‘More likely to have a riot on our hands,’ Spiro was sceptical.
‘We’ve left it late,’ sighed Yannis. ‘It’s already September. The rain will start soon; then we shan’t be able to move. Maybe it would be better to wait until spring.’
Panicos leaned forward. ‘Yannis, think. The chances are that we shall have another six weeks of good weather. If you can get enough help you can finish the outside and have the roof on in a month. If you leave it until next spring there are going to be so many deaths from pneumonia and dysentery that people are going to ask if there’s any point in building it at all.’
Yannis would not be convinced. ‘Conditions were terrible last year. There was hardly any shelter at all. This year we’re much better off.’
‘And we could be better off still. How many are there working regularly on the houses?’
‘Between thirty and forty, depending on how they’re feeling.’
‘Then that’s at least thirty to work on the hospital.’
‘It’s not that simple. If we take all the men off the houses some of the necessary repairs won’t be done before the winter, which means that some of the houses we’d counted on for shelter won’t be available. Also, thirty people trying to work on one building would be falling over themselves, particularly at first.’
Spiro smiled. ‘You’re right there. I’ve got another idea. Why don’t we call a meeting and explain that we want to repair the hospital and ask for volunteers? I’m sure most of the newcomers would help. Most of them are fitter than us anyway,’ he ended with a touch of bitterness.
‘Maybe we could ask Doctor Stavros to give them a medical and declare them fit enough,’ smiled Panicos.
Yannis smiled with him. ‘Actually that’s not a bad idea. We could ask him to decide which are sick enough to need hospitalisation when the time comes and that would weed out the lazy who’d like to be waited on and looked after.’
‘It would also make those go in who were stubborn and convinced they could still manage on their own.’
‘So tomorrow we’ll call a meeting,’ insisted Spiro. ‘We can start spreading the word tonight and have it early tomorrow morning.’
Yannis looked at the sea of faces before him. He was standing on a large block of stone that he and Spiro had pushed into the square. His mouth felt dry and he licked his lips nervously.
‘Friends,’ he began.
‘Louder,’ hissed Spiro.
‘Friends,’ he repeated. ‘I asked you to come here so I could ask for your help. The winter will soon be here, and although some of you have houses that are weatherproof, a good many of you have not. There are two ideas I want to put before you. If you agree with both of them I’ll ask you to move to this side.’ Yannis indicated with his hand. ‘And if you don’t agree move to the seaward side.’
‘What happens if we only agree with one?’ called out someone.
‘Stay in the middle,’ called out Spiro.
‘The first thing I want to ask for is volunteers to help repair the hospital for those who are unable to look after themselves.’ Yannis waited for them to grasp the implications. ‘The second thing I’m asking for is lodging. If each of you who have a watertight house could take one, maybe two extra people during the winter it would ease the situation in the church. In return your lodger would be expected to help with the maintenance or cleaning or something,’ he finished lamely.
‘How many would the hospital hold?’
‘I’m not sure. We’re aiming at thirty.’
‘Who’d look after them?’
‘Spiro has volunteered, and I hope some of you would be willing to help him.’
‘Who would go into the hospital?’
‘That would be decided by the doctor.’
The questions ceased and there was a shuffling in the square. To his delight he saw that most people has drifted to the left hand side and others were standing in the middle. Only Christos and his cronies had moved to the seaward side. Spiro had taken in the situation at a glance and began to go amongst the people standing in the centre asking them their objections. Whatever their concern he seemed to reassure them and gradually they moved to join their comrades. Yannis waited until Spiro returned to his side, then called again to his audience.
‘I need volunteers to help with the hospital building. Not those of you who are working on the houses down here. We can’t stop that yet.’
Yannis sat down upon the stone whilst the discussion was taking place. ‘What was their problem?’ he asked of Spiro.
‘They seemed to agree with repairing the hospital, but they were a bit worried about who would be lodged in their house. I assured them they would be able to choose their companions.’
Yannis nodded. He wished Spiro had not told them they could choose whom they housed. It could lead to trouble later, although it had solved the present indecision. He felt weighed down by problems that he had never considered in the first flush of enthusiasm. He rose wearily from his seat.
