The Lady of Tarpon Springs

by Judith Miller

  “That’s good to know, and I hope that Felix truly experienced an accidental drop-off and that he wasn’t jeopardizing his own health to meet some quota or other expectation.”

  Nico swallowed hard. Had something he said caused the men to believe he’d placed an unobtainable expectation upon them? Had Felix remained underwater and then accidentally fallen into deeper waters because he had hoped to meet that expectation? Nico didn’t want to believe that was the situation, but the thought gave him pause.

  Nico did his best to push the thought aside for the moment. “How does Felix fare? Is he able to return to camp with us, or does he need to remain in your care?”

  “I’ve put ointment on his eyes and bandaged them, though I don’t know whether what I’ve done will be of any help. He has complained of some pain in his ribs, so I’ve bound them. The most I can say is that my treatment won’t hurt him in any way. I’ve never encountered a medical condition such as this, so I relied upon prayer, God’s guidance, and an old medical book that proved to be of no use at all.” She pressed her palms down the front of her skirt. “I do hope I’m not going to be presented with other medical conditions such as this.”

  “Oh, it can get lots worse than what you saw this morning, Doctor.” The pump handler tightened his lips into a thin line. “My pa was a diver, and he got a terrible case of the bends. He was paralyzed and died a month after. He made me promise to never become a diver.”

  Nico waved the man to silence. “That’s enough. I don’t think the doctor needs to hear all the details.” He forced a small smile. “That’s why I tell my men to follow the rules. If they don’t, they can end up with the squeeze or the bends, and most times there’s no recovery. Being out on the boats isn’t for those of faint heart.”

  “Or those who are wise and wish to live a long and fruitful life.” The doctor folded her arms across her waist. “In answer to your earlier question, I think Felix should remain here—at least for a time. I must be certain he doesn’t develop further problems.” She hesitated a moment. “I don’t know what will happen to his sight, but rest and prayer would be beneficial.”

  By the time Nico returned to camp, the other crew members were either fishing or relaxing in their makeshift cabins. The men had developed a routine since they’d begun their new life. While at the camp, they divided up the chores. There were those who went out and fished and those who prepared the meal once the fishermen returned. For his part, Nico made certain to purchase the necessary staples the men would need for their meals.

  Several men were returning from the beach and held aloft the fish they’d caught. “Time for the cooks to get out of their beds and fix our supper while we sleep,” one of the men called.

  Upon catching sight of Markos, the fishermen came running. Their inquiries about Felix and his well-being rained down like hail in a storm.

  Markos nodded toward Nico. “You can give the men the doctor’s report. I’m not so good with words.”

  Nico didn’t argue, though he was taken aback. Markos had never been one to avoid stating his opinion or speaking in front of others. Perhaps the accident weighed more heavily upon Markos than he’d exhibited at the doctor’s office. For sure, Markos was a man who would never want to show any emotion to the other crew members.

  A somber mood pervaded the camp while Nico gave the medical report. He followed the report with a request that the men pray for Felix, along with another warning to follow the rules. The men agreed to pray, while his words about the rules only resulted in a host of groans from the men. “Following the rules won’t change things when it’s an accident, Nico,” one of the men called out.

  Nico didn’t want to argue with the man. Instead he settled on a roughhewn bench and let the men talk among themselves while he wrestled with his own thoughts. Before sailing from Greece, he knew they would be faced with unforeseen difficulties, but they’d been fortunate and he’d become complacent. This was the first tragedy he’d encountered. There had been the waterspouts on their first venture, yet that hadn’t resulted in injury to any of the men. This was different, however. If Felix didn’t recover, his family would have no source of income. Had he made a mistake bringing the men to a place so far from their families?

  He didn’t know how much time had passed before he felt a nudge and one of the men handed him a bowl of fish stew. Moments later, Mr. Pappas sat down beside him. “No sense letting one incident make you question your decision to come here.”

  Nico startled. “How did you know what I was thinking?”

