She crossed to the chest of drawers, picked up the framed photograph and set it upright on its stand in a position where, paralysed as she now was, Katerina could not help but look at it.
The photograph was of Elena, Nikos and Alexis, a happy family group in a somewhat stilted and formal pose. Katerina's eyes widened even further with horror.
'To keep you company,' said Annika. 'To remind you. Through every waking moment while you still live. Look at them, mother. Look at them. As you must. As you cannot help but look at them. And pray. Pray that you die soon.'
She crossed to the bedroom door, opened it and beckoned to the nurse. As she re-entered Annika pointed to the photograph.
'Do not move that,' she said in a conversational tone. 'Leave it exactly as it is, always. It comforts her so.'
The nurse looked at Katerina and gave her a warm, sympathetic and understanding smile and then she nodded to Annika.
Annika looked at her mother for the last time and then turned and walked out of the room.
The nurse studied the photograph, looked at Katerina again and gave her another smile. Then she sat down on the chair beside the bed and picked up her embroidery.
Katerina stared at the photograph and then, unable to bear the sight of it. closed her eyes. But she knew that she would have to open them again and that it would still be there; that it would always be there while she lay in that bed in a very special kind of hell from which there was only one escape - if then.
Soundlessly, the old woman screamed.
Haldane, pale, his eyes closed, lay in the hospital bed, a blood drip connected to his arm.
Annika stood by the window gazing out through the slats of the shutters which were closed. She turned to the door as it was opened and Spiridakis came into the room. He glanced at her and then crossed to the bed and gazed down at Haldane. Annika moved to his side. The lawyer looked at her questioningly.
'Has he regained consciousness yet?' he asked.
Annika shook her head. 'No. And he is very sick. But the operation was a success. The doctor says that he will recover. '
Spiridakis nodded. 'And you?' he asked. 'How are you?'
'I am free,' she replied fervently. 'As never before.' Spiridakis studied her and then frowned. 'Have you
been here all night?'
'Most of the night.'
'Then you should get some rest.'
'No.' said Annika quietly. 'I will stay. I want to be here when he wakes. And later, when he is strong enough. there is much we have to say to each other, Leandros and I.'
She moved a chair close to the bed and sat down on it. Spiridakis looked at her and then turned and left the room, closing the door quietly behind him.
Annika reached out, took Haldane's hand, kissed it and then held it to her cheek.
For information about other titles and work by
Michael J Bird please go to.
http://www.mjbird.org.uk/
Contents
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Who Pays the Ferryman Page 27