“Go to live with Stelios Makris, if he will have them.”
“Good. We need a plan of action. I fear that we have now entered the depths of hell and that no one on this island is safe. ”
They both fell silent.
“Is the war lost, Dionysis?”
“No, Elena. Nothing is ever truly lost. There is always hope and that is what we need to keep hold of now,” he said, and then paused. “I need you to do something, Elena. Regardless of what happens, you need to stay close to the Italian soldier. He is a captain, and if the Italians remain on the island, he will be party to a lot of information. He will still be of great use to us.”
“Yes, Dionysis.”
“We should go. But heed my warning Elena: these Germans are vile and dangerous people. You saw what they did to Loukas Sarkis and he was on their side. Take care and watch your back.”
This time, he departed first and disappeared into the trees. Elena sat to catch her breath and take everything in. She knew that she was now playing a very dangerous game. The Germans, as they had already proven, would stop at nothing to get what they wanted. For the first time in her life, Elena was truly scared and she wondered how she was going to find the strength to carry on.
~
Mayor Vallis and Bishop Ioannou sat uncomfortably at the large dining table in Commandant Brandt’s newly acquired house, waiting for him to appear. The German Army had set up their official headquarters just outside of Zakynthos Town, but Commandant Brandt liked all the pleasures in life and had heard about the good work that the Sarkis man had done with the Italians. It seemed the Sarkis family lived in luxury compared to most islanders, and the commandant saw that he was right when he finally got his hands on the house. It was filled with good furniture, and a lot of food and wine. There was plenty of space and he liked feeling as though he was lord of the manor. He thought about the two men who would be sitting and waiting for him to appear, but wait they would. He was having breakfast at his leisure and no one would rush him, not even a man of god, if the bishop could call himself that. He assumed that they had both heard the rumours of the Sarkis man’s death. Captain Cipriani had told him much about the island already and it seemed that news travelled quickly here.
Sitting in silence, the two men continued to wait for the commandant. Their nerves were heightened, and the wait was beginning to get to them. When the commandant’s summons had first arrived, they were both hesitant. They had seen the activity in Zakynthos Town and inwardly mourned the loss of the Greek flags as they were stripped from their poles to be replaced with the blood red flag sporting its evil swastika. Neither wanted to meet with the commandant and they wondered why they had been brought here instead of being taken to the German headquarters in town. They had been sitting at the table in relative silence for almost half an hour now, waiting for Commandant Brandt to appear, but as yet there was no sign of him.
“If he does not come soon, I am leaving. The Germans may think they are in control, but I am still mayor of this island, and they cannot order me around like this!”
“Hush. You will only antagonise them. Be still, my old friend. If they wanted to kill us, then they would have already done it.”
Mayor Vallis sat back in chair sighing. “I know you are right. I just wonder when all of this madness will end. People are dying unnecessarily. Look what they did to Loukas Sarkis, and all because of one man’s futile dreams.”
The door suddenly creaked and swung open. A clicking of boot heel on wooden floor accompanied Commandant Brandt as he strode purposefully towards the table. Coming to a sudden stop, he raised his right arm and straightened the hand giving an emphatic “Heil Hitler!” Dropping his arm he pulled out a chair and took a seat opposite the bishop and the mayor.
“Thank you both for coming. I am hoping that this meeting will be swift. I understand that you are Bishop Ioannou and Mayor Vallis?”
Both men nodded agreement, as they absorbed the shocking gesture the commandant had just used to greet them.
“Welcome. I am Commandant Brandt, Governor of Zakynthos, as decreed by the Führer. My instructions are simple. We are in charge and you Greeks will do as we ask. Those who resist us, and I know there are many, will be dealt with swiftly and severely.” The commandant paused to open a silver cigarette case. He offered it to the two men opposite, but they refused. Taking a cigarette from it, he tapped it on the case before lighting it, and then placed the cigarette case on the table in front of him. “Now we get down to business. I need a list of all Jewish people living on the island. They must be identified as soon as possible and the two of you will provide me with the details.”
The mayor leaned in to study the enemy before him, “Why is it you need these details, Commandant?”
“That is of no concern to you. Like you, I have my orders and I am carrying them out. I know that both you and the bishop will be able to assist me.”
The mayor was not willing to let it go. He, like many of the other islanders, had heard the horrific stories filtering through the illegal radio sets. Jews rounded up, shipped off to internment camps and put to death by the Germans because they did not fit into Hitler’s idea of a perfect world.
“You must understand, Commandant. On this island, the Jewish population is such a small number. They are poor people, they have no big houses, or expensive jewellery, there is no reason to single them out. Zakynthos is part of Greece and all her inhabitants are Greek people.”
“Are you refusing to do as I ask, Mayor?”
The mayor and the bishop briefly looked at each other with unease. They had a duty to try and protect every man, woman and child on the island, but how could they possibly go up against the ruthless might of the German Army?
“We are not refusing, Commandant,” the bishop interjected.
“But you need more time?” Brandt raised an eyebrow as he pulled on his cigarette.
The mayor and the bishop knew the commandant was toying with them, like an injured bird caught by a vicious cat.
