YANNIS (Cretan Saga Book 1) (67 page)

Again the doctor nodded. Their method of disposing of the dead revolted him, but he had no better solution to offer.

‘I thought it might be nicer to have a separate church where we could hold a proper service and then use that bit of ground over there to bury them.’ Father Minos indicated with his hand to the space between the tower and the walls of the fort.

‘How are you going to dig through the rock?’

‘Ah,’ Father Minos’s eyes gleamed. ‘That looks like rock, but in truth it’s compacted earth. That’s what I want your opinion about. It only has a depth of about four feet – would that be deep enough for a burial?’

‘It would, but you’d have to contain the body in something. You can’t just bury people. Before you knew it bones would be coming to the surface, natural earth movement at that depth.’

Father Minos frowned. ‘I knew there had to be a catch. I thought it was such a good idea.’

‘It is. I thoroughly approve, but you’ll have to place them in something.’

‘I’ll work on it,’ Father Minos smiled. ‘Thank you for your time.’

Yiorgo Pavlakis collected his papers together and went in search of Andreas. The priest was not at home, but the housekeeper assured him he would be back for the mid-day service and would be able to see him directly afterwards. There was no alternative for Yiorgo but to return to the taverna and wait for the time to pass. He was not unduly despondent; it would give him an hour to spend with his daughter. Now she was older and no longer behaved like a baby he was beginning to dote on her.

He held the child on his knee, turning over the pages of a picture book.

‘What’s that, Pappa?’

‘Let me see.’ Yiorgo pushed the cloud of dark hair back from where it hung over the page. Anna pulled it back. ‘No, darling, Pappa can’t see with all your hair there.’ He held the heavy hair back with his hand. ‘That’s the golden fleece that Jason set out to find. You remember the story?’ He looked up at her and the smile froze on his lips. Her birthmark seemed to have spread considerably. He forced himself to speak normally. ‘You tell me the story of Jason.’

Anna shook her head. ‘No. You tell me the story of Theseus. I like it when he fights the monster.’

Yiorgo smiled. ‘All right, now, let’s see, how did Theseus get to Crete in the first place?’

‘As one of the boys and girls who were sent every year.’

Yiorgo and Anna sat with their heads close together, each telling a little of the story and pointing to the pictures. Anna was laughing as Yiorgo pretended to be the Minotaur when her mother walked in. Immediately the laughter stopped and she looked at Louisa warily.

‘Time for lunch, Anna. Go and wash.’

‘Yes, Mamma.’ Obediently she closed the book and slipped off Yiorgo’s knee. ‘Thank you for the story.’

‘I must make sure I have more time at home with you, then we can have more stories.’ He waited until Anna had left the room. ‘Louisa, when did you last take Anna to the doctor?’

Louisa shrugged. ‘I don’t remember. She’s always well, besides, doctors cost money.’

‘Her birthmark seems to have got considerably bigger.’

‘Of course it will. As she grows so will the mark.’

‘I’m not happy with it. I don’t care about the cost. It’s Anna, our daughter; nothing is too good for her. I’ll take her tomorrow if you don’t have the time.’

The doctor was unknown to Yiorgo. ‘What can I do for you?’ He smiled blandly from behind his desk.

‘I should like you to examine my daughter.’

‘What’s wrong with her?’

‘She has a birthmark. It seems to have grown considerably larger over the last few months.’

‘Birthmarks grow with the child.’

‘Of course, but I’d be grateful for your opinion.’

With a sigh the doctor rose. ‘Can you show me your birthmark?’

Anna pulled back her hair.

‘I see. Does it hurt or itch?’

‘No.’

He ran his hand over the raised, red skin. ‘I can see nothing to worry over. As you say, it’s a birthmark. It may grow for a while; it could also diminish as she becomes older. She’s fortunate to have most of it covered by her hair. Is there any other problem?’

Yiorgo shook his head.

‘I charge five drachmas for a consultation.’

Yiorgo took the money from his pocket. To have his mind set at rest was worth the extortionate amount.

‘You’re just the man we want,’ called Father Minos as the doctor approached. ‘Phillipos is a carpenter. He says he would be able to make coffins if the wood were available and he had the tools.’

