Cave of Silence

by Kostas Krommydas

  Her voice cracked when she uttered these last words. I got up and held her in my arms.

  She seemed to come out of her trance, wiped her eyes, and said in a steadier voice, “We’ll have to sort out all the inheritance paperwork when you come back. Not that he left much…”

  “All I want is for you to be happy, Mamá. You’ve had more than your share of unhappiness, more than enough. Now, I just want you to be happy.”

  I kissed her forehead and she gave a little smile. “Yes, let’s forget all this for now. Tell me about the film. I saw your co-star on TV and she mentioned you, said you get on very well. I’m not sure I’ve seen her in anything, but she seems familiar somehow. Her face reminds me of someone. What’s her name again, Anita…?”

  “Hertz.”

  She picked up on how my voice changed when I mentioned her last name and gave me a knowing look. “She’s a pretty girl, seems very sweet. She speaks very good Greek; you can’t tell she’s German. Were her parents Greek? I couldn’t understand. She looks more Greek than German, anyway.”

  The truth was, I knew very little about Anita. I hadn’t asked her anything personal at the screen test; I only knew what I’d picked up from various sources here and there. “I know her grandmother is Greek and her mother taught in a Greek school in Germany. We haven’t had a chance to talk.”

  I felt her give me a piercing look and shifted awkwardly on the couch.

  “Now you’ll have all the time in the world to talk, you’ll be spending so much time together,” she said.

  I purposely ignored the little hint and decided to put an end to the conversation there and then. “We’ll be very busy with work, but if I find out anything else, I’ll be sure to let you know.”

  She picked up on my wish to change the subject and played along. “I’m very happy for you, Dimitri, I’m sure you’ll do a great job. Just be careful. Be humble, and keep your head down. You know how people can get when they see someone succeed.”

  I wasn’t one to brag and play the actor card in any case, but my mother was right. Many people had already started acting differently around me once they’d found out I’d gotten this part, making snide comments behind my back which reached my ears through others who thought that was the way into my good books. In any event, I thought I’d better be cautious.

  Our time was running out. Kostas was sure to return shortly and I wanted to avoid running into him. “Mamá, I have to go now, I still have some errands to run before I leave.”

  Her eyes moistened once again, and she gave me another hug. “Go. Have a safe journey. Don’t forget to call me when you have a moment, I don’t want to be bothering you. When you get to the island, find out where the spring is, and scatter Uncle Nikos’ ashes, as he wished. But don’t forget what you promised—not a word to anyone.”

  She said all this in a light-hearted manner but I could feel how anxious she was. I tried to reassure her as best as I could. “I promise. Don’t worry if I don’t call often. We’ll be very busy and I won’t have a lot of free time.”

  “I understand, but please call me before you set off for the island.”

  I picked up the box containing the ashes and headed for the door. She accompanied me to the elevator, kissed my cheek, and waited with me while it arrived. “Have a safe trip. Be careful…”

  “Yes, yes, I’ll be careful,” I said in a little-boy voice. “I’ll eat all my greens, I won’t swim far from the shore, and I’ll get a good night’s sleep every night.”

  We both laughed. I stepped into the elevator. “I love you,” I said just as the doors began to close.

  “I love you too.”

  Just before the elevator doors met, I caught the frightened look which had returned to her eyes. She realized I saw her and gave me a quick wave. I saw my reflection in the steel doors, a tall man holding a box of ashes, and felt a chill run down my spine. Trying to shake off the irrational fear that gripped me, I told myself everything was going to be okay, that all these secrets were probably exaggerated family stories. I pressed the ground floor button and thought of Anita and how much I was looking forward to seeing her again.

  »»»»»»»»»»»

  Anita, dressed in a long white dress, was trying to shelter from the searing sun under a giant umbrella that seemed ready to take off at any moment, the strong gusts of wind shaking it perilously. She was the only actor present that day. People were milling about, carrying things and getting ready to shoot the scene, while Rita was vainly battling to keep Anita’s hair intact despite the strong wind.

