The Silent Minority
Page 44
work out. I may need you in The Hague, so just get a decent room in a hotel, but not too expensive. Okay so far?"
"Okay."
"Now, let's talk regarding the case for a while. Do you remember the interview the Teacher gave to the network the time you were working there?"
"Of course I do."
"You remember when they put those segments, those sayings of his, and the teacher elaborated afterwards? In fact that was the essence of the whole show; I would say the strong point."
"I remember that the Teacher insisted on that."
"Well, I am afraid, the prosecution is going to do the same thing, but this time, the Teacher won't be able to elaborate. He will have to answer with a yes, or no. If this is to happen, we are doomed, for they are going to dig out everything the Teacher said in the past, regardless of the why and the reason for it. They merely will ask, "Did you say that? Yes, or no," and the Teacher will answer, "Yes". So all accusations; all the charges that the prosecution is going to bring in, will be confirmed by the accused himself. So, even if the court is sympathetic towards him, it will have to find him guilty.
"Now, our strategy will be to avoid reaching this stage of the court hearing. Our strategy is to hit where the weak point is in the whole case and I know that because I won it the first time. That is to make a case for the second recommendation the WCFET made to be deemed non-valid; therefore the charges won't stick and the whole case will collapse."
"What shall I do then?"
"I am not sure; I want you to play private detective for a start. You remember the vice-chairman; the guy whose life we tried to save?"
"Yes of course."
"Well I am sure he was up to something and his best friend the ex-treasurer is now the chairman of the WCFET. I want you to go there and start digging as hard as you can and report to me anything you find. I may be able to use some of it in The Hague. We have to overturn the second recommendation as invalid or at least to make it look questionable or doubtful.
Is there anything else you want to know about the case?"
"Yes, where shall I start? When I reach home?"
"That is the decision you will have to make. That is why I chose you."
Not long afterwards, the boat berthed at the picturesque harbor of Agios Kirikos at Ikaria Island. Michael disembarked and the ex-chairman continued his journey to Piraeus.
It was late in the evening when finally Michael reached the monastery. It was the first time he hadn't baked scones for the monks since he started the tradition and when esperinos finished that evening the first monk came out of the chapel and went straight to the dinner hall.
"No scones?" he said. He went out and said to the incoming monk, "No scones."
And the incoming monks would say, "No scones?"
And the outgoing would say, "No scones."
And the incoming would say, "No scones?"
This verbal ping-pong game lasted to the last monk who also asked, "No scones?"
Finally everyone realized that there were no scones or tea and that something wrong was going on that day.
Michael went straight to Anastasios and together they went to see the Geronda.
"Tell the old man tomorrow I want you to help me to make bread for two days, or maybe even for three."
"Okay my son, but why is that?" Asked the old man.
"Because this is going to be my last day. After that I will go."
"Forever?"
"Forever."
They all sank on the bench looking downwards in silence.
"I am not asking the reason," said the old man through the young monk, "but I suspect it is very important."
"It is very important Geronda."
Michael wanted to hug them and cry like a little child but he must look strong. He did not want to make things worse.
"After baking the bread I will leave straight away. I organized the taxi to pick me up at nine o'clock; I have to catch the ten o'clock boat to Piraeus." Then he got up and went to his cell where he hid his face in his pillow and cried like a little child.
Next morning Anastasios came to assist him. They made as much bread as they could to last them for two or three days and while they were waiting for the bread to rise before they put it in the oven, they sat on the bench. The sun broke up from behind the sea with its spectacular golden orange colors.
Michael thought this was the last time he was going to witness this panoramic view and said to the young monk, "This is the last time I witness this fantastic view. I am going to miss it as I am going to miss you the old man and the monastery itself."
"We are all going to miss you. I will miss you and I will always remember you. I have learned so much from you through your diligence and perseverance. Mostly the quality that I will never forget is this willingness to serve. It amazed me. I try to emulate you but I just can't, yet to you it seems to be so natural."
