‘The twins will always be so special to me. All right so genetically they aren’t mine but after all they’re Lo’s and they solved quite a problem for us. I love them so much – just as much as our baby Milo.’
They chatted on for a while and then Bill made a decision.
‘Actually I’d like to share a confidence with you too, Tommy, and a worry, but again for your ears only, although I suppose I wouldn’t mind if you told Isabel, she’s such a sympathetic soul and is not likely to blab about it.’
‘You have my word. We’d both respect a confidence.’
‘When I was based here briefly that time, before we were transferred to Sinai, I met a wonderful girl, Androulla. To be honest with you I fell in love with her deeply and unreservedly. She was the most amazing girl I ever met and the only one I was ever really in love with, heart and soul. It took every ounce of self-discipline and control not to throw up everything for her and I knew, instinctively, and actually from something she said, that she felt the same way.’
‘Oh, Billy, how dreadful for you. And nobody else knew?’
‘Harry knew by instinct that I had a problem and came out to help me through. You know how we’re so tuned into each other’s feelings!’
‘Thank goodness. But is it still difficult for you?’
‘I thought I was over it, had come to terms with not being able to be with her and so was fine to visit here again. Now I know I’m not over it because I’m worried silly about her.’
‘Why?’
‘Her father is a staunch Makarios supporter and we know the stories that are being circulated about them: they’re being rounded up and disappearing. It may be rumour or it may not, but you can see why I’m concerned. Are such hostilities likely to extend to families too?’
‘Who knows? But there’s nothing we can do about it, we can’t interfere!’
‘I’m wondering if I couldn’t go out and see what the situation is. I could visit her home. She told me exactly where she lives. Not far from the Ledra Palace Hotel in Nicosia. I could get a rental car and nobody would be any the wiser. I could be just another tourist.’
‘I’m not too keen on the idea. It could be very risky. Tell you what, why don’t we sleep on it and have another chat about it tomorrow? I’ll try to think of some way it could be done with a minimum of risk.’
‘Fair enough! It’s too late tonight to do anything about it, but thanks for listening.’
‘You know I’d do anything in my power to help you, Bill.’
‘Yes, I know that, Tommy.’
‘What have you in mind beyond ensuring she’s safe? Have you changed your mind about a long-term commitment?’
‘No. I’ll stick by my original decision to honour my vows, but I just want to be sure she’s all right and give any help I can, if it’s needed.’
‘You’ll go through all that agony of mind again.’
‘I know but that’s the way it has to be if I’m to retain my honour and a shred of self-respect.’
They talked on for a long time. Bill told Tommy all about Androulla and her family and seemed to get some relief for his feelings by doing this.
The next morning, Saturday, 20 July, they awoke to the news that mainland Turkish forces had landed in the north of the island, in support of the Turkish Cypriot community. They were fighting their way south, presumably towards Nicosia, which would be a natural target for them. This was to be fortunate for many who, as a result, survived the depredations of the leaders of the coup. But it was unfortunate for a great many more who suffered devastating losses of all kinds and some of the abuses so often associated with any invading army. With this initial invasion began the first phase of the carving up of the island into two distinct areas, a division that was to last for the foreseeable future.
Greek Cypriot refugees from the invaded northern areas of the island started to stream southwards and with them unsavoury stories about the invading Turks. In the south of the island, fearful of reprisals from their Greek neighbours, Turkish Cypriots started to flood towards the British base at Akrotiri for protection. The British Forces Broadcasting Service went on air twenty-four hours a day, keeping everyone in the picture as best they could. Bill now became frantic with worry about the fate of Androulla and didn’t stray far from the radio. They heard that a British Military rescue convoy was being organised to go as far as Nicosia to the various areas where British civilians and any tourists were concentrated and he decided that, if necessary, he could use the protection of the convoy to get Androulla to the base. Tommy was completely opposed to this new idea.