  Clutching a handful of papers in her hand, Electra hurriedly made her way toward her, full of apologies. “I’m so sorry for the delay, Miss Hertz. We won’t be ready for you for another twenty minutes. Is there anything I can get you? Water? Anything else?”

  “I’m fine, I have enough water, thank you very much, Ma’am,” she teased.

  Electra smiled and shrugged at the same time. “It’s not easy to call you Anita. I’ll get used to it eventually.”

  “Thank you, Electra, I’m only teasing. Call me whatever you like. Well, it seems I have time for a little sightseeing. I’ll walk to the monastery. Thank you, Rita, I think you’ve done all you can.”

  Anita picked up a shawl from a nearby chair to cover her naked shoulders as well as her head and headed off in the direction of the monastery. “If you need me sooner come and get me, please.”

  “Don’t worry, we will,” Electra replied and turned to Rita, thinking Anita was out of earshot. “She is really great, isn’t she? Friendly and professional at the same time.”

  Rita nodded in silent agreement.

  Built on the edge of a large rock, part of the monastery hung suspended over the sea below. Constructed entirely of stone, it looked more like a small Venetian castle than a place of worship, with its tall tower and turrets. Were it not for the crosses decorating the rooftops of the two churches, a visitor would be easily fooled as to the building’s true nature.

  This was the only day they would spend at this spot, shooting a scene where the female lead visits an abandoned monastery and stares wistfully into the distance when she finds out that the man she loves has left forever. It was a small scene but would take the larger part of the day to shoot. Fastidious as he was, the film director wanted it to be as perfect as could be.

  Her long white dress flapping in the strong wind, the edges of her shawl rising behind her like a pair of wings, Anita looked more like a fairy queen than a visiting pilgrim. She walked through the main gate and headed toward the highest spot to get as broad a view as possible. All day they hadn’t come across any of the monks, just the man who had been entrusted with opening the gate for them when they arrived. Everything was still, calm, silent.

  As she climbed up the stairs leading to the tiny church perched on the highest point of the rock, a sweet, unusual scent filled the air. It wasn’t perfume or some plant. It was unlike anything she had smelled before. She stepped into the small, paved courtyard circling the tiny church, whose door stood open. The smell was now more intense than ever and Anita realized it was coming from inside.

  She hesitated before the door, wondering whether she should go in. Unable to resist the temptation, she stepped into the church’s dark interior. Waiting for a moment for her eyes to adjust to the change of light, she took another couple of steps and, eyes growing accustomed to the trembling flames of the votive candles, stood before the altar. She could just about make out the wall to her right, faded images of various saints slowly coming into focus. She could tell the smell was coming from there, but not what it was.

  With a start, she suddenly noticed that someone else was in the church with her. A monk was sitting on a chair against the wall, his black robes and the obscure candlelight making him nearly invisible, so much so that Anita could have sworn the man wasn’t there when she first walked in. Realizing that he had startled her, the monk spoke to her in a soft, tranquil voice. “Good morning, my child.”

&
nbsp; Anita tried to regain her composure. “Good morning. I’m sorry to disturb you. I didn’t see you when I walked in.”

  “You didn’t disturb me, my child.” He smiled but remained seated. “I knew you hadn’t seen me, but I thought you came in to pray, so I kept quiet.”

  Anita could see him clearly now. He had the voice of a young man, but he was at least eighty. His face was narrow and thin, covered with a heavy white beard. The way he sat, immobile, made him seem like he was part of the church fresco behind him. Feeling awkward, she made a small move toward the door, but the monk was quick to reassure her. “Stay if you wish to pray, my child.”

  Anita had no intention of praying, she just wanted to admire the church, but could not resist his calm, soft voice. So she smiled her thanks at the old man and admired the altar and the church while silence engulfed them both once again. Feeling braver, she turned to the monk and asked, “What is the smell? I’ve never smelled anything like it before.”