“More time would be an advantage,” the bishop agreed.
“Fine. You have twenty-four hours. Then I want the list. If you do not give me what I want, I will have to make an example of you both. You know what that means?”
“You will kill us.”
“Yes.”
Commandant Brandt stood and walked to the door and, as he reached it, he turned.
“Until tomorrow, gentlemen. I hope you make the right decision. I would hate to have to kill you both.”
A moment later he was gone, leaving the room in an uneasy veil of silence.
“What do we do now?” the bishop asked.
“We leave quietly without speaking, and then we head into town.”
~
Elena had not seen Pietro since their interruption. She walked through the streets under as much cover as she could, heading towards his house. The Germans were now everywhere and islanders were unable to go anywhere without being stopped and interrogated. She carried a basket of bread and olives, feigning a trip to the market to cover her tracks. Each time she was stopped, the soldiers stole from her, and her wares were sadly depleted.
Turning a corner, she saw Pietro’s house, but the sudden sound of thudding boots on hard ground reached her ears and she hid in the shadows of a doorway waiting for the line of marching German soldiers to pass. The very sight of them made her shudder. She was about to step out when a hand grasped hold of her, pulling her back. Her heart plummeted and she waited for a rough German voice to speak, but it never came.
“Piccolina! What are you doing here?”
“Pietro!” she flung her arms around him, shaking with relief. “I came to see you, I was so worried.”
“I am okay, but you should not be here. It is too dangerous. Come, but you must be quiet.”
Looking out onto the road, he watched as the last of the soldiers rounded the bend. As soon as they disappeared, he grabbed Elena’s hand, pulling her along behind him. When t
hey reached his house, he pushed her inside and slammed the door behind him.
“Elena. I have missed you. I wondered what they would do to you after I left. Did anyone hurt you?”
“No. Your young soldier called me a whore before demanding I leave, but I am okay. I managed to sneak out the back.”
“I will have words with him. He cannot talk to you like that!”
“No matter.” She waved her hand in the air as though she did not care. “What happened when they took you away?”
Pietro sat heavily on the bed. “Everything has changed. The island is under German rule now. The man who came to collect me is Commandant Brandt, and he is the new governor of the island. They are making plans, Elena. I do not know all of it, but I did hear that the mayor and the bishop have been given orders to give the commandant a list of all Jews on the island. They have until tomorrow to provide it.”
Elena felt sick. She sat next to him and took his hand. “Why do they want it?”
“They mean to take their property and ship them off to the camps, Elena.”
“The camps? Is that not where they kill them?”
Pietro shrugged, “I do not know. Maybe.”
“And you agree with this? How can you, Pietro?”
Pietro looked at her with surprise. It was the first time she had ever let her feelings about the war show, and she knew in that moment that she had said the wrong thing.
“So you are truly Greek after all then, Elena. I thought you were on my side, but all you wanted was someone to fuck now that your precious Angelos is married. You really are showing your true colours. Does it make you feel like a big brave woman, knowing that you are sleeping with a captain of the Italian army?”
“No!”
“Do not lie to me!” he snarled as he advanced on her. He was so close now that it frightened her. “Maybe now you will be bored with me and move onto the commandant, or maybe you will just go back to Angelos and sneak around with him in the woods?”
Pietro had fire in his eyes and she had never seen him like this before. She knew she had all but given herself away, and only had the smallest chance of redeeming herself.
“Pietro. My darling Pietro,” she cooed as she cupped his face with her hands and gazed lovingly into his eyes, hoping that he would believe her. “You know I no longer care what happens to Angelos. It is you that I love. I would not care if you were an Italian peasant!”
“So why do you still wear this?” He snatched the locket from her neck and ripped it from her, throwing it across the room. In that moment, she realised that she was safe. Pietro was jealous, jealous of her relationship with a past love and that was all. Inside she breathed a sigh of relief.
“Please Pietro, do not be cross with me. We have all had a shock today. The German Army has turned the island upside down in such a short time and it affects us all. Please believe me when I say I love you.”
Pietro sighed and pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her. “I am sorry. I worry what will happen now. I may get sent home tomorrow, I just do not know.”
Pietro kissed her and then pulled back to look at her. He loved her beautiful face, but he hated that they had met under such circumstances. He wished the war would end so he could settle into a normal life. “I cannot talk about it anymore, Elena. I am so tired of it all.”
“Then do not speak,” she whispered, and placed a comforting hand on his chest and gazed up at him. He had seen that look before and knew what it meant. It was the middle of the day and he should be on duty, but he no longer cared. Reaching forward, he kissed her again, and swiftly unbuttoned her flimsy dress. Moments later she was naked under him and he finally felt safe once more.
~
Dusk was beginning to creep over the horizon as Elena did up her dress. Pietro was asleep and had been for an hour. She knew he would worry if he found her gone when he awoke, but there were bigger things at stake. She needed to get to Dionysis as soon as possible, and had wasted too much time already. The argument she had with Pietro had not helped either. As she turned to leave, she reached under the bed for her locket. The chain was broken, but it did not matter. She tucked it into a small pocket in her dress before turning to leave.
