Aretha nodded slowly. "She was bereft after Timmy died."
"Did you know my uncle?"
"No, but Stella told me so much about him. She still mourns for him. The two boys wanted to know why I was walking into town and I told them I was looking for the Lambros farm."
"You were walking in the wrong direction."
"Apostolos, handsome young man, told me, but he said it was alright, since you were not there."
"Did Apostolos tell you about Mama?" Zoe asked as her gaze turned to the makeshift headstone bearing her mother’s name.
"He did. These Germans are savages. He also told me what a brave young woman you are. I think he’s very fond of you." Aretha patted Zoe’s cheek. "He seems like a sweet boy."
Zoe shook her head and sighed. "Oh please, don’t start. He is far too old, he’s too tall and those light blue eyes of his just look unnatural."
"The boy has blue eyes. Is that terrible? How old is he? He can’t be more than five years older than you."
"He’s eight years older. That’s old."
"Ah well, yes, that’s old," Aretha said with a slight smile. "Now let’s forget about Apostolos, since you think he is too old, too tall and his eyes are too blue. Tell me how you are faring so I can tell your aunty Stella."
"Are you going back?"
"I am. I came to see how you and your mother were faring. The news I take home with me is not good but Stella will want to know how you are."
Zoe sighed and looked around the cemetery as the early morning sun started its climb casting the cemetery is a golden hue. Her attention was on the distant figure of the undertaker going about his early morning chores. After a long moment she turned to Aretha. "I am alive."
"Apostolos tells me you are working for the Germans."
"Apostolos also has a big mouth. For a Resistance leader, he needs to learn to shut up," Zoe muttered as she picked up a twig and rolled it between her fingers.
"So it’s true?"
"Yes. Our local priest--"
"Father Haralambos?"
"I think if the Germans ever capture Apostolos, he is going to start telling them everything they want to know before they even ask," Zoe said with a shake of her head.
"Now, now, Zoe, he was just trying to be helpful."
"Father Haralambos talked me into working for the Major’s daughter. I suppose you know about Major Muller?" Aretha nodded and Zoe continued. "Well, I’m working for his daughter, the lunatic Eva Muller."
"Oh dear, the poor woman."
"She’s not really a lunatic, although judging from what Kiria Despina told me about her family--"
"The Germans?"
"No, seems her mother was from Larissa. Lunacy runs in the family."
"Oh, that’s terrible."
"I’m surprised Apostolos didn’t tell you that," Zoe said, giving Aretha a cheeky grin. "I’m working for the lunatic. That’s alright; the whole place is like one huge lunatic asylum."
"No, darling, a lunatic asylum is not like Larissa. I’ve seen lunatic asylums and they are not the same."
"You have?"
"I have visited many a poor soul in those horrible places. Trust me, little one, you don’t want to see the inside of one."
"Well, yiayia, this place is lunacy. The Major’s daughter is crazy. One minute she talks to me calmly and the next she gets angry for no apparent reason."
"It’s a little strange to be in a war zone."
"As I said, the family is crazy."
"Why are you working for them?"
Zoe looked at Aretha with a slight smile. "So Apostolos left something else out?"
"It was late at night and the poor boy can’t remember everything." Aretha chuckled.
"It has something to do with the Resistance."
"Ah, say no more. The less said, the better. You never know who might be listening."
"Well," Zoe looked around at the quiet cemetery, "my job is to be Fraulein Muller’s maid. I haven’t been her maid yet and it’s been four days since I started. I’ve been helping Despina and not being a maid."
"Why is that?"
"Seems a friend of the family came to visit and this woman has been helping the cripple--"
"Zoe!"
"What? She is a cripple. The doctor friend is helping her, although it hasn’t helped her disposition. Eva Muller is a rather disagreeable woman."
"Oh, dear."
"Hm, I don’t care, really. This doctor has been really nice to me and gave me some sweets yesterday. I was in the kitchen cleaning potatoes for Kiria Despina and she comes in, sees I’m alone and then leaves. She comes back in with a small package in her hand."
