YANNIS (Cretan Saga Book 1) (10 page)

Pavlos looked surprised. ‘Why do you want to go there?’

‘I’m interested in antiquities and the sites where they have been found. I visited Knossos last year and there should be more to see now. Louisa’s never been there and she should. Everyone should see Knossos.’

Pavlos laughed at the enthusiasm shown by Mr Pavlakis. ‘I’m working there and I can tell you it’s not very exciting. Mr Evans is trying to rebuild it. He’s quite crazy about the place. People come and look at the walls and floors he’s uncovered and think it’s wonderful. Why? It’s just an old building.’

Yiorgo leaned forward in his chair. ‘You have no imagination. Think how it would have looked when the king lived there. The ceremony, the colour, the magnificence.’

‘You should meet Mr Evans. He talks about Knossos like that. I’m sick of it, the dust, it gets down my throat and my back feels as if it will break by the end of the day. All the time I’m told to go slowly, be careful, examine everything – what is there to examine? Pieces of old broken pottery and rubble from the walls!’ Pavlos drained his glass and set it down hard on the table.

‘Why do you stay if you dislike it so much?’

‘We need the money.’

Louisa put her arm across her brother’s shoulders. ‘It may not be for much longer. We’ve paid off all the outstanding bills, we’ll soon pay back the bank loan, and then we’ll be able to start saving a little. Maybe in a year or two you could go to Athens.’

‘Don’t be silly,’ Pavlos was scornful. ‘How could I go off to Athens and leave you here alone?’

Mr Pavlakis cleared his throat. ‘Maybe your sister will be married by then. You would surely have no qualms about going to Athens if she had a husband to look after her?’

‘I don’t think Louisa is ready to get married yet, besides, she has no dowry.’

‘A dowry is of no importance to a genuine suitor,’ insisted Mr Pavlakis. He must find an opportunity to speak to Pavlos alone and see if the young man would consider him a suitable brother in law.

The day before Mr Pavlakis was due to leave Heraklion he made his way to a jewellers and asked to examine a finely wrought gold bracelet which fastened with a snake’s head, the two tiny emeralds shining wickedly as eyes. There would be no new suit for the beginning of the new term now!

He hurried back to the taverna and was surprised to find the door locked. He knocked and rattled, but there was no response. With a sigh he turned to leave, Louisa must be out shopping. He crossed the narrow road and looked up at the façade of the building. Was it his imagination of had he seen a figure at the window of Louisa’s room? He screwed his eyes up against the bright sunshine and stared. It must have been an illusion. Disconsolately he wandered towards the market, hoping he might meet Louisa on the way. After half an hour he realised he would be unlikely to spot her amongst the crowd of women who were pushing around him. With a heavy heart he left the market and strolled back to the taverna to await her return. As he rounded the corner he saw the door open and a young man leave, waving a hand to someone inside. Mr Pavlakis quickened his pace. He was sure it was the young librarian. He opened the door and Louisa looked up from behind the counter.

‘Why was the door locked when I came earlier?’

She shrugged. ‘I always lock the door when I go out.’

‘Where have you been?’

Louisa raised her eyebrows. ‘What business is it of yours?’

Mr Pavlakis swept back his hair. ‘I have bought you a present.’

Louisa looked at him, her dark eyes wary. ‘Why?’

Yiorgo Pavlakis moved closer to her and took her hand. ‘Louisa, to me you are the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. I wish I didn’t have to go away for a week. I’d like to stay with you for ever.’

Gently Louisa withdrew her hand. ‘I doubt you will always think that way. First impressions can be misleading.’

‘Not with you, Louisa. You are perfection in my eyes.’

‘Don’t be silly, Yiorgo. You’re embarrassing me.’

‘Louisa, I mean it.’ He tried to take her in his arms but she stiffened and drew away.

‘Stop, please stop this.’

Reluctantly he released her. ‘I’m sorry, Louisa. I didn’t mean to rush you. I’ve spoken to Pavlos and he has no objection to me courting you. I’d planned to wait until you were more used to me, but how can I?’

Louisa looked at the schoolteacher, her mind working rapidly. He was shouting “security” to her and it was very tempting. She decided evasion was her best plan; to dangle hope in front of him, yet give no definite answer. ‘I hardly know you.’

Yiorgo Pavlakis regained control of himself. ‘I’ve spoken too soon. Please forgive me. I bought you a small present today. Will you accept it? As a token of our friendship.’ He took the small packet from his pocket and handed it to her.

