by Beryl Darby
‘I’ve wandered down to the harbour, but I don’t know the way to the High School.’
‘Certainly I will. Maybe Louisa could come with us. She knows her way far better than I. I’ll ask her.’ Yiorgo went into the kitchen, returning a few moments later looking downcast. ‘She says she will be busy this afternoon.’
They walked first down to the port, the teacher pointing out the impressive Venetian fort that guarded the harbour entrance. From a kiosk on the corner Yannis purchased stamps for his letters and when they reached the Square he was able to post them. Together they strolled down the main street, which Yannis recognised from his arrival. They walked through the market at Yannis’s request and he was fascinated by the variety of goods on sale. He resisted the temptation to spend money on novelties he had never seen before, but when they reached the street of the cobblers he insisted on trying a pair of high, shiny boots and purchasing them.
‘What I want now,’ said Yannis, ‘Is a silver chain for my neck.’
Yiorgo looked somewhat surprised, but agreed to take him to a reputable jeweller on their way back to the taverna. The façade of the school left him unimpressed, and he turned away from it after a few minutes, looking around to fix the location in his mind.
‘Look!’
‘What at?’
‘Over there.’ Yannis pointed. ‘The museum. Can we go in?’
‘If you want. I told you I was disappointed, just a jumble of old pottery and faded labels.’
They made their way inside the building and Yannis gazed in bewilderment at the dark glass cases with pottery arranged haphazardly inside and an occasional complete vessel.
‘It’s such a mess,’ said Yannis sadly. ‘Most of it you can’t see properly, and if you can see it there’s no label saying what it is. That piece there is the same as in the previous case. It all needs sorting out.’
‘I’ve seen much better museums in Rome and Turin,’ agreed Yiorgo. ‘The one in Athens is remarkable, but this…’ he shrugged eloquently. ‘Shall we go?’
‘Do we have to? I wanted to look more closely at some of it.’
Yiorgo sighed; he was bored. Taking his pocket watch out he studied it carefully. ‘I think it would be better if you returned another time, if you want to buy that chain tonight.’
Regretfully Yannis agreed and followed his companion out through a dimly lit hall, noticing for the first time the old man sitting on a chair in the corner.
‘Who’s that? Are we supposed to pay him?’
‘I’ve no idea. I’ll give him a coin.’ Yiorgo dropped a lepta into the earthenware pot that stood at the man’s feet. He touched his forehead and looked after them as if wondering where they had come from.
Once outside Yannis stopped abruptly. ‘Where’s the library?’
‘A street away; I’ll show you as we pass.’
‘Can you arrange for me to borrow some books?’
‘I’m sure the High School will arrange that for you.’
‘I want one now,’ Yannis spoke urgently. ‘I want to read about the finds they have in the museum, then when I return I might know what I’m looking at.’
Yiorgo resigned himself to spending at least an hour in the library and was pleasantly surprised when Yannis quickly selected two books and expressed his wish to return to the taverna as soon as he had purchased a chain.
On reaching the taverna Yannis retired to his room. First he fixed the silver charm to the chain and hung it round his neck, he then eased his feet into his new boots. Sitting on his bed, his legs elevated so he could admire his new footwear frequently, he opened the first of his books from the library. He had chosen well, each book contained illustrations of the pottery, which was in the museum, the original location, and the approximate date of manufacture. On more than one occasion he went to the shelf and picked up a piece of his own pottery to compare with a line drawing. His excitement knew no bounds when he finally decided his coin was a tetradrachm and would have been minted around 490 B.C.
During their meal he could not stop talking about the pottery and Louisa and Pavlos were amazed at the change in him. He appeared to have come to life before their eyes, questioning Pavlos about the finds that had been made at Knossos and asking to be taken the following weekend to see the site for himself.
The ringing of the church bells woke Yannis early the following morning and he remembered his promise to his mother to attend services. His hand hesitated on the silver charm. Should he take it off? He decided to leave it and buttoned his shirt so that it would not show. Unlocking the taverna door he crept out quietly and made his way to the main road.