  “Just a guess. You seem to assume responsibility for everything that happens to these men. A fine attribute for a man so young.”

  “I don’t feel young, especially when something like this happens.” He took a bite of the stew and savored the rich flavor. The men had become excellent cooks over the past months. “I’ve many decisions to make. On our way to the doctor’s office, Markos confided that the crew of the Anastasi thinks I don’t trust them.” He shrugged. “Yet how can I trust a group of men who will not tell me the truth?”

  “Sometimes it takes an outsider to unearth the truth. I told you earlier that I would speak to them. I want to help. Besides, in some ways, my future rests in your hands, too.”

  Nico’s stomach clenched at the comment. The last thing he wanted was another human being dependent upon his ability to operate this sponging business. “What do you mean? How is that possible?”

  Mr. Pappas shrugged. “Now that my New York clients are stocking your sponges, they want nothing else, and neither do their customers. So you see, I need your men to continue harvesting the same quality sponges my customers have become accustomed to receiving.” Mr. Pappas wiped the corners of his mouth. “I don’t promise I’ll be able to solve the problem, but I’ll do my best.”

  “Thank you. I’ll be grateful for anything you can do.” Though he tried to calm his fears, the humidity wrapped around him like a thick blanket that threatened to suffocate him. “Please help me, Lord.” Nico’s prayer was no more than a whisper on the wind, yet it was the most he could offer right now.

  Throughout the evening, Mr. Pappas worked his way through the men, particularly those who sailed on the Anastasi. Nico had taken note that Mr. Pappas took a seat beside Markos, and they talked in hushed tones.

  Later in the evening, when the men pulled out their instruments, Mr. Pappas once again joined them, although he didn’t appear to be enjoying himself. In truth, he clenched his jaw until it twitched. Nico raked his fingers through his unruly hair. It was obvious Mr. Pappas hadn’t fared well in his discussions with the crew.

  As the night wore on, the men took to their beds, and Mr. Pappas bid them all good-night. Nico remained by the campfire, praying for Felix, praying for the men and their families, and praying for a resolution to his problems. His head was throbbing when he finally strode toward his cabin. Without sleep he’d be of no use come morning.

  Nico neared his lean-to, then stopped at the sound of a hissing noise. He held his breath and listened. A snake? He hesitated. There it was again. He glanced around.

  “Nico. Over here.” The urgent whisper came from a stand of oaks draped with low-hanging moss. “It’s me. Adelfo.”

  Nico narrowed his eyes. Shafts of moonlight wove their way through the moss and outlined the shadowy figure of Mr. Pappas. Nico wended his way across the path and into the stand of trees. Strange, he thought Mr. Pappas had already gone back to the hotel. He hoped the older man had been on the lookout for alligators before selecting this spot for a private chat. It bordered the marsh and wasn’t particularly free from danger.

  When he neared the older man, he leaned close. “I’m surprised to see you out here. When you departed a short time ago, I thought you’d seek me out tomorrow and we’d talk.”

  “It’s better we speak tonight. The men will be around town until they sail again. Any one of them could overhear us talking and I wouldn’t want that to happen.” He shifted his weight. “Besides, you
may need some time to consider what I’m about to tell you.”

  Nico inhaled a deep breath and leaned against one of the oaks. “Go ahead. I’m listening.”

  “I spoke with Markos at length—and other members of the crew, as well.”

  “And?”

  “They’re unhappy about you taking over for Felix on the Anastasi the next time she sails.”

  “Why would they be unhappy? I want to go along and examine the sponge beds in the area.”

  Mr. Pappas nodded. “From what I could gather, both Markos and Felix had given their word to Theo, Markos’s brother, that when a diving position opened, he’d be next in line. If you step in and take Felix’s place, Theo will believe they lied to him. Markos knows his brother will be angry with him.”

  The stew that had tasted so good a short time ago now roiled in Nico’s stomach. “I don’t know how they think they would decide who was next in line for any job. They aren’t in charge of assigning positions, or anything else for that matter. I can’t believe they’d tell Theo such a thing.”

