YANNIS (Cretan Saga Book 1)

by Beryl Darby

  ‘Where are we going, Mamma?’

  ‘I told you, to a friend of Pappa’s in the country.’

  Anna eyed the bags that were sitting in the kitchen. ‘How long are we staying?’

  ‘A few days. Eat your roll. We have to be at the bus station in good time.’

  Obediently Anna ate. There was something strange happening that she did not understand. By the look of the bulging bags and the empty chest in her bedroom, they were going forever, not a few days.

  Pavlos flipped his cigarette end out of the window. The outskirts of Rethymnon looked the same as Heraklion. He had enjoyed the journey. There had been none of the irksome stops to pick up passengers as there would have been had he made the trip by bus. The truck swung round a corner and drew to an abrupt halt before a dilapidated building.

  ‘In there,’ announced the driver, his first words since leaving Heraklion.

  ‘Thanks.’ Pavlos eyed the building warily. ‘Who am I meeting?’

  There was no answer, already the driver had released the hand brake and was moving. Pavlos pushed open the door and entered the dim hallway.

  ‘Good evening.’ A man stood in the darkness.

  ‘Mr Dubois! I didn’t expect to see you here.’

  ‘I arrived by car a short while ago. Do come in.’

  Pavlos was ushered into a room and a hand waved towards a seat. ‘Sit down, my friend. Here we can carry out our business in private. You said you had some information which I might find helpful.’

  ‘I want something in exchange.’ Pavlos licked his dry lips. ‘You’re not really a surveyor, are you? You’re working for the Germans.’

  ‘How very astute of you!’

  ‘I’ve known from the start,’ boasted Pavlos. ‘I was given the job of finding out about you.’

  ‘Really. I would be interested to know what you told your friends about me.’

  Pavlos smiled craftily. ‘I told them your name and where you were staying whilst you took photographs for a firm of surveyors and they cancelled my gambling debt in exchange for the information. You offered me the opportunity to go away and start afresh in a new country if I did a little work for you. I decided you’d made me the best offer.’

  ‘And you think the time has come to take up this offer?’

  Pavlos nodded. ‘I had access to my brother-in-law’s papers.’

  ‘Maybe you would like to tell me why you think they would interest me.’

  ‘They said that Thermopylae had been lost and the Germans were being held at the Molos Pass. They thought it would be doubtful if there would be enough men to hold Athens.’

  Mr Dubois smiled. ‘Was that all? I feel that hardly warrants the cost of bringing you to Rethymnon.’

  Pavlos shook his head. ‘There were all sorts of details regarding an invasion of Crete. The beaches they would probably use and where to deploy the greatest number of troops for their defence. I have the papers here.’ Pavlos took them from his pocket.

  Mr Dubois looked at the man. ‘Does it not worry you to betray your country?’

  ‘I won’t be here will I?’ Pavlos relaxed in his chair.

  ‘Exactly.’

  The bullet reached Pavlos’s heart and he died with a look of amazement on his face.

  Anna was bored and unhappy, Louisa discouraged and sulky. Her money was fast disappearing. There had been no one at the address Yiorgo had given her and she had been forced to trail around the streets in search of lodgings. The landlady had insisted she paid a month in advance and all meals had to be eaten out. There had been no word from Yiorgo and the newspapers reported only setbacks and defeats for the allied armies. Aghios Nikolaos was full of troops who had been hurriedly evacuated from the mainland, spilling out from Heraklion when resources were too strained to cope with them. Now she sat and watched the uniformed men passing by, their foreign tongues grating in her ear, and she tried to shut out their harsh voices by concentrating on her newspaper.

  ‘Excuse me.’ Louisa turned to see a middle aged officer standing beside her. ‘May I borrow your newspaper when you have finished with it?’

  Silently she handed it to him. By his accent he was obviously a foreigner and she wondered if he could read the language. She watched as he folded it and ran his fingernail down the column, which listed the movement of the various battalions who had been evacuated from Greece. He turned to her again. ‘Can you tell me how far Chania is from here?’

