Olive island

by Kay Thorpe

  Even as the thought formed in her mind memory came leaping alive. She took an involuntary jump away from it, felt the earth give beneath her feet and made a desperate grab for some kind of handhold as she started to slide with it. Her fingers fastened on to what felt like a tree root, and held. She clung grimly as the earth fell away all around her, leaving her lying stretched to her full length on a muddy gradient which ended just beyond her feet in blackness. There was no hope of pulling herself up. It was far too slippery, and

  every moment loosened the root which was her lifeline.

  Panic took her by the throat, and a wave of giddiness passed over her. She fought it off with every vestige of control left in her, thankful that the darkness at least concealed the extent of the drop beyond her feet. If the lightning flashed again she must resist the urge to glance downwards, or she would probably pass out.

  It didn't seem possible that anyone could be near enough to hear her, but she shouted anyway, only to have her voice swallowed by the elements. The storm was passing over towards the north-west, the rain decreasing little by little, but it would not help her. Already her hands were numb; she couldn't hold on much longer. In a moment or two her fingers would simply release their grasp on the root and she would go spinning down into the sea. The sea! Hope stirred faintly and died again. Even if the water was deep enough at this point of the coastline, there would certainly be rocks. It was no use . . . no use .. . no ...

  More earth came rolling down from above her head, and she screamed in terror. A voice said something sharp, and then there were hands on her wrists, hurting, pulling her arms from their sockets as they hauled her slowly but surely up the gradient and on to the blessedly firm grass. Arms lifted her and carried her away from the treacherous edge, set her down gently and held her close as she clung shiveringly to the sodden jacket. She had no idea how Nikos had managed to be here when she had needed him so badly; it was enough that he was here. She wanted him never to let her go.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  'You are not hurt?' Nikos asked urgently when the worst of the shivering had passed. 'You can move all your limbs?'

  'Yes.' With the return of rational thought came the realization of her own surrender, and she drew suddenly and jerkily away from him. 'There might be a few scratches. Nothing serious.' She waited a brief moment before adding in low, unsteady tones, 'You saved my life.'

  'Yes.' His own voice was without emotion of any kind. 'Do you feel able to walk?'

  'Of course,' she said, and made to press herself to her feet, only to find herself lifted to them. His arm came about her waist, steadying her.

  'We will go slowly until we reach the beach,' he said. 'There are many traps for the feet up here. Lean on me. I shall not let you fall.'

  Nicky didn't doubt it, but his nearness was more than she could cope with. 'I'm all right,' she said swiftly. I can manage better on my own.'

  'Very well.' He released her at once, his expression unreadable in the dark. I will hold only your hand.'

  It took them ten minutes to reach the beach, and by that time Nicky was shivering again. She kept reliving the moment when the ground had slid away from under her, the awful few seconds before her fingers had touched the tree root when she had been on the brink of death. It was like a nightmare, haunting her, re-

  fusing to allow her to waken. She wished she could stop thinking about it.

  Nikos took one look at her at the bottom of the cliff path, and without a word swung her up into his arms, ignoring her weak protests. Halfway across the stretch of beach they met up with the rest of the search party coming to look for them, but Nikos refused Lee's offer to relieve him of his burden.

  `Go on ahead and have my car turned about ready to leave,' he commanded. 'And send someone to fetch the doctor immediately to the villa.'

  After that, Nicky was only vaguely aware of what was going on. She felt sick and faint, and her heart was doing overtime. She was put into the car and driven swiftly to the villa, taken upstairs and helped into a hot bath scented with pine. Eventually she was clad in a fine silk nightdress and put to bed in a bare white room while Kyria Alexandros fussed over her as though she might have been her own kith and kin.

  `It is a terrible experience you have had,' she said. But soon you will have something to make you sleep, and then you will forget. Nikos blames himself for this. That part of the cliff should be fenced.'

  `He mustn't,' Nicky protested wanly. 'It was my own fault for going so near the edge in the first place. I should have known the ground would be soft after that rain.'

