YANNIS (Cretan Saga Book 1) (75 page)

‘It is comforting to know that your wife and brother-in-law have such good memories, is it not? One person missing is of no consequence. Now we will take a little walk. Stand!’

The men shuffled to their feet, rasping their chairs against the wooden floor. The soldiers jostled them into a double line and Mr Dubois gave the order to move. He led the way resolutely down the main street, passers-by looking curiously at the strange procession. The enforced march went on and on, the soldiers showing no sign of strain, the politicians flagging visibly. Yiorgo wished his heart would stop beating so hard. He must not panic. He was still the mayor and as such must show himself to be their leader. They passed through the Chanion Gate and continued out of the town. Still there was no relief; they were made to continue at the pace set by the army without a break.

The straggle of buildings finally gave way to open countryside, flat and scrubby. Ahead a range of low hills, their rugged summits running inland from the shore without a break. The little party were marched on towards them and Yiorgo could only think they were being taken to a hidden headquarters in one of the many caves that riddled the hills. They turned abruptly inland as they reached the foothills and after a few yards were herded into a valley. The path was the floor of an old river, littered with boulders and sharp stones which cut into the men’s shoes, making them slip and slide until eventually they were told to halt.

They huddled together, uncertain what was expected of them; then the rifles sent a hail of bullets whipping through the air. Instinctively each man ducked, a dozen or more fell to the ground, writhing in their agony, whilst three or four fell immobile. The rifles took aim again and more men lay on the ground, their blood mingling with that of their companions. Yiorgo opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came as the bullet reached him.

It had taken no more than ten minutes for the soldiers to complete their task. With their rifles still cocked they inspected each body and an occasional solitary shot was heard before they formed a small, tight-knit column and began their march back to Heraklion.

Louisa had prepared the taverna for the usual evening visitors. The meeting had obviously gone on far longer than Yiorgo had anticipated. As the taverna door opened she looked out from the kitchen, expecting to see him, but instead Mr Dubois stood there.

‘Wine,’ he called and she hastened over to the table where she placed a bottle and glasses on the table, hoping she would be asked to join him.

‘Thanks to you and your brother I have been saved a good deal of time and trouble. I’m very grateful to you both.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘The list of names you so kindly provided for me. It made it easier for my men to find them.’

Still Louisa stared at him uncomprehending. ‘I don’t understand you.’

Mr Dubois poured his wine. ‘The entire council of Heraklion have been annihilated. Without leaders people are prepared to do as they are told, and we shall make sure they do just that.’ He drained his glass and poured another.

Louisa felt a buzzing in her ears and the room was darkening around her. Mr Dubois’s voice seemed to be coming from far away. ‘What have you done?’ she heard herself say.

‘We shot them.’

The buzzing in her ears grew louder, she could vaguely see Mr Dubois’s mouth working before she keeled over to lay unconscious on the floor.

When she regained consciousness it was dark. The taverna was deserted, the door standing open. Her memory flooded back. The council members had been shot? There must be some mistake. She would go to the Town Hall and find Yiorgo. He would tell her the truth. Staggering to her feet she began to lurch like a drunkard along the road. A shout reached her ears and she turned as a stone whistled through the air to fall at her feet.

‘There she is.’

‘German lover.’

‘Whore!’

‘Death to traitors.’

Through the darkness she could hear their voices, but hardly distinguish their shapes. They must have been waiting for her to leave the taverna. She began to run, but they followed, hurling missiles at her, some reaching their mark causing her to stumble and gasp in pain. A stone caught her a glancing blow on the head and she put up her hand only to bring it away sticky with blood. Sobbing for breath she continued on whilst the stones hailed around her.

She darted into a shop doorway, hoping she had not been seen, but she was unlucky. Taking up a stance a short distance away from her hiding place the small crowd stoned her unmercifully until she finally sank to the ground unconscious, bleeding profusely from the wound on her temple. Satisfied, the mob slowly melted away into the dark streets.

Father Andreas rose from his knees and crossed himself. He had first prayed for the salvation of the town; those prayers had been followed by the more personal ones to help the bereaved. He had gone from house to house as messages had been brought to him, taking what little comfort he could to the occupants. Maybe now that the worst was over he could get some sleep. Wearily he opened the door of the church.