Running through woodland and brush, Elena made her way to the caves. It had been a difficult journey once the Italians had arrived, but now with the Germans on the island it was downright dangerous. She finally made it in one piece and Dionysis was already waiting for her.
“I have grave news.”
“Elena. It is good to see you. Sit and tell me.”
“The Germans have demanded a list of all the Jews living on the island and mean to ship them off the island as soon as they can. We need to help them, Dionysis!”
“How do you know this?”
Elena explained everything while Dionysis listened in silence. As they discussed the situation, other members of the resistance began to arrive, and the news was shared with these brave islanders who continued to put their lives on the line for the freedom of their families and their home.
~
It was late in the evening and Mayor Vallis was pacing the main room of his house. He and the bishop were in a difficult situation, with seemingly no way out. Whatever happened now, the Germans would make sure someone paid, and most likely it would be with blood - their blood. A sharp knock at the door made him jump and he crept over to the window. Curfew had begun hours ago and whoever was at the door was taking a big risk. In the shadows, he could make out the familiar stature of the bishop. Next to him was an unidentifiable figure.
Swiftly, the mayor opened his door and allowed the two figures in, guiding them into the main room. As they sat, he stepped back in shock.
“Elena Petrakis?”
“Yes, Mayor Vallis.”
“What on earth are you doing here?”
Bishop Ioannou motioned to the armchair and the mayor sat. The bishop said, “Let me explain. It seems that we are not alone in our predicament. The resistance already has a plan to help save the Jews, but we must still play our part.”
“They do?”
The bishop nodded at Elena and she spoke up, “There are many of us on the island fighting for the cause. I know very few people who support the Italians or the Germans. We have a network of spies and fighters in the hills. The enemy hardly ever goes up there. We have discussed it and have agreed that, when you go to see the commandant tomorrow, we will move all of the Jewish families into the mountains.”
The mayor listened intently with surprise, “But there are over two hundred and seventy of them! How on earth will you move and hide them all? Surely someone will notice?”
“We have a plan. I cannot tell you all of it, as I do not want the details to fall into the wrong hands. I mean no disrespect to either of you, but the less you know, the better.”
The bishop only nodded, before turning to the mayor. “What do you think?”
“I think if they can do it, it is a good idea, but what of us, Bishop? We need to have our own plan.”
“I have been thinking about this, and I have come up with something if, of course, you agree. We must first destroy the records of the existing Jewish families on the island. The resistance is willing to help.” Elena nodded in agreement. “Then, Mayor, we must make the greatest sacrifice of all.”
“And that is?”
“The commandant will get his list, but it will not be what he is expecting.”
Mayor Vallis realised in that moment what the plan was, and he knew it was the only option. He sat back in his chair and thought about the life he had led. It had been a good one, and he had always been an honest and respected man. Tomorrow he and the bishop would go to meet Commandant Brandt and they would give him the list of names he so eagerly sought. In the meantime, the resistance would do their best to save the island’s Jews. It was a brave but risky move, one that could go very wrong. Only time would tell if they succeeded.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Zakyn
thos, Greece, 2002
Five days after arriving on Zakynthos, Kate finally summoned the courage to go to Exo Hora. After speaking to Nikoloas, she had driven all over the island, sunbathing on beaches at Porto Zoro in the south, and Alykes in the northeast. She had gone into Zakynthos Town and visited some of the beautiful churches including the Church of St Dionysis with its imposing Venetian bell tower and explored the quirky side streets. Ambling along the harbour, she had watched an old man as he sat in what could only be described as a rowing boat, concentrating hard on mending an old fishing net. In stark contrast, a white shiny yacht that looked as though it had arrived straight from Monaco was moored nearby. Old next to new, and neither looked out of place. Kate had even managed to locate the old Venetian castle at Bohali. She explored it taking in the history of the place before admiring the incredible view across Zakynthos Town.
The drive up into the mountains on the west coast was beautiful. There were very few cars about and the scenery was picturesque. Parking up in Exo Hora, Kate walked through the streets taking in the pretty village with its old stone houses and hanging baskets of fragrant flowers. It was not long before she came across a towering olive tree. It was enormous, with thick twisted brown branches that reached skywards and ended in shady green boughs. She stopped and sat on the wall next to it, and thought about her family. There were still so many questions and she wished she could have some of them answered. Now that she was here, where Angelos Sarkis lived, she was nervous. How could she tell a man, who probably did not speak English, who she was and why she was here?
She closed her eyes, breathing in the sweet aroma of sunbaked land, flowers and rich smelling coffee from a nearby café. She liked this place. There was something about it that made her feel at home, made her feel at peace and she was glad she had come. Instinctively, she clasped Athena’s engraved silver locket that she had now taken to wearing, and wished for an answer to all her prayers.
“Elena!”
The loud unsteady voice startled her and her eyes flew open. An old man was staring at her, his face etched with shock and disbelief. Feeling uncomfortable, she rose and walked away but, despite his age, the man was quick and he placed himself in front of her.
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