by Anna Harvey
“That’s right,” said Thea, impressed by the young woman’s swift perception. “So much so that Odysseus doesn’t at first realise he’s arrived home.”
“Certainly the wide stretch of sand fits well with an ancient bronze-age harbour for beaching a boat,” Alistair interceded, standing stiffly and raising an eyebrow. “Is there something specific we are looking for as perhaps we need to go on?”
“Actually a cave, where Odysseus hides the friendship gifts presented to him,” said Thea, feeling as if she was being gently reprimanded for delaying the group.
“We’ve still got plenty of time,” said Rob, glancing down at his watch. “Perhaps we can try the path over there and explore a bit?” he said, motioning towards an earth-beaten path that followed the steep shoreline towards a small harbour.
After a fruitless search, they retraced their steps to the sandy strand of beach, crossing to the other side of the beach. It was as the path started to climb upwards towards the village, that Thea glanced back over her shoulder and saw it. A cave hidden from view, just as Homer had described all those millennia before, covered by an olive tree and some distance from the shore.
“There it is,” she cried, her startled shout stopping everyone in their tracks, “Odysseus’ cave!” Her heart sank as she realised without a boat nor any villager in sight, swimming was the only way to reach it.
“We could quite comfortably wade over or swim, if you want to take a look,” Rob offered reassuringly, perhaps noticing the frown crossing her face. “The water doesn’t look too deep or cold for this time of year.”
“I’m afraid we must decline your suggestion,” said Elizabeth, suddenly alert to the conversation. “I’m surprised you could even contemplate such a thing at this time of year,” she said, twisting her lips.
“I assure you I have encountered much worse,” replied Rob good-naturedly, his enthusiasm undaunted. “So who’s up for it?” he asked, his question meeting several nodding heads.
Thea gasped as she plunged into the ice-cold water. Her body protested, as it took a moment for her limbs and torso to acclimatise to the biting chill. Behind her, she could hear the shrieks and splashes of the others braving the water, but without hesitation Rob had set off at a pace, his powerful arms cutting through the water surface. Bracing herself, she submerged her body and followed his lead.
Rob was already stretched out on the white shingle floor of the cave, when they emerged from the salt water.
“You obviously keep yourself fit,” quipped Matthew as he collapsed beside him, panting for air.
“You’re just not used to the cold,” said Rob laughing, stretching out his legs and rolling onto his back. He lifted up his eyes and shot an admiring glance towards Thea, as she threw herself gasping on the pebbled ground.
“So this is the cave where Odysseus himself may have been,” Sophie remarked, finally catching her breath.
Thea nodded, reaching over and seizing a handful of smooth pebbles, struck by being almost in touching distance of her legendary hero. Perhaps he too had sat in this very spot and looked up at the same jagged rock protrusions that formed the cavern ceiling. She cast the stones aside and sat upright to take a better look around her. Over time the cave entrance had been shaped by the elements into a portico, like arches in a cloister.
“You know the ancients used to believe that behind every natural phenomenon like a river, the sea, the wind, there was a local god.”
“So this cave would have been a sacred place?” remarked Sophie.
“Exactly,” Thea nodded, struck again by Sophie’s quick turn of mind. “And that entrance over there,” she continued, gesturing to a smaller side opening blocked off by a rock fall, “would have led down to the nymphs’ home.”
“We must be crazy to be swimming out here in March,” Belinda protested, rubbing herself vigorously and trying to wrap herself up in her arms and legs. Her fashionable brief neon bikini was perfect for the beach in the scorching heat but inadequate in blocking the spring chill.
“You look freezing!” Thea said, noticing the raised goose bumps on Belinda’s skin and her chattering teeth. “If everyone has seen enough, perhaps we should get going before someone catches a chill.”