"Just like that?"
"Yeah, just like that. She sat down and started to talk to me. I almost forgot she was German; she was very funny. She then gave me the sweets."
"Hm, interesting."
"One of the very few Germans I like."
"Why was she nice to you?"
"I don’t know. Maybe she was bored or she got tired of Eva’s temperamental ways."
"Are there other Germans you like?"
"Goliath," Zoe replied and laughed at the confused look on Aretha’s face. "His name isn’t Goliath, but that’s what I call him. He’s very tall--"
"We know you don’t like tall men," Aretha quipped making Zoe laugh. "You have a very beautiful laugh."
"Thank you. You make me laugh."
"We need that occasionally or else life becomes too dark. Tell me about Goliath?"
"He is the crazy one’s bodyguard. He is really a nice boy although he keeps threatening to shoot me."
"That doesn’t seem nice."
"I think it’s become a joke between us. I don’t know why it became that way but every time I annoy him, and I annoy him a lot, he threatens to shoot me. I think he’s smitten with Eva."
"Do you?"
"Hm. Every time she’s near him, he gets this funny look on his face. I want to slap him but he’s too tall so I can’t." Zoe shook her head slowly. "My brother Michael used to say that there were three stages of love."
"Only three?"
"That’s what he used to say. He said the three stages are," Zoe held up three fingers, "Like, Heavy Like and Deep Love. Michael said when you get to stage three, everything is lost and they could shoot him, because he would be useless. I think Goliath is at number three."
Aretha smiled as she reached out and held Zoe’s hand. "My darling, that boy is probably at stage one. Deep Love is never that quick and it takes a lifetime to get there."
"I don’t know anything about that since I’ve never been in Like, Heavy Like or Love. I don’t know how that feels like and right now I don’t want to know."
"You will, one day. When that lucky boy comes along, you will know it. It will come into your life like a train and run you over when you least expect it."
"Great, I’ll get run over by a train. Something to look forward to. Is that what happened to you?" Zoe asked and indicated the dark clothes Aretha was wearing.
"It is and it was extraordinary. Your day will come."
"Pah." Zoe dismissed that notion. "I have to get back to the house to help Despina, can you come back with me--"
"No, my darling, I have a long journey ahead of me. The blue eyed boy you don’t like is going to take me home," Aretha replied as she got up from the crate. "I have quite a few stories to tell Stella when I get back."
"Safe journey, yiayia, and tell Aunty Stella I love her."
"I will, my darling, I will. Be safe." Aretha tenderly cupped Zoe’s cheek. "Keep your eyes on the road ahead and never waiver. You will find happiness one day where you least expect it."
"Hm, please don’t tell me it’s with a blue eyed boy."
"No, I won’t tell you it will be with that blue eyed boy but you will find that special someone," Aretha said with a knowing smile. "Be well, be safe, and laugh when you can," she added before she took hold of Zoe’s shirt and tugged for the youngster to bend for a kiss on
the cheek.
Without another word, Aretha took her cane, which had been leaning against the tree, and slowly made her way out of the cemetery. Zoe stood at the graveside, smiling as she watched her leave.
Chapter Twenty
"Of course this has to be on the top shelf," Zoe muttered as she stood in the walk-in pantry and looked up at the high shelf. In her hands she held the flour that Despina had given her to go and store.
Zoe put the flour on the nearest shelf she could reach and stuck her head out the pantry. Henry was about to walk past when she pulled his jacket.
"Stop doing that!"
"How else am I going to get your attention?"
Henry glared at Zoe. "How about using my name?"
"Goliath, can--"
"My real name. My name is not Goliath."
"It should be," Zoe replied and looked up at the scowling soldier. "Oh, come on, you like it."
"I do not," Henry responded and followed Zoe into the pantry. "This was not built for midgets," he said as he gazed up at the high shelving. Zoe gave him the flour, which he effortlessly placed on the top shelf. "My name is Henry."
"No, it’s not."
"I know what my name is."
