‘Good, good.’ Yiorgo was wondering where this sudden show of gratification was leading.
‘There’s only one problem. Some of the equipment that has been sent has to be run by electricity, and, of course, they don’t have a supply.’
Yiorgo let the words sink in slowly. What a fool he had been not to realise that ‘arc lamps for operating’ would need a power source. ‘Then why were they foolish enough to ask for such equipment?’
‘They thought when you passed the items that you were going to supply them with a generator.’ Andreas spread his hands. ‘I know they should have asked for that before the lights, but,’ he shrugged eloquently. ‘there is also the X-ray machine. I know the doctor thinks it essential to find out how much of the bone in a limb is infected before he considers amputation, but again he can’t use it at present.’
‘They’ve managed without until now.’
‘Very true, but you promised them better conditions. Such equipment would help their treatment considerably. If they don’t have it their conditions can hardly be said to have been bettered.’ Andreas smiled gently.
‘So are you suggesting that I ask the government to pass an order for a generator? Have you any idea of the cost?’
Andreas nodded. ‘Without a generator the expensive items dispatched to the island are useless – a terrible waste of money. Why not just add the generator to the top of the list?’
‘It’s a question of cost. I’m sure the government can afford the equipment, but a generator!’
‘Can the government afford not to provide a generator?’ queried Andreas. ‘They would be a laughing stock once it became known that a good deal of money had been spent on items that are totally useless.’
Yiorgo slammed his glass down on the table and rose angrily to his feet. ‘You’ve tricked me. You and those scheming lepers.’
Andreas rose with him. ‘It was a misunderstanding.’
‘I still say you tricked me. It won’t happen again.’ Yiorgo walked away, leaving the wine half finished on the table.
Father Andreas had hardly expected his triumph over the generator to be so easy. He had not mentioned that a generator would have to be fixed and wired by trained electricians and they would have to come from the mainland. Once that hurdle had been overcome he would re-open the question of visitors to the island.
Stelios sealed the letter he had written to his family. He smiled to himself. They had every reason to be proud of him. He had finished University and obtained good grades, good enough for him to be accepted into the army as a trainee clerical officer, where he had worked hard, gaining experience and the respect of his fellows. Now he had been given a promotion and by the time the letter reached Plaka he would be installed in an office in Athens, independent of his family forever
Louisa pushed the cutlery into the tray and wiped her hands on her apron. She was tired. Yiorgo had spent until the early hours of the morning arguing and drinking with three companions from the government, whilst she had run back and forth with bottles of wine and providing mezedes. She heard the taverna door open and looked out from the kitchen.
‘Can I help you?’
‘I am looking for Louisa.’
‘I’m Louisa.’
A smile spread across the good-looking, fair face. ‘I was told you run the best taverna in town.’ He examined her with cold, blue eyes.
Louisa shrugged. ‘This taverna is popular. Whether it is the best…’
‘Maybe I could sample some of the delights I am told you offer, then I could judge for myself.’
‘If you please.’
The man nodded. ‘I do please.’
Louisa removed her apron and locked the taverna door
‘Why don’t you Greek girls do something with yourselves?’
‘Do something?’
‘Yes, dress your hair, wear colours instead of the continual black of which you seem so fond.’
‘Black is a very serviceable colour. If you don’t like Greek girls why do you bother to seek us out?’
‘When sent to a country you have very little choice of companionship. We are wasting time. Bring a bottle of wine with you.’
He pushed open the door that led to the upper floor of the taverna and walked noisily up the wooden stairs, waiting at the top for her to join him. ‘Which room?’
Louisa pointed and he opened the door with a flourish, standing back for her to enter. He gazed around the whitewashed walls, noting the full-length mirror, the cheap brush and comb on the table along with the water jug and bowl and shuddered.
‘It is understandable that you all wear black if you all live like this. Where is your comfort?’ He looked disdainfully at the rag rug that covered a portion of the floor, then walked to the bed and pulled back the cover. ‘At least it’s clean.’
Louisa stood, uncertain, holding the bottle and two glasses.