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It had been Thea’s idea to explore the dirt track leading up the steep hillside from the shore to the village above. It was as if her body, shocked by the chilling sea, had become energised and the weight burdening her mind had lifted. She had given the tangible reason of wanting to check out the distance to the nearby settlement as the possible location for the hut of Eumaios: the lowly herdsman who first received Odysseus on his return. But there was a deeper reason which Thea had felt unable to articulate: that walking in his footsteps and seeing what he might have seen might bring her closer to this mythological Greek hero. Certainly the olive groves cultivated on the slopes, their trunks wizened and split apart with age, looked as if they might have witnessed Odysseus’ hike up the mountain.
They were over halfway up the steep path, when the frenetic jangling of bells announced an approaching herd. Around the bend, a flock of goats feeding on the slope obstructed the gravel path. The drove now stood alert, twitching, their heads jerking round to weigh up the newcomers. Slowly the herd parted like a wave, allowing the strangers to walk steadily through their midst.
A scream rang out ahead, disturbing the calm as the panicked herd bolted. Thea rushed forwards towards the noise to witness a goat charging at Sophie. On contact, the young woman’s body crumpled and collapsed to the ground. Only then did Thea realise Rob was by her side.
He grabbed a heavy stick and put out a restraining hand towards Thea. “Stand back. I’ll deal with this.”
Ignoring his words, Thea pushed past the outstretched arm. “Let me handle this,” she replied firmly. “Nobody move!” she commanded shooting a warning glance around the group. Sophie was writhing on the ground, her face contorted with pain, clutching the wound where the blood was oozing between her fingers. The agitated animal was pawing the ground preparing to charge again. Making a cooing noise between her teeth, Thea approached steadily, reaching out her outstretched hand to stroke the beast. As the goat permitted her touch, Thea could see the blood of afterbirth clinging to its shaggy haunches. “Ssh,” she cooed soothingly, gently caressing it until she could feel the stiffness of the animal’s body relax. ““It meant no harm. It’s only wanting to protect its young.” She glanced up, searching for the kid and spied it bleating, camouflaged against a rock. Clasping the bony horns, Thea steered the doe from the path, reuniting the mother with her new-born, speckled with the blood of its birth.
By the time Thea turned her attention to the injured Sophie, someone had thought to pull her off the path and Rob was kneeling beside her. The others appeared transfixed by the spectacle, like game caught in the beam of a headlight. Rob anxiously threw her a glance.
“Sophie,” she said calmly. The young woman was cupping the wound with her fingers, as the blood pooled, staining her clothes like ink on blotting paper. “I need you to take your hand away so I can examine the injury. Is that okay with you?” The younger woman nodded slightly, through gritted teeth wincing with pain.
Carefully Thea unfolded Sophie’s fingers, as the blood oozed out of the wound, where the animal’s horn had ripped the flesh. The slash had cut into muscle but had missed the bone. Fear and pain were written on the face of the injured woman. “Don’t worry, it looks worse than it is,” Thea reassured her soothingly. “I will give you something for the pain and will dress the wound until we can get you back.” Sophie nodded faintly, biting her lip to hold back her cries of agony. Thea rummaged in her bag and pulled out a small quilted bag, unfolding it carefully. She picked out a small dark bottle and emptied some drops into a small cup of water, which she raised to Sophie’s lips. “This will work quickly to ease the pain.”
“What is that?” Elizabeth had suddenly sprung into motion.
“I’ve some pain-killers in my bag.”
“This will work better and has no ill effects. I prepared the tincture myself from natural herbs.” Sophie nodded and tipping back her head, drained the cup. Next Thea pulled out some gauze and like a trained field medic deftly started to clean and dress the wound. “The ointment I’ve applied, should help the skin bind together and prevent scarring,” Thea explained. “It will be sore for a couple of days but should heal well. Just to be sure, I’ll arrange for a doctor to visit you tonight when we get back.”
She lifted her eyes to see Rob watching her movements, as if spellbound. Perplexity must have been written on her face for he lowered his glance. “I’m sorry,” he said, “I didn’t realise you were medically trained?”
“Not at all,” said Thea shaking her head, tearing the strip in two to fasten and secure the bandage. “Okay, all done!” She raised her head towards Sophie and gave a reassuring smile. “But I don’t think you can walk very far,” Thea said, helping the injured woman slowly to her feet.
