure they hung around the cafes and listened to the elders reminiscing about the old life in their villages； of the main square always awash with the aromas of pungent spices； cardamom in coffee； incense； and camel； donkey； sheep and goat dung。 They spoke of important feasts； sighing over the exotic foods once served； while the boys would drool at their mention。
The elders' conversation would turn to memories of the houses they once dwelled in； solidly built with mud bricks and dung； brightly whitewashed to deflect the sun's rays； with a single colour outlining doors and windows； the roofs flat for collecting water during the rainy season。 They spoke of village tradesmen； the potter； the carpenter； the sandal…maker； the basket and cloth weavers。 Their eyes brimmed with tears as they remembered what had been lost to them。 How life once centred around the village square with its well and ovens； the store and cafe where they could listen to the radio all day while they watched the passing activity； the cameleers； the pedlars on their loaded donkey carts； the knife and scissor grinders…the veiled women going about their daily tasks。
Eventually； when nostalgia held them in its soft…edged grip； they would boast of their feats in battle； their bravery； their cunning。 And they would dismiss the Arab defeat by the Jews as a misconception； for they had been tricked by the agents of the devil； jinn…evil spirits…in human form。 The Jews were not a worthy enemy。 The Jews had an alliance with unholy forces。 Mohammed； himself； had declared that the Jews had been led away from the edicts of Allah； and for that their punishment would be burning。
Asil and Youssef listened and absorbed。 They wept for their homeland and for the life they had never known but missed dearly。 They seethed with hatred for these people who called themselves Israelis。
The boys grew and became wise in the ways of survival。 Schooling； even under the auspices of the UNRWA； was little more than a revolutionary training ground； the Arab tutors organising their students into cells； each with its own aggressive title； incitement against the so…called State of Israel and its treacherous allies the main lesson of every day。 Physical education included weapons training； knife fighting； tracking and the negotiation of assault courses。
Black…marketeering became the most profitable occupation； stealing and intimidation a second best。 Asil and Youssef became the runners for dealers in hashish； then lookouts for raids on supply depots。
Crude and boastful chatter between the two boys of the sexual delights they would bestow upon females soon faded when awareness took on physical actuality and they discovered their true yearning was for each other； their experiments resolving in glorious consummation。 Asil and Youssef could imagine no other form of lovemaking surpassing the pleasure they had given one another。 Although males were allowed to hold hands and kiss in public； homosexuality was frowned upon generally in the Arab world； Asil and Youssef kept the intimate side of their relationship to themselves； the illicitness adding to its deliciousness。
As with other Palestinian youths； they were pressured into joining the fedayeen when they were old enough； its members' violence and unruliness directed towards the jihad； the holy war； and against the oppressor。 The Jordanians encouraged guerrilla raids into Jewish territory； the killing and maiming perpetrated in the name of Allah； and the more youths lost in such expeditions； the more martyrs the Arabs had to hold up to the world。 A mark of manhood for the fedayeen recruits was to bite off the heads of live chickens and snakes； or to strangle puppies and cats。
Never considered outstandingly bright by their superiors； Asil and Youssef's performance in the field and their cunning in fighting was impressive。 And the elders were suitably struck by the youths' cruelty。
Their missions into enemy territory became more frequent and more hazardous。 It was on one such expedition that they discovered for themselves the extent…and the true nature…of their own barbarity。
Avoiding Israeli patrols； they had slipped across the border； their venture more of a test than a serious assault （the fedayeen were considering the two youths for important work in the revolutionary movement）； their destination a kibbutz some miles from Ofra。 Dunams of marsh and swampland there； as at countless other settlements in this relatively new state； had been skilfully irrigated and cultivated； so that what was once barren land had bee areas of rich soil suitable for vine