YANNIS (Cretan Saga Book 1)

by Beryl Darby

  ‘You can’t tell me any more about him?’

  ‘He wasn’t from round here. I think he said his name was Minos.’

  Doctor Stavros felt he had come to a dead end. ‘Are you able to let me have anything at all? You can mark it out to me and requisition for more to replace it.’

  The matron cast her eyes down the list. ‘I’ve some aspirin and a little morphine. I’m waiting for disinfectant. Would methylated spirits be any use?’

  ‘Yes, anything that cleanses.’

  ‘I’ll get the caretaker to get a parcel ready for you. Come back tomorrow.’

  With that Doctor Stavros had to be content. He must now decide which day he was going to visit the island each week and make a regular arrangement with Manolis. He sat on the sea wall and looked out across the bay, watching other fishermen return, sort their catch and hang their nets up to dry. There was no sign of Manolis and his boat was missing from its usual mooring place. A priest walked past, his companion not yet ordained and they scanned the boats eagerly.

  ‘He’s not back yet.’

  ‘I can’t wait. I’ll have to get back or I’ll be too late to beg for the day off tomorrow.’

  Father Minos smiled. ‘I’ll arrange a time with Manolis and see you later.’

  Father Minos sat on the wall and waited. There was nothing more he could do. It was far too late to think of going out to the island that day, better to wait for the fisherman to return and make an early start the following morning. The man in the suit who was sitting a few yards away had taken a great interest in their conversation.

  ‘Good day.’ The man moved closer after Father Minos had greeted him.

  ‘Good day to you. I couldn’t help overhearing. I understand you are waiting to speak to Manolis, the fisherman?’

  ‘I am.’

  ‘Would you, by any chance, be the mysterious priest I keep hearing about? The one who bought bandages from the hospital and who has sent out sand and cement to the island?’

  Father Minos smiled. ‘There’s nothing mysterious about me, but I have had some dealings with those unfortunate people.’

  Doctor Stavros held out his hand. ‘I’m pleased to meet you. I’m Doctor Stavros. I’ve been placed in charge of the island.’

  Father Minos shook the doctor’s hand vigorously. ‘You don’t know how pleased I am to meet you. I went to Doctor Kandakis and he all but threw me out. All I wanted was permission to visit the island.’

  ‘You’ve been before?’

  ‘Twice. The first time I held a service from the boat, the second time I went ashore and met the people. They are so brave. My heart went out to them.’ He watched the doctor cautiously. ‘I have a dream, an ambition, but maybe it’s not possible.’

  The doctor looked at the priest enquiringly. ‘Do go on.’

  ‘I want to live with them, as part of their community, helping them with their daily life, giving comfort where I can.’ The priest’s face seemed to glow with an inner resolve.

  ‘How does the Bishop feel about your ambition?’

  ‘I’ve not approached him yet, but I intend to do so as soon as I return.’

  ‘Have the medical authorities given you permission?’

  ‘I thought I should ask the doctor in charge of the island first.’

  Doctor Stavros shrugged. ‘Who am I to say yes or no? If you have the necessary permission from the authorities I’ll not stand in your way. In fact, you could be quite useful to me over there.’

  ‘Useful? I know nothing about medicine,’ Father Minos hastened to assure him.

  ‘A priest has the confidence of his people. I’ve only visited the island a few times, and I was appalled at their conditions, but they seem somewhat hostile towards me. I want to do my best for them, but to do that they have to trust me. Maybe you could persuade them?’

  ‘I could never betray anything told to me during a confession.’

  ‘I would simply ask you to convince them that I have their welfare at heart.’

  A boat rounded the headland and both men sprang to their feet and went to the edge of the quay. Manolis frowned as he moored his craft, expecting trouble.

  ‘What’s wrong?’

  ‘Nothing,’ replied Doctor Stavros. ‘I merely wished to make a regular arrangement with you to take me to the island every Thursday.’

  Manolis shrugged. ‘If you wish.’ He wondered if he dared to ask for an extra drachma each time he took the doctor, although he was being paid to ferry across the goods that Father Minos had ordered. He decided it was a legitimate request, as he would have to await the doctor’s convenience before returning. ‘I’ll have to ask you to pay me for waiting time.’ He flashed his teeth in a cheeky smile.