Louisa gasped as she opened the box. ‘I can’t, Yiorgo. This is far too expensive. Please return it and ask for your money back.’

‘I want you to have it Louisa. I want you to think of me when you’re wearing it.’

Louisa gazed up at him from under her long, dark lashes. She would be a fool to refuse the gift and also the man as a suitor. He so obviously adored her that it should not be difficult for her to call the tune and him to dance to it.

‘Thank you, Yiorgo. It’s the most beautiful bracelet I’ve ever seen.’ She turned her cheek towards him and allowed him to kiss her briefly. ‘Let me go now. There’s work to be done.’

When Pavlos returned that evening she showed him the bracelet. He raised his eyebrows and whistled. ‘Are you promised to him? He asked my permission to approach you, but I didn’t think he would do so yet.’

Louisa shook her head. ‘I’ve told him I hardly know him. I’ll keep him waiting; after all, he’s planning to stay for at least a year. Who knows, the student he’s bringing could be a more suitable match.’

Pavlos grasped her arm hard. ‘Be careful, Louisa. You’ve got your regulars. Keep Yiorgo Pavlakis dangling on a string for as long as you want, but don’t do him any favours or he may not be so keen.’

Louisa pulled her arm free and rubbed it. ‘I know how to keep him interested.’

‘I’m sure you do.’ Pavlos eyed his sister speculatively. ‘Just be discreet.’

Yannis greeted his teacher shyly, introducing him to his mother, brothers and sisters. He listened politely whilst Mr Pavlakis explained the arrangements he had made for their lodgings in Heraklion.

‘Will he travel down with you?’ asked Yannis senior. ‘It’s a long journey for him to make alone.’

Mr Pavlakis leant his elbows on the table and pushed back his hair. ‘I will return today with Yiorgo and his children. I have to meet my replacement teacher on Wednesday and I plan to take the bus to Heraklion on Friday. If Yannis is in Aghios Nikolaos by then we can travel down together and he will have the weekend to get to know his way around the town.’

‘I can pick him up from Elounda,’ offered Yiorgo, ‘and I can take some of his belongings with me today.’

‘I’ll pack my clean clothes and books now.’ Yannis rose from the table. ‘I can easily carry the others with me.’

‘I’ll walk with you to Elounda,’ his father promised. He looked very deliberately at Yiorgo. ‘I’ll have a word with him on the way.’

The Thursday morning dawned bright and clear. Yannis rose early and went down to the yard. To his surprise his father was out there talking quietly to a man whom Yannis did not know. The conversation stopped abruptly.

‘You’re up early.’

Yannis nodded. ‘I suppose I’m excited. Would you like some coffee when I go in?’

The man shook his head. ‘I must go. I’ll be in touch. He handed Yannis senior a small parcel.

Maria put her arms around her oldest son and held him tightly. ‘I shall miss you, Yannis. Heraklion is so far away.’

Yannis felt a lump coming into his throat. ‘I’ll miss you, too, Mamma, but I’ll be back at Christmas.’

His brothers and sisters were quiet and gazed at him with something akin to awe. They had become used to their big brother being at the Gymnasium in Aghios Nikolaos, but to be able to gain a scholarship to the High School was beyond their comprehension. As he kissed them goodbye Anna was crying openly.

‘This is no way to say goodbye,’ he exclaimed. ‘You’ll be surprised how quickly the time will go; then I’ll be back home again. I’ll write to Mamma and Pappa and Maria will be able to read the letters to you. I’ll tell you everything I’m doing and all about Heraklion.’

The children pressed small gifts into his hands, Maria and Anna had each embroidered his initials on a handkerchief, Yiorgo had carved him a model of a donkey, which Yannis insisted was the image of Aga, and Stelios gave him a pencil. His mother wiped her eyes surreptitiously on her apron and pressed a screw of paper into his hand.

‘Open it later,’ she whispered as he kissed her goodbye for the last time.

Together Yannis and his father walked along the main street. From every doorway a person wished him luck and pushed a gift into his hands. Sometimes it was a coin, other times an apple, a screw of paper with a few olives or a small loaf of bread. Yannis stopped and thanked each person, promising to visit them on his return. By the time they came to the last of the straggle of buildings the boy was close to tears. He turned and waved to his family, then strode forward, his father at his side.