‘Come on, we may as well start.’
Leading the way up the hill Yannis wished with all his heart he could make the short trip across the water to his home, curl up in comfort on his mattress and sleep. The prospect ahead of him was daunting. A month to repair a building suitable to house at least thirty sick people! The men and women who had followed him looked at him expectantly, awaiting his directions.
‘It would probably be easiest if you split into groups. Each group collecting stones and making piles here, there and there. As soon as you have a reasonable quantity you can start building the wall. Remember you have to leave spaces for windows and the door, but it will take a while before you get that far. Have any of you built anything before?’
‘I have. I was a builder.’
Yannis turned to the man in delight. ‘Thank goodness. Could you be in charge, do you think? You must know far more than I do.’
‘I probably do, and I’ll make sure this is the best building on the island, but I want something in return.’
‘If it’s possible,’ promised Yannis.
‘I want one of the ruins as my own house. I’ll repair it, but I want it to be mine alone, no lodgers.’
Yannis frowned. ‘That’s a bit of a hard bargain when there are so many who need shelter.’
‘I’ve a good reason.’
‘So have the others for objecting to the arrangement,’ argued Yannis.
The man’s mouth set in a stubborn line. ‘No house, no work.’ He folded his arms and stood looking at Yannis defiantly.
‘I’ll talk to the others. It can’t be my decision alone.’
‘I thought you were in charge?’
Yannis shook his head. ‘No one is in charge. We make decisions together.’
‘That’s not what I’ve heard. It’s all ‘ask Yannis, Yannis will tell you, Yannis knows’.’
Yannis walked back to Spiro. ‘I’ve got a problem. Our friend over there, whose name I still have to find out, wants a house of his own, without lodgers, in exchange for his work.’ Spiro pursed his lips and Yannis continued. ‘And what’s more, he says everyone considers that I’m in charge. I don’t like that.’
‘You have become sensitive suddenly,’ grinned Spiro. ‘Someone has to tell them what to do, so why not you?’
‘I think it would be better if other people made decisions as well. I only see my side. They would see things in a different light and would probably come up with some good ideas.’
Spiro nodded. ‘I can see what you’re getting at, but it could mean hours of wrangling before anything ever gets done. At least if it’s just you it saves time and energy.’
‘I don’t want to be a dictator, and it appears I’ve become one,’ remarked Yannis gloomily.
‘Cheer up. We can talk about this later. We ought to solve the immediate problem first. Give the chap a house. By the time he’s finished repairing it we probably shan’t need to ask anyone to take in lodgers.’
‘That’s possible. You think it’s all right, then?’
‘We want a hospital, don’t we? He wants a ruin; let him have it. If he’s as good as he says we will get the best of the bargain.’
Yannis returned to where the man stood waiting. ‘It’s agreed. You can have a house, but you have to supervise the building of the hospital in return.’
‘That’s fair,’ he grinned. ‘I’m Takkis.’
‘Well, you know who I am. Shall we start?’
‘I’m in charge, you say?’
Yannis nodded. ‘You’re the builder.’
‘Then I suggest you go back down to the main area and supervise whatever’s going on down there. You’ll be more use there than up here carting stones. If I come across a problem I’ll let you know.’
Yannis turned away. He felt crestfallen and subdued. Takkis had made it more than clear that he was not needed.
Father Minos was annoyed and frustrated. For three years now he had been writing to the medical authorities requesting permission to live on Spinalonga. His first letters had been ignored, then finally he received a reply that told him he was free to visit Spinalonga whenever he wished, but on no account could he stay over night. It was explained to him in very simple wording that if he were given permission to live there others might want to do the same and those who were free from the disease could not be forbidden the mainland, hence the island would no longer be an isolation colony and the disease would spread unchecked. He screwed the letter up in disgust and threw it towards his rubbish bin. He could not envisage anyone else wanting to make a home on the island. If only he could convince the authorities that the people there needed him. Feeling dejected he walked into his church and knelt before the altar. He let the peace spread over him until he felt suitably composed to go to the hospital on his regular weekly visit.