‘Well, come on, girl, pour it out.’
He removed his clothes and sprawled back across the bed. Louisa handed him a glass and he sipped and grimaced. ‘Poison, absolute poison.’
He sipped again as Louisa stood hesitantly beside him. He reached out his hand and ran it from her breast to her thigh. ‘Undress,’ he commanded.
Louisa placed her own untouched glass on the table and untied the drawstring of her blouse. ‘Do you wish to help me?’ she asked.
‘No.’
Louisa pulled her blouse over her head and then let her skirt drop to the floor so she stood naked before him. Still he lay on the bed unmoving.
‘Move the mirror.’
‘Where to?’
‘Closer to the bed.’ Louisa pulled first at one side, then the other. ‘Closer, turn it slightly. That’s right; now stand in front of it. Turn round.’
Slowly she turned round; then faced him again.
‘Stand there and brush your hair.’
The knuckles of her hand stood out white as she gripped the handle of the brush and began to apply it slowly down the length of her hair.
‘Come here. I will do it.’
He pulled himself up into a sitting position and she took her place beside him. He placed an arm firmly round her waist and began to pull the brush vigorously through her hair, tugging her head backwards with every stroke until she cried out for him to stop. By way of an answer he pulled her closer, moving his hand from her waist to her breast, his finger nails digging into the soft flesh, whilst he continued to wield the brush. From the position of the mirror Louisa could see her face contorted with pain and the satisfied smile on her assailant’s face, making the white scar on his face stand out prominently.
‘Stand up.’
Bemused she did as she was told, only to receive a stinging blow on her buttocks from the brush. Almost before she had time to cry out another followed it, and another. Sobbing she tried to pull away, but he had a firm grip on her hair and she was unable to move. Finally he flung the brush to the floor and still holding her hair, began to explore her body with his free hand, all the time watching her reaction in the mirror.
A final twist of her hair had her lying on her back on the bed, his weight pressing her down as he took his time satisfying himself. To her surprise she found herself responding to his body and enjoying what had become a mundane and boring experience for her. She abandoned her usual caution and gave herself up to the pleasure of the moment. The man’s appetite sated he pulled himself away from her and smiled.
‘I m forced to agree that you run the best taverna in town. Where else would one find such a delicacy?’ He ran his hands over her body gently. ‘A beautiful gem in such an ugly setting! You are worth so much more than this. Properly dressed every man would turn to look at you, to admire and desire you. To envy the man who held your arm and helped you along the road. Those eyes, one look and a man could be enslaved forever. Skin like alabaster; no wonder the Greeks have always been such great artists. With models like you how could they not be? Why don’t you answer me?’
‘How can I answer you?’
‘You could say that I am the most accomplished and handsome lover you have ever had.’
‘You are the cruellest.’
‘You are not used to being beaten? It’s good for a woman to be beaten. It shows her the man is the master at all times, and besides,’ he ran his hand the length of her body again, feeling the tremors he created in response, ‘it heightens the senses. What for you is an everyday occurrence suddenly becomes an experience you will never forget. Now, drink your wine and tell me about yourself.’
With a wriggle Louisa settled herself beside him, explaining that the only reason she was willing to entertain was for the sake of her brother who gambled heavily and relied upon her to settle his debts. Her husband was the local Mayor and as such no breath of scandal should ever touch him. He was important. She boasted of his accomplishments, and his latest proposals for Crete to avoid being dragged into the conflict that was taking place in Greece and throughout the rest of Europe. The blue eyes narrowed as he listened intently, asking questions which she answered freely, although her knowledge was limited.
‘I should like to meet your husband. He sounds an interesting and intelligent man. Are there many more like him in the government?’
‘They are all like him, teachers, doctors, lawyers. They would not have been elected to the government otherwise, but Yiorgo is the leader.’
‘And your brother? He had no political ambitions?’
Louisa laughed gently. ‘I don’t think my brother has any ambition at all now. He used to want to be a hotel manager.’
‘Really? It’s just possible I could help him.’
‘Are you in the hotel business?’