Rob began checking the satnav on his mobile phone. “About half a kilometre up, the track meets the road. Do you think you can walk there? I’ll fetch the car and meet you further up the track.”
“I think I can make that,” replied Sophie weakly. “I don’t want to spoil everyone’s afternoon.”
“Don’t worry about that Sophie,” Thea assured her. “Perhaps with Matthew’s help, you can lean on the two of us so you don’t put too much weight on that leg.” Matthew nodded in agreement.
“We need to be getting back anyway,” said Elizabeth. “There’s the big important event planned for tonight. Richard will be expecting us.”
“Yes, all the great and the good will be there, Sophie, so it is important you look your best!” Rob added teasing her to raise a thin smile. “Don’t worry, we’ll get you there. I’ll fetch the car and be as quick as I can.” After he disappeared, the three of them started to make their way slowly up the pathway, leaving the others to follow Rob.
“Thank goodness you were there, Thea,” said Sophie, putting her weight on their shoulders, “and knew what to do. I can feel the pain-killer working already.”
“Good. It should help.”
“Yes, you and Rob work really well together,” added Matthew. And for the second time that day, Thea felt disconcerted.
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At 8 o’clock prompt, they were all seated at the restaurant as instructed. It was situated on the outskirts of the town near the katavrothes, a rather select venue frequented by locals rather than tourists. They made up a large party in the taverna but were not the only arrivals.
“I’m afraid my boss isn’t here yet.” Stelios had immediately come over to greet them, attentive as always. He had changed out of his drab suit and was wearing a clean pressed shirt. “We’re expecting him very soon and he is extremely keen to meet you all. I’ve told him a lot about you,” he said, a slow smile building on his lips as he glanced at Thea.
There were vigorous handshakes and exchanges of introductions. The place was bursting: a crescendo of noise, jabbering and rising excitement. Two long trestle tables had been allocated for the party. Thea found a place towards the end of one of the tables. Sophie and Matthew had already seated themselves there and were absorbed in conversation. Here Thea would be able to observe events from a position of half concealment. It caught her by surprise when Rob pulled up the chair beside her.
It was hard to talk above the deafening noise. Despite being assembled specialists with a common purpose, the conversation struggled and came in fits and starts. Thea had heard similar discussions many times before: the trading of lists of personal connections, research and published articles to determine social ranking within the academic hierarchy. From her vantage point, she felt an inexplicable anxiety mounting, as if warned by her night’s dream, but as she scanned the room, she recognised no one. Just unknown faces of peoples whose lives had been lived separately except for this brief moment of time.
And then the music struck up and the dancing began. Thea identified the familiar strum of the bouzouki music and a well-known song, bellowed out whenever Greeks came together in groups. It was a song of the Aegean Sea, conjuring up images of the surf, seabirds and turquoise waters. Some of the Greeks sang along mouthing the familiar words, while others listened, all animated. Then a single male dancer took to the floor. He was middle aged, greying but still sinewy in his movements. Thea recognised the etiquette: that when a single dancer performed, only he could command that dance and take centre stage. Around him, others kneeled, observed or clapped. Thea watched his movements, the twists, the turns, the drop to the ground and then the sudden spring: like a deer stag in its prime, rutting to establish its dominance. The watching children joined in the spectacle, tearing up and throwing pieces of serviettes like confetti. Once upon a time, it was broken glass on which the males danced, demonstrating their bravery, prowess and the determination of mind to control the heady shots of wine and ouzo. Now it was harmless paper.
Thea watched the movements and started to catch the rhythm of the music, like the beating of her pulse. Taking a sip of her wine, Thea felt its warmth pulsating through her body, as if the life force was returning to her and coursing through her arteries, mellowing her jangled nerves. She relaxed, reassuring herself that her fears were groundless. But it was at that precise moment, she saw him. A stir in the taverna announced his arrival, but she spotted him as soon as he stepped over the threshold. He moved effortlessly like a big cat, warmly accepting the gestures of welcome. A handshake here and an embrace there, his presence drawing all eyes to him. He was dressed immaculately in crisply pressed chinos and a white cotton shirt, which accentuated his dark complexion. With his thick curls of jet-black hair, she would have recognised him anywhere, only the fresh boyish looks had given way to a masculine maturity. Dimitri Kampitsis.