"Don't try to imitate anybody, my friend; just try to use your qualities to the best of your abilities. You're doing very well and don't worry how you fare comparing yourself with others. I tell you the most important quality in man is his good will. He may stumble and fall and stumble and fall again, but if his will is for good in the end it will prevail, and your will is for the good and that is what counts."
The time was nearing for Michael to go. He was packing his backpack when the bell rang three times.
He did not know what that was all about and after all; he did not have time to waste. The taxi should be here, he thought. He put on his backpack and went to the square of the monastery to say goodbye to whomsoever was there before he got to the taxi.
To his amazement everyone was there. They had formed a line in his honor and waited patiently for him to appear.
He started to shake hands from the end of the line that he was less acquainted with and worked his way towards the front. It was a silent and somber sort of farewell of the kind you meet in funerals. Finally he reached towards the end of the line where the two monks that taught him the komboskini and icons gave him a warm handshake. "Kalo taxidi, kali antamosi," they said, meaning, "Have a nice journey" and, "Until we meet again."
Then there was the fisherman monk who shook hands warmly and repeated the same farewell. Then came the Anastasios, who could not stop the tears running down his face. He embraced him, unable to talk.
Finally the old man was wishing him well. He gave him a letter with the stamp of the monastery recommending him to anyone it may concern.
Finally unable to stop his tears, Michael got into the taxi and told him to go.
After he left Michael, the ex-chairman arrived to Piraeus and got a taxi to the airport at Athens. He flew to Amsterdam, got a bus to The Hague then a taxi to the Scheveningen Detention Centre and finally he was there in front of the Teacher.
Yes, he was in front of the Teacher but what a pleasant surprise! He expected to find some irritated annoyed person blaming the world for the injustices committed to him, but instead he met a man with a pleasant smile and a happy face who embraced him, saying, "Welcome, Chairman, to my humble palace."
"I don't know, Teacher, if you mean that or if you are acting. If you are acting you should apply for Oscar nominations."
"I am not acting or joking. I mean what I say. This place is a treat. Look around you! I have anything I need. Here is my private toilet and washing area. I have access to a small gym the food is good. I can even cook for myself. I even have a computer for organizing my defense.
"But most important of all, I have time to myself. It is something I really need for a while and it could not possibly come in a better place and a better time."
"I am so glad about that. Speaking about defense and the computer they provided you, have you opened it up? Have you starting using it for your defense?"
"Oh no. I don't know anything about computers. I am hopeless with these things."
"I am hopeless too, but look," the ex-chairman said in an irritated manner, showing his cell phone, "I had to learn this. I had
to learn this as well." He showed him the computer. "If I can, why shouldn't you?"
"Because the Lord will provide," the Teacher said smilingly.
"The Lord helps those that help themselves," retorted the ex-chairman.
"Please sit down," said the Teacher. "Look...when I was living in the mountains back in my old country, before I started my mission, it was autumn and the winter was closing in on us very fast. Further up was living an elderly lady alone. I noticed that she did not gather any wood for the winter. I went and asked her, 'Why aren't you gathering wood?' She said to me, 'don't worry, son, the Lord will provide.'
"A few days passed and the cold started to be noticeable. I went and asked her again, 'Aren't you going to gather any wood?' She was still capable enough to do that and I was irritated that she was not doing it. She said, 'don't worry, son, the Lord will provide.'
"I said to her, 'The Lord helps those who help themselves.'
"Then when the winter finally arrived, feeling sorry, I brought to her a car load of wood. She called me inside and made me a cup of tea and gave me some homemade marmalade on freshly baked bread. After she thanked me for the wood, she said, 'I told you the lord would provide didn't I?'
"I didn't know what to say."
"Neither do I," said the ex-chairman. "So, Teacher, I presume you know why I am here."
"Of course I know. You brought me the wood for the winter," he said, smilingly.
"Did you really expect that?"
"I know I am here to recuperate and use this opportunity to rejuvenate myself. If I bother with the computer and worry about my case the whole