  “You know how men can be,” Mr. Pappas said with a sigh. “They want to act as though they have some authority. It makes them feel important. And now with Felix unable to dive, Theo is ready to take his place.” The older man stayed him with his hand. “Before you oppose the idea, Nico, give it some consideration. Markos tells me that Theo is experienced and was diving in Greece, but that he gave up his position as a diver so he could come to America.”

  Nico nodded. “I had already filled the diving positions, but there isn’t a better lifeline tender than Theo. Both Felix and Markos trusted him more than anyone else, but now Markos wants him to dive?”

  “That’s what he told me. I didn’t ask about the—” he hesitated—“what did you call it? Life tender?”

  “Lifeline tender. A signal line or lifeline is attached to the end of the diver’s waist cinch. It’s the only means of communication between the tender and the diver. The diver can tell the tender what he needs by specific pulls on the line. The tender is also careful to make sure the line doesn’t get tangled when the diver is moving along the bottom. A good lifeline tender is as important as any diver.”

  Mr. Pappas tipped his head to the side. “From what you’ve explained, I would have to agree. But Markos tells me that the wages received by divers are greater than the wages paid his brother—is that right?”

  “The payment system here is the same as in Greece. The men are paid a percentage of what we get at auction. Divers receive a higher percentage than line tenders. Theo knew his wages would be less than his brother’s when he signed on to come here. If he didn’t want to accept the lesser wage, he should have remained at home where he could dive.”

  “He’s young and eager. I think it would be wise to let him dive the next time the Anastasi sails. It would create goodwill among the men and show you trust them. If you insist on going on their next outing, it may emphasize your lack of confidence in the crew.” Mr. Pappas tugged at the tip of his mustache. “The decision is yours, of course, but I’ve listened to the men and believe my advice is sound.”

  Nico thanked him for his efforts. “I’m not completely convinced, but I’ll consider what you’ve told me before I make my final decision.”

  The moonlight revealed a sheen of perspiration on the older man’s face. “Give your decision careful thought, Nico. A content crew can prosper your company, while a discontent group can create chaos and failure.”

  There was more truth in the comment than Nico cared to admit. He must weigh his decision with great care.

  CHAPTER

  20

  Nico dropped into a chair near the doors of the warehouse. He bowed and rested his forehead in his cupped palms. “Please, Lord. I need an answer.” The days had passed all too quickly. His prayers had been fervent, yet he’d still been unable to decide if he should sail with the Anastasi or assign Theo to Felix’s diving position. If only the men would be honest with him, he would set aside the past and they could begin anew.

  A part of Nico believed the crew’s trust in him as their leader would be restored if he remained onshore and assigned Theo as a diver on the Anastasi. Yet how was Nico’s trust in the crew to be restored if they wouldn’t speak the truth?

  In his hope to discover what was happening during their voyages in the Gulf, Nico had privately spoken to each member of the Anastasi’s crew. Other than the captain and the divers, not one member of the crew would offer an opinion as to why their harvests had lessened. He didn’t know if they’d been threatened by the captain or the divers—or if they simply desired to remain neutral—but it was strange they chose to remain silent.

  He’d appealed to each man’s conscience and duty as a provider to their families back in Greece. After all, when the sponges were sold, the crews’ wages were a percentage of the harvest. Surely they wanted to increase their wages so they could save money and bring their families to America. Thus far, nothing he’d said had unlocked their lips or their consciences.

  “There isn’t much time, Lord. The boats sail tomorrow at dawn.”

  A hand pressed on his shoulder. He startled and whirled around.

  Zanna smiled down at him. “Have you begun talking to yourself?”

  He shook his head. “I was praying. I need to decide who will replace Felix when the Anastasi sails tomorrow.”

  “The men continue to withhold the truth from you?”

  Like a sword swooshing through the air, her words hit their mark. “Other than the captain and divers, they choose to remain silent.”

