by Anne Hampson
Just over a fortnight had elapsed when she began to suspect that, had she still been undecided about her future, the matter might have been taken out of her hands. With the passing of another week she felt almost certain of this.
‘When is Mr. Manou coming back?’ she inquired breathlessly of Matron. She felt so excited she could scarcely contain her impatience. Would he be glad? But of course he would!
‘On Wednesday.’ Matron looked critically at her. ‘You appear to be very happy, Sister. Have you won the National Lottery, or something?’
Shani laughed.
‘No, it’s nothing like that.’ The words were out before she realized they must inevitably prompt another question.
‘What is it, then? - or mustn’t I ask?’
‘I can’t tell you about it yet,’ she apologized, and Matron did not press her. They talked for a while and then Shani went to her room. She was off duty for the day, but had promised to visit Luciana, a young Greek Cypriot girl who had recently been a patient at the hospital. Luciana lived with her mother in a pretty blue and white house in the village. She worked in an office in Nicosia, staying with her married sister during the
week and coming home to her mother at the week-ends. Now, however, she was convalescing and had invited Shani to come and meet her mother.
Although outwardly attractive, the house was scantily equipped with furnishings. This was the case with most homes of the poorer classes. Working hours as well as leisure were spent out of doors, and so long as there were adequate beds and a table and some chairs no embellishments were considered necessary. The wealthier classes, most of whom had visited England or America, often went to the other extreme and Shani had been into houses where she actually felt smothered by comfort.
‘Have some refreshment,’ invited Luciana when, the introduction having been made, Ludana’s mother returned to her work in the kitchen garden at the back of the house. ‘I’ve made the drink from pomegranates.
I’m sure you’ll enjoy it very much.’
‘I know I will; I’ve had it before.’ Shani was on the patio, staring out towards the mountains. Wednesday ... the day after tomorrow. So odd that she experienced such eagerness after the way she had fled in terror from her husband.
‘You’ll eat also?’ Luciana reappeared from the house carrying a tray on which was a small mezi consisting of meat and fish, of tomatoes and cheese, and the tasty young anguri - the small cucumbers that were served with everything. The mezi had obviously been prepared beforehand and although Shani was not hungry, having lunched only an hour previously, she could not bring herself to hurt Luciana’s feelings by ignoring the dishes set out before her. ‘Cheese?’ The Cypriot girl looked questioningly at her. ‘Do you like
haloumi? - orphetta?’
‘I’ll just help myself,’ smiled Shani. ‘I’m equally fond of them both. ’
It was only when Luciana sat down that Shani noticed she also appeared to be excited about something.
She did not have long to wait; Luciana soon began telling her about Antonakis, a young man from Famagusta who had recently offered for her.
‘His parents came to see my mother last week,’ she went on. ‘They wanted to know about my prika, and Mother showed them this house, and told them I have some fields of olives. I have some bananas also and a few oranges. I think it is arranged.’
‘This is all yours?’ Shani made a comprehensive gesture
with her hand.
Luciana nodded.
‘This is my dowry house. Father gave it to me before he died. ’
‘But your mother? Will she live with you?’
‘She might live with us, but she might live in the shack.’
Shani’s eyes clouded.
‘Your father didn’t have enough money to build you a house - so he gave you his?’ Often this occurred, Shani knew, especially if the man happened to have several daughters.
‘He had to.’ Luciana grimaced. ‘I have four sisters.’ She pointed to the house just up the lane. ‘Mr. Spiros and his wife had to give their house to their daughter, and now they live in that tiny place at the side. ’
‘It’s so different from England,’ said Shani musingly. ‘Here, the young couple start life with a house and furniture, and enough land to provide them with a living.
They often end up in a much inferior house, or, as you say, in a shack. In my country the couple start with very little and end up comfortably off and living in a house far superior to that in which they began. At least, that’s the general picture. ’
A wistful expression settled on Luciana’s face.