  `You are not . . .' She broke off as the door opened again. 'Here is the doctor.'

  The man was young, briskly efficient and about as fluent in English as Nicky herself was in Greek. She understood the word for shock, and obediently swallowed the two small tablets offered to her along with a

  glass of water. Some kind of salve was smeared over the long scratches which adorned her middle, and a light dressing applied.

  And then he was gone, and Nikos had taken his place, looking down at her with unfathomable eyes.

  `You are feeling better now?' he asked, and she moved her head on the pillow.

  `Much better. That sedative seems to be taking effect.' She hesitated, said slowly, 'I'm sorry for being such a nuisance. I feel such a fool almost passing out like that when all the danger was over.'

  `There is nothing foolish in the setting in of shock. It is understandable. You must sleep now, and awaken refreshed.'

  `The child,' she said suddenly, ashamed of her own forgetfulness. 'The one that was missing. Do you know if he has been found?'

  He nodded. 'That is why I returned to the Xenia tonight. He was in my car when I arrived here, fast asleep under a rug on the back seat. It was only when I went out again to take something from the car that I saw him, and by the time I had driven back to the hotel you had already left it.' His mouth firmed. 'You are fighting to keep your eyes open. There will be time enough for talking in the morning.'

  It was just gone eight when Nicky awoke from what had seemed like a totally dreamless sleep. She felt listless and vaguely depressed, but otherwise perfectly fit. Some of her clothes from the Xenia were folded neatly over a chair by the long window, and the zippered case containing all her toilet articles stood upon the dressing chest. Someone had been up and about early.

  She was up herself and dressed when the knock came

  on the door: Kyria Alexandros regarded her with more than a hint of disapproval.

  'I had expected to find you still asleep,' she said. 'You should not yet be out of bed, I am certain.'

  I feel fine,' Nicky assured her. 'All I needed was a good night's sleep, and the sedative ensured that.' She paused. have a lot to thank Kyrios Alexandros for.'

  'It was fortunate that circumstances allowed him to be there,' answered the other simply. 'You will join us for breakfast?'

  They went downstairs together, the older woman in her plain dark dress which was a compromise between the old world and the new, the younger one in beige linen slacks and a fresh yellow shirt. Lee would have passed these items as suitable, Nicky had known as soon as she saw them. Nikos, she was pretty certain, would have insisted upon a dress.

  Breakfast had been served on the loggia, Nikos came swiftly to his feet on their appearance, his gaze resting questioningly on Nicky's face before travelling on to that of his mother.

  `Our guest was all ready to leave her room,' advised the latter on a dry note. 'Miss Brent is not one to be cosseted, Nikos.'

  'That I should have known.' He pulled out her chair, and then one for Nicky between himself and his radiant young cousin. 'You are quite recovered?'

  'Completely, thank you.' She sat down without looking at him.

  'You are very brave,' said Marguerite with every evidence of sincerity. `Nikos tells me that you walked all the way down from the cliff top to the beach. I

  could not have done so. I would have been too frightened by what had happ
ened, too afraid of falling once more. Do you not think that Miss Brent is brave, Nikos?'

  Nicky felt herself colour, said hastily,I must get

  " back to the hotel before nine-thirty.'

  'You must?' he asked mildly enough. `Why?'

  'To be in time to accompany the coach to the airport.'

  'You will not,' he said, 'be travelling to the airport today. I have already contacted your representative at the Castello to this effect, and he is to see that our guests are set safely on their way. It will be enough for you to greet them at the Xenia on their arrival.'

  Nicky gave a small inward sigh, said steadily, 'I'm grateful for your concern, kyrie, but I really am 'fit to carry on with my job. I can't just leave these people to fend for themselves. It wouldn't be fair.'

  He studied her for a long moment. 'It is so important to you?'

  'Yes, it is.'

  'Then I shall not stand in your way. I shall, however, insist upon driving you to the airport myself. By the time we reach it I shall be able to assess whether you are well enough to travel back by the coach.'

