YANNIS (Cretan Saga Book 1) (91 page)

His hour-long address to the listening doctors was met with polite applause and he left the platform feeling he had accomplished nothing. When he had invited questions only one man had spoken, then there were a few minutes of embarrassed silence before he vacated the platform to resume his seat. He spent the remainder of the morning listening to an Indian bewailing the plight of his nation in their unequal fight against not only the disease, but also the ignorance and poverty that the people suffered.

When he had finished Elias retired to the restaurant, choosing a table in the corner and whilst he ate his lunch he read the letter he had received. He would have to make some notes, then at least he