"It’s Heinrich."
"It is not."
"What kind of name is Henry? That doesn’t even sound German."
"Why do you always have to be so disagreeable?"
Zoe grinned. "It’s fun and I like you."
Henry looked down at Zoe and smiled. Just as he was about to respond, they heard Nurse Edith’s voice. Henry sighed heavily and put his finger to his lips to indicate to Zoe not to speak. Ever so quietly as to not betray their location, Henry turned off the light. The door was slightly ajar and he didn’t attempt to close it.
"Wh—" Zoe’s question was cut short by Henry’s large hand, which he placed gently over her mouth.
"Don’t talk," Henry mouthed as Edith and someone else stopped just barely feet away from the pantry.
"Do you have to leave, Uta?"
"I must, unfortunately. Dieter wants me to come back and I can assuage his concerns about Eva."
"I didn’t have any doubts."
"You are such a gentle soul, Edith. Sometimes those treatments don’t always work and further work needs to be done, but you are a soft heart."
Edith laughed, and Uta joined her. Inside the pantry, Zoe froze. That laugh. The same laugh she had heard the day her mama was killed. The laugh she thought belonged to Eva. Zoe scowled.
"So you have no doubts?"
"None."
"Have you told Hans?"
"I did. I’m satisfied she is cured."
"Are you worried about that maid?"
Zoe’s eyebrows rose and quickly glanced at Henry, who was bopping his head up and down.
"No. She’s young and they hate each other."
Edith laughed again, causing Zoe to cringe.
"They don’t hate each other. They detest each other and that’s why Hans thought she was perfect for the job."
"Because she hated her?"
"Yes. It’s common knowledge in the village. Hans thought Eva wouldn’t be tempted."
"Eva is not going to be tempted; she’s cured."
"Tempted to do what?" Zoe mouthed silently to Henry, who brought his finger up to his lips for her not to speak out loud.
"I know that but Hans doubted it. Did you try and get her interested?"
"I did. I got slapped."
Uta’s laugh filtered through into the pantry. Zoe’s eyebrows rose in an unasked question.
"Did she really?"
"Oh, yes, and it was pretty hard. I expected nothing less. I think it’s genuine."
"Well, thank God for that. I fear what this would do to Hans if it didn’t work."
"Sometimes it doesn’t work and the only solution is to put them out of their misery."
"Well, I’m glad it did work."
"You have to get her out of the house and walking. She’s refused to leave her room while I’ve been here."
"She walks to the church now but I’ve been encouraging her to go further."
"She has to. I don’t want her going to the church."
Zoe shook her head and smiled. You two are so dumb, she thought.
"What about the maid? We know she’s in the Resistance."
"Everyone is in the Resistance, Edith. I don’t think Eva is involved here. Not like she was in France."
Zoe quickly glanced up at Henry, who was scowling. She noticed the vein in his neck pulsate and wondered if he knew about Eva’s Resistance activities.
"I don’t think you were right about that. Eva was in mourning for Erik, and the last thing she would be doing was to collaborate with the French."
"Hans seemed to think she was, but here it’s different, although he doesn’t want her going to the church."
"The priest is in the Resistance as well?"
"Every Greek is in the Resistance."
"Young Zoe is in the Resistance and she doesn’t make it a secret. The girl is not shy about telling anyone who cares to listen."
"That’s why she’s not a threat."
Henry looked up at the ceiling of the pantry and quietly chuckled for a moment before he glanced down at Zoe, who was wagging her finger at him.
"I hope so. I wish you could stay longer."
"As much as I would love to, I have to get back to my hellhole."
"Before you catch your train, why don’t I show you Athena’s Bluff and then the gorge? It’s very beautiful."
"Hm, that would be nice."
Zoe’s face creased into a smile as Edith and Uta walked away down the corridor. After a long moment, she glanced at Henry.
"What was that?"
"That was two escaped Harpies from hell."
"Colorful," Zoe quipped only to find that Henry’s scowl had intensified. "Henry, was Nurse Edith present when you all decided to kill people?"
