YANNIS (Cretan Saga Book 1) (85 page)

‘Wasn’t it really Mamma’s?’

‘In law I expect it was, but I told her what I’d done and she approved. I’ll share hers out again amongst us.’

Yannis thought quickly. ‘Whilst you’re sharing hers, share mine also. I don’t need it.’

‘You may do one day. I sent a share to Stelios, and I’m holding Maria’s to go to her children.’

Yannis looked at his brother in admiration. ‘There’s more to you than I’d realised. A good many brothers would have taken the lot and considered it their due.’

‘That would have been dishonest and unfair.’

‘We would never have known. I’m glad you’ve told me. I was going to ask how you were placed financially and offer you help if you needed it. I’ve got five years pension saved up and nothing to spend it on.’

‘I’ll let you know if it ever comes to that. I appreciate the offer.’ He poured another glass of brandy for each of them.

Yannis looked at the glass speculatively. ‘This must be the last. I ought to see if Davros is down at the quay. He refused to bring me over, but he offered me a ride back.’

Yiorgo raised his glass. ‘I’ll see if Anna’s finished.’

He pushed open the door of the living room. Anna was kneeling beside her mother’s bed, saying a last prayer for her. Yiorgo waited until she stirred, then walked across.

‘She looks beautiful, Anna.’

Yannis followed and looked down at the inert form. ‘Thank you, Anna, for all your care. It can’t have been easy for you all these years.’

Anna gave a tight-lipped smile. ‘She was my Mamma. It was her due.’

Yannis took her hand. ‘I’m going now. I’ll ask Father Minos to say prayers for her. Come and see me when you can.’

He kissed her forehead and shook hands with Yiorgo, before bending over his mother and kissing her goodbye for the last time. ‘Thank you for sending for me.’

He unlatched the door and limped and shuffled as fast as he was able to the shore, relieved to see Davros sitting in the stern of his boat. As soon as he had boarded Davros cast off. The sad, closed look on Yannis’s face told him the news. ‘Were you in time?’

Yannis nodded and they spoke no more until the tiny boat docked at the quay on Spinalonga. ‘Thank you, Davros.’

‘I’ll bring you back any time you like,’ his teeth flashed in a grin.

Yannis shook his head. ‘I doubt I’ll make the trip again.’

Yannis took the letter from Nikos to Father Minos and showed it to him in disgust. ‘He says he’ll be back over here in a couple of months or so. He has to clear his backlog of patients at the hospital, and then he’ll come and take further tests as required by Athens. What do they think we are? Surely they must know from the tests they already have whether the drugs will help us?’

Father Minos frowned. ‘Do you trust Nikos?’

Yannis considered. ‘Yes,’ he said finally. ‘I do.’

‘Then when he comes ask him for the truth. Did they lose the tests in transit, have you all suffered too long for the drugs to have any beneficial effect, is the delay political? You have a right to know, you all have that right.’

‘Has Doctor Stavros spoken to you?’ Yannis asked the question sharply.

‘Not about the tests. Why?’

‘There’s something going on that I don’t understand. I asked the doctor why there was so much delay and he said it was nothing to do with him and I’d have to ask Athens. I asked if he’d received the results through and he said that anything sent to him regarding our medical condition was confidential. I’m sure he knows something and won’t tell us.’

‘What he said is true, Yannis. He took an oath not to disclose medical confidentialities to anyone the same as I’m under oath not to reveal anything that’s said to me in the confessional. I suggest you tackle Nikos.’

It was more than three months before Nikos arrived and was met with a cool reception. Puzzled by the hostility he sensed around him he sought out the priest.

‘What have I done? I couldn’t help being held up on the mainland. I had to treat my patients there.’

Father Minos looked at the doctor. ‘You’re losing the trust and respect of the people over here. Ever since Yannis first wrote there’s been nothing but delay and excuses. These people want the truth, and then they want the drugs to which they’re entitled.’

Nikos spread his hands in despair. ‘I’m not sure if I know the truth. If I do repeat what has been told me from Athens I could cause more trouble.’

‘Would it help if you came to confession? Whatever you said would be treated in confidence by me and maybe I could advise you on your course of action.’