‘Father, Father Andreas, are you there?’ an anxious voice came from out of the darkness.

‘I’m here. Who wants me?’

‘It’s me, Doctor Lenakis, from the hospital.’

‘Am I needed there?’

Doctor Lenakis rubbed his hand over his forehead. ‘No, I’ve come for myself.’

‘What can I do for you?’

‘I want to make a confession.’

Father Andreas opened the door of the church. ‘Feel free, my son.’

The doctor knelt before the altar. ‘Father, I have sinned. I am guilty of abject cowardice. I am not worthy to live now my companions have died.’

‘How are you guilty of cowardice? Did you stay at home when the sick and injured needed you?’

Doctor Lenakis shook his head. ‘When the Germans came for me I hid.’

‘That was a very natural reaction.’

‘I hid in bed with a leper who is near to death.’

‘It was wicked of you to take advantage of his affliction.’

‘I’ve done worse than that.’ The voice was a hoarse whisper.

Father Andreas waited patiently whilst the doctor tried to compose himself. His voice broken with sobs he tried to explain. ‘When they entered the hospital they brought money with them, to pay for their treatment and their keep. I made false entries in the books.’ The doctor sank his head in his hands and began to sob openly. ‘I deserved to be caught and shot along with the others.’

Father Andreas laid a hand on his shoulder. ‘You have confessed, that is in your favour.’

‘What can I do?’ He turned an anguished gaze on the priest. ‘All my friends, my colleagues, all dead.’

‘Your punishment is the pain of being left behind.’

‘Come with me, come back to the hospital with me so I can give the money to you,’ he pleaded. ‘I don’t want it. It’s no good to me any more.’

‘What had you planned to use it for?’

‘Just to live on, repair my house, buy my clothes, a bottle of wine occasionally.’

‘You had your salary from the hospital. Why should you need to steal from those less fortunate than yourself?’

‘I wanted to be sure of enough in my old age.’

Father Andreas frowned. ‘What do you want me to do with this money?’

‘Whatever you wish; use it for the church or return it to them. I don’t want it.’ His voice was rising hysterically.

‘I’ll come back with you. First let me give you a blessing so you may sleep easily in your bed tonight.’

The doctor bowed his head. He was not at all sure that a blessing would enable him to sleep well. Never would he forget lying in the bed with the leper, touching his suppurating skin, breathing his fetid smell and petrified that the Germans would discover him. Shakily he rose to his feet and allowed the priest to take his arm to help him along the road. Once inside his office in the hospital he could hardly unlock the safe, his fingers were trembling so badly. He removed a number of small bags, thrusting them into Father Andreas’s hands along with a small notebook.

‘They’re yours,’ he kept repeating.

Father Andreas hesitated at the door of the hospital. ‘What are you planning to do now, doctor?’

‘I am going home to sleep, blessed sleep.’

‘I’m glad to hear it.’ Father Andreas had wanted to do the same thing some hours earlier. He felt weary through to his bones. He was relieved by the man’s answer. The doctor’s conscience was obviously salved by handing over the money and making the confession. He had no further need of him.

Whilst she ate Anna watched Phaedra bustling around. These people were not as frightening as she had expected, in fact they seemed quite ordinary and nice. Phaedra was taking pains to set the child at ease, remembering how she had felt when sent to the island at about the same age. Yannis entered and smiled at Anna. ‘Did you enjoy your supper?’

‘Yes, thank you, sir.’

‘You don’t have to call me sir. I’m Yannis.’ He sat down beside her. ‘Can you tell us about yourself?’

‘Not tonight.’ Phaedra spoke firmly. ‘She’s far too tired. She can talk to us tomorrow.’

Yannis winked at Anna. ‘You can see who’s the boss in this house.’ He took her small hand in his own. ‘Goodnight, Anna, sleep well. If you wake in the night and want company Phaedra and I will be here.’

Anna bit her lip. She was not worried about sleeping on her own, but she found their kindness and concern for her so touching.

She slept well and late and when she finally opened her eyes she saw Phaedra sitting on the step in the sun. ‘You’re to wait here with me until the doctor arrives. When he’s seen you I’ll take you for a walk. There’s not a lot to see, I’m afraid.’ With that Anna had to be content and listened eagerly as people passed and Phaedra told her their names.