When they reached Elounda Yannis senior led the way into a taverna and they dropped their bundles at their feet. After they had been served with coffee Yannis spoke seriously to his son. ‘You’re a man, now, Yannis, and you’ll soon find you have a young man’s appetites. It wouldn’t be natural to suppress them, but be careful whom you choose. Don’t take any casual woman from the streets.’ Yannis flushed to the roots of his hair, suddenly realising what his father was talking about. ‘There again, I don’t expect you to form a serious relationship with anyone. Years ago Yiorgo and I came to an agreement. You and Annita will marry in a few years time, provided you don’t find each other objectionable.’ He waited to let his words sink in.

‘You mean – Annita and I – we’re to get married?’

‘Not yet. You’re both young, but we think you’ll be suitable for each other. Finish your education and begin to make your way in life. I’m just saying that no one expects you to live like a monk until that time comes. And there’s another thing,’ Yannis withdrew a wad of notes from his pocket and handed them to his son. ‘I’ve paid Mr Pavlakis for your lodgings for the year. He’ll pay the taverna owner so you have nothing to worry about there. This money is for you. I want you to buy any clothes you may need. The people in Heraklion won’t dress like farmers and I don’t want you to be embarrassed before your friends.’

‘Pappa!’ Yannis gazed at the notes and his father alternately. ‘So much money! I’ve never seen so much. I shan’t need all that.’

‘You look after it. It’s yours, but I don’t expect you to waste it. Buy what you need, go out with your friends, buy books, travel around. You never know when you’ll get another chance.’

Yannis looked at his father doubtfully. ‘Pappa, this must be all of your savings. I can’t take this. You might need it for Mamma or the others.’ He tried to press the bundle back into his father’s hands.

‘I’ve more savings. This is your share. Put it away. I can see Yiorgo.’ Yannis pushed it back to him. Yannis stowed the notes deep into his trouser pocket and held out his hand to his father. Yannis senior ignored the hand and embraced his son. ‘Take care, boy. Do your best.’ His voice was gruff.

‘Goodbye, Pappa. Thank you for everything.’ He swallowed rapidly. ‘I’ll write to you as soon as I can.’

He gave his father a last hug before scrambling aboard his uncle’s boat, checking his pocket involuntarily before pushing his bundles into the hold, hoping they would not smell too fishy when he retrieved them later. He waved until his father could no longer be seen, before turning to his cousins, a grin spreading over his face.

‘I really believe it’s true, now. Tomorrow I’ll be in Heraklion.’

‘I’m going to be busy, too.’ Annita spoke softly, looking at Yannis from the corner of her eyes. ‘I’m going to train as a nurse at the hospital.’

‘Really!’ Yannis shook his head. ‘How long have you been thinking about this?’

‘I decided when I talked to the Widow Segouri. I really enjoyed talking with her, but she couldn’t answer all my questions. She couldn’t tell me why you took certain medicines, or what they did; she just knew they were right for that complaint. I suppose I’m a bit like you with your pieces of pottery, wanting to know how old they are and who made them. I feel like that about people. I want to know why they’re ill and what I can do to help them get better. Do you understand, Yannis?’ She turned to him, her eyes glowing with enthusiasm.

‘No, I don’t. How anybody can want to spend their time with people who are sick and ill amazes me. I know there has to be someone to look after them, but how they can want to,’ his voice tailed off and he shuddered.

Annita looked at him, her eyes dancing with amusement. ‘I can’t understand why anyone should want to spend all day grubbing around in the earth hoping to find a bit of pottery.’

‘Pottery can tell you so much about how people lived and…’ Yannis broke off as Annita gave him a push that nearly sent him overboard.

‘Idiot! I was teasing. I was just trying to explain that I feel the same as you do, but about something totally different.’

Yannis held up his hands for peace. ‘What about you, Andreas? Do you have any great revelation for me?’

Andreas smiled. ‘One is surely enough.’

‘We’re nearly there.’ Annita jumped to her feet. ‘I feel so excited about everything.’ She hugged Yannis in her exuberance, and then drew away from him, blushing.

During their meal Annita chattered about her desire to become a nurse until Yannis finally pushed his plate away. ‘I can’t eat any more with you talking like that. It makes me feel ill.’

Annita giggled. ‘You’re silly. Wouldn’t you like me to look after you if you were ill?’

‘I’m not at all sure that I would. I’ve a feeling that if I said I had a bad arm you would treat my leg!’

The humour left Annita and she rose to her feet. ‘You may be very clever, Yannis, but you are also a very stupid little boy at times.’ She pushed her chair away and ran up to her tiny bedroom.