The church was not difficult to find, but after the tiny church in Plaka where he had worshipped and the larger one in Aghios Nikolaos this one was enormous. Over-awed Yannis took a seat at the very back. He concentrated little on the service and spent the time gazing around. He had never seen such magnificence in his life. He bought two candles from the blind man who was sitting on the steps and lit them both to the Virgin Mary before placing his lips reverently on her picture and kneeling to pray. Finally he rose and once outside took deep breaths of the fresh air to clear his head after the smell of incense.
He walked past the museum, and, as he had expected, it was closed. He sat on the harbour wall and watched the fishermen unloading their catch, before he strolled out to the Venetian fort, walking as far as he could around each landward side and wished he could go inside the massive, barred entrance to look at the interior. He wondered idly if the one on Spinalonga was as large and if that was where the lepers made their home.
That evening the taverna seemed to be quite busy when Yannis finally dragged himself away from his books and went down for a meal. Louisa smiled briefly at him as he entered.
‘The hermit has come to honour us with his presence,’ she announced.
Yannis flushed and slid into an empty chair between Pavlos and Yiorgo. He tried to follow the conversation, finally asking Yiorgo what he was talking about. The teacher explained he was discussing the foreign policy of Greece, but Yannis was none the wiser. He wondered if he could introduce himself to the young men who were laughing and joking together and if they would accept his company. One of them looked his way and he smiled tentatively, risking a rebuff he walked over to their table.
‘Hello. May I join you?’
‘Certainly. I’m Costas. This is Dimitris and this is Nicolas.’ The young man waved his hands.
Yannis shook hands with each of them. ‘I’m Yannis. I’ve only just come to Heraklion.’
‘Are you looking for work?’
‘No, I’ve come to study at the High School.’
Nicolas rolled his eyes. ‘You are looking for work, then! What are you studying?’
‘Classical Greek and History.’
Nicolas whistled. ‘Rather you than me.’
‘There’s nothing wrong with that.’ The boy who had been introduced as Dimitris came to Yannis’s defence.
Nicolas shrugged. ‘Just because you enjoy studying.’
Yannis turned to him with interest. ‘Are you at the High School?’
Dimitris nodded. ‘I’m studying mathematics. I want to go into banking.’
‘Will you have to go to University?’
‘Oh, no, once I’ve finished at High School I can start work.’
‘His Pappa happens to be the manager of the local bank,’ put in Costas with a grin. ‘What does your Pappa do?’
‘He’s a farmer.’
There was an imperceptible silence. ‘I thought he would be a teacher,’ Costas tried to cover their lapse of etiquette.
‘Whatever gave you that idea?’
Costas shrugged. ‘I don’t know. The subjects you’re taking, I suppose. Didn’t you want to be a farmer?’
‘No. I waste too much time looking for things in the fields. I’d never get any work done.’
‘What things?’ Three pairs of eyes looked
at Yannis curiously.
‘Pottery, mostly, but I’ve also found a bottle and a coin.’
‘What kind of pottery?’ Dimitris was genuinely interested.
Yannis began an enthusiastic description of the different types of pottery he had found in his father’s fields. They listened for a while; then he sensed they were bored. ‘Tell me about yourselves,’ he said, by way of changing the subject. ‘I seem to have been monopolising the conversation.’
‘You know about me. I’m studying mathematics, my Pappa is a banker and I also plan to be a banker.’ Dimitris signalled to Louisa to bring some more wine.
Costas took up the conversation. ‘Nicos is going to be a doctor. He’s the clever one, and I’m nothing.’
‘You can’t be nothing.’
Costas yawned and stretched his hands above his head. ‘I can. I’m not very good at anything. I don’t know what to do with myself, so my Pappa said I’d have to go to High School for a couple of years to make up my mind.’
‘What does your Pappa do?’
