by Nike Azoros
Maria was relishing her new status as intermediary between them and someone of such importance and firmly advised them of the terms. ‘Lyras and Xanthus will work with you every day, for five hours a day until the work is done. Let us know which hours you need. We have to go back to the top of the island now. Lyras needs to play his music.’ All the others stood open mouthed as Lyras lifted Maria onto Xanthus and then swung himself onto the horse to be behind her and then canter away to leave as mysteriously as they had arrived.
Manoussos eventually spoke, ‘That was a definite example of the right place at the time.’
No one ever heard Lyras say a word, no one except Maria. Every evening she sat with him while he played his lyre. Maria didn’t think she could be any happier. She sat against the tree and looked up into the heavens to thank everyone possible, she began with Aphrodite, occasionally she had watched the waves break against the rocks of the shores of Spinalonga and she prayed love would be born the way from it Aphrodite was born out of the foam of the sea. Then she prayed to the Panayia, the mother of God, to grant her the strength to accept she would never bear a child.
She would talk to him about her thoughts and the life she once led. They had been meeting every night for days but this time when Maria started to get up to go back to her rooms he put his hand on her arm to stop her. He slid over to be by her side, drew her into his arms and swayed gently with her as if in tune to a melody that only they could hear. He helped her to her feet and before she turned to go he bent and kissed her on the forehead. The next day when she met him under the tree she told him what was in her heart, ‘I no longer fear death.’ He was startled at her comment. She continued, ‘I can die happy Lyras, truly I tell you. My secret dream was to feel the arms of a man around me and you made that dream come true for me.’
She spoke directly, without guile or shyness. Lyras saw more than her purity of heart he saw the bloom of womanhood, he had noticed the deep curve of her waist to her hip, he took in the swell of her bosom. He traced their outline with his finger and watched the way her body reacted to his touch. He did not see a leper, and never had, he saw a woman.
Lyras held her tighter and she leant into him to enjoy the presence of his masculinity. Lyras helped her to her feet but this time he did not bend to kiss her forehead, he cupped her face with his hands so she was looking at him and he brought his mouth down onto hers. He moved his hands down to find hers and guided them up to encircle his neck as he wrapped his arms around her and drew her closer to him, never taking his mouth of hers the entire time.
He scooped her up in his arms and took quick powerful strides to his hut where he laid her on his blanket and stood over her while he unbuttoned his shirt, then dropped to his knees and slowly removed her clothing one piece at a time, kissing each part of her body as it was revealed. Lyras whispered tender words into her ear as he nuzzled her throat and caressed her body. He kissed her with hunger and slowly slid his hand down to between her legs and smiled as her breathing became faster.
‘I’m going to kiss you Maria.’
‘You already are kissing me.’
‘I want to kiss you everywhere.’ And he did, he kissed her from her toes to her forehead and then down again, paying extra attention to her womanly folds until she was yelping with utter delight as she felt her body become overpowered by sweet spasms and release a flood of warm wetness. Lyras plunged himself into her at the peak of her moistness and the sharp sting of his entry was absorbed by her juices. He held still as she bit into his shoulder and until he felt her relax against him as the initial shock subsided. He moved back into her and almost instantly she was moving with him faster and faster until his own explosion made him collapse against her and he whispered tender words into her ear. He would whisper tender words into ear every night for the rest of her life.
Maria was due for her regular visit to the infirmary for her medications and check up. The doctor immediately noticed she looked almost beautiful. An instinct told him to do a further examination. ‘Maria I want to look at your body please remove your shirt so I can examine your chest.’ She had never had that swollen bosom before. ‘What is it doctor?’
‘I’m not sure but there are slight changes in your body and if I didn’t know it was impossible I would almost say you were with child.’
Maria buttoned herself up, ‘With child?’ she said wondrously.
‘I am sorry I shocked you. I know it is impossible and of course you are a moral young woman and would never find yourself in such a situation.’ Maria’s silence made the doctor question her, ‘Maria, could such a thing be possible?’
‘It’s possible doctor.’ He had never had such a situation before, a pregnant leper. He had to consult his colleagues.
Maria ran to find Lyras and there he was leading Xanthus to the church ready for a day’s work. She rushed up to him and threw her arms around him,
‘I went to see the doctors but I am not sick, I carry our baby.’ Lyras spoke. Even Maria was surprised for he never spoke above a whisper and only when they were alone. ‘Baby? Maria, you angel. An angel is the mother of my child.’ He kissed her, picked her up and twirled her around then kissed her again and they giggled like school children. Lyras lifted her onto Xanthus sidesaddle and took them straight to Saint Panteleimon.
Father Manoussos was standing outside mixing lime-wash for the outside of the church to be painted white. He had seen many things in his time of being a priest and he knew what he was looking at right now.
‘Greetings children you both seem very happy today. Is there something I can do for you?’
‘Yes Father we wish to be crowned,’ said a glowing Maria.
‘It is God’s will. The church will be looking its best within a few weeks I will advise you when the nuptials can take place.’