‘No, Bill, you can’t do it. It’s far too dangerous. The island is now at war for heaven’s sake! Anyhow, surely Androulla and family will have moved out knowing the Turks have landed and will certainly head for Nicosia. You could get there only to find she’s gone. No doubt you’ve tried phoning her?’
‘Over and over again but no luck. Communications seem to be chaotic which is no great surprise in the circumstances. I think there’s a strong possibility that her father has been rounded up during the early days of the coup and they won’t move out until he comes back or they find out what’s happened to him.’
‘That’s pure speculation, Bill. They could still have moved away and you could run headlong into trouble.’
‘But I must find out. I must know that she’s all right. Look, Tommy, I’ll put on my dog collar and khaki shirt and pants. If you could find a blue beret for me that would pass for the UN variety, that’ll be all the protection I’ll need.’
‘I can’t let you do this.’
‘You can’t really stop me – I’m going to find her. If you don’t feel you can get me a beret, so be it, but I’m convinced it would help.’
‘Of course I’ll try to find you a beret, but if anything happens to you I’ll feel guilty for the rest of my life.’
‘Nothing will happen to me and there would be no reason to feel any guilt. It’s my decision and against your advice and judgement. Please, Tommy, help me in this.’
‘Okay. All I ask is that you wait one more day. Maybe this first assault will be a sabre-rattling affair and the EOKA faction will back off.’
This didn’t happen. The attack by the Turkish army continued through Sunday and now there was no hope of persuading Bill to wait. Tommy had told Isabel the story. She felt so sorry for Bill and offered to lend him her own car for the journey, an ageing but reliable Ford Taunus, with the rare advantage of a bench seat in the front. Tommy did find him a blue beret, but declined to tell him where or how. It took time to arrange everything, with Bill champing at the bit, but by Monday morning he was ready to set off, in a car well provisioned for his needs on the journey and, as recommended in the broadcasts, flying a small Union Jack fixed to the front of the car. He had spent some of the waiting time minutely scrutinising detailed maps of Nicosia and working out the best route to Androulla’s home and this was now firmly fixed in his mind.
‘I owe you both! Isabel, you’re a gem and, Tommy, you must know how much I appreciate all this.’
‘Just come back to us safely and if need be bring Androulla and her family back with you. We’ll make some arrangement to accommodate them here on the grounds they’re friends of yours and thereby friends of ours.’
‘Bless you, Tommy!’
‘Do try to tag onto the convoy if you can. According to what we’re hearing from BFBS, the Turks don’t seem to have got as far as the city yet.’
‘Yes, but the house and family could by now be in an occupied zone, which makes me really uneasy. On the other hand I could be just ahead of the invading forces and get them out in time. You know what happens to women when an army invades. It doesn’t bear thinking about.’
‘I sympathise and I’m quite frightened for you. God go with you, Billy.’
‘He’ll look after me, I know that! Thank you both for everything.’
They waved until he was out of sight.
‘Poor Bill. What a dilemm
a for him. I’m quite sure Androulla fell hard for him too. How could she have helped herself? Like the rest of the Butler men he’s very handsome but he’s such a lovely person too.’
‘True! I think it’s time to start praying really hard, Isabel.’
Chapter 29
Armed with as much information as possible about the timetable for the rescue convoy, Bill travelled eastwards through Limassol then turned north towards Nicosia. He missed the convoy but the journey was without incident. However, the traffic coming out of the city was very heavy, with people fleeing away from the advancing Turkish forces.
Wearing his blue beret and dog collar, as planned, nobody challenged him but when he was getting close to the capital, he could hear gunfire. He headed northwards and west of the Ledra Palace Hotel to Androulla’s home. The sound of the gunfire was much louder now but as yet, much to his relief, no sign of Turkish troops. He drove up to the house, jumped out of the car and ran to the front door. He knocked hard but there seemed to be no signs of life. He didn’t know whether to be worried or relieved. He hammered hard again but no response. He ran around to the back of the house and peered in the windows and saw a movement.