Costas grinned. ‘Nothing.’
‘Nothing!’ Yannis could hardly believe his ears. ‘He must do something.’
‘No, he has no need. He won a lot of money on the lottery.’
‘You’re joking!’
‘I’m telling the truth, aren’t I?’
Dimitris and Nicolas nodded. ‘Incredible though it might seem, this layabout will always have more money than the three of us put together, however hard we work,’ remarked Dimitris. ‘He’s trying terribly hard to spend it.’
Yannis looked at the three young men. He found them interesting and amusing. ‘Could I meet you on Monday before school? So we could go in together? I’m terribly nervous.’
‘There’s no point in going in on Monday. I’m not bothering.’ Costas refilled their glasses.
‘You have to go in on Monday. That’s when the term starts.’
‘That’s when they say it starts. That’s to get everyone there to take their names and addresses, give them some books and tell them to be good and work hard. They have my name and address, I can collect the books on Tuesday, and I have no intention of being good and working hard.’ Costas looked at the others, daring them to challenge his decision.
‘What will you do instead?’ Yannis found his attitude hard to comprehend.
Costas rolled his eyes. ‘What shall I be doing? I shall spend the day with the most beautiful girl you have ever seen.’
Nicolas and Dimitris exchanged glances. ‘Take no notice of him, Yannis. Every week he has a beautiful girl who he’s in love with, by the end of the week he’s met someone more beautiful.’
‘This time it’s different,’ insisted Costas. ‘This is the only girl in the world for me.’
‘Last week Elena was.’
‘And before that it was Maria.’
‘They were nothing,’ Costas waved his hands airily. ‘Now I’ve met Penelope I’ll never love anyone else.’
Dimitris winked at Yannis. ‘Ignore him. Have you got a girl?’
Yannis nodded. ‘I’m betrothed to my cousin. She’s going to be a nurse.’
‘Is she beautiful?’ asked Costas.
‘Probably not by your standards,’ smiled Yannis.
The boys continued to talk, continually refilling their glasses, until Yannis realised he had drunk far more than usual and hoped he would not regret it in the morning. Twice he tried to leave them, only to be drawn back into the conversation, until at last he spoke firmly.
‘I’ve really enjoyed this evening, but for me it has to end now. I’ll meet you at school, on the steps at seven thirty.’ He placed some coins on the table. ‘For my share of the wine.’
Costas shook his head. ‘I’m paying tonight. Save it for next time. We take it in turns to foot the bill.’
Yannis turned to Dimitris and Nicolas, both of them nodded in confirmation.
The morning came too soon and it was with great reluctance that Yannis dragged himself from his bed when Louisa knocked with hot water for him. He groaned. He had been foolish to drink so much. By the time he had drunk three cups of sweet black coffee he felt a little better, managing to finish the roll he had been toying with. Mr Pavlakis appeared none the worse, although Yannis knew he had stayed in the taverna drinking long after him. Together they walked to the main road where Yiorgo stopped.
‘You know your way from here, don’t you? Have a good day. I’ll see you this evening.’ With a wave of his hand he was gone and Yannis suddenly felt very much alone. He hoped his friends of the night before would be on the steps to meet him as they had promised.
As he drew closer to the school he could see more young men hurrying in the same direction. Outside the building were little groups, chatting animatedly, all appearing to know each other. Yannis hesitated uncertainly at the foot of the steps whilst others jostled past him. He jumped with surprise when a hand clapped him on the back.
‘You’ve arrived first. We’ll give Dimitris a few minutes; then go in.’ The friendly grin on Nicolas’s face restored Yannis’s confidence.
‘I’m glad you’re here. There seem to be an awful lot of us.’
‘Three hundred, I expect. That’s the usual number. There’s Dimitris.’ Nicolas began to wave wildly above Yannis’s head and Dimitris pushed his way to their side.