‘In England it is a good way. You fall in love, don’t you? I watch your films on television and it seems a very nice thing to fall in love. You choose your own husbands, don’t you?’
About to agree, Shani stopped, wondering what Luciana would say were she to know that Shani had been ‘offered’ for and constrained into marriage with a man she had not loved.
‘This Antonakis,’ she said at length. ‘What’s he like?’ ‘I’ve never seen him.’
‘Never—!’ Shani stared uncomprehendingly. Couples here had no preliminary courtship before marriage, but normally they were acquainted, or at least knew one another by sight. ‘He’s seen you, obviously?’
‘Just once. He came to call on his friend, Yannis, who works in my office. I did not notice Antonakis because so many people come into the office, but Antonakis noticed me and asked Yannis about me. Yannis told him I was a good girl and did not walk with boys. So Antonakis asked his parents to come and see my mother.’
‘You’re happy at the thought of marrying him?’
‘I - think so, yes.’ Luciana quickly dropped her eyes to the dishes so daintily laid out on the table. ‘You are not eating, Sister Reeves. ’
‘Thank you.’ Shani took a small piece of phetta and began nibbling it. She felt anxious about the girl and said
hesitantly, ‘You’re quite sure you’re happy, Luciana?’ Sudden doubt entered the dark eyes, and then, with a sigh of resignation Luciana said quietly,
‘I am happy, Sister Reeves. ’
‘But supposing, when you meet this boy, you don’t -like him?’
‘I asked Yannis about him and he said he is a nice
and that he is kind to his sisters. ’
Shani changed the subject because to her it was depressing. Luciana was so young, and so sensitive. She should be courted and petted a little, and led into the unpredictable state of marriage by gentle persuasive steps. Instead, her aspiring husband calculatingly sent his parents to assess her store of worldly goods. On the value of these alone would be based his decision whether or not to marry the girl.
‘When are you returning to work, Luciana?’
‘Next week. I’m feeling much better and could have gone this week, but when I visited the hospital on Friday Dr. Gordon told me to have another week at home. I don’t like to do this because we have only a small allowance when we’re off work.’ She looked at Shani. ‘I don’t get much money when I do work, though, so it’s perhaps better that I get married-’ She broke off as an old man opened the gate and ambled into the garden.
‘Yassoo!’
‘Yassoo,’ returned the girls in unison. ‘I’m glad you’ve come,’ added Luciana. ‘Mr. Spiros’s goats have been on my land.’ She stood up. ‘Sister Reeves, do you know Mr. George, the Guardian of the Fields?’
Shani nodded, taking the proffered hand.
‘George’s wife was in the hospital some weeks ago.’
‘Of course. I forgot. Mr. George, will you have a glass of wine, or do you wish for ouzo? ’
‘My usual — ouzo, if you please, Luciana.’ He took possession of a chair and Luciana went into the house to fetch the drink.
‘I pay you ten shillings a year to see that my neighbours don’t allow their animals to stray on to my fields,’ she said severely on handing him his glass. ‘You are not doing your job, Mr. George.’
‘Yo
u didn’t report it, and I heard about it only this day. I shall go in a few minutes to Mr. Spiros and tell him to keep his goats tethered.’ He looked at Shani and gave a little
shrug. The goats did not do any harm at all. ’
‘That’s not the point. They could have done some damage if I hadn’t seen them. I was very cross with Mr. Spiros.’ She sat down, looking very small and fragile. Shani could not imagine her being cross with anyone, ‘I hope you will also give him a good telling off. ’
‘He pays me ten shillings a year as well as you! ’
‘And because of that,’ came the swift retort, ‘he would be angry, if my goats strayed on to his fields. ’
‘Ten shillings a year is not much,’ protested George, ‘not for all I do—’ He stopped as Luciana’s eyes opened wide.
‘Not much! Mr. George, there are two thousand of us paying you that sum. You must be very rich!’