Sadly he wandered down the mean back streets, passing the time of day with those parishioners he met, admiring a new baby, inquiring after the health of a relative he knew was sick. He was obviously destined to spend the rest of his life in this dull routine that at one time had seemed so attractive. His ministrations to the sick finished he began to retrace his steps towards his home. His attention was caught by a woman who stepped from a doorway and approached a passing youth who smiled at her and shook his head. She caught at his arm and seemed to be trying to persuade him; again he refused, pulled his arm free and walked on. She spat after him in derision and looked along the street to where a middle-aged man stood, obviously trying to get his bearings. It was obvious to Father Minos that the girl was prostituting herself and he hurried forward. He must talk to her; try to persuade her that there were better ways to earn her living. The words died on the priest’s lips as he recognised the woman before him.
‘You’re Louisa, surely, from the taverna.’
She gazed back at him defiantly. ‘What is it to you?’
‘I couldn’t help noticing that you were stopping men who walked this way.’
‘Is that a crime?’
‘That could depend upon your reason for stopping them.’
Louisa smiled. ‘What a very suspicious mind you have for a priest! I was merely asking if they had seen my husband.’
Father Minos raised his eyebrows. ‘Have you lost him? He’s quite a public figure these days.’
‘I need to give him a message.’
‘What made you think he might be in this area of the town?’
‘I’ve looked everywhere else.’ Louisa shrugged her shoulders and began to stroll down the road. She might as well return to the taverna. By the time she had shaken off the priest it would be time to collect Anna from the old woman who looked after her during the day. ‘I could ask why you are in this part of the town,’ she shot a glance at the priest.
‘I’ve been to the hospital. I visit regularly to give what little comfort I can to the sick.’
Louisa nodded. She was not really interested in his purpose; she wanted to turn his attention away from herself. ‘I’m sure they appreciate you.’
‘I like to think so. I feel I could do more good elsewhere.’
‘Why is that?’
‘There are a number of priests here who could take over my duties. They have no priest on Spinalonga.’
The word seemed to send an icy hand to clutch at her heart. ‘That’s where they send the lepers, isn’t it?’ She knew the answer to her question, but felt obliged to feign ignorance.
‘Yes. I’m surprised you should be uncertain. Your husband must talk to you about the role he plays in the government. It was quite a big issue in Athens when the inmates of the hospital rebelled. I’m sure your husband must have told you of the decision to send a number of them to the island of Spinalonga.’
‘He probably did, but I doubt if I took much notice.’
‘I’m surprised. The last time I spoke to you I was under the impression that Yannis was the father of your child.’
Louisa lowered her eyes. ‘He may be.’
‘Have you ever taken her for a blood test?’
‘Anna is perfectly healthy.’
‘I’m glad to hear it. It does leave one little problem, I think. If Yannis is not Anna’s father, as you assured me he was earlier, then there is a bill due to his father. Would it be convenient for me to call for it tomorrow?’
Louisa bit her lip. She was trapped. She thought rapidly. ‘Yannis is Anna’s father. I have just preferred to forget the whole incident, hence my lack of interest in the whereabouts of Yannis. I would not want my daughter tarnished by the association.’
Father Minos nodded. ‘I understand. In fact I am much clearer in my mind about the whole situation. I am so pleased I met you. I turn off here, but I will escort you a little nearer to the centre if you wish.’
‘There’s no need,’ Louisa assured him. ‘It’s possible that my husband has returned home by now. It was foolish of me to think I would be able to find him. He could be anywhere.’
‘Of course; good day.’ Father Minos watched as she hurried round the corner. Her plausible excuses had done nothing to allay his suspicions that she had been accosting men for her own purpose that afternoon. He accused himself of being un-Christian, yet he could hardly visualise Yannis forcing himself upon the girl as she claimed.
Thinking of Yannis turned his thoughts back to the island. Maybe if he approached Yiorgo Pavlakis he could get a little nearer to his goal. The medical authorities could not refuse him if he had permission from the local government. He hoped his housekeeper had not tidied his room and thrown away the letter he had discarded so thoughtlessly.