  'But I need all my papers,' she protested. 'And I have to change.'

  I doubt that your countryfolk will object to the wearing of trousers,' he returned equably. 'As to your papers, I shall arrange for them to be fetched from the hotel before we are ready to leave.'

  It was quite obviously going to be futile to argue further. Nicky bowed her head to the inevitable, and

  hoped that Marguerite would be accompanying them on the journey. She didn't think she could stand the strain of being alone with him again after making such a fool of herself the previous night.

  Marguerite, however, did not appear to have even thought about joining them, and at a quarter to ten Nicky found herself seated at Nikos's side in the car while the other girl waved them a smiling goodbye from the doorway.

  `Your mother must be glad of your cousin's company,' she remarked for want of anything else to say as they turned out of the gates. 'They seem to spend a lot of time together.'

  `Yes.' His voice was casual. 'They have become very close. She will be missed when it is time for her to return to the mainland to prepare for the wedding, but it will not be for long.' He gave her a sidelong glance. `Your own mother must often wish for the sight of you. Do you miss your parents very much?'

  `Yes.' Right now it was particularly true. Nicky swallowed on the ache in her throat, added huskily, `After this season I might decide to settle down in Benton again for a while. There are far worse places.'

  Nikos was silent for a brief space of time before saying evenly, `Perhaps they could both of them be persuaded to come and visit you should it be suggested to them?'

  `Here?' She shook her head. 'I doubt it. It's years since Dad took a proper holiday; there's always the farm to think about. In any case, even if he could get somebody to look after things for him they'd be too late to book with anyone at this time of the year.'

  `That is no problem. They would, of course, stay at the villa. You would like me to write to them and invite them here myself?'

  `Oh no ! I mean, it isn't at all necessary.' She was startled and dismayed. 'I wasn't for a moment thinking that you might . . . that you should . .

  `It had not occurred to me that you were,' he interposed calmly. 'The idea is entirely my own. Is it such a bad one?'

  `No, it's a very thoughtful one,' she said after a moment, and stole a confused glance at the arrogant profile. 'But why should you do such a thing?'

  `I have already told you why. I am responsible for your welfare.' His tone was easy. 'Naturally, if you do not wish it that is all there is to be said.'

  He did not mention the subject again, much to her relief. She could imagine her parents' reactions had they received such an invitation, their inability to understand the sense of responsibility which had prompted it. Nicky still didn't understand it herself, if it came to that, but where Nikos was concerned that was nothing fresh.

  They caught up with the coach on , the airport road, and kept behind it into the forecourt. Nikos assisted Nicky from the car, and handed out her briefcase, ignoring the frankly interested stares of the people alighting from the coach.

  `You are far too pale for my peace of mind,' he stated, regarding her narrowly. 'You do not feel sick?'

  `No. Not at all.' Awkwardly, she added, 'Thank you for all you've done, kyrie — both you and Kyria Alexandros.'

  Very faintly he smiled. 'Last night you called me Nikos Is it too much to ask that you continue to do so?' He didn't bother to wait for her reply. I shall stay until you are ready to board the coach again with your new passengers.'

  This time Nicky knew better than to argue. From his expression it would have been a sheer waste of time.

  The following half an hour seemed never-ending. There were questions to be parried regarding last night's escapade, comments to be endured concerning Nikos's presence here with her, goodbyes to be said. Margery Tolman was one of the last to speak to her, and she made a point of doing it alone when the rest of her group were otherwise engaged.

  'You don't look yourself,' she stated bluntly. `I'd have thought they would have let you off this lot after the shock you must have suffered. That Alexandros chap keeps looking at you as though he expects you to keel over at any time. I hear he did the rescuing.'

  'That's right.' Nicky held out her hand with a smile still impressed on her lips. 'Goodbye, Mrs. Tolman. It's been nice knowing you.'

  'Spoken like a trouper !' The other's eyes were kind. 'Remember what I said about Lee Merril. It's a long time to the end of the season.'

