Kiss the Moonlight

by Barbara Cartland

  Then she saw he was rounding a rock and perhaps following the track that Kazandis had taken.

  She was staring down at him wondering whether she should scream to him again and risk Kazandis's anger, when she heard the Bandit coming back from the darkness.

  She moved away, ashamed that she should be so afraid, unable to prevent an instinctive sense of self-protection.

  Then she saw he was not looking at her, but instead was carrying in his hand a long-barreled gun.

  She looked at it with horror, until as he started to load it she asked in a quivering voice:

  "Wh ... what are you ... going to ... do?"

  "Kill the dog that's following me!" he answered.

  She gave a cry.

  "B ... but you ... cannot do that!" "Who'll stop me?"

  He tipped the powder into the breech and said as if he spoke to himself:

  "Still dry after all this time. There's no better gun in the whole of Parnassus!"

  With an effort Athena forced herself to speak quietly.

  "I have told you that I am rich," she said. "Very rich. I will give you a thousand pounds ... five thousand pounds ... ten thousand pounds, if you do not fire at that man who is following us."

  Kazandis did not answer and after a moment Athena said:

  "Perhaps you do not understand pounds. I will give you drachmas, a million if you like. You will be a rich man ... a very rich man. You can buy anything you like ... go anywhere you want."

  She thought for a moment that he might be tempted by her offer. But then he looked up at her and she saw the sneer on his face as he said:

  "Give it to me now and you can go!"

  "Of course I cannot give it to you now," Athena replied. "I have not so much money here with me. But as I have told you I am rich, a very rich Englishwoman."

  "I'm no fool," Kazandis said slowly. "Rich English tourists don't travel alone. They have friends with them, Guides, Couriers. They hire many donkeys and horses and have much luggage."

  "All the things I own are in Mikis," Athena said, "and I have money there, a lot of money."

  "With many people to guard it?"

  There was no doubt that he did not believe her and thought she was lying.

  Athena watched him white-faced as he finished loading the gun, then went to the mouth of the cave.

  He crouched on the edge of it looking down and she knew that he was waiting until Orion presented him with a good target.

  "You cannot do this ... you cannot!" she said frantically. "Listen to me ... please listen! I will give you all the money I promised you and I will be to you anything you want if you will spare the man down there. I will be your woman ... your wife ... whatever you require ... but please do not kill him !"

  "I have you here with me," Kazandis answered. "I've all the money I need. Why should I bargain?"

  "Because I can give you so much more," Athena said frantically. "You must believe me. You must listen to what I tell you. A million drachmas shall be yours and I will stay with you and not go away, so long as you will spare the life of that man who you say will not be able to find us and is therefore doing you no harm."

  Kazandis laughed. It was not a pleasant sound.

  "I kill many men. Why should I spare this one?"

  He put his gun to his shoulder as he spoke and looked down the barrel.

  "Spare him ... please spare him!" Athena pleaded. "What can I say ... what can I offer you to make you understand that you must ... not do this ... terrible thing?"

  She drew in her breath before she went on, her voice low and intense:

  "It will be murder ... sheer murder and all the soldiers will be determined that you shall be found. They will find you wherever you may hide, and this time they will hang you ... there will be no escape."

  "They'll not find me," Kazandis said confidently.

  "They will! They will!" Athena cried.

  Once again he was looking down the barrel, and now, although Athena could not see Orion, she realised that he must be below them but a little to the left.

  Kazandis shifted his position so that the gun was pointing almost directly downwards.

  He was taking aim, his finger was on the trigger. "No! No!" Athena cried desperately.

  Then as she thought he must fire and Orion would die she flung herself against him in an effort to snatch the gun from his hands.

  She took him by surprise and although she was not strong the fact that she snatched at the gun made him lose his hold on it and it slipped from his hands.

  He reached out towards it, grasping in the air to catch it before it slipped from his reach. As he did so, hardly realising what she was doing, Athena pushed his shoulder with all her strength.

  For a moment it seemed as if she made no impact upon him, then Kazandis strove to keep his balance and fell.

  He gave one last grunt and with a cry which was like that of an animal in agony he disappeared from sight.

  One moment he was there, a monstrous figure in the opening of the cave, and the next minute he was gone and all she could see was the sky and the sun blinding her eyes.

  Athena had also lost her balance in her effort against Kazandis, and she lay sprawled on the sandy floor, too bemused, too shocked by what had happened to move.

  Then suddenly the horror of it swept over her.

  She had killed a man !

  Killed him intentionally and deliberately ... although it had all happened so quickly that it was hard to know the exact moment when she had meant it to happen.

  She lay panting. Then because she could not bear to look below and. see the broken remains of the man she had killed, she moved back into the cave and sat with her back against the wall and covered her face with her hands.

  It seemed as if she had passed through a nightmare from which now she could not wake.

  It seemed altogether unreal: her discomfort and fear while being carried up the mountain; the terror she felt at Kazandis's presence; the agony she had suffered knowing he intended to kill Orion!

  Now he was dead—and she was responsible.

