"Father, I think you are not making this easy."
"What am I not making easy? So what are you expecting me to say? Do you want to confess because you have sinned against God? Hardly. Do you want to confess because you feel bad about saving someone's life? Do you want me to be shocked that a German woman just told me she did the work of angels?"
"No," Eva said resolutely. "I want you to tell me how I can help you here."
"You want to help me in my church? I don’t think the villagers would be all that happy to see you helping out."
"Father!" Eva threw up her hands in frustration. "You are being—"
"Cautious?" Father Haralambos suggested. "How do I know you are not a spy? How do I know that your father didn't send you to me?"
Eva frowned before a smiled creased her face. "You already know or else you wouldn't have asked me those questions."
Father Haralambos gazed at Eva for a long moment. "Eva, you do not know me and yet you come to me and confess that you betrayed your country by collaborating with the French—"
"I didn't betray my country."
"You betrayed someone."
"I don't see it that way."
Father Haralambos nodded. "You collaborated with the French, and that is punishable by death. You are aware of that?"
Eva nodded. "I am aware of the penalty. My life is not worth more than a Jew nor is it worth more than a Greek. I did it because it was right."
"And you hate your father," Father Haralambos quietly added. Eva turned away from him but he gently turned her face towards him. "You are doing the work of angels no matter the reason."
"It is not because of my father. It is because of my guilt."
"Your guilt? What have you done to feel guilty for?"
"You have heard of Kristallnacht?"
"Yes. Even in a Greek village I heard about the dreadful night; unfortunately one of many such nights and days."
"I was part of it. I was there and did nothing. I didn't try to save an old Rabbi's life and stood by and watched. I can't stand by and watch people be killed and not do anything again," Eva quietly explained as her voice broke with emotion. "There is too much death. Standing by and not doing anything is the same as pulling the trigger."
"It is, but what if someone betrays you?"
"My life is meaningless. There is no happy future for me. I'm like a bird in a cage—no escape. I envy the villagers. They will escape once this war is over. I’m just stuck in a cage." Eva swallowed audibly and closed her eyes. "What's left is resistance. If I can help someone escape, then this gilded cage I am in has meaning."
"Oh, my precious child." Father Haralambos put his arms around Eva as she broke down and wept in his arms. His soothing words were totally lost on her while the emotional walls she had built around herself came crumbling down and lay at the priest's feet. Eva felt safe in his arms and was slightly embarrassed by the rush of emotions that overwhelmed her.
"I’m sorry, Father." Eva wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.
Father Haralambos caressed Eva’s dark head and then kissed it. "You are a brave young woman. It takes a special person to put themselves in harm’s way."
"I have to do something."
"I understand your reasoning."
"Can you help me?"
Father Haralambos nodded. "I can help you and we can help those who you want to help. There are many Jews in Larissa and the surrounding hills. They need fake papers. I have been trying but it’s very difficult."
"I can help you. Let me help."
"Yes. We will work together."
Eva smiled. "Thank you, Father."
"What happened to Father François?"
"He's no longer alive. He was killed before we left for Greece."
Chapter Eleven
The wind rushed through the open window in the cabin while outside it caused the trees to sway, and one in particular was making Zoe quite annoyed. It was hitting the side of the wooden cabin making a scraping noise.
Zoe lay near the window on a bed that felt more like a cement block when compared to her more comfortable bed back at the house. A woolen blanket covered her, and although she was cold, it didn’t matter to her.
The cabin was a large L shaped cabin built in the woods. It was her brother Thieri’s cabin. He had cut down the trees and painstakingly built it as a present to his soon-to-be fiancée, but he never got the chance to present the house. The war with the Italians saw him volunteer along with his brothers Michael and Theodore. All three brothers died in that battle with the Italians.
The main room was the dining room and entrance, and off to the side was a bedroom, although there was a skeleton frame in place and no wall. Thieri didn't have time to build the wall, but the small section was the bedroom. Another smaller room was going to be the kitchen; that too was not finished.
