The tunnel was no longer what it used to be.
A few days ago, the place was quiet, its silence weighing heavily on the soul, with nothing to be heard but Yusuf's footsteps and Daniel's breath.
Now it was more like a crowded cage, with faces and breaths colliding.
Khalid sat in his corner, avoiding eye contact, his head bowed as if waiting for the moment of reckoning.
Near him was Uri, suffering from his wound, but he did not stop muttering angry Hebrew words, or occasionally exploding with looks of hatred towards Yusuf and everyone around him.
Na'um, meanwhile, tried to break the tension with light chatter and faint laughter, but it quickly faded when she met Yusuf's angry gaze.Daniel watched them all, his heart like an open record book noting their contradictions.
At one point, Uri raised his voice:
"This is not a fair war! You are hiding underground like rats!"
Yusuf replied coldly:
"Rats don't bomb with planes. They don't destroy houses on top of children. We are here because the whole world is silent about your crimes."
Naom laughed, trying to lighten the mood:
"At least we had coffee machines at the checkpoint. It was better than this place."
Yusuf turned to her quickly:
"A small hole is more honourable in the eyes of God than a tower you built on our blood."
She fell silent, her face reddening, unable to find the words.
Khalid remained silent until he suddenly burst out in a low but trembling voice:
"You all talk about war... But all I have is betrayal. I have no weapon and no heroism... Only shame follows me."
All eyes turned to him, and there was silence for a moment.
Even Ouri, who hated him, could find nothing to say.
But Yusuf muttered sternly:
"Shame can kill you before a bullet does."
Daniel remained silent, watching the scene, feeling that each of them reflected an image of war:
Yusuf = steadfastness and noble anger. Khalid = defeat and betrayal. Ori = deep-rooted hatred. Naoum = naivety and superficiality.
As for him... he was lost among them, asking himself in a voice no one could hear:
"And me... who am I?"