  ‘How much?’

  ‘I’ll take you over and back for nothing, it will be one drachma for waiting for you.’

  Doctor Stavros smiled. Manolis could have named a far higher price. He shook his head. ‘I can’t afford that every week. It’s not my money, you understand. I have to account for everything I spend to the authorities and I don’t think they’ve included a travelling allowance.’

  Manolis pretended to consider also. ‘It’s my time. I may have to wait all day for you as I did before. Whilst I’m waiting I can’t be earning.’

  ‘We could arrange a time for you to come back for me. You could then go and fish.’

  ‘Maybe, but suppose you wished to leave earlier?’

  ‘I’d just have to wait. Fifty lepta, you drop me and collect me. No need to sit and wait.’

  ‘Very well.’ Manolis shook hands to seal the bargain. ‘In advance.’

  ‘In advance,’ agreed the doctor, ‘although where I would run away to I do not know.’

  Father Minos was amused at Manolis’s audacity, knowing he was being paid a drachma each time he took out a load of goods, and that left him ample time for fishing.

  ‘I presume the same fee holds good for me? I’d like you to take me out tomorrow.’

  Manolis grinned. He had charged a drachma before and the priest had not demurred. ‘You drive hard bargains,’ he complained. ‘I’m only a poor fisherman.’

  ‘At this rate you’ll soon be a wealthy fisherman,’ commented the doctor.

  ‘I’ll see you at seven. My young friend will be with me. Are you going to charge me extra for him?’

  For a second Manolis dared to hesitate as if considering. ‘Out of the goodness of my heart I shall pretend I did not see him.’

  Father Minos shook his head in assumed despair. ‘Seven,’ he reminded Manolis and began to walk slowly along the quay. Doctor Stavros hurried after him.

  ‘Please, come back to my house. I should like to talk to you.’

  ‘Very well.’ Father Minos had nothing more pressing to do and a few hours would have to elapse before he could meet Andreas again. He followed the doctor between the rows of fishermen’s cottages and up the slight rise of the hill.

  The island loomed into view, looking deserted as always when one approached, and to Manolis’s surprise Flora was not on the quay to greet them. Father Minos and Andreas stepped ashore and walked through the arch. People looked up as they approached, shouting to each other that the priest was there and someone should tell Yannis.

  ‘Where is he?’ asked Andreas.

  ‘Down by the fountain.’

  They followed the path down to the square where they found Yannis labouring with a mix of cement, the sweat pouring off him and the muscles in his arms straining. Andreas called to him. ‘Yannis, what are you up to?’

  Yannis grinned. ‘What does it look like? I’ll be with you when this mix is ready.’ He continued to labour for a further quarter of an hour before wiping his face with his shirt and throwing himself onto a pile of sacks full of sand. He scanned the building where two men were applying a skin of cement to the stones that made up the side of the house.

  ‘No, not like that,’ he leapt to his feet. ‘It mus
t be thin.’ He took the trowel from the man’s hand and spread the cement out, covering twice the area, then handed it back. ‘If they put too much on at once I’ll be mixing again in no time.’

  ‘How’s it going, Yannis?’

  ‘Slow and tiring. I shan’t be able to make another mix for a couple of hours. You need two hands to work the shovel, so I’m a bit limited in my choice of workers. It’s the same with everything we try. We haven’t got the stamina. So many of them have a useless limb that I can’t ask them to climb a ladder, so most of the harder work falls on the few. But we’re winning. Come and see what we’ve done over here.’

  Yannis led the way to a tall house that was still bare masonry interlaced with timber and sticks, the gaps plugged with slivers of stone. The windows were still open and the house unoccupied. Yannis led the way inside.

  ‘Look,’ he pointed towards the ceiling where joists had been laid to provide an upper floor. Father Minos and Andreas examined the structure. The room had been divided into three small units with the walls providing resting places for the thick timbers.

  ‘We didn’t have any longer lengths so we thought we’d try doing it this way. When we get some boards we’ll floor it over and there’ll be living quarters for about six.’

  Father Minos nodded in appreciation. ‘What made you think of doing that?’