Zoe put her hands behind her head and looked up at the ceiling. The only family she had left was Aunt Stella in Thessaloniki and her cowardly uncle Dion, who had shipped himself off to America as soon as a hint of war was talked about. Zoe stared at the spider which had taken up residence on the corner, where it had spun an intricate web. The spider had become a silent companion while Zoe had raged against God, the Nazis and cowards in general.
Zoe chose the cabin to let out her anger because of its seclusion. She didn't want to see anyone, didn't want to speak to anyone, and definitely did not want anyone's pity. She screamed out her anger and pain alone in the woods and took an axe to a tree, and when she wasn't yelling at God, she sat for hours on Athena's Bluff watching the majestic scene before her, its beauty totally lost on her.
"Damn you to hell!" Zoe screamed. "I hope you all burn for eternity!"
There was silence except for the wind rustling the fallen leaves outside. Just silence.
"Are you tired of my yelling, Calliope?" Zoe asked the spider, her voice a little husky.
The spider ignored the human down below and just sat in the corner minding her own business.
"You have a great life, Calliope." Zoe continued her one sided conversation. "You sit there, not caring about the Germans, the Greeks, the flies." Zoe sat up and swung her legs to the edge of the bed. Her feet touched the dark red flokati rug, her favorite rug, which had been brought up from the farm after her mother died.
Zoe got up and stretched. She closed her eyes as the breeze from the open window brushed against her face. She could smell the hint of rain in the air. She went to the window and looked out. The "bedroom" overlooked Athena's Bluff, and on any other day Zoe would have admired the view, but she didn't care for it at that very moment.
Zoe turned away from the window and grabbed her skirt. Sitting underneath the skirt was her gun. She gazed at it for a long moment before she turned and got dressed.
"I suppose I'll have to catch something if I don't want to starve." Zoe glanced up at the spider. "If I catch a rabbit, do you want the leg or the breast?" She shook her head at her own silliness and picked up the gun.
"Come on, Athena, we have work to do," Zoe said to the gun. She stuck the gun in a rucksack and slung it over her shoulder. She opened the door and blinked as the sun hit her eyes.
Zoe ventured outside towards the large fallen tree, which was located away from the walking track that led up the hill. It was obscured by the thick trees and perfect for Zoe's makeshift lavatory. She went about her business and covered up the hole in the ground with dirt and leaves in time to hear footsteps.
Zoe quickly hid behind the large tree trunk and grabbed her bag, which had been sitting on top of the fallen tree. She could not see who was coming up the track but she could hear them. One set of footsteps and then a scraping noise.
Zoe lowered herself onto her belly and waited.
***
Eva stopped and sighed. This trek up the hill was tougher than she had thought. The incline had tested her legs and her back but she was determined to get to the top. From what Despina had told her, it was one of the most beautifu
l parts in Larissa. Larissa’s beauty was totally lost on Eva and she doubted anything could be beautiful there.
Eva had told no one of her little trek, and she had left the house before the town had a chance to rise. She did get a few raised eyebrows from the guards but no one stopped her. No one wanted to be the one to stop Eva Muller, daughter of Major Muller, and question where she was going. She was hoping this would be the case and was very relieved when she didn’t see her regular shadow, Sergeant Henry Franz.
The walk from the village to Athena’s Bluff was long and tiring, but Eva was determined. Halfway there she thought she had lost her mind, but she continued forward. She felt compelled to go up that mountain.
Eva stopped just before the clearing and leaned on her cane. Her back and legs were screaming at her to stop. She took a deep breath and walked into the clearing.
What she saw took her breath away. The clearing was a short distance to what had to be Athena’s Bluff. The lookout was surrounded by trees but at the base it was flat with several boulders on either side. An overhanging tree cast its shadow over the outcrop.