‘Where are they going?’

‘Various places; some help Spiro at the hospital, others will be getting their shops ready, there’s a lot to be done each day.’

Anna looked at her curiously. ‘Shops?’

‘You’ll see.’

‘What does Yannis do?’

Phaedra smiled. ‘Yannis does everything. He started the building here, he helped to get the hospital built, but now he spends a lot of his time teaching people to read and write.’

‘Like my Pappa.’

‘Your Pappa is a teacher?’

Anna nodded proudly. ‘And he’s the Mayor of Heraklion.’

Phaedra looked at the child. ‘Are you telling the truth, Anna?’

‘Of course I am. My Pappa’s a very important man.’

Phaedra rose. ‘Come with me. I think we ought to find Yannis so we can tell him what an important man your Pappa is.’

Happily Anna walked along the path with Phaedra. Yannis was sitting on a block of stone, half a dozen or more people sitting on the ground to one side of him, whilst he made symbols in the sandy dust at his feet with a stick. He smiled as he saw Phaedra approach.

‘Have you come to join us?’

‘I need to talk to you, Yannis.’

Yannis looked at his wristwatch. ‘Ten more minutes, then the class will have a break. If we stop now we’ll lose continuity.’

Phaedra frowned. What she wanted to talk to Yannis about was far more important than the class continuing. She opened her mouth to argue, but Yannis frowned at her.

‘Doctor Stavros has arrived,’ he announced and turned his attention back to his small class.

‘Come on, Anna. We’ll see the doctor first, then tell Yannis how important your Pappa is.’

Anna slipped her hand into Phaedra’s. ‘What will he do to me?’

‘Nothing. He’ll just look at you. There’s nothing for you to be frightened about. I’ll stay with you.’

Anna submitted herself to the scrutiny of the doctor. He examined her back and neck carefully. ‘Do you have marks like this anywhere else, Anna?’

She shook her head.

‘Who’s looking after you over here?’

‘Phaedra and Yannis.’

‘Then I think I should talk to them next. There’s nothing for you to worry about, Anna. Manolis tells me your Mamma went back to Heraklion?’

Anna nodded. ‘She went back to get some money for us. My Pappa’s a very important man and I expect they’ll be looking for me in Aghios Nikolaos very soon.’

‘She says her Pappa is the mayor of Heraklion,’ Phaedra informed the doctor.

Doctor Stavros looked at Phaedra and pursed his lips. ‘Where’s Yannis?’

‘He was teaching. He’ll probably be along in a few minutes.’

‘I’ll go and find him.’ Doctor Stavros walked back up the path, leaving Anna still holding Phaedra’s hand.

Yannis, despite his allowance of ten minutes, was still talking to the class. ‘I won’t be a moment, just finishing.’

Doctor Stavros tapped his foot impatiently. ‘I need to speak to you urgently.’

Yannis looked at the doctor’s grim face and decided he must curtail the lesson. ‘What’s so important?’

‘Where can we talk where we won’t be interrupted or overheard?’

‘Follow me.’ Yannis led the doctor to the far side of the island and found a convenient granite rock to sit on. ‘What’s wrong? Is it Phaedra?’

‘Have you heard any news from the mainland?’

Yannis shook his head. ‘There have been rumours, nothing more.’

‘Heraklion fell last week. They fought in the streets, trying to hold the Germans back, but it was no use. They were completely outnumbered and had little in the way of arms. That wasn’t the worst, though.’ A shudder went through the doctor. ‘They took all the government ministers and marched them out of town. They massacred them all.’

Yannis drew in his breath. ‘I don’t believe it! Why should they do that?’

‘I don’t know.’ The doctor sounded weary. ‘Who knows why these things are ever done?’

‘All of them? What about Yiorgo Pavlakis?’

‘Who was he?’

‘The mayor. He was my old school teacher who came over here and visited us. It was through him we used to bargain for concessions. He managed to get our pensions granted.’

‘That brings me to another problem, the child.’

Yannis smiled at the thought of Anna. ‘She’s a nice little thing. Seems quite amenable to being here.’

‘Do you know who she is?’

‘She was caught stealing in Aghios Nikolaos, said her mother had returned to Heraklion.’