‘We do not wish to wait Father, we cannot wait.’
‘Have you fallen into error, my child? Is there a shame that must be put right?’
‘If you have asked me that a year ago Father I would have said yes but we feel no shame and there is no error. What has happened to us is a miracle, a joyous miracle. We just think it is proper to have the wedding ceremony before the baptism.’
Nikos arrived after a hunting session with Artemis, she was perched on his arm and he was carrying the day’s bounty, three ducks and four large salmon. ‘Sister, what is happening here? You look very happy.’
‘I have never been happier brother. I am going to become a bride and a mother.’
‘Maria! How can this be?’
‘Don’t be shocked Nikos, be happy. The gift of life is within me. It’s a miracle.’
‘Oh I am happy sister and yes it is a miracle but I fear for your health. Can you carry this child?’
‘Brother, I feel as if can do anything,’ Maria looked at Lyras lovingly. Manoussos patted Nikos on the shoulder, ‘One thing I learned in all my years as a priest is that there are two types of people who can make anything happen, a woman who is about to become a bride and woman who is about to become a mother and Maria is about to become both.’
‘Do you care if you are showing at the time of your wedding Maria?’ asked her brother.
‘Not at all dear brother, not at all. I have Lyras and I have a life within me, I have everything I have ever wanted.’
‘Well then if you let me get to work I will have your house ready, your church ready and all of Spinalonga looking like a jewel by your wedding day.’
Nikos called a Brotherhood meeting and announced the upcoming wedding of Maria and Lyras. Their romantic meeting and the miracle of a baby coming to Spinalonga caused euphoria to spread among all the patients. All the domain leaders brought their crews and announced what they could contribute to the city state of Spinalonga and to the wedding.
There were now one hundred and forty three patients, souls who’d had every dream stripped away from them and as the sign over Dante’s gate declared, all hope abandoned. Now all their lives had purpose again, ‘I
am a very privileged priest Nikos.’ Nikos looked at him and waited to hear why. ‘I have given many funeral services. None are ever easy, even of the old and the sick. Today is something else. Today I have the privilege of witnessing one hundred and forty three resurrections. Men stepped forward and declared which skill they were best at such as carpentry, masonry, and painting. From the women there were seamstresses, knitters, lace makers, bakers, decorators, every woman present could do many things. They seemed to be more useful than the men. Lyras stood to the side and watched the proceedings. The findings did not surprise him but only confirmed his adoration of womankind. Men were very good at doing one thing well, women could do many things very well.
Pavlos did not stand to declare his skills. He had tried to intimidate several people into not attending the meeting but he could see he was outnumbered. He stood to one side and watched, sneering occasionally but got quieter as the evening went on. He could not compete when he saw the personal pride the others were taking at being able to feel of value.
One man spoke up,
‘I am not a mastora of anything but I am good general hand and will help in anyway. I learn fast and volunteer to go where help is most needed. Many more stood up and said similar. Those who did not think they had anything to offer in the way of any special skills offered their willingness to learn one. Everybody at the meeting had stepped forward and offered to help in some way. Everybody except Pavlos, who was now walking around jeering at his gang members for being weak. Nikos noticed him, ‘Pavlos come tell us about what you can offer?’
Pavlos slunk out without answering.
In the morning they saw what it was Pavlos could do. Written across the walls of the newly white-washed church in bright red paint were the words, ‘Home to whores and mutes.’
‘You like my contribution guys?’ Pavlos said to his cronies when they gathered around him. ‘Who says I can’t offer something too huh?’
‘Pavlos we painted the church ourselves, you ruined our work.’
‘We liked doing it, the church looks like new and we felt good about making something look nice for everybody to enjoy.’
‘Then you can all view my contribution offer to our noble community, as Lambrakis now likes to call us, as incentive to work harder.’’
‘No Pavlos. Nikos has brought us a good life, we can be proud again. No one has anything to fear anymore and we don’t fear you.’
Pavlos loped off in fury and at first looked for something to smash into oblivion but Ikaros and Makis were following him to ensure the beast that Pavlos was did no harm. He found himself walking towards the one person who always had showed him understanding.
Chapter 18: Angela
Angela was sitting at her desk looking at photographs, she put them quickly away when she saw him come in. ‘Pavlos, good evening. Why do you look so upset?’ Pavlos smacked his ugly hand on the table, ‘That is why I like you Angela. You always understand how I feel.’
Angela smiled a discreet smile, ‘You like me Pavlos?’
‘What’s not to like?’ he said as he stared suggestively at her, scanning her like an x-ray. He liked to unsettle people, especially women. Except this time, Angela was scanning him right back.
‘So why are you upset Pavlos, who has not cooperated with you?’
‘Yes, that’s right. They are not doing what I want. There is happiness on the island, when people are happy they fear nothing, they get strong. Such happiness is a tragedy. I think I shall have to put a stop to all this.’
‘How will you do that Pavlos?’