  He stood up and moved past her, stopping before an icon encased in a stand made of wood and glass. As he walked by her, Anita felt the sweet smell grow stronger, almost as if it were coming from him. She moved toward the monk who was pointing at the icon. “This is where the smell comes from, my child, from the Saint’s icon.”

  Anita took a closer look at the icon. She wasn’t sure that she believed in miracles, but at that moment she felt as if she believed what the old man’s calm, assured voice was telling her. A bead of sweat ran down her forehead, the climb and the heat inside the church catching up with her.

  “Come, let’s step outside and get some fresh air,” he said and moved to the door, his long robe rustling at every step.

  Anita gladly followed the old man out to the courtyard. When she saw this otherworldly man turn into more ordinary flesh and blood in the bright daylight, she could not help but notice that his eyes were the color of the stormy sea. She’d never seen eyes that shade of blue before. He stood there gazing at her, deeply serene. His strange eyes seemed to smile at her.

  She had heard one of the crew describe the man while they were at the beach, and realized he must be the Abbot. Tall, ascetic, he resembled the saints and martyrs on the church walls. She put out her hand and introduced herself, unsure of what was customary when greeting an orthodox monk. “My name is Anita. I’m here with the film crew.”

  “I know, my child,” he replied with disarming forthrightness. “I am the Abbot of this monastery. We are pleased to welcome you here.”

  “I know… that you’re the Abbot, I mean. You have done a wonderful job here. The monastery is perfectly preserved. It must take a lot of work to keep it like this.”

  “With God’s love and help anything can be achieved, my child,” he replied humbly.

  Anita shifted uneasily under his intense gaze, and asked another question to suppress the awkwardness she was feeling. “I don’t know much about its history. When was it built?”

  He did not immediately reply but stood still, facing the sea, looking out at something invisible in the distance. For a few moments, neither spoke and all that could be heard was the whistle of the sharp breeze and the waves crashing at the feet of the rock.

  The old man raised his voice so he could be heard, his gaze still locked on the horizon. “At the beginning of last century, there was a small building on this spot. The monks would stay there when they came to look after their fields and animals that were kept in a nearby barn. They eventually built some rooms and a church. The island was conquered by the Italians in 1912, but the locals lived peacefully with them. Bad things started to happen when the Germans arrived. During the occupation, many locals whose homes were burnt down by the Germans sought refuge here. Just before the end of the war, the Germans burnt down many houses on the island. My child, many bad things happened…and not just by the Nazis.”

  He turned to look at Anita, who felt guilty for a moment for being German. Unaware, the old man continued. “One of the locals informed the Germans that two children were hiding here, a three-year-old girl and her brother, who was older. They had escaped from a nearby island and had washed up on this beach, hungry and exhausted. Τhe Nazis sent some soldiers to arrest them, but the children ran away. That’s when they set fire to the monastery in reprisal. Nothing was left standing, everything was turned to ash.”

  He took a big breath and tried to steady his wavering voice. Anita was looking at him, spellbound.

  “The children then disappeared and no one knows what became of them. The monks started to search the ruins to see if anything could be salvaged. Under the smoking ashes, the young novitiate who had found the children on the beach discovered the icon of St. Mámas, intact. This miracle inspired the monks to rebuild the monastery on this site, named after the Saint. With the help of God and the love of our fellow men, we managed to complete construction a few years ago. That’s when the second miracle happened and continues to this day. You saw it yourself: the icon’s odor of sanctity.”

  Anita listened to the story with great interest, nevertheless believing that there was a rational explanation for both miracles. As if reading her mind, the monk asked, “Do you believe in God, my child?”

  She didn’t know whether to answer truthfully; to tell him that, to her, God was man himself and what he did or did not do. Wishing to avoid a long discussion, she chose to say something she truly believed. “I believe in love and what happens from a place of love. That is truly a miracle when it happens…”

  The old man was silent for a moment. He was about to speak when Electra’s voice interrupted them, coming up behind them. “I’m sorry to interrupt. Miss Hertz, you are wanted now,” she said, nodding to the monk who was trying not to stare at her half shaved head.