  She sat trembling, trying to think clearly, but all she was conscious of was the violent beating of her heart and a kind of indescribable horror that prevented her from thinking of anything but Kazandis's scream as he fell.

  Then suddenly there was a sound and without taking her hands from her face she knew that someone had entered the cave.

  For a moment it was impossible to move or to breathe; then Orion's arms were around her and he was holding her close to him.

  "It is all right, my darling," he said. "It is over. You are safe."

  "I …. killed him! Oh, Orion ...I killed ...him!"

  He held her a little closer and after a moment she said:

  "He meant... to shoot you ,.. and nothing I could ... say ... nothing I could ... offer him would ... stop him."

  "He is dead," Orion said quietly. "That is all that matters. He did not hurt you, my precious little goddess?"

  "N ... no," Athena whispered.

  "Put your hands down and listen to me."

  Athena felt so weak that she was prepared to do anything she was told. She lowered his hands and raised her eyes.

  He was very near her and now that she could look at him the feeling of horror began to recede.

  "I know what you have been through," Orion said in a low voice, "but darling, you are to forget it ever happened, and you are to tell no-one —no-one, do you understand?—that it was due to you that Kazandis died."

  'B... but I k... killed him."

  "To save me," he said, "and it was very brave and very wonderful of you. But I would not wish you to be interrogated, because that is what it would mean, by the Military. And I do not want you in the future to be pointed out as the woman who killed Kazandis."

  "Was it very ... wrong and very ... wicked of me?" Athena asked.

  He smiled and it seemed to illuminate his face.

  "My darling, it is what hundreds of people h
ave been frying to do for a very long time. He was an animal, a reptile, an enemy of the people, a man without morals, without principles and without mercy. The world is well rid of him."

  Athena gave a little sigh and laid her head against Orion's shoulder.

  "Remember, my sweet, that he over-balanced and fell—that is what happened."

  He drew her close, as he went on:

  "How could I imagine that such a terrible thing would happen to you the moment I left your side?"

  "He was ... hiding in the bushes by the Taverna," Athena said. "When he carried me ... away I was only afraid you would not ... hear me calling for ... you."

  "I heard Spiros and I heard you scream," Orion replied. "I could not imagine what had occurred."

  "But you ... came back."

  "Of course I came back," he answered. "I knew that you of all people would not scream unless something very terrible had occurred." Athena gave a little sigh.

  "What did you ... feel when you ... knew what had ... happened?"

  For a moment Orion did not reply, and because she was surprised she looked up at him.

  His eyes were on hers and after a moment he said:

  "I knew that not only must I rescue you, but also that I must never lose you again."

  Athena looked at him wide-eyed, then he said:

  "You belong to me, my darling. I knew it when we first met, and when we kissed in the moonlight and together touched the summit of bliss."

  Athena made a little movement as if she would draw nearer to him, but she did not speak and after a moment he went on:

  "I thought I was doing the right thing for both of us when I decided that we must go our separate ways, and we would remember as if it were a dream what we had meant to each other."

  "And now... ?"

  "Now I know that I cannot live without you. You are mine, Athena, and nothing and nobody shall ever keep us apart."

  Athena felt as though the whole cave was illuminated with a brilliant light.

  There was a tremor in her voice as she asked:

  "Do you ... mean that? Are you ... sure of what you are ... saying? "

  "Quite, quite sure," he answered. "I love you, my darling and I know that you love me."

  His voice seemed to ring out as he went on:

  "It is not just a question of love, i! is because your spirit is my spirit, as my soul is your soul. We belong to one another. We are one and I will spend the whole of my life protecting you and taking care of you."

  "That is all I ... want," Athena whispered. "I love ... you ! I have loved you from the very first moment I met you and although it has been ... wonderful it has also been ... agonising."

  Her voice broke on the words.

  "My precious, my poor little love. You shall not suffer any more," he said with a deep tenderness in his voice.

  Then his lips found hers and she knew she surrendered her whole self, body and soul, to his kiss.

  Later when they had told each other of their love, and kissed again and again, Orion smoothed back Athena's hair from her flushed cheeks and said:

  "Now, my darling, I think we should make plans to return to civilisation. It is still quite early in the day, but there is a lot to do if we are to be married this evening."

  "M... married?"

  Athena gazed at him wide-eyed.

  "I thought that was what we were talking about," he said with a smile, "but of course I have not really asked you. Will you marry me, my lovely one?"

  He saw the expression in her eyes, then put his hand under her chin and tipped her face up to his.

  "I know," he said. "I know all the things we ought to say—'we do not know each other very well'—but we do! 'We have only just met'— but that is not true! We have known each other since the beginning of time ! 'We ought to have a conventional ceremony with all our relatives present'—but do either of us want that?"

  "No ... no," Athena said instinctively.

  "That is exactly what I feel," he said, "and because I dare not let you out of my sight—because I have no intention of losing you—I intend to marry you this evening. Nothing else is of any consequence."

  "Oh, Orion ... do you really ... mean it?" Athena asked.

  "You have not answered my question," he said with a smile. "Will you marry me?"