‘Androulla, it’s Bill. Are you there? Please open the door.’
The back door burst open and she flew into his arms.
‘Oh, Bill, Bill. We thought the Turks had arrived. What a relief. But how did you get here? Why are you here? I thought you were thousands of miles away in Ireland.’
The tears were streaming down her face and he wrapped his arms around her and held her close.
‘I’ve come to take you all out of here to the British base where I’m staying with relatives. They’re expecting you. But why are you still here in this dangerous place?’
‘My father. He was taken away and my mother refuses to go until he comes home. I’ve a horrible feeling he won’t be coming home but I can’t persuade her to go.’
‘I suspected that might be the situation, but they’re getting very close; we must go at once. That gunfire sounds as if they’re just down the street. I’ll try to persuade your mother to come with us. Please understand if I put things to her quite bluntly. That may be necessary.’
They went inside where Androulla’s mother was sitting on the sofa as if carved in wood, not moving, just staring into space. He sat down beside her and took her hand.
‘Mrs Nicholides, you must come with us at once. The Turkish army is almost on the doorstep. There’s not a moment to lose. If you refuse to come with me then Androulla won’t come either. You know what could happen to her and, yes, to you too when they arrive here. Would you like to watch your daughter being raped, maybe many times? Invading armies can be very brutal.’
She looked at him with sudden comprehension in her eyes. She still said nothing but nodded, patted him on the hand, got up and went with her daughter to collect together a few things.
‘Please hurry, Androulla. They sound very close. I’ll go and start up the car.’
Androulla, anticipating the possibility of eventually persuading her mother to move out, had collected together and packed a few essential items, so they were very quick and he hustled them into the car. He put Mrs Nicholides in the back with the bits and pieces of luggage so that Androulla could sit beside him. He drove off at speed, heading to where he would have a chance of joining the convoy, for he knew his timing was right. It wasn’t far and at last he felt he could relax a little. It was then that machine-gun fire raked his side of the car. Sitting behind him Mrs Nicholides was killed outright with a bullet to her head and several bullets slammed through the metal of the door and into Bill’s side. Androulla was untouched.
There was only the one burst of fire, no more and he thought it must have been sheer chance and bad luck that they’d been hit. At first he felt only a thump in his side but he knew he had been hit and that once the numbness of the first shock had worn off the unbelievable pain would kick in. He was determined to keep driving until they were safely away.
‘You all right, Androulla?’
‘Yes.’ She sounded as if she was verging on hysteria. ‘But my mother has been hit. I think she’s been killed.’
‘I can’t stop yet.’
‘I know, Bill, I know!’
The pain started and he knew he wouldn’t be able to go on for long. When he thought they were out of any firing line and very close to the convoy route he stopped. He was grey in the face with the agony of his injuries.
‘I’ve been hit, Androulla, and I can’t go on. Change places with me and keep driving towards the British base at Akrotiri. My uncle is in the RAF there, Squadron Leader Tommy Butler.’
‘Oh, Bill, no! I didn’t realise you’d been hit.’
‘Come round and take my place. I’ll try to slide over – can’t get out.’
She hurried to do as he asked and was appalled to see how much blood was on the seat and dribbling down onto the floor. She leant across, stroked his face gently and kissed him.
‘Stay with me, my darling Bill, I’ll get you to some place where you’ll get help.’
Trying to control her feeling of hysteria, she too drove as fast as she could and very shortly she reached a major junction and stopped. By sheer chance their timing was spot on. The convoy was approaching. Tears streaming down her face, she leapt out and waved frantically for them to stop, using Bill’s blue beret. It worked. One of the leading trucks pulled in to the side and stopped, and waved on the rest of the convoy. An armed guard, a sergeant, jumped down from the back.
‘Are you in trouble, Miss?’
‘Yes, please hurry.’ She was almost screaming. ‘We were shot at. My mother’s dead and my friend’s in the car, badly injured. This is his beret.’