‘No, I have a very uninteresting occupation. I’m a surveyor.’
‘Is that why you’re over here?’
‘Not for much longer, thank goodness.’
‘Don’t you like Crete?’
‘There is nothing here that attracts me.’
Louisa pouted. ‘Don’t I attract you?’
‘Not any more. How much do I owe you?’
‘Twenty drachmas.’
He raised his eyebrows. ‘You put a high price on yourself.’
‘It’s not every day I have to put up with a beating.’
He shrugged, rose and commenced to dress, plunging his hand into his trouser pocket and pulling out a handful of coins, which he threw on the bed. Louisa gazed at the money, not sure if she was supposed to take it all or count out the amount she had asked for.
‘Will I see you again?’
‘Probably.’
Louisa watched as he laced his shoes, then he straightened and took her hand, bending over to kiss it as he bade her farewell.
Pavlos was gazing anxiously at the cards he held in his hand. The luck that had been running with him during the last two hours now seemed to have deserted him. His last few games had taken all his ready money and now he was playing on credit, hoping to recoup his earlier losses. The gold teeth opposite him flashed in a smile as their owner played his cards and Pavlos threw down his hand in disgust.
‘I’m going,’ he announced. ‘I’ll be back later with what I owe you.’
‘Play another hand. Your luck could change again.’
Pavlos hesitated. If his luck returned it would be worth his while to stay and play off his debt, but should he lose again he would be forced to go to Louisa.
‘One more hand? Double stakes?’
The temptation was too great. Pavlos nodded and sank back into his seat. He eyed the cards warily as he turned them over. They seemed better than before. He placed a pair of queens on the table for his opponent to immediately take with a pair of kings. They were replaced by a run of low cards, leaving only the aces he had wanted to save. Biting his lip he laid them and pulled the cards to his side of the table. A flicker of amusement showed in the other player’s eyes.
‘My lead,’ he said. A run of higher cards was placed on the table and the man smiled, showing his empty hands. ‘My game, I believe. Two hundred drachmas you owe me, unless you’d prefer to work off the debt?’
‘How?’
‘We want some information on a man. He arrived here three days ago and we’d like to find out a bit more about him. He hired Alkis to take him into the countryside and took a number of photographs. According to Alkis they’re not the usual snaps a tourist would take and he didn’t go to any of the sites. He seemed more interested in the plains and coastal areas.’
Pavlos studied the photograph that was handed to him. ‘Where’s he staying?’
‘Alkis isn’t sure. He picked him up and dropped him on the corner of Eleftherias Square. There are a number of hotels close by and he could be at any one of them. Alkis is collecting him again today at twelve. I suggest you hang around and see if you can spot him coming out of anywhere, or wait until they return and follow him back.’
Pavlos nodded. ‘Can I keep this?’
‘For the time being, we shall want it back later. Any information about him will be welcome.’
Pavlos pocketed the photograph and left to walk to the Square. He lounged where he had a good view of the main road and waited. It was just before twelve when he spotted the man he was looking for drinking coffee outside a taverna. Pavlos hurried over and sat at the table behind. He took out a cigarette.
‘Excuse me, would you have a light?’
A box of matches was passed to him. ‘Keep them.’ The man rose and walked across the Square to the corner and waited for Alkis to appear with his battered taxi.
‘Coffee?’ The waiter stood at Pavlos’s elbow.
‘Who’s that man who was here? Any idea?’
The waiter shrugged. ‘Never seen him before.’
Pavlos sat and thought. There was something odd about a man who ordered a taxi on a regular basis, yet did not ask it to go to his hotel. He sipped at his wine; it was just possible his sister could help. There should be plenty of time to return to the taverna and back to the Square before Alkis brought his passenger back. He swallowed the rest of his wine, left a few lepta on the table and hurried away.
Louisa looked out from the back room as she heard the taverna door open. She frowned. Pavlos did not usually return during the day unless he wanted money from her. He sat down at a table and called to her. ‘Get yourself ready to go out.’
‘Out where?’
‘Up to the Square; I want you to get into conversation with a man.’