Once inside the building the scene that met Yannis’s eyes was one of total confusion. There were three men seated at desks taking down details from each student. The first took their names and addresses, confirming they were on the list for that term, the second checked the details of their course and handed out a book list, the third gave them a ticket for the library, the name of their tutor and the room number where they would find him.
‘What do I do now?’
‘Follow us.’
Dimitris and Nicolas began to elbow their way through the throng of students until they reached a wide staircase. Once there they compared lists and looked on each door for their room numbers. Dimitris and Nicolas quickly found theirs and decided Yannis must be on the floor above. The upper floor was a replica of the one below and Yannis found his room at the far end. The top floor housed the library and it was there that the three boys found a long queue.
‘Maybe Costas was right not to come today,’ murmured Nicolas. ‘I’ll give it an hour, then I’m off to the nearest taverna.’
Despite the queue their wait was well under an hour, by which time they were bowed down by the weight of books, all of which had to be signed for and they were told the penalty for loss or damage was the cost of a replacement and a fine for carelessness.
‘Let’s dump these and go to a taverna,’ suggested Nicolas. ‘Meet you down on the steps.’
They clattered their way down the stone staircase, leaving Yannis to go to his room. Timidly he pushed the door open with his foot and then stood hesitantly in the doorway. He cleared his throat.
‘Excuse me, may I sit anywhere?’
The grey haired man who had been reading scrutinized the youth. ‘What’s your name?’
‘Yannis Christoforakis.’
A well-manicured finger ran its way down a list of names. The man looked at Yannis with renewed interest. ‘Scholarship, I see. Well done. Sit where you please. You’re first, so the choice can be yours.’
Yannis walked to the centre desk in the middle row. ‘Will my books be safe if I leave them for a short while?’
‘I should think so. Write your name on this paper and leave it on the top. Where are you off to?’
‘I’ve arranged to meet my friends for coffee. That is allowed, isn’t it?’
‘I shall start the class in three quarters of an hour.’
‘I’ll be back,’ promised Yannis.
Arm in arm the trio made their way to the nearest taverna and ordered coffee and baklava. Nicolas rolled a cigarette and offered it to Yannis. For a moment Yannis hesitated, then accepted. He did not wa
nt to lose face in front of these new friends by admitting that he did not smoke. He drew on it slowly and exhaled a cloud of smoke, which stung his eyes.
‘I didn’t know you smoked, Nicos.’
Dimitris laughed. ‘He’s been practising. He started this morning.’
Nicolas looked at his cigarette. ‘I quite like it, provided I don’t swallow too much smoke and start to choke.’
Yannis drew on his again, this time allowing the smoke to trickle down his throat, enjoying the acrid taste. He began to cough. He tried to draw breath, but his cough increased, his eyes began to stream with tears. He gulped a mouthful of water and to his relief the coughing subsided. ‘I see what you mean.’ He drew again tentatively, this time exhaling some of the smoke and managing not to cough.
The day passed uneventfully for Yannis, reading passages from the Iliad and discussing them, each being encouraged to give their own interpretation of the text. At four o’clock a bell was heard and the tutor looked up in surprise.
‘Is it lunch time?’
‘No, sir, it’s the end of lessons for today.’
The tutor frowned and took a timepiece from his pocket, holding it to his ear and checking it was still working. Finally convinced he turned to the class.
‘Very well, homework. You are to read the first book of the ‘Iliad’ and make a character study of Telemachus. I only want the information you gather from the first book, don’t go on further. You will then read it tomorrow in the first lesson and we shall discuss the points each of you have found out and see if we are all in agreement. If we are not that will lead to further discussion and it will be up to the pupil to convince the class that he has discovered something the others have missed, or change their opinion. There could be some interesting results.’ The beady brown eyes flickered over the class, resting momentarily on each pupil. ‘You may go now.’
Yannis gathered his books under his arm and made for the door.
‘What’s your rush?’ asked Vassilis who sat next to Yannis.
‘I want to get to the museum and see if they’re still open.’