  Louisa looked doubtful. ‘I’m not sure. Quite a long way, it’s past Rethymnon.’

  ‘How far is Rethymnon?’

  ‘A morning’s drive from here.’

  ‘Is there anywhere I can buy a map?’

  ‘Try a book shop.’

  He touched his cap and moved off down the street where he stopped and leant against a jeep and mopped his forehead. He and the driver seemed to be arguing and Louisa watched them idly. Finally he climbed in and sat disconsolately beside his companion. As Louisa and Anna walked past both men raised their caps to them and Anna giggled.

  ‘Why are they here, Mamma?’

  ‘I don’t know. They seem to be everywhere these days.’

  ‘How much longer do we have to stay here?’

  ‘Until Pappa sends for us.’

  ‘How can he do that?’

  ‘He’ll write a letter and we’ll catch the bus home.’

  Anna eyed her mother doubtfully. ‘They say the buses aren’t running. There’s no petrol. It’s all been taken by the army for their vehicles.’

  ‘Who told you that?’

  ‘I heard some of the local people talking.’

  Louisa bit her lip. ‘What else did they say?’

  ‘They were complaining that they couldn’t get any news of their sons or visit their families.’

  Louisa stopped. ‘Wait here for me,’ she commanded and walked back to the stationary jeep. She smiled at the occupants who straightened themselves from their slumped positions and touched their caps.

  ‘My daughter has told me that the buses are no longer running between the towns. I have to get back to Heraklion to see my husband.’

  ‘Impossible at the moment, far better to stay here.’

  ‘It’s very important. He’s a member of the government.’ Louisa wrung her hands.

  The two men exchanged glances. ‘We shall be moving that way in an hour or so.’

  Louisa looked from one to the other eagerly. ‘Would you take me? At least part of the way, I could walk the rest.’

  ‘What about the girl?’

  ‘She can stay here. I can make arrangements.’

  The two conversed rapidly in their own language whilst Louisa stood waiting anxiously, for the outcome. The man who spoke Greek turned back to her.

  ‘We’ll take you to the outskirts of Heraklion. Sort the girl out and start walking out of town. We’ll catch up with you.’

  Louisa walked back to where Anna was waiting. She took her arm and steered her along the road, round the corner and to the far end of the lake. ‘I’m going back to Heraklion,’ she announced.

  Anna’s face lit up with a smile. ‘It will be lovely to go home.’

  Louisa shook her head. ‘I can’t take you. I’ve managed to get a ride in the jeep part of the way and after that I have to walk. You couldn’t do that.’

  ‘Yes I could.’

  Louisa continued as if the girl had not spoken. ‘You’re to stay here and I’ll be back in a day or two.’

  Anna’s lip trembled. ‘Where am I to stay? I don’t like that old woman.’

  ‘I’ll give you some money for your food and the rent is paid.’

  ‘Suppose you’re not back before the money runs out?’ Anna was frightened, trying hard to think of something that would stop her mother from leaving her.

  ‘I shall be. I’ll get another lift and be back in a few days. You’ll be all right.’

  She opened the drawstring bag and pulled some no
tes from it, which she stuffed inside her blouse before handing the bag to Anna. A sudden impulse made her pull her daughter to her and kiss her. ‘Be a good girl. I’ll be back as soon as I can.’

  Anna watched as her mother began to walk across the bridge on her way out of the town. She felt unable to move, deserted, abandoned in a strange town with no one to turn to. Tears crept down her cheeks and she sniffed as she tried to stem the flood by brushing them away with her hand.

  Louisa found the journey to Heraklion quite enjoyable in the company of the two soldiers. In his heavily accented Greek one had kept up a steady stream of conversation with her, translating her replies to the driver. As they neared Heraklion he quizzed her regarding the routes available to them, but she was ignorant. She was asked to leave the jeep at least a mile from the outskirts, allowing herself to be helped down and offering both men the hospitality of the taverna in Heraklion when they next passed through. The message relayed to the driver set him laughing and they waved cheerily to her as they accelerated away.