"This is beautiful," Eva muttered as she took several steps forward. She stood gazing out at the valley below. A train weaved its way through Tempe Gorge and through the trees. The Pinios River ran through it. She took a step forward and looked down at the rocks below. She stood there mesmerized. Could she? It would end it all for her and that is what she wanted. She was alone and there was no one to stop her.
***
Zoe smiled for the first time in days. She glanced up into the heavens with a gleeful look on her face. She mouthed ‘thank you’ to whoever was answering her prayers. This one place, at this time. Just her and Eva Muller. Alone. No bodyguards, no means of escape except down the gorge.
Zoe pulled her bag closer and took out her gun. She kissed the barrel and smiled. She lowered herself behind the tree and very quietly made sure the gun was loaded. Having checked that it was, she lifted her head above the fallen tree. Eva was still on the ledge, almost transfixed by the view.
Just stay put, Fraulein, just stay put. Zoe aimed her pistol, and having Eva in her sights, she fired. The gun clicked and nothing happened.
Zoe suppressed the urge to scream as she lowered herself behind the fallen tree again. She checked the gun. Not finding anything wrong with it, she shook it before she half rose to take aim. Eva had moved. She was now standing near the boulder, which made the shot a little harder since the tree branches were in the way, but Eva was still visible.
Alright, let’s try this again. Zoe took aim and fired. Click. The gun jammed again. Zoe was about to stand and rush Eva. They were both going to fall down the gorge but Zoe stopped. She looked around the spot where she was and for some unknown reason she hesitated. Someone else was in the brush behind her. She sat back down and turned hoping to see a friendly face, but she was alone.
Alright, Zo, you have lost your mind. Without a word, Zoe was about to stand when she heard someone running up the hill. A man’s tread and one in a very big hurry. She quickly hid behind the fallen tree.
***
Sergeant Henry Franz woke at 4 am. Unable to sleep due to someone yelling in the distance, he tossed and turned until he decided to get up. Being quiet so as not to wake his roommate, he dressed and grabbed his boots from outside.
Henry sat on the front step of the main residence as silence descended on the village. "Ah, so now everyone shuts up, when I’m awake," he muttered as he put on his boots.
Henry stood up and for a moment wasn’t sure what to do. Taking a cigarette from his pocket, he lit it and set up walking towards the sentry at the gate. The guards nodded to him as he walked out and down the street. Since he had some time before Eva woke, he would check with his friend Anton, who was on duty, and see if he had had any luck in the poker game the previous evening.
Henry noted the villagers were starting to wake but it was still generally very quiet. To his surprise, an old woman was walking towards him with a smile on her face. That had never happened to him. Usually it was a scowl, or they just turned their backs on him. Henry stopped and looked behind him to see if there was someone else who the old woman had seen. Seeing no one behind him, he turned back to the old woman, who had stopped in front of him.
"Good morning, Sergeant."
"Good morning, yiayia." Henry used the affectionate and respectful Greek term for grandmother.
"You’re up early."
"I am. So are you."
"I’m always up, never sleep anymore," the old woman said and touched Henry’s hand. "Are you trying to catch up with that young Fraulein you guard all the time?"
Henry blinked. "Fraulein Muller?"
"Yes. How many young women do you guard?" The old woman gazed up at Henry.
"You saw her this morning?" Henry asked, ignoring the old woman’s cheeky question.
"Yes."
"Are you sure it wasn’t yesterday? We did take an early morning walk—"
"She was walking alone, and unless you were invisible, it was this morning."
Henry groaned internally. Oh, Eva, don’t do this to me again! "Do you happen to remember which way she went?"
"Athena’s Bluff."
"Where? How do you know that?"
"Where does this road lead?" The old woman indicated with her hand.
"To the church."
"The church is not open. It’s too early even for Father Haralambos."
"What’s beyond that?"
The old woman sighed and shook her head. "Athena’s Bluff."
"What’s that?"
"Follow the road, young man, and you will see," the old woman replied with a smile and patted him on the arm before she walked away.
Henry looked back for a moment before he turned and took off running down the street, his footfalls echoing down the cobblestone street. He did indeed follow the road and then the road stopped. He wasn’t sure where to go until a farmer showed up in his cart and gave him directions to Athena’s Bluff.
***
"Eva!"
Eva turned at the sound of her name and shook her head.
"What in God’s name are you doing?" Henry asked as he leaned against the tree to catch his breath. "I should get more fit."
"Early morning walk."
"Early morning run to an early grave." Henry wiped the sweat from his brow and sat down on the boulder. "Your father is going to kill me when he finds out."
"My father has other concerns."
"I thought we agreed you wouldn’t do this again."
"In France," Eva replied with a slight smile as she sat down next to Henry.
"What are you doing here?"
"Admiring the view," Eva replied as she gazed at the vista before her."
"Can we go back to the house before your father unleashes the demons from hell and then we can talk about it?"
"I like the view."
"I would like to stay alive for my next birthday. Come along." Henry took Eva’s hand.
"Alright. Let’s go." Eva smiled at Henry as she took his arm and they trekked back the mountain, oblivious to the hidden Zoe.
***
Zoe couldn’t quite believe the scene before her. The useless gun lay at her feet and any chance of her killing Eva was as dead as her gun.
In absolute frustration, Zoe kicked the log at her feet. "God damn it!" She muttered as a rabbit hopped into the open. She gazed at it for a moment before she picked up her gun.
"Aren’t you lucky this gun is useless," Zoe addressed the rabbit and pointed the gun. She pulled the trigger.
It fired.
To Zoe’s amazement, the bullet struck the rabbit and it fell where it stood. She shook her head, looked at the gun, and with a heavy sigh went to pick up her breakfast.
Chapter Twelve
The saint’s eyes moved. Eva was sure of it as she stepped forward and looked into Saint Peter’s eyes. The artist had created an illusion that made her smile. She was alone in Father
Haralambos’ office, so she took some time to admire the art in the form of various icons that were displayed around the room. She loved art and the room was decorated with several pieces. Daniel and the Lions were displayed prominently and she noticed the same style in both artworks.
"His eyes move."
Eva turned to find Father Haralambos leaning against the doorjamb with his arms folded. "I thought they did but I wasn’t sure. That is really beautiful work."
"It is. It was created by one of our own here in Larissa."
"I would love to meet him. I love art and artists always fascinate me," Eva said as she turned back to the artwork.
"Unfortunately she is no longer with us," Father Haralambos replied as he shut the door and placed a ribbon to indicate the room was being used as a confessional. He walked forward to come and stand next to Eva. "She passed away a year ago."
Eva stood still for a moment. "She died at my father’s hand."
"She did. Helena Lambros. She was a very talented artist—"
"There’s a painting in my room of the valley with Lambros on the corner."
"How do you remember that?" Father Haralambos sat down at the nearby chair.
"It’s in the same style. It’s a beautiful painting and it’s the last thing I see before I go to sleep. It’s very peaceful and she evokes a time when this place was just a sleepy village," Eva quietly explained. "It talks to me."
"Yes, I remember that painting."
The two remained quiet for a moment before Eva pulled out a folded piece of paper out of her cloak and handed it to Father Haralambos. "That makes four, right? That means the whole family can travel?"
Father Haralambos nodded and smiled at Eva. "That does make four. They will escape."
"How much love that father has for his daughters that he didn’t want to leave them behind until everyone’s papers were in order," Eva said with a touch of amazement in her voice. "To have a father like that…" Eva took a breath. "I’m really glad."
"You have made a difference to these people. The last six months have been heaven-sent for them."
"We may have a problem."
"How so?"
"Nurse Gestapo—"
In The Blood Of The Greeks (Intertwined Souls Series Book 1) Page 9