‘What’s his name?’
Father Minos racked his brains. What was the man’s name? ‘He has a son, Andreas.’
‘You must want Yiorgo. He went out for the day.’
‘Could you direct me to his house?’
A thumb jerked over his right shoulder. ‘Up there, fourth house.’
‘Thank you.’ Trusting that Yiorgo’s wife would be in he crossed the road and counted the houses until he reached the fourth where he knocked on the door.
‘Come in,’ called a woman. ‘Come straight through. I’m making pastry.’
Father Minos obeyed her instructions, stopping in the doorway and giving a little cough. Elena whirled round, her hand going to the crucifix she always wore.
‘Yiorgo?’ Her voice was hoarse with fear.
‘There’s nothing to be alarmed about. I’m Father Minos who called on you once before. May I come in?’
Elena nodded.
‘When I came before I brought bad news about your nephew.’
‘Yes?’ There was a sudden eagerness about her. ‘Have you any news?’
‘I’ve no news of him, but I do know which hospital he was taken to in Athens. Your daughter was betrothed to him I believe. I thought she might like to write to him, if there is no other young man, of course.’
‘There’s no one else. She hopes that one day he’ll be cured.’
Father Minos pursed his lips. ‘Have you talked to her? Tried to make her understand that it’s most unlikely.’
‘She doesn’t talk about him. Maybe she would talk to you.’ Elena looked at him hopefully.
‘I’ll speak to her if you wish, but…’ Father Minos spread his hands.’
‘Thank you, Father.’ Elena bent and kissed his hand. ‘She’ll be home later. She works at the hospital as a nurse.’
‘Really?’ Father Minos encouraged Elena to tell him more about her daughter.
‘She passed her examinations very well. They’re so pleased with her that when she asked to leave they tried to persuade her to stay.’
‘Leave? Why should she want to leave?’
‘She plans to go to Athens.’ Elena smiled sadly. ‘I think it’s a mistake. She wants to look for Yannis; she hopes to nurse him. I feel she’ll be more hurt. Better to stay here and look for someone else who could make her forget.’
‘I will talk to her,’ promised Father Minos. ‘Tell me, how is your son?’
This time Elena beamed with pleasure. ‘He’s been accepted as a novice. He’s a good boy. With him it is a calling.’
Father Minos listened as Elena talked about Andreas. He would like to meet that young man again. There had been a certain strength about him that had attracted the priest. Gradually he turned the conversation to the family living at Plaka, distressed to hear that Maria was little better and her eldest daughter had been forced to marry in haste.
Yiorgo arrived, smelling strongly of fish. He rubbed his hands down his pullover and advanced towards Father Minos. ‘It’s good to see you again. Do you have any news?’
Sadly the priest shook his head. ‘Very little, I’m only able to tell you the name of the hospital where they took your nephew. You could try writing to the authorities there and ask them for news of his progress.’
Yiorgo looked doubtful. Writing was not one of his accomplishments. ‘My daughter’s going to Athens soon. Maybe it would be better if she made the enquiry direct.’
‘Maybe. She could then let you know if there is any improvement.’
‘You should go and wash, Yiorgo,’ Elena admonished him. ‘You’re making the whole house smell of fish, and Annita will be here soon.’
Yiorgo agreed that he did not smell very wholesome. ‘You’ll stay and eat with us?’ he asked of the priest.
‘I would be delighted. I would also like to beg a favour of you.’
‘Of course, anything.’
‘Would you be able to take me to Plaka tomorrow? I feel I should speak to Yannis’s parents, but I’m not very sure of my route. You took me by boat before.’
‘It will be my pleasure,’ beamed Yiorgo. It was an honour to be asked a favour by a priest.
Annita was late. For a while Elena waited before serving their meal, then unwilling to let the priest wait any longer, she served up succulent bowls of fish soup with hunks of bread, which they dipped into the liquor. By the time Annita finally arrived the meal was over and her father and the priest were sipping brandy. At the sight of Father Minos she stopped and crossed herself.
‘What’s happened?’
‘Nothing has happened. Father Minos is just paying us a visit.’
‘Oh!’ Annita relaxed visibly. ‘Are you a friend of Andreas, then?’
‘I like to think so. You must be Annita.’
She nodded and slipped into her chair at the table. ‘Is there any supper left, Mamma? I know I’m late, but I couldn’t help it.’