‘Good.’ Inadvertently the doctor looked down at the man’s hands. They were cracked and bruised, two fingers almost missing and the others clawed. It was doubtful if he would have the skill left. As if reading his thoughts the carpenter held up his hands.

‘I won’t be able to do the job as well as I’d like, but I could manage something reasonable.’

‘I’m sure you could. Maybe someone could help you?’

‘I’ve trained plenty in my time. Not for coffins, mind, we made tables, chairs and the like. Nothing fancy, but good, solid stuff.’

Doctor Stavros nodded. ‘Where’s the timber coming from?’

‘Would the government pay for it? Timber like that is costly.’

‘There’s no need to involve the government. We’ll have our pensions. Anyone who wants to be buried will have to pay for a coffin.’ Yannis frowned. ‘Mind you, by the time the government get round to sending it we shall probably all be dead.’

‘I’m sure it won’t be much longer now.’

‘I think they’re doing it deliberately,’ complained Yannis. ‘Every delay will mean less money for us.’

‘Why worry? You’d never thought of money until the pension was suggested.’

Yannis shrugged impatiently. ‘It’s the principle.’

Phillipos grinned. ‘You’ll never be satisfied, will you? Since you’ve been here we’ve got houses, water, better food, bedding, medicine, a doctor and a priest. What more do you want?’

‘Do you really want to know? I’d like to see the hospital enlarged and a doctor on the island permanently, day and night, to cope with emergencies and not be dependent upon the weather to get across.’

‘It doesn’t happen often,’ protested Phillipos.

‘One time it will be crucial to have a doctor and he won’t be able to come. We need electricity, too.’

‘Electricity?’ The men looked at him in amazement.

‘Like they have now in the hospitals on the mainland. Suppose the doctor had to operate on an emergency in the evening? He wouldn’t be able to see what he was doing with our poor oil lamps. It could be a matter of life and death.’

Doctor Stavros and Father Minos exchanged glances. Yannis was completely serious.

‘It would take years for us to get those things,’ laughed Phillipos.

‘That’s why we have to keep on pressing. As soon as we get one thing we ask for another.’

Father Minos smiled at Yannis’s flushed face. ‘You haven’t been so vehement about anything for a long while.’

‘I have my moments. I’m serious about all of them. If we just sit back and wait for the government or medical authorities to give us anything we’ll wait forever. We have to be persistent, even to the point of being a nuisance so they give in to our requests just to keep us quiet.’

‘I’m with you, Yannis. Just let me know when you want me to be a nuisance,’ Phillipos declared.

Pavlos sat drinking morosely. He had been unfortunate again. The cards had definitely been running against him. The more he had increased his bets in an effort to recoup, the greater the eventual loss had been and now he was desperate. None of his card- playing friends were willing to lend him even a lepta and he knew Yiorgo never had any spare money. He would have to ask Louisa yet again.

He studied the customers. They were a motley collection. Two elderly men, who came in every evening, had a bottle of wine between them and played dominoes, were sitting hunched over their table. Four young men, obviously students, were at another, eating voraciously. His brother-in-law was deep in conversation with two of his fellow councillors.

Pavlos felt an unreasonable anger against all of them rising within him. What a waste of an evening. No money to go out and enjoy himself and having to wait until his sister finished working to beg money from her. He lit another cigarette and waited. Even Yiorgo was making life difficult for him that evening. On previous occasions he had been able to hear every word Yiorgo was planning to say at the next council meeting and had sold the information for a good price. Tonight he had his back towards him and the talk was low and confidential. He waited until his sister was washing the glasses and offered to scrape the plates for her. ‘Louisa, are you able to do me a small favour?’

‘How much?’ She did not even look at him.

Pavlos wetted his lips. ‘Five hundred drachmas.’

‘What!’

‘I went down heavily the other evening and they’re after my blood.’

‘Be a good job if they had it.’

‘Please, Louisa,’ he wheedled. ‘I am your brother.’

‘More’s the pity! I haven’t got that kind of money.’

Pavlos took her arm in a vice-like grip. ‘I think you can find it. I need it by tomorrow. Remember Yiorgo thinks he’s the proud father of that little bastard who’s asleep upstairs. What would he say if I told him you had no idea who her father was? Told him that his beautiful Louisa was the town’s best known prostitute?’