‘That’s nothing to do with it. You pay me only ten shillings and look what I do for it. I guard your fields—’
‘No, you don’t. What about Mr. Spiros’s goats?’
‘I guard your fields,’ repeated George, ignoring the interruption. ‘I keep the peace in the village—’
‘The peace? Those children of Maroula’s are always making a noise. Every day when Loukis goes to school he kicks a can all along the lane. Then he kicks it back again on the way home. My mother is deafened by it! ’
‘I’ll speak with Maroula. ’
‘And you didn’t turn my water on last Saturday. My
oranges won’t be ready. ’
He wagged a finger at her.
‘You have it on Mondays and Thursdays, and that’s all you’re entitled to. Why should you expect to have it every day?’
‘I don’t, but I asked you to change the days, because I want water on Saturdays. ’
‘What difference does it make?’
‘I’m at home on Saturdays, so I can see to the trenches. If I’m not there the water runs away.’
‘Your mother can do the, trenches. ’ George picked up a piece of meat and put it in his mouth, at the same time throwing an exasperated glance in Luciana’s direction. ‘She has plenty of time. ’
‘My mother has no time. The garden is hard work, you know that, Mr. George, with the ground getting baked every day as it does, and having to be broken up all the time with that heavy axe. ’
This interchange eventually brought a laugh from Shani, but so engrossed were the other two that neither spared her even a glance.
The water arrangements were made many years ago, said George, and they could not be changed. Luciana’s ancestor had bought the rights from the ancestor of the man who now owned the spring, and Luciana was entitled to have the water for two hours on Mondays and three hours on Thursdays, and as far as George was concerned this must go on forever.
‘But why? Mr. Savvas doesn’t mind changing days with me.’
George shook his head emphatically.
‘The rules, Luciana. We must keep to the rules.’
‘Don’t you think they’re silly?’ Luciana turned to Shani at last, spreading her hands in a gesture of frustration.
‘Well, yes, I do, seeing that Savvas doesn’t mind.
But I also know how inflexible the rules are on the island. Can’t you prepare the trenches beforehand?’
‘It isn’t the preparing of them, it’s the blocking off when a tree has had enough water, and then directing the water to another tree.’ She shook her head. ‘No, someone must be there when the trees are being watered, otherwise it goes all over the place - just runs to waste. ’
‘Couldn't you store some of this water?’ suggested Shani, trying to be helpful.
‘She can,’ interposed George, ‘but only outside. It’s not permitted to pipe it into the house. That was never in the agreement. ’
‘I know it’s not permitted to pipe it, but surely
there’s nothing to stop Luciana storing it in tanks?’
‘I don’t want, to store it in tanks. I want to have it flowing easily on to my land. When I’m married, Mr. George, you’ll have to do what my husband tells you, or he won’t pay you - and then where would you be?’ Another laugh broke from Shani on seeing the effect of those words on George. He seemed about to have a fit; he also seemed quite prepared to continue the argument indefinitely and after thanking Luciana for her hospitality Shani made her departure, unheeded by either of the others as they were now both speaking at once.
At last Andreas arrived back at Loutras and although she knew the correct procedure would be to find out if he was free to see her - of better still to call at his house later in the day - Shani succumbed to her eagerness and decided to contact him right away. Before anything else there must come an apology for Brian’s behaviour, she decided, and also a declaration that she herself had not approved of it. Reaching Andreas’s room, she omitted to knock, and as she opened the door it was to see a dark frown suddenly cross his face.
‘Kindly knock before you enter,’ he snapped, and for a moment Shani could only gasp and stare.
‘Knock?’