Elena went into the kitchen, returning with a bowl of fish soup and warm bread for her daughter. ‘What kept you? Was it matron or a patient?’
‘Neither,’ replied Annita. ‘I’d lost an earring and I wasn’t leaving until I’d found it.’
Father Minos looked at the girl in surprise. Annita saw the look on his face and defended herself immediately. ‘They were my betrothal gift.’
‘I see. They are very precious to you, then?’
‘Yes.’ Annita fingered her ear lobe. ‘Are you here to see Andreas?’ She thought it would be a good idea to change the subject.
‘Not exactly, although I would be delighted to spend some time with him. I came partly to see you and also to visit a family I know in Plaka.’
Annita had paled as he spoke. ‘Have you got some news of Yannis?’ Her eyes searched his face, pleading for the words she wished to hear.
Father Minos shook his head. ‘I have no news at all of him. I can only give you the name of the hospital in Athens and suggest you write. I doubt if he could write back to you, but I’m sure he would enjoy reading your letters.’
Tears had sprung into Annita’s eyes. ‘Will he get better?’
Father Minos shook his head. ‘I’m not a doctor. I wouldn’t like to hold out any false hopes. I hear you are a very good nurse, you must know more about the treatment of the disease than I do.’
Annita shook her head. ‘We don’t nurse lepers,’ she spoke the words defiantly. ‘They’re sent to the hospital in Heraklion, then on to Athens. Have my parents told you I’m going to Athens as a nurse?’
‘Yes, they did mention it. Don’t you feel you’re needed here?’
‘Nurses are needed everywhere.’
‘I fear you may be very disappointed.’ Father Minos was picking his words carefully. How could he tell the girl that lepers received no nursing? ‘One hospital must be very similar to another.’
‘Probably.’
‘Would you consider working at the hospital in Heraklion, just for a short time?’
‘Why? As you said, one hospital must be very like another.’
Mentally Father Minos saluted her astuteness. ‘I merely thought it would not be so far to return home if it did not come up to your expectations.’
‘I have no intention of returning home. My parents know this and understand. I want to go right away where no one knows me. I’m sick of being pitied by my family and sneered at in the hospital because they think Yannis has jilted me.’
‘You are a very determined young lady,’ Father Minos smiled at her gently. ‘When do you propose to go?’
‘Two more weeks.’ A spark of enthusiasm lit her eyes for a moment.
‘I’ll give you my address in Heraklion. If you wish to visit me you are very welcome.’ Father Minos passed two pieces of paper over to Annita. ‘There’s my address and also the address of the hospital in Athens. Will you be able to visit your relatives in Plaka tomorrow?’
‘No, I have to work. Please give them my love.’
‘What about Andreas? Would he be able to come? I’d very much like to meet him again.’
‘That should be possible. Annita could walk along and ask permission when she’s finished her supper.’ Yiorgo refilled the glasses and stuck his feet out before him. The brandy was making him feel lethargic.
‘Yes, Pappa.’ Annita sighed. She had been on her feet since six that morning and wished for nothing more than to go to bed. It would take her at least an hour to go to the outskirts of Aghios Nikolaos, talk to Andreas, wait for him to obtain permission from his superior and return. She wiped the bowl round with the last of her bread. ‘I’ll go now.’
Her tiredness was dispelled by the pleasure her brother displayed on seeing her, and to her surprise she was invited inside to wait in a tiny parlour whilst he went to obtain the necessary permission. When he finally returned he had his jacket with him.
‘I’ve been told I can have forty-eight hours at home.’
‘You sound as though you’re in prison,’ remarked Annita dryly.
Andreas smiled. ‘I can leave at any time I want. That’s not being in prison. I’m glad I chose to be a priest rather than a monk, though. I don’t think I’d want to spend the rest of my life hemmed in by high walls and silence.’
Annita smiled at him, tucking her hand into his arm and together they sauntered along the cobbled streets.
‘Did Father Minos say why he had come to visit us?’
‘He just said he had the address of the hospital where Yannis had been sent and I could write if I wanted. Maybe he’ll tell you more.’
‘Maybe. What did you think of him?’
‘I’m not sure. I felt that he is a very good man, kind, well meaning, but I wouldn’t want to go against him. I should think he could be quite determined to get his own way, almost ruthless.’