  Just for a moment Athena thought of her family, of her Aunt waiting for her in the Palace, of her grandmother, of the King in Athens. Then she knew that Orion was right, and that none of them mattered.

  "I want to marry you," she said, "more than I have ever wanted anything in my whole life."

  "Then let us get married," Orion smiled.

  "I wondered when you were ... leaving me whether in fact you had a ... wife already."

  He laughed.

  "You need have no fears on that score, and I am not going to ask if you have a husband. No-one could be so soft and sweet, so innocent, and not be as pure as Athena herself."

  Because there was a note in his voice that made her feel shy, Athena hid her face against his neck.

  He kissed her hair, then said:

  "There are a thousand things we have to tell each other which will give us something to talk about on our honeymoon! But all that concerns me at this moment is that you should be my wife and that no-one—and I mean no-one—shall take you from me."

  She supposed he was thinking of Kazandis, but her thoughts went to the Prince.

  Suppose by marrying her Orion should incur the hostility of the Prince he had supplanted?

  Then she remembered how rich she was and knew that if the Prince resented their marriage and made trouble for them in Greece they could go elsewhere.

  The whole world was theirs, and she need not be afraid. "But in order to get married," Orion was saying, "we have to get away from this eagle's nest."

  He went to the mouth of the cave as he spoke and stood looking down. After a moment Athena followed him.

  She took one glance at the precipice beneath them; then afraid that she might see Kazandis's body lying somewhere at the foot of it she looked away and said:

  "I am ... afraid of ... heights."

  "I thought perhaps you might be," he answered, "and this is no ordinary height. Kazandis hid himself very cleverly, but fortunately I guessed where he had gone."

  "How could you have guessed?" Athena asked.

  "After he was captured two years ago, a survey of the mountains showed the most likely spots in which he had his hiding-places. There are a large number of caves of all sorts in this part of the world, and when I saw him carrying you up the mountain I knew the whereabouts of this particular cave and was sure that was where he was taking you."

  "It was lucky ... very lucky that you should have ... known that," Athena exclaimed.

  She could not help remembering the expression on Kazandis's face as he looked at her and the lust she had seen in his eyes.

  As if he knew what she was thinking, Orion put his arms around her and kissed first her eyes, then her cheeks, and lastly her mouth.

  "You are to think of no-one but me," he said masterfully. "I am jealous even of Kazandis if he occupies your thoughts."

  "I want ... only to ... think of ... you," Athena murmured.

  He kissed her again, then he went to the entrance of the cave and gave a shout of joy.

  "Here they come!" he said. "I thought Dimitrios Argeros would not fail me."

  "What is it? Who is there?" Athena asked.

  "I shouted to him as I started to climb after you for some men from the village to bring ropes with them," Orion answered. "I was sure there must be an easier way than climbing directly up the mountainside, but I could not wait to take it myself."

  Athena knew with a little throb of her heart why he had realised only too well that there was every reason for haste.

  He was aware why Kazandis had carried her away, and if he had not arrived until now it would have been too late.

  "Could any man be more wonderful?" she asked herself.r />
  Athena thought only of Orion all the time he and the men from the village were helping her down the mountainside.

  It was not easy although she was roped to Orion and he to several others.

  There were moments when the world below seemed to swim before her eyes, and she thought that however tightly they held her she must fall as Kazandis had fallen to die on the rocks below.

  Somehow, although they took a long time, they managed it and when finally they came down into the village Madame Argeros was waiting to fold Athena in her arms and kiss her as if she was her own long-lost child.

  It was difficult to say anything amid the babble of noise, the congratulations that were showered upon Orion, and the excited comment of everyone, including the children.

  Madame Argeros took Athena into the Taverna and made her sit down on a chair.

  "You must be exhausted," she said. "There's some coffee waiting for you and that will do you more good than the wine which Orion will be opening as soon as he can get here."

  "I would ... rather have coffee," Athena managed to say.

  "Drink it up," Madame admonished, "then you are going straight upstairs to lie down on the bed. I will bring you up something to eat."

  Because Athena really did feel exhausted she drank her coffee as Madame had ordered, and went upstairs.

  "You will be more comfortable in the big bed," Madame Argeros said. "Nonika has put fresh sheets on it."

  Athena was only too glad to agree.

  She knew it was stupid of her but she felt an aversion to the other room where she had been so frightened when Kazandis let himself down from the roof in search of her.

  Madame Argcros helped her out of her gown. Then, slipping Oil her night-dress which had been left behind in her hag on the horse, Athena lay back against the pillows with a little sigh.

  "I'll cook something light and appetising," Madame Argeros said, "and Nonika shall bring it up."

  "Thank you, Madame. You are very kind."

  "We are ashamed and humiliated that such things should happen to a lady like yourself when you have been our guest," Madame Argeros said, "but now that evil man is dead there will be no more troubles."

  "Are there no more bandits?" Athena asked.

  "Plenty of them," Madame replied, "but they are not like him. Most bandits are only beggars, who are hungry and want to eat. They're poor and they ask for a little money! But Kazandis was different, he was a murderer!"