  ‘They’ll never believe us when we tell them that we brought the most famous prostitute in Heraklion all the way from Aghios Nikolaos and didn’t lay a finger on her.’ The driver guffawed again. ‘Pity we couldn’t take her all the way with us. We could have had some sport tonight.’

  Louisa walked in the dust at the side of the road, her heel chaffed by the back of her shoe, which was gradually splitting, until she finally removed them, wincing as the small stones pricked her feet. It was further than she had imagined and she was doubtful that she would reach the town before it grew dark. She walked on, her mouth dry from the late afternoon heat and the dust that hovered around her. As she reached the crown of the hill she espied Heraklion sprawled before her, before night engulfed it in total blackness. There was not a light to be seen and the darkness seemed intense as she trod wearily along the unfamiliar streets. She had no idea of the time when she finally inserted her key into the door of the taverna and entered into the dark room. She groped for a lamp; then screamed in terror as her arm was grasped and twisted up behind her back.

  ‘Who are you? What do you want?’

  ‘Yiorgo, Yiorgo, it’s me.’

  Her arm was released immediately and she rubbed it ruefully. ‘Light the lamp, Yiorgo.’

  In the darkness Yiorgo shook his head. ‘It’s not safe. Come upstairs.’

  He moved over to the taverna door and dropped the latch, then felt his way to the inner door. Louisa followed him up the stairs and into their bedroom where he pulled down the heavy blind before lighting the lamp and turning to look at his wife. She was struck by his haggard appearance.

  ‘What’s happened, Yiorgo?’

  ‘The Germans have landed. It was an airborne attack and we were expecting them to come by sea. They’ve suffered heavy losses, but I don’t know if we can hold them.’

  Louisa felt her throat constrict. ‘What will happen if they get to Heraklion?’

  ‘I don’t know. I didn’t want you here. Where’s Anna?’

  ‘She’s safe enough. I left her at our lodgings.’

  ‘You should have stayed there yourself.’ Yiorgo pushed back his hair from his forehead. ‘Why have you come back?’

  ‘I was worried. I’d heard nothing from you, and I was running out of money.’

  ‘You could have worked in a taverna.’

  ‘There’s hardly anywhere open.’

  ‘Why didn’t you sell your jewellery? You’ve got it all with you. You must be on the first bus back tomorrow.’

  ‘There are no buses running, Yiorgo.’

  ‘No buses? Then how did you get here? You didn’t walk?’ He looked down at her dirty, unshod feet.

  ‘Some of the way, I had a lift in an army jeep to the outskirts.’

  Yiorgo groaned. ‘Louisa, anything could have happened to you. You must never do such a thing again. How am I going to get you back?’ He rubbed his hand across his head.

  ‘I’ll stay here until the buses start to run again. I can open up the taverna and bring in some money.’

  Yiorgo shook his head in despair. ‘Don’t you realise that the situation here is dangerous? If our lines don’t hold the Germans will be swarming all over the town.’

  ‘They won’t trouble us, though, will they?’

  ‘I don’t know. I’ve enough problems without having you as well. I thought you were safe and now you turn up here. I can’t cope, Louisa.’

  Louisa pouted. ‘I thought you’d be pleased to see me.’

  ‘Under different circumstances; I only came back for a clean shirt and something to eat.’

  ‘You’re going back to the Town Hall?’

  ‘I have to. You must stay here and keep the door locked. Don’t open it to anyone, understand?’

  Louisa nodded; Yiorgo’s fear was suddenly contagious.

  ‘I’ll be back as soon as possible. You’re not to show a light or go out anywhere.’

  ‘But Yiorgo…’

  ‘I mean it, Louisa. No one knows you’re here, make sure it stays that way.’ Yiorgo bent and kissed her. ‘When this is over and the world becomes sane again we’ll go away. I’ll give up politics and become just the local school teacher again.’

  Louisa smiled. Yiorgo’s sincerity she did not doubt, but she thought it highly unlikely that he would remember his intentions later.

  ‘Don’t forget, no lights, don’t undo the door and don’t go out. I’ll be back as quickly as possible. Then I’ll see about getting you back to Aghios Nikolaos. You should never have left Anna alone down there,’ he admonished her.