Andreas grinned. ‘I’d like to think I could be like him. He has such strength, inner strength. You can almost see it round him.’
‘Andreas, you’re talking rubbish. How can you have inner strength that can be seen! Come on, let’s hurry. I’m tired and I have to be up early again tomorrow.’
By the time they arrived back at the cottage Father Minos and their father had almost finished the bottle of brandy. A makeshift bed had been prepared for Andreas, as Father Minos was to occupy his.
Father Minos gradually dispelled Andreas’s initial shyness and within a few minutes they were talking as old friends. Annita excused herself and retired to her bed. Yiorgo opened another bottle of brandy and settled back to listen to the conversation whilst Elena continued with her embroidery. She was relieved when the men finally decided to go to bed, giving Father Minos an oil lamp to light his way.
Yiorgo groaned as he lifted his head from his pillow. He had been a fool to drink so heavily the night before. He had planned an early start for the visit to Plaka, hoping for an early return and some afternoon fishing. If the priest felt as he did, it was unlikely that he would rise for another hour or two. Yiorgo could hear movement in the kitchen and to his surprise he saw Annita sitting at the kitchen table deep in conversation with Father Minos.
‘You’re early,’ he remarked, on his way out to the yard.
Annita smiled at the priest. ‘I’ll get Pappa some coffee. He probably needs it.’
Yiorgo returned and sipped at the scalding black coffee gratefully. ‘Where’s Andreas?’
‘Still at the church. We went down together, but he wished to stay a little longer,’ explained Father Minos.
Yiorgo nodded. He was used to Andreas forever being inside a church. Annita held out her hand to the priest. ‘Thank you, Father. I shall never forget how you have helped me.’
‘It was nothing.’ Father Minos held her hand for a moment. ‘You have my address should you ever need me?’
Annita tapped her pocket. ‘Goodbye, Pappa. Give Mamma a kiss for me when she wakes up and say goodbye to Andreas for me.’ Taking her shawl from the hook behind the door Annita left and Yiorgo looked enquiringly at the priest.
‘What did you say to her? She seemed happier than she has for a long time.’
‘What I usually say to people who have been deeply hurt,’ replied the priest evasively. ‘I expect you’ve said the same to her, but somehow people will accept comfort from a man of the cloth, when they reject it from those who love them most.’
Yiorgo studied the man over his coffee cup. What made men like this priest and his son? He felt very ignorant when in their presence and shifted uncomfortably in his chair. ‘We should be off soon. I hope Andreas won’t be much longer.’
As if in answer to his words the door opened and Andreas entered, smiling contentedly. ‘Are you ready, Pappa? It’s a beautiful morning. Which way do you plan to go? Through the canal or round the island?’
‘We’ll see what the wind is like.’
With Andreas’s help he cast off and rowed away from the quay. Curious eyes followed their progress and Yiorgo guessed that Elena would have a number of visitors that morning, asking why her husband and son had gone fishing with a priest. The wind decided their route and Yiorgo set a course for the open sea.
‘We’ll place some lobster pots as we go.’ The day need not be completely wasted.
Andreas nodded and Father Minos watched as the boy expertly baited the open, bell-like cages, roped them at intervals and threw them over the side each time his father raised his hand, all with the tiller tucked under his arm.
‘Have you had any news at all of Yannis?’
Father Minos sighed. ‘Nothing. When I left you I felt I had failed dismally in my calling. I was about to relinquish my parish.’
Andreas looked at him in surprise. ‘Whatever for?’
Father Minos spread his hands. ‘I couldn’t tell you where your cousin had been taken, what his treatment would be, how long he could wait for a cure. I couldn’t tell you anything that you did not already know. I felt I was a complete failure.’
‘What made you change your mind?’
‘I thought about it very carefully and decided to do something a little more constructive than running away.’ Father Minos could not bring himself to tell Andreas of his experience in the church. Even he, looking back, could not be certain he had not imagined the voice that had spoken to him so clearly. ‘I decided I would go to the hospital on a regular basis and visit the lepers whilst they’re there.’
‘Yes?’ Andreas’s eyes were alight with interest.
‘It was a little difficult at first,’ a smile played round the mouth of the priest. ‘The doctor was most unwilling, but I finally overcame his objections. I go in every Thursday and I think they appreciate it.’
‘What do you do?’