The guard hurried to take a look at Bill. Added to the blue beret, the Union Jack on the front of the car, the clerical collar and khaki all had their effect.
‘Oh my God. I’ll do what I can, Sir.’
Bill was now barely conscious. Pain and loss of blood had taken their toll. The soldier, once given the details by Androulla, ran back to report to the others and they radioed directly to Akrotiri for help, emphasising that the injured padre was nephew to Squadron Leader Butler. They got a call back remarkably quickly, saying a rescue helicopter would be on its way with medical help within minutes.
In the meantime, one of the civilian passengers in the truck, who was a nurse, realised there were injuries and jumped down and ran to the car to see if there was anything she could do. She took a horrified look at Bill and started doing her best to give him first aid without disturbing him too much, not wanting to aggravate his injuries if possible. She grabbed everything she could find amongst the luggage in the car to staunch the bleeding from his side. She realised that he had been badly injured internally and called back to the truck for the emergency first aid kit. She was so relieved to see that, thanks to it being an army kit, there were some ampoules of morphine there and talking to him all the time she explained that she was going to give him an injection of morphine. He nodded weakly.
‘It’ll ease the pain, Padre.’
The sergeant hurried back to the car.
‘Akrotiri is sending a helicopter for you, Sir. Hold on there, it won’t be long. As the crow flies it’s not far.’
Androulla had got back beside him in the car and was sitting as close as she could, holding his hand. The morphine did ease the dreadful pain quite considerably, enough for Bill to be able to say a few words.
‘Don’t think I’m going to make it, Androulla.’ He paused to gather his strength a little further, enough for the words he needed to say to her. ‘Love you so much. Since the day we first met. Sorry – couldn’t do anything about it.’
The tears were streaming down her face again. Her dead mother was in the back of the car, her face now covered over, and the man she loved seemed to be dying in front of her eyes. She got her arms around him as best she could without hurting him and he laid his head on her shoulder.
>
‘I have loved you so much too since that first meeting. Felt I couldn’t live without you. And now you’re so badly injured and all because you loved me and wanted to rescue me. I’ll never forgive myself.’
He smiled the wonderful Butler smile.
‘You must. If I die now I’ll be dying in the arms of the woman I love. Can’t ask better than that. Please kiss me and then pray with me.’
She did as he asked, and, having been to college in England, had some familiarity with the prayers he was muttering, barely audibly. As he prayed he made a valiant effort to reach his breast pocket but his hand slumped away, too weak to complete its quest.
‘What are you searching for, Bill?’
‘Rosary,’ he whispered.
She found it in the pocket and wound it around his hand, which seemed to comfort him.
The sergeant was right. Rescue helicopters were on standby and in a remarkably short space of time the rescue team was there and, even more remarkably, Tommy was on board. There was enough space in an adjacent car park to land and the paramedics and Tommy were at the car in seconds.
Tommy tore open the car door.
‘Bill, it’s Tommy. Can you hear me?’
The head nodded.
‘They’re going to lift you out and carry you to the chopper. We’ll have you back in the hospital in no time. Just hang in there.’
‘Too late! Androulla?’
‘Yes, she’s here and we’ll take her too. Don’t worry.’
They lifted him out as gently as possible onto a stretcher and into the helicopter. Tommy spoke to Androulla.
‘Come with us. I’ll make arrangements for the car to be driven back to the base and for your mother to be taken to a mortuary.’
Heavily sedated, Bill did last until they reached the base at Akrotiri. The hospital staff were waiting for them and he was lifted onto a trolley and straight into the operating theatre where they did their very best for him. Tommy had asked for a priest who came and gave him the last rites after the surgery and from then on Tommy, Isabel and Androulla never left his side, with full support from Padre Johnson. Just as the sun was setting he came to briefly. Androulla held onto one hand, Tommy the other. He smiled and then gathering every scrap of energy he could muster he simply said:
The House by the Liffey Page 22