  It was. A whole lot too long. Nicky saw off the last of the familiar faces among the crowd flocking through to the checking point, glanced across to where Nikos stood by the main doors and indicated that she was going through to the other section to greet the incoming party.

  Gerry had just finished checking off the master list, and was ready to hand over.

  'Didn't have the chance to say it before with Alex andros hanging around,' he murmured, 'but I'm glad you managed to get him to bring you in. When he rang through this morning he was adamant about it. A bit of a nerve, I thought, but you don't argue the toss with a man like that.' He caught her quizzical glance, went on hastily, 'What I mean is, he wouldn't have listened to me, but a woman always has that edge. Anyway, glad you could make it.' He handed her the clipboard. 'They're all yours.'

  Nikos was waiting beside the car when she finally managed to shepherd her new charges outside to the waiting coach.. She was conscious of several pairs of eyes following her when she went across to take her leave of him.

  'It was good of you to wait about all this time,' she said formally. 'As you can see, I'm as right as rain.'

  'But somewhat lacking in spirit.' He opened the car door. 'You will be sure to take your siesta this afternoon?'

  'Yes,' she agreed resignedly, and he smiled.

  'A grudging concession, but a hopeful one. With a little practice you might even one day learn to accept my advice without the frown. Cherete, Nicole.'

  Nicky went back and boarded the coach, faced the sea of expectant faces and summoned the light-hearted manner which went with the job. 'Hold on to your hats,' she smiled, 'and we'll get off.'

  The familiar routine served to occupy her full attention for the greater part of the journey, and as always she found herself beginning to categorize the various groups. There were rather more children in the party this time. Nine in all, ranging from a baby of six

  months to a boy of twelve or thirteen who fixed her with an unwavering and rather disconcerting stare the whole time she was speaking.

  Can you speak Greek?' he demanded when she paused beside his seat to have a word with his parents seated immediately behind.

  `A little,' Nicky acknowledged. 'I could teach you a few words of it if you like.'

  He looked interested. 'How do you say yes?'

  `That's ne. And no is o chi.'

  `You've let your
self in for something now,' said his mother. 'Timothy, you're not to make a nuisance of yourself. This young lady has more to do than provide entertainment just for you.'

  `That's all right. It's what I'm here for.' Nicky smiled at the boy, and passed on.

  The back seat was fully occupied by a foursome in their early twenties whose gaily casual dress and generally exuberant manner suggested a lively time ahead.

  `Who was the Lordly Greek you were talking to before we set off?' asked one of the girls with a bright curiosity. 'Has he anything to do with Solar?'

  `Only in that he owns the Xenia,' replied Nicky, consulting her list. 'You're Miss Patterson, aren't you?'

  `Sandy,' was the prompt response. For reasons too obvious to mention. This is Pauline, and these two are Brian and Berny. Is there any talent in the hotel?'

  `Ignore her,' advised the young man Nicky took to be her partner. 'She's man-mad.' He didn't sound unduly concerned. 'What's the food like at this place?'

  Sandy grinned, 'Shows you where his heart is, doesn't it?'

  Nicky was laughing. T let you decide yourselves; we're coming into the village now. Ten minutes before lunch, everybody.'

  There was no sign of Lee when she went through the vestibule, but one of the waiters told her that he was in the dining-room. She found him running through a list of supplies at her own table, and gave him a sunny smile when he looked up at her approach.

  'Thought I'd come and report all present and correct,' she said. 'Missed me?'

  'Some.' He leaned back 'in his chair and looked her over. 'You don't appear to have suffered any ill effects. That was quite a scare you gave me when I saw Nikos coming across the beach carrying you. I thought you must really be in a bad way to let him get as close as that.'

  `Oh, I was,' she returned with calculated flippancy. 'Swept off my feet, as you might say. What's for lunch? I'm starving !'

  His smile was oddly without humour. 'And there I was all ready to tempt a jaded appetite ! How about coffee afterwards?'

  'Lovely, providing it's English. I'll go and wash my hands while there's still time.'