The House by the Liffey (22 page)

Bill had used the remainder of his official leave helping to watch over and support Sarah during the earlier critical part of her recovery. Being based in Ireland for the moment meant that he was able to return to duty at the official appointed time and still visit her regularly. In fact he spent most of his free time with her. However, after some weeks his commanding officer, noticing how strained he was looking, decided he would regard Bill's time spent with his traumatised sister as a sort of compassionate leave and suggested he went back to Cyprus to finish his broken holiday there. He agreed readily, and Tommy and Isabel were delighted that they would have a first-hand report on Sarah's progress.

He arrived on 12 July 1974 just three days before the ruling Greek Military Junta sponsored a coup organised by the new EOKA ‘B' faction, overthrowing the legitimate Cyprus Government and deposing the Greek Cypriot President, Archbishop Makarios. These extreme right-wing EOKA supporters made particular attacks on any Greek Cypriots who were loyal Makarios supporters or those with strong left-wing sympathies. The Turkish Cypriots were also natural targets. There was no particular panic for those staying in the military bases, but there was considerable alarm. Those with any understanding of the political situation knew well that the mainland Turkish Government wouldn't stand by and see their fellow Turks in Cyprus wiped out, especially if they called for help.

At that particular moment Tommy, Isabel and family with Bill were enjoying a few days in Famagusta, introducing Bill to the delights of this resort. With its romantic associations it was a favourite haunt for the young couple. They had, of course, been to visit Nick's fabric shop and, later on, called around by invitation to have an evening meal with the family. Daughter Maria was there, home on holiday from her course of language studies in a college in Oxford. They had had a marvellous evening with a superb meal. They had also had the unmissible visit to Smokey Joe's, where Isabel and Tommy had become engaged. They little thought that within a few weeks the whole of this community would disintegrate and disappear forever in its existing form, with Famagusta becoming an abandoned and ravaged ghost city.

As soon as the coup occurred Tommy and family with Bill headed back to Akrotiri immediately, “just in case”, and as things turned out this was a wise decision. With his Irish passport and army ID there was no problem allowing Bill through with the family and he had taken the additional precaution of donning his clerical collar with a khaki shirt. He carried these with him wherever he went since there was always a chance he might need them. Tommy returned to full-time duties and the whole military community was on the alert for emergencies or any escalation of the crisis.

As the rumours filtered in about the behaviour of the leaders of the coup, in rounding up and executing people who were their particular targets, worries grew for Cypriot friends and colleagues. Tommy was busy and preoccupied with the emergency, planning strategies for evacuations in the worst-case scenario, and to an extent the whole of the military community became involved, including wives. Bill did his best to help out by entertaining the twins, Lizzie and Vicky, now six years old. This wasn't difficult for they adored him and were very happy to spend as much time as possible with him. Characteristically for children of that age they subjected him to minute scrutiny. After one such inspection, Lizzie commented on something that hadn't occurred to him previously.

‘Isn't it fun, Bill? Our hair is blond and yours is black but we have green eyes just like yours. Daddy and Mummy have blue eyes.'

It was strange and set him thinking. After dinner that evening he and Tommy were having a nightcap together after Isabel had gone to bed. Tommy was tired and they were drinking the brandy sours Cyprus was famous for, so he became quite mellow.

‘Lizzie made an interesting observation earlier today, Tommy. The twins have green eyes. Where do they get them from – are there green eyes in Isabel's family? Strange thing is they're such an intense green and exactly like mine.'

Without stopping to think Tommy answered him.

‘Of course they're just like yours, they're Lo's eyes.'

‘Now come on, they can't be
Dad's
eyes. He inherited them from his mother and you're in no way related to Granny Rachel. You've got your own mother's very blue eyes.'

Tommy suddenly realised what he had said. There was no way he could backtrack. Bill was looking at him in such an odd way.

‘Okay. Serves me right. That's what comes of drinking brandy sours when I'm tired! They
are
his eyes. He's their real father.'

Bill was dumbstruck.

‘But… how…? Why?'

‘Right. I'll tell you the whole story but I'm trusting you, totally, never to tell anyone else.'

‘Tommy, I'm a priest. I don't betray confidences but now I'm intrigued and, knowing you and Dad, I'm certain it's not what it sounds like on the face of it!'

Tommy smiled at him.

‘No. It was all absolutely above board and completely moral, I promise you.'

So he told him the whole story, which took quite a while. Bill was so surprised but his reaction was not quite the unequivocal forgiveness response that Tommy would have expected from a priest.

‘I'm inclined to agree with Dad. I think it was a dreadful thing for your grandparents to do to you, not to tell you the truth when they realised Bob had such a problem. Surely they must have realised you would worry sick about it, especially getting married. And it shouldn't have been impossible to get released from an oath in the circumstances. They could have gone back to the orphanage or even written to them and explained the problem. I'm sure they would have released them from their vow of silence, maybe with some conditions.'

‘Well they did eventually tell me, even if a bit late in the day. But it all worked out in the end.'

Bill was silent for a moment then he grinned broadly.

‘As our American friends would say, well whadaya know – I've got two more sisters. How lucky that they look so like Isabel! But it's marvellous that it was all discovered in time for you to have children with an easy mind.'

‘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.'