  ‘I’d been thinking about it for ages, but I didn’t know how to go about it. We’ve just had some new friends arrive and a couple of them are going to be invaluable to us,’ his eyes glowed with enthusiasm.

  ‘Is that what you call new arrivals? Friends?’ asked Andreas.

  ‘Why not? We have to call them something. Come and see Panicos. He seems a good deal better since he started having goat’s milk.’

  They followed him to where Panicos was sitting in the early morning sun. He attempted to rise and they hurriedly motioned him to stay where he was. Father Minos sat down beside him; the man did look a little fitter than when he had last seen him. By his side nestled a kid, Panicos stroking its head fondly.

  ‘How’s Mamma?’ Yannis took the opportunity to ask Andreas.

  ‘About the same; I haven’t seen her myself, but Pappa goes each week.’

  ‘Why so often?’

  Andreas shrugged. ‘I’ve no idea. Business he says. Did you get my letter?’

  Yannis’s face saddened. ‘Poor Maria; poor Babbis, too. Why is life so unfair to some people?’

  ‘I wish I knew the answer to that, Yannis.’

  ‘What’s happened to the baby?’

  ‘I thought I said, Anna’s looking after him.’

  ‘Anna? Why? What’s wrong with Babbis’s mother?’

  ‘He says it would be too much for her. Personally I think he blames little Yannis for Maria’s death and can’t come to terms with the child yet.’

  Yannis pursed his lips. ‘Poor little boy! Why did they call him Yannis?’

  ‘It was Maria’s choice. After you – and your Pappa,’ added Andreas.

  Yannis felt sentimental tears come into his eyes. ‘Babbis didn’t mind?’

  ‘If Maria had asked him for the moon he would have tried to get it for her.’

  Yannis nodded. ‘He’s a good man. How’s Anna coping?’

  ‘It’s been hard, with your mother and the rest of the family to look after.’

  ‘Poor little Anna! Her whole life has become one long round of looking after people.’

  ‘She does enjoy it,’ Andreas assured him. ‘She’s highly thought of in the village, now the Widow can’t get about much.’

  ‘Oh, well, so long as she’s happy.’

  ‘Stelios is going to school in Aghios Nikolaos in September.’

  ‘Really? I hope he enjoys it and does well. What’s happened to Mr Pavlakis – and Louisa?’ he added.

  ‘Father Minos would know more than I do about him.’ Andreas beckoned and the priest walked over to them. ‘Yannis was asking about Mr Pavlakis.’

  Father Minos raised his eyebrows and looked quizzically at Yannis. ‘He’s quite a public figure now. A member of the local government and aiming to rise higher.’

  ‘And Louisa?’

  ‘She appeared well. She has a child, you know.’ Father Minos watched Yannis’s reaction to his words.

  ‘Only one? I would have expected another by now,’ answered Yannis calmly. ‘Does she still work in the taverna?’

  ‘So I understand, her brother’s still there also.’

  Yannis nodded. ‘It all seems so long ago. Come up to Phaedra and Kyriakos. They’ll be pleased to see you.’

  ‘Where’s Flora? Manolis seemed quite downcast when she wasn’t there to greet us.’

  Yannis’s face became grave. ‘Spiro’s with her; she’s very sick.’

  ‘Her arm?’

  ‘It’s spread so suddenly. Spiro says it’s only a matter of time. The silly little girl said nothing, she must have been in pain for weeks.’

  ‘Didn’t the doctor see her when he came?’

  ‘He doesn’t have time to see everybody and she avoided him. I wish I knew what was going on. We’re left alone for God knows how long, then suddenly a doctor visits us.’ He turned to Father Minos, a look of terror in his eyes. ‘What are they planning to do with us?’

  ‘Do with you? Why, nothing.’

  Yannis looked at the priest in disbelief. ‘There’s something going on.’

  ‘If there is I hope it’s for your good. When I left here I went to Doctor Kandakis. He was most unhelpful, so as soon as I was back in Heraklion I wrote to the authorities. I heard nothing, so I wrote again to the doctor who did not reply. I visited him yesterday and he said he’d resigned his responsibility for the island and had no idea who was in charge. I was waiting for Manolis to return when I bumped into Doctor Stavros.’