  “I’ll be with you in a moment Electra, thank you.” She turned back toward the monk. “I’m sorry, I have to go now.”

  “God bless you.” He raised his hand in a gesture of benediction.

  Anita turned to follow Electra who was already walking ahead, hesitated, and turned back toward the monk who was still looking at her.

  “The boy who saved the children on the boat and found the icon…”

  “You are looking at him,” he readily replied as if he had been expecting that question, then turned and began climbing the stairs that led to the monks’ quarters.

  She turned away reluctantly and started making her way back to the set, ruminating on the story she had just heard.

  Rita walked up to her on the beach and starting fixing her hair while Electra handed her the script and urged her to have one last look. Holding the papers in her hand, Anita turned back toward the monastery and saw that the old monk was now standing at the front gates, watching them. She raised her hand and waved, and he returned the greeting. Her mind once again focused on her work, and all thoughts of children and war were soon forgotten.

  »»»»»»»»»»»

  I woke up with a start. Lost in my thoughts about my mother and what had happened at her house, I’d drifted off to sleep. I looked at the clock over the ferry bar and realized I’d been sleeping for at least a half hour. If the armchair had not been so uncomfortable, I think I could have slept through the rest of the crossing. The place was quiet now, most passengers having moved to the upper deck and the remaining few fast asleep. I thought about going outside but the newspaper that had fallen on my lap caught my attention.

  I picked it up, took a gulp of cold coffee, and turned the pages until I found the interview. A double page spread, filled with photos, the headline reading, ANITA HERTZ, LOST IN TIME… AND THE GREEK ISLES. I read on.

  Famous actress Anita Hertz arrived in the Aegean a few days ago to begin filming ‘Lost in Time’, director Dimitri Liberopoulos’ new project. An expensive Greek-German production, it will be shot mostly on the Greek islands and in Athens. Greek actor Dimitris Voudouris also stars in the film, making his debut on the big screen.

  At this point, an announcement cackled over the ferry speakers, but
the sound was so bad I could not make out a word of what was being said. I ignored it and went back to reading.

  A man and a woman meet on a Greek island ten years after their first meeting and a relationship that ended abruptly. They resume their old love affair during the few days of their stay. But a secret that comes to light will change their lives forever. We traveled to the Aegean and spoke with the movie’s star, Anita Hertz.

  Miss Hertz, few people in Greece know that you have Greek grandparents and love our country very much, although you haven’t spent a lot of time here. Tell us about your ties to Greece.

  I don’t think you need to be Greek or have Greek ties to love this country, it’s a place anyone could easily fall in love with. My grandmother is Greek. My mother is a teacher and she taught at a Greek school. We spoke mostly Greek at home.

  Do you believe in the twists of fate, which is really the main theme of this movie?

  I believe people shape their own destiny with their actions; the choices they make. We set events in motion and their repercussions, not some higher power.

  This is your first time in Greece, isn’t that a bit strange given your love for the country and your family’s ties?

  Well, fate is certainly not at play here. (Laughter). I just did not manage to come earlier, even though I really wanted to. Every time I’d plan a visit something would come up; work or other obligations. I’m very happy to be here, and even happier that the reason behind my trip is a wonderful film. It’s clearly a case of perfect timing.

  The film is a love story. It looks at how love becomes an all-consuming force in the characters’ lives. How important is love in your life?

  Look, I think people actually choose who they fall in love with, in a way. It may seem random but it isn’t. Their life, choices they’ve made along the way, they all bring them to someone who’s also arrived there through the choices they’ve made. This is also what happens in the film. These two people meet at some point and then they lose touch only to meet again when their lives and choices make their paths cross again. Of course, this doesn’t mean that this time round it will work…