‘You wouldn’t!’

Pavlos grinned. ‘That depends upon your co-operation. I need five hundred now, unless you’d rather I had a word with Yiorgo.’

Louisa stared at him coldly. ‘He’d never believe you.’

‘Oh, yes, he would. I can be very convincing.’

‘He’d kill you.’

Pavlos shook his head. ‘He’d be more likely to kill you, my dear. Once I’ve told him, everything would fall into place. The premature birth of his beloved daughter, the rather excessive income from a somewhat seedy and run-down taverna, the number of seafarers who forsake the waterfront bars to come here. You probably have far more than that hidden away. I’m only asking for five hundred.’ He twisted her arm up her back.

‘Then you’ll have to keep asking. I can let you have three.’

‘That will do for a start.’ He released her arm and she rubbed it to restore the circulation. His debts were in the region of two hundred so he would have some remaining money to use for another game next week when he was sure he would be luckier.

Yiorgo Pavlakis sat at the head of the table and tried to listen attentively. If only they would say exactly what they meant, not try to hedge everything around with meaningless phrases. He banged on the table with his fist.

‘Can we take a vote? Those for joining Greece first.’

Hands were raised and he counted them carefully, calculating the result as he did so.

‘Those who think it is better for Crete to stay out of the conflict?’

Again hands were raised, but the result did not add up to a clear-cut decision as he had hoped. A young man jumped to his feet.

‘Permission to speak, sir, and put forward another motion?’

Yiorgo Pavlakis frowned. He had prepared a speech ready for this moment and he was sure that his logical thinking would sway every member to the decision that he thought was a solution. He pushed back his lock of hair and wiped his hand down his trousers.

‘Is it relevant to the matter under discussion?’

‘Very, sir.’

‘Go ahead, then.’ Yiorgo sank back into his seat, hoping it would not prolong the proceedings for more than half an hour. As he listened he shook his head in disbelief. No more than two days ago he had spoken those words as he had rehearsed his speech for tonight, and now here was this young man repeating them, almost verbatim, as his own.

Yiorgo gazed fixedly at the young man as the council members clapped. This had been his speech. He was the one who deserved the applause and the credit for thinking so calmly and with foresight. ‘Do you wish to vote again?’ he asked.

Hands were raised. ‘Very well. Those for joining Greece first.’

Three hands began to rise, hovered, withdrew or scratched an ear or nose.

‘Those who think it better for Crete to stay neutral for the present time.’

Hands were raised and smiles exchanged with neighbours. It made sense now it had been explained.

‘Motion carried.’ Yiorgo was about to add the final thrust of his speech, but the young man was too quick for him.

‘There is just one more thing. Although we have passed a motion for non-alliance I think we should consider the European implications very seriously. Although we are not going to actively aid Greece we are not going to be obstructive, and this could bring the wrath of other nations on our necks. We should prepare ourselves, take precautions should anyone try to interfere with our policies and draw up contingency plans.’

As he stopped speaking the silence that followed was like a thick, enveloping mist.

‘Do you really think that is necessary?’

‘I think we should consider the necessity. No panic decisions, but we must be aware and prepared. I should like to propose a motion, sir. All those who would like a further meeting to discuss future policy to raise their hands.’

Yiorgo nodded and watched as the men raised their hands. He had been robbed!

Yannis approached Doctor Stavros. ‘Just a plain gold one; I’ve got fifty four drachmas according to the ledger and you can spend as much of that as you need.’

‘Why are you asking me? Manolis does the shopping.’

‘I trust you.’

The doctor raised his eyebrows. ‘You don’t trust Manolis?’

‘I trust him with the money, I just don’t trust his taste.’

‘It may take a while. I can’t promise to have it for a week or so.’

‘Could you manage to have it three weeks on Wednesday?’ asked Yannis anxiously.

‘Probably.’

Yannis smiled. ‘It’s just that we’ll have been married for two years and I thought it would be nice to give it to her on our anniversary.’

‘You try very hard, don’t you, Yannis.’

‘Try? How do you mean?’

‘You try to pretend you’re not ill and life is no different here from the way it would be if you lived in a village on the mainland.’