"I did not kill anyone."
"Was she there?"
"Yes," Henry replied quietly. "She was standing behind me."
Zoe shook her head slowly. "It was her."
Henry stood quietly and allowed Zoe to process the revelation on her own. After a long moment he put his hand on her shoulder. "It was never Eva."
"You know about that?"
"I have ears."
"You don’t understand Greek."
"Yes, I do," Henry replied in Greek, catching Zoe by surprise. "A little. Eva has been teaching me."
"Just my luck," Zoe good-naturedly grumbled as she opened the door and they left the pantry. She watched Henry walk away and heard his chortle.
Zoe stood in the corridor looking down at the wooden floorboards, deep in thought. She did an about face and almost skipped down the corridor to the kitchen.
Chapter Twenty-One
Eva slowly made her way down the street, her guards alert as they watched the people who passed them. She was very much aware of the openly hostile looks she was getting. The last thing she wanted was for someone to get shot because of her. Major Muller had ordered her to hold her head high but it was more than a little difficult to do when hate was all that was directed at her. Muller didn’t want his daughter to be intimidated by the villagers; not by them, but it was perfectly acceptable for her to be afraid of him.
"Stay here," Eva instructed Henry, who in turn gave her an outraged look. "Is there a problem? Henry, we’ve had this chat before," she said, and lowered the hood of her cloak.
"I have to be seen to be objecting." Henry leaned forward and whispered in Eva’s ear whilst the other guard, Barkow, was busy watching the village girls. He looked surprised when Eva smiled.
"Follow me inside the house of God and I promise you that you will see the front lines faster than you can blink," Eva told him loud enough for the other guard to notice. "Do you understand me?"
The sergeant looked at Barkow, who chose to stand to attention and stay silent. "Yes, Fraulein, but I will have to report t
his to Captain Reinhardt."
Eva just smiled and entered the church, leaving the guards outside. She pulled out a scarf and placed it on her head before she passed the altar. She spied Father Haralambos talking to one of the elderly nuns. She patiently stood by until he had finished and then went over to speak to him. There were a few people milling around after the service, giving her the most hostile looks.
"Ah, Fraulein Muller, how nice to see you."
"Father, I hope you are well."
"Very well, my child," Father Haralambos replied with a twinkle in his eye. "How--"
Father Haralambos didn’t have a chance to finish before Eva staggered forward. She was hit across her back by a short, elderly woman with a cane. The cleric grabbed Eva to prevent her fall and steadied her.
"Mrs. Elimbos! Please, we can’t have violence in the house of God!" Father Haralambos said as he helped Eva to a seat nearby. "Are you okay?"
Eva merely nodded. Her back had already been on fire that morning and the blow just added to her misery. The attack brought the guards rushing into the church. They stopped when they caught Eva’s eye. She motioned for them not to come in further and to stay outside. The last thing she needed was for the whole incident to be overblown and lives lost.
"Get this animal out of the house of God first!" Mrs. Elimbos replied and spat in Eva’s face. Eva deliberately did not move, but let the old woman continue her tirade until she had exhausted herself. Finally, Mrs. Elimbos waved her cane at Father Haralambos and walked off quite satisfied with herself.
Father Haralambos hurriedly gave Eva a handkerchief so she could wipe away the spittle. "I’m so sorry, Fraulein."
"It’s alright. I’m getting used to being hit," Eva mumbled as she took the handkerchief and wiped her face.
"Well, I’ll have a word with Mrs. Elimbos next time I see her. Please, come into my office."
They entered the office, Father Haralambos helping remove Eva’s cloak before ushering her into a seat. "I am sorry." He put his arm around Eva to console her. She leaned into his embrace and closed her eyes. How many times had she wished that her father would take her in his arms and hold her, tell her she was loved, and tell her everything was going to be all right? It was divine intervention she had come to Larissa; it had to be.
In The Blood Of The Greeks (Intertwined Souls Series Book 1) Page 16