Cautiously Nikos agreed. He felt very vulnerable on this island, despite his friendship with Yannis, and had no wish to antagonise the occupants. He followed Father Minos into the church and knelt beside the altar whilst Father Minos blessed him.

‘I don’t know where to start, Father. I don’t understand what’s happening.’

‘Tell me as best you can.’

‘ It’s not my doing. I have to follow instructions.’ Nikos moistened his lips. ‘I’ve been careful and conscientious with the tests. The first ones they said were too long in transit and did not give true results. The second tests were sent by air. There was no delay and still Athens was not satisfied.’

‘Do you know why? Are they too sick to benefit from the new treatment?’

‘No.’ The answer was a whisper.

‘Are they too old? Is that the problem?’

‘Then tell me, is it money? I’m sure there’s money in a fund held by Father Andreas that could be used on their behalf.’

‘No.’

Father Minos waited patiently. He could think of no other reason that could cause a problem.

‘Athens says that most of them no longer have active leprosy cells.’

‘What?’

Nikos turned anguished eyes to the priest.

‘Explain to me. I don’t know enough about medical matters to understand what you’re saying.’

‘The first tests that I sent to Athens showed no active leprosy in most of the people over here. Athens thought it was due to the delay in receiving the samples. The second tests showed the same result. That’s why they’ve asked for more. If these tests show the same result there’s no reason why anyone should stay on this island. They’re burnt-out, no longer infectious. They don’t even need treatment.’

Father Minos swallowed hard. ‘So what will happen to them if these tests give the same results as previously?’

‘I don’t know.’

The priest laid his hands on the doctor’s shoulders. ‘The situation is not of your making. No blame can be attached to you.’ His head was spinning and he could not think. ‘I need to pray. Maybe a solution to the problem will be given to me.’

‘Yes, Father.’ Nikos rose, he felt relieved now he had shared his burden.

It was more than an hour before Father Minos left the church and went in search of the doctor. At first he had knelt at the altar and waited, hoping he would receive divine guidance, but none came. He turned the problem over and over in his mind, until he finally thought of a possible compromise. Nikos scanned the priest’s face eagerly, but could read nothing. Father Minos sat beside him.

‘I think it would be as well if you told part of the truth. They know Athens wasn’t happy with the first results and now they want to confirm the second ones. You have to persuade them that it’s for their own good and no fault of yours.’

‘Suppose they ask what the results were?’

‘They’re hardly likely to. They all assume they’re still contagious. Do you have individual results with you.’

‘No, there was no need to bring them.’

‘Then you can tell them honestly that you don’t have them.’ Father Minos smiled at the worried man. ‘I’ll ring the bell to announce a meeting. Compose yourself and speak convincingly. They have a great respect for you as a doctor.’

Nikos could not agree with the priest’s opinion, but he saw no other way to carry out his instructions. Reluctantly he rose to his feet and brushed the dust from his suit. His mouth felt dry. ‘Could you speak for me?’ he asked.

‘No. You’re the doctor. I’ll support you, but I’ll not speak on your behalf.’

Gradually the people emerged from their houses, leaving their morning duties and gathering before the church. At a signal from the priest Nikos held up his hand.

‘My friends,’ he began, hearing his voice squeak with nervousness. ‘I am pleased to be able to visit you yet again, but I wish it could have been under other circumstances. I have consulted with Father Minos and he and I feel you have a right to know why there have been the delays from Athens.’

An angry murmur ran through all of them.

‘The first tests I took were sent to Athens by sea. There were the inevitable delays and the doctors were not happy with the samples. They were unable to find cultures of leprosy cells amongst most of them, and decided they were too old. I had to take new tests from all of you and this time they were flown to the city. I thought that would be the end of the matter, but then I was told Athens required a second set of samples to prove the results of the previous tests.’

‘Don’t they know what they’re doing over there?’

‘They want to be quite certain.’

‘So when are we getting our treatment?’

An expectant silence settled on the gathering as they waited for Nikos’ answer.

‘I can’t tell you that, but I’m sure it won’t be very long now.’

‘You ought to know. You’re a doctor.’