He got cocky as men with the spotlight on them tend to do, he leaned against the wall. ‘Well I could have just taken the bride but the groom got in early and now they are going to breed another little leprous mute. So maybe the groom might just have to disappear. He and that horse of his have made life a little too good, too easy. They need to remember Pavlos is in charge.’ He knew Lyras liked to sit on top of the island and play his lyre. He would be easy to find.
And as for Nikos, he had to get him when he wasn’t with that eagle. He could not afford to lose another eye. Nikos often sat on the edge of the walls to wait for her to return to him with her catch. It would be quite easy to have him slip off the rocks. Dealing with Lyras would be more difficult, he was bigger and healthier and would put up a fight.
Angela would give him anything he wanted, all he had to do was say nice things to her. At her age she would believe anything. Women have it in their blood to be needed, women think love is everything, make a woman feel loved and she will do anything for you, then start withholding the love and they will turn somersaults to have you show it to them again. But Pavlos didn’t know he was dealing with a woman who did not need to be needed. Angela knew that romantic love was merely a sweet, short term trap that often turned bitter.
‘Angela, why didn’t someone smart claim you a long time ago? If only I wasn’t the way I am I would make you happy in the special Pavlos way.’ Angela blushed and giggled. ‘You are still very handsome Pavlos and I enjoy doing things to help you.’ Pavlos swaggered across the room and rasped into her ear. ‘You are lucky I am a thoughtful man, even for a leper, I could make you moan like a whore but I wouldn’t put you at risk.’
‘I am sure you have made many women cry out with emotion.’ She kept her eyes downcast as she spoke. But Angela knew the severity of his condition and that his manhood would have been withered by his disease. He would have nothing better than a couple of moldy figs and a withered sardine between his legs.
Angela understood how such a thing could affect a man from her experiences with soldiers wounded on the battlefield. The ones who lost their ability to perform as a man either lost the will to live or became very aggressive and full of scorn, like Pavlos. Then there was the third type, the givers as she had liked to call them. These glorious men were the ones who decided that they would now derive their pleasure from giving the woman they were with all the pleasure she could handle.
It was a wonderful way for a young nurse to remain virginal but still have all the intense pleasure of intimate loving. She shifted in her chair as she summoned moist memories of the oral ministrations of her grateful male patients when she had visited them in their tents late at night. She remembered the first time and how effortlessly it had happened.
‘Let me show you how grateful I am for what you have done for me,’ a handsome young one had once said. She offered him words of comfort. ‘Lie still and rest and you will be fine.’
‘Let me put my mouth on your soft angel lips.’
He is handsome, it is dark and he may be dying, what would it hurt? She reasoned with herself as she bent down to brush her mouth against his.
‘Lovely, just lovely, now just do as I ask and I will show you what I really meant,’ he whispered into her ear.
‘Go close the flap of the tent them come close to me so I can touch you.’ She did as he asked and returned to him.
‘Here I am.’ She extended out her hand to stroke his shoulder.
‘Undo your blouse so I can see your breasts.’
Angela looked right at the young man who had the will to live but the Fates had decided otherwise. She looked at him and smiled a knowing smile that told him she was going to be very cooperative. She undid her blouse slowly. She knew her body and she knew it was at button three that her cleavage looked its best so she slowed down and bent over him to tend to his sheets. She continued but did not take the blouse off. She just moved it apart enough to frame her breasts so as to be presented like luscious petit fours on a tray. Then she bent over him and pushed her breasts together and leaned down lower until they were right over his mouth and placed a plump pink nipple into his mouth for him to suck on like a cool life giving ice. He placed one of his hands on the other breast to caress it and slid his other hand up her skirts. He moaned in surprise when his explorations revealed she was not wearing any underwear. It was not intentional but a happy coincidence due to her big bloomers still drying i
n her tent. ‘You still want to kiss my lips?’
‘Bring them to me doll.’ Angela stood up straight so she could hitch up her skirts, straddled the narrow camp bed and lowered herself onto her young lover’s face so he could continue his long, languid kissing.
When his gratitude had brought Angela to her peak she screamed so loud the guards thought a woman was being attacked. She’d had to lie that a man had squealed in pain when she went to re-bandage him. The hospital tent guards accepted her answer without concern, especially the one who had seen her in silhouette grinding down on the soldiers face while he lapped at her till she shuddered into collapse. He showed his gratitude with those sweet kisses for three days until his wounds won the battle and he died. Angela did a little involuntary shudder at the memory of her many mutilated heroes. She had loved them and they had loved her for bringing them the taste of a woman.
She looked over at Pavlos’ grotesque face and slobbery tongue and shuddered again, for a different reason. ‘You know Pavlos, life is difficult for me, I have no family, I am getting too old to become a mother and all the doctors here are married or only on short term contracts.’ Actually that wasn’t quite true there was Doctor Lukas, a widower of forty. He had admired Angela from the moment he arrived and had often sat next to her at mealtimes. True love could blossom there if she permitted it but for now she had her duty to attend to, it was far more important.