But he was not alone. There was a stunningly striking woman at his side, presumably his wife. Immaculately coiffured and attired, she was dressed in chiffon trousers the colour of sand and a long flowing emerald silk tunic. Gold jewellery jangled on her neck, arms and ears, indicating wealth and privilege. Her slim stomach and pinched waist belied the obvious fact that she was the mother to the two children at her side. The children themselves, no older than ten years old, were a completely different proposition. A solemn boy and girl, both slightly overweight with dark hair and circles around their eyes, dressed in mourning black. It was as if all the beauty and radiance had been bestowed on the parents so that nothing had been spared for the children.
The picture punched her body, as her limbs stiffened and the pit of her stomach sank, like a lift hurtling down a shaft.
Keep calm, she inwardly commanded herself, as she cast around weighing up her predicament. From her half-concealed position, she could see the glamorous couple were still exchanging greetings and noticed Stelios eagerly approaching the newcomer and clasping his hand. Then her mind suddenly clicked inside. This was the absent boss Stelios had mentioned. This was the head of the Archontakis Foundation who was funding the project. A wave of nausea and total horror gripped Thea at the realisation. Richard had now joined the small party, vigorously shaking Dimitri’s hand, which only strengthened Thea’s suspicions. Panic now took hold, spreading through her body, as she realised the glamorous couple might turn their attention to her table and they would be brought face to face.
Thea cast her glance around, her heart beating wildly, feeling as if the ground was collapsing beneath her feet. How could she have been so stupid? How could she not have realised! She had to get out of here. Find an excuse. Her mind had gone blank as she desperately racked her brain, when she felt the pressure of a hand on her arm. The grip was solid, strong and reassuring. Thea looked up to see that Rob had turned his head towards her, his slate-grey eyes questioning. There was a slight jolt of fire in the pit of her stomach, but it was enough to bring her back to her senses.
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“Are you alright, Thea? You look quite shot.” There was an anxious tone to the enquiry as Rob studied her face.
She could feel her body trembling and tried to rally herself. “I think I might have a migraine coming on,“ Thea stammered. The excuse sounded only half convincing, but it was the best she could muster.
The family group had now been seated at the table opposite. The immediate moment of danger had passed, but she needed to get out of there. For the moment Thea sat unobserved, surveying the shape of Dimitri’s familiar head which had caused her so much anguish. Was she watching her own fate that had never quite come to pass? she wondered as she caught snatches of the conversation: a female name Clemmie, the shipping company Archontakis and finally his name Dimitri, the sound once so treasured. There was a toast of Yeia mas as the details started to stitch themselves together.
“Do you need to leave?” asked Rob solicitously, punctuating her thoughts. “I can accompany you.” Yes, she did need to get out of here. She needed some time to think about how on earth she was going to handle this situation.
“Perhaps better I leave before the headache gets any worse,” Thea replied, seizing the opportunity. “Can you make my apologies?” She hesitated, looking towards Sophie, giving her the briefest of nods. “Can I entrust Sophie to your care to ensure she gets back alright to the hotel? Her leg will still be very sore.” Rob nodded, a puzzled look on his face.
Thea grabbed her things and steered her way out of the tavern, careful not to draw unwanted attention. It was not hard as everyone was engrossed by the new arrivals, the feast and the dancing music. Once outside, the raucous sound and bright lights of the tavern gradually gave way to the chirruping of cicadas and the tree-lined avenue blanketed in darkness. As she walked back, Thea tried to calm herself and get a grip on the emotions churning around in her mind. She was a grown woman of thirty eight years of age, no longer the naïve nineteen year old young adult, she reasoned with herself. And yet the wound still physically hurt and throbbed even after this passage of time. She was walking faster and faster, almost running, back to the refuge of the hotel.