  Yannis still did not appear convinced. ‘I suppose Doctor Stavros talked about building hospitals, latrines and burial grounds?’

  Father Minos smiled. ‘He did and he’s right. He thought I’d sent over sand and cement for you to build a church! He’s a good man, Yannis, he has your interest at heart.’

  ‘I thought he was just going to write another report for the authorities. I was surprised when he came again.’

  ‘He’s going to come every Thursday. I was there when he arranged it with Manolis.’

  ‘Maybe he’ll have some medicine for Flora when he comes,’ suggested Andreas.

  ‘Maybe. Let’s go and have a look at her.’

  The young girl was lying on a mattress in the house she now shared with Phaedra. Spiro looked up as the figures blocked the doorway.

  ‘She’s still delirious. You can’t confess her until the fever breaks.’ He mopped her forehead again with a damp rag.

  Andreas plucked at the priest’s sleeve. ‘The doctor – Manolis would go.’

  ‘Manolis has probably gone fishing.’

  ‘I’ll go and see. If he’s still there I’ll tell him he must fetch the doctor.’ Without waiting for an answer he was gone, running up the path and down through the archway to the port. Manolis’s boat was bobbing gently at the quay and Andreas gave a sigh of relief.

  ‘Manolis! Manolis!’

  His head turned, he had waited, hoping Flora would put in an appearance.

  ‘We need the doctor,’ gasped Andreas. ‘You must get him. Tell him it’s urgent.’

  Manolis did not stop to question Andreas regarding his mission. He raised his hand as he cast off, hoping the wind would hold and wishing he had a motor engine. Andreas watched as the boat rounded the island and was lost from view. Slowly Andreas walked back to the house where the sick girl lay.

  ‘He’s gone,’ he announced. Father Minos was on his knees beside Flora, holding his crucifix in his hands and praying fervently. Andreas joined him in his intonation, whilst Yannis crossed himself and left the house. He could be more useful elsewhere.

  Phaedra climbed to the top of th
e island and scanned the horizon. She had reckoned without Manolis’s common sense as she looked across the open sea. Manolis had started on the usual route and then remembered the canal. It was hard work taking the sails down and manoeuvring the shallow water on his own, but it would take almost an hour off his journey. He returned the same way, urging the doctor to lower his head to clear the concrete bridge.

  He had repeated Andreas’s message and urged him to hurry, fretting at the delay whilst the doctor visited the hospital to collect the parcel of medication that had been promised to him. To the doctor’s enquiry regarding the patient Manolis could not help. He had no idea who the patient was and the doctor had a horrible suspicion that there had been an accident.

  Phaedra stumbled down from the rocky plateau where she had been keeping watch and hurried down the path to where once again Yannis was supervising the cement skin to a house. ‘There’s a boat coming. It could be Manolis.’

  This time Yannis did not hesitate, but followed Phaedra down to the quay where Manolis was just mooring. The doctor scrambled ashore, waiting until Manolis could hand up his bag and push a box on to the jetty for him.

  ‘Who’s my patient?’

  ‘Flora. She has gangrene.’

  ‘Flora!’ Manolis face had paled and he leapt ashore. ‘Where is she? Show me the way. Why didn’t anyone tell me when I arrived this morning?’

  ‘You can’t go to her. She’ll be all right. The doctor’s here.’

  ‘I’ll show you. Follow me.’ Phaedra pushed her way between the men and Manolis followed her gratefully.

  ‘Tell me about this girl.’

  Yannis picked up the box Manolis had left on the quay. ‘Is this yours?’ The doctor nodded and Yannis continued. ‘She’s not very old, maybe fifteen or sixteen. Her arm’s been getting steadily worse, then her temperature shot up a couple of days ago and this morning she was delirious.’

  ‘You’re sure it’s gangrenous?’

  Yannis nodded.

  ‘Why didn’t you tell me? I’d have made her a priority when I was here. She’s the little girl who greets the boats, isn’t she?’

  ‘She seemed all right and never complained.’ Yannis pointed to Phaedra’s house. ‘She’s in there. Spiro’s with her.’