‘Isn’t it usual to knock before entering a doctor’s room?’ His brows were raised, his regard arrogant. He was her superior; she was merely Sister Reeves and not his wife at all. This staggering change! Had three weeks away erased the memory of both the holiday and that night spent in his villa up in the pine forest of Troodos? But his baffling manner was soon explained as it dawned on Shani that while to her their future was settled, to him the position was no different, from the one existing on the morning they came down from
Troodos. He was not to know how she felt or why she had come. On the contrary, he believed she hated him and still loved Brian. Moreover, he believed she approved of Brian’s action because Brian had told him so.
With these things in mind she said gently,
‘I want to talk to you, Andreas,’ but then she stopped, glancing round. It were better to have waited. The clinical atmosphere of a hospital was not the setting for what she had to say. ‘I’ll come to your house this evening,’ she began eagerly, when he interrupted her.
‘I’m going out this evening.’ His voice was hard; he neither looked at her nor offered her a chair. ‘Whatever you have to say can be said here.’ Shani’s eyes dropped to his hand, clenched tightly as it lay on the desk. He seemed on the defensive ... yet ready to attack.
‘I don’t want to speak here,’ she began, quite deflated, and unable to remember any of the eloquent phrases she had so happily rehearsed. ‘It’s about - us -and our marriage. If you’ll tell me when you are free?
I would much prefer to come to your house. There is so much to say. ’
‘There can’t be much to say. It’s all been said. I’m not listening to your recriminations, or your declarations that you now intend to seek for a divorce. The marriage could until recently have been dissolved by me alone; now it can be dissolved by neither of us. From the first I’ve desired only that you give the marriage a trial, which you refused to do - even on the holiday, when I thought that perhaps we had come close. I expect you’re still seeing this Brian, whom you know by now had the audacity to offer me an
ultimatum, an act which, he said, you would fully approve. That,’ he added bitterly, ‘shocked me. Somehow I would have expected you to deplore a threat such as that. However, I took my own action, deliberately keeping silent about the threat in order not to arouse your suspicions. I make no excuses; my conscience is clear because I acted according to my beliefs -- and those are that marriage is a permanent state.’
No anger in his voice, nothing to terrify her as on various other occasions ... and yet she was terrified, even before he continued, telling her that he was now no longer interested in her or the idea of making their lives together. He had other plans, and from now on she need have no fear that he would intrude into her life or question her actions. He paused, his eyes dark and bitter. Shani tried to speak ... but what price all her
plans now? He was no longer interested in her.
‘When I leave here in six months’ time our paths will divide and I don’t suppose we shall ever meet again. I sincerely hope we don’t,’ he added, and if Shani had clung to any shred of hope it deserted her now. For there was no doubt at all, about the sincerity of those words. They were uttered with feeling and strength; he had never been more serious about anything in his life. ‘As for our respective positions in the hospital,’ he went on, once more assuming the cool dispassionate manner of her superior, ‘we must remember them. I hope I won’t have to remind you again about this.’ His attention was arrested and Shani turned automatically to follow the direction of his gaze. Lydia was crossing the grounds, making for the tree-shaded enclosure in which stood Andreas’s house. She entered the pathway, closing the gate behind her, and then she disappeared into the house. Shani cast a swift glance at Andreas;
the hardness had disappeared from his face as, rising, he made for the door. It was held open for Shani to pass through in front of him. Neither spoke a word as with the closing of the door they went their separate ways.
The window on the corridor looked out onto the lawn at the side of the hospital. Andreas was crossing it, proceeding towards his house.
Two days later there was the ordeal of working with Andreas in the theatre.
‘You look pale,’ he remarked after giving her his customary nod and brief ‘Good morning, Sister. ‘Are you not feeling well?’
‘I’m quite all right, thank you, sir. ’
Andreas threw her another cursory glance and then gave his whole attention to the task in hand.
Jenny also remarked on Shani’s loss of colour and on the day they were to attend the village wedding she said anxiously,
‘Are you all right, Shani? You don’t look at all well.’ Shani gave a little sigh. It was to be hoped she wasn’t going to continue like this, otherwise she would have to leave sooner than she intended.