Nikos looked pleadingly at Father Minos who held up his hand. ‘The doctor has told you the truth. He cannot make promises on behalf of Athens. You have to be patient.’

‘We’ve been patient long enough.’

‘I agree with you. I know very little about medicine or drugs, but I do know that no doctor or hospital likes to make a mistake. That’s why you have to bear with them a little longer, so they can study the results and decide on the best course of treatment for you all.’

‘By the time they decide we’ll all be dead.’

‘How long is it going to take this time?’

‘Just a few days.’

‘So the first samples are going to be old when they reach Athens.’

‘They’ve arranged to have them despatched directly from Aghios Nikolaos to Athens each day as soon as I return. They’ll be completely fresh when they receive them,’ Nikos tried to reassure them.

‘How do we know that?’

‘Trust the doctor,’ interposed Father Minos. ‘I will guarantee his integrity.’

‘It doesn’t matter to you.’

Yannis, annoyed and displeased with the news as he was, would not let the slight to the priest go by. ‘If Father Minos says we can trust Nikos then I believe him. To prove that I have faith in him I’ll give him my samples first.’

They grumbled, but if Yannis and Father Minos said they could trust the doctor half of them said it must be true, the others were undecided and rebellious.

‘I’ll be second,’ shouted Spiro.

Yannis smiled gratefully at him for his support. ‘Would it speed things up if we came up to the hospital?’ he suggested.

Nikos nodded. His confidence was returning now and he felt annoyed that so much of the morning had been spent in gaining their co-operation and good will. Slowly the islanders made their way up to the hospital and stood waiting to be called. They were either sulky or garrulous and Nikos brought all his professional etiquette and natural charm into play whilst he explained again and again why Athens was asking for more tests.

Whilst with Doctor Stavros he once again read the notes the doctor had made on all the patients on the island, noting when the doctor considered that all outward signs of the disease had halted. He compared them with the list he had from Athens of those whose tests had returned a negative result and in all but two cases they agreed with Doctor Stavros’s observations.

Yannis waited, growing more and more impatient as there was no word sent to him from either Nikos or Athens. He wrote again and again asking for the results of the tests, but received no reply. He wrote to Andreas, pleading with him to visit the government and investigate the delay, but Andreas was as evasive as Father Minos and Doctor Stavros had been of late. He began to brood on the problem, growing morose and sullen, until he formulated a plan.

He chose his time carefully. A stiff breeze rose during the afternoon, blowing towards the mainland, and when most of the islanders were busy with preparations for their evening meal he hauled a bathtub down to the quay and pushed himself off.

The journey was more dangerous than he had anticipated. The breeze had the effect of tipping him forwards in the unstable tub and although he travelled faster over the stretch of water than he had done previously he was exhausted by the time he reached the safety of the shore. He made no attempt to salvage the bathtub, but plodded slowly and cautiously up to the farmhouse.

No light showed from the windows and Yannis bit his lips. It was not yet fully dark so it was unlikely they would have retired for the night. He tried the door, which did not yield under his hand, then threw a stone up at Anna’s bedroom window. The stone bounced back and Yannis threw it again without receiving any response. Hungry, tired and wet he made his way disconsolately over to the stable. He would at least get warm there, huddled up with the donkey. She objected to the intruder, grudgingly moving over a little on her straw to allow him room enough to lie beside her. He dozed fitfully, the donkey disturbing him as she moved her position and it was only by a sixth sense that he rolled away from her hooves as she lumbered awkwardly to her feet. The stable door opened and a shaft of light dazzled him. Instinctively he held up his arm to shield his eyes and heard a quick intake of breath.

‘Yannis! What the devil are you doing here?’

Yannis struggled to his feet. ‘Yiorgo?’

Yiorgo lowered the lamp. ‘Come inside.’

He followed his brother across the yard and into the kitchen. Anna looked up in surprise. ‘Yannis! How lovely to see you. Why didn’t you let us know you were coming?’

He sank into a chair and removed his shoes and socks, towelling his feet dry. ‘I don’t want anyone to know I’m here. I’m not staying. I’m going to Heraklion.’

‘You’re staying here tonight at least. You couldn’t get anywhere at the moment. You look exhausted.’