  ‘She’ll be safe enough,’ Louisa assured him.

  Yiorgo held her hands, reluctant to leave. He kissed her again. ‘I have to go.’ Quietly he made his way back down the stairs and across the dark taverna.

  The noise in the street below woke Louisa. Curiosity overcoming her caution, she pulled back the blind. In the street she could see people carrying all manner of objects, a bundle of stones, a kitchen knife, an axe, even old rifles and shot guns had been taken down from their resting places. Yiorgo’s instructions to stay in were impossible to obey. She had to know what was happening. Dressing rapidly she hurried downstairs and out into the street to catch up with the stragglers.

  ‘What’s happening? Where are you going?’

  ‘To the city gates.’ The woman waved her knife in the air. ‘The Germans are coming.’

  ‘What are you going to do?’

  ‘Defend the city, of course.’

  ‘The soldiers will do that.’

  ‘What soldiers? They’ve all been sent out to the airfield and they couldn’t hold it.’

  ‘If the soldiers couldn’t stop them what hope do you have?’ Louisa looked at the rabble, which was rapidly disappearing into the distance.

  ‘We’re going to the old gates. They’ll never get over the walls and the openings are narrow. We’ll hold them back.’

  Louisa fell into step beside her, realising she had brought no weapon with her. They stood in a growling mass, waiting for the first spark to set their raw emotions alight. It seemed to Louisa that they stood there for hours before the noise in the distance reached them and they fell silent. This was what they had been waiting for. Now they would show the Germans what Cretan people were made of.

  The noise grew louder, impossible to distinguish one sound from another and then they came into sight. Louisa sucked in her breath sharply. Shambling towards the archway was a motley collection of tattered men, some limping, their arms round a companion’s shoulders, others being led, their makeshift bandages slipping from their eyes, yet others being carried on light stretchers. Silently the throng parted to make way for them to pass, then closed in again to block the access. Pitifully small numbers of soldiers began to arrive, taking up their stand before the mob, and all the time there was noise. It reminded Louisa of the mistral which blew with an unending shriek, but this was more like an unending groan
, dragged from the very heart of the people. She felt her cheeks wet with emotion, an emotion she had not felt for many years, sadness, pity, a love for her fellows, and she took to her heels and ran.

  Sobbing for breath Louisa leant against the Morosini fountain. Now she was able to understand Yiorgo’s fear for her. If the townspeople were prepared to defend their city with their bare hands the bloodshed would be indescribable, and if they failed in their defence she dreaded to think of the reprisals that would take place. Slowly she regained her breath and her head stopped reeling. Peering anxiously around each corner as she went, she made her way back to the taverna.

  Numbly she gazed around. The whole place had an air of neglect. More for something to occupy her than a desire to restore order, she ran some water into a bowl and began to mop the tables. The slightest sound made her start, yet she dared not go out to investigate lest she be caught up in the carnage that she was certain was taking place. Of Yiorgo there was no sign.

  She wondered if the market was functioning. On inspecting her cupboards she had found the salad items in a slimy, mouldering mass, bread covered in a green film and cheese that was as hard as a rock. The smell when she opened her meat safe sent her reeling back and she slammed the door shut hurriedly, unable to face cleaning it out. The only food that was eatable was a bag of rice and another of sultanas. At least she would not starve. She cooked an unpalatable mess of rice and managed a little, washed down with wine, of which she had a plentiful supply, all the time watching through the taverna windows for any sign that her neighbours were returning. The silence was oppressive and she moved restlessly round the room once she had finished eating.

  She jumped, and then stiffened in fear as a muffled booming came to her ears. Anxiously she peered through the windows. If only someone would pass by! As if in answer to her prayer an elderly man staggered round the corner, clutching at the wall and window frames for support. In an instant Louisa had unlocked the door and was at his side.

  ‘What’s happening? Tell me what’s happening.’

  He pointed to his leg where the sticky, red blood was oozing through his trousers. ‘Butchery. That’s what’s happening. Bloody butchery!’