  She looked down at him, her eyes revealing sadness—or was it pity? He didn’t desire pity. He wanted an answer. Until now, Zanna had withheld any opinion on the matter. He’d not asked for one, and she’d remained as silent as his spongers. He wasn’t certain why he hadn’t asked . . . perhaps a matter of pride? Yet he’d come to value her ideas and judgment over these past months.

  He gestured to an empty chair. “What about you? What do you think? Should I take Felix’s place or should I assign Theo?”

  She tipped her head to the side and met his gaze. “I don’t know if I should offer my opinion. I’m a bit biased.”

  His mouth dropped open. “So you’ve talked to Mr. Pappas and think he’s right?”

  “Mr. Pappas?” She frowned and shook her head. “No, I’ve not spoken with him. What part does he play in all this?”

  Nico detailed his recent conversation with the sponge buyer. Though her brow had furrowed several times while he spoke, Zanna hadn’t interrupted. When he’d completed the tale, Nico’s eyes darkened. “So? What do you think? Should I take his advice? I noticed you appeared concerned several times as I spoke. Do you have questions?”

  She offered a delicate smile. “I do.” She tapped her index finger on the arm of her chair. “First, I’m curious why the crew members were willing to talk to Mr. Pappas when they don’t seem to want to express their feelings to you. They know you, while he’s practically a stranger to them.”

  Nico returned her smile. “You’re right, but I think it’s because he is an outsider. He doesn’t have anything to gain no matter what is decided. Besides, they didn’t tell him what was happening out in the Gulf, which is what I truly would like to know. Instead they told him what Markos had already said to me—they think I don’t trust them.”

  She frowned. “So they believed that by having Mr. Pappas argue their case on behalf of Theo, it would carry more weight than speaking to you on their own?”

  “I think so. In some ways, it does help to have the opinion of an outsider like Mr. Pappas.” He gestured back and forth between Zanna and himself. “We oversee and make decisions for the business, so the crew likely believes all decisions are for the benefit of the company, not for them. Mr. Pappas doesn’t have a dog in the fight, so they think his words will carry more weight with me.”

  “And do they? Carry more weight? Because I don’t think they should. Mr. Pappas doesn’t know everyt
hing about the business or about sponging. The two of us are the ones who know what profits are made on the harvests from each boat.” She nodded toward the water. “And you’re the one who has knowledge about diving as well as the life-and-death situations the crews face out there.”

  “That’s true, but I still think an outsider can be more objective.”

  “Perhaps. Although you can’t be certain Mr. Pappas is truly objective.”

  There was a ring of anger in her words. What did that mean? She was speaking in riddles. Was she angry because he’d considered the older man’s opinion before he asked for hers?

  “Why wouldn’t he be? Other than being able to purchase more sponges for his clients, what gain is there for him in any of this?”

  She shrugged. “I don’t know. Even so, you need to make your decision based upon your own knowledge rather than anything Mr. Pappas says. Is Theo a good diver? Do you trust his abilities? Is he known to follow the rules you’ve put in place? Would he take your direction above that of his brother or the other crew members? Is your presence needed on the boat more than in Tarpon Springs? Do you think that your questions will be answered if you’re on board the Anastasi on her next sailing?”

  Nico massaged his forehead. “I wanted answers, not more questions, but let me see if I can answer all that. Then perhaps the two of us will arrive at a solution. In answer to your first questions, yes, Theo is a good diver. Well trained, though he doesn’t have quite as much experience as his brother. Second, I want to believe he would follow my rules and directions above those of any other crew member, but I want to believe that of all my men. I have no way to be certain. As to where I am needed the most, well, I’m not certain of that, either.”

  She nodded. “And if you sail with the Anastasi, do you think you’ll finally discover who is telling the truth?”

  “I have my doubts. The captain could tell me he’s taking the boat to the same place he’s always sailed, yet Markos could say the opposite.” He ran a hand through his hair. “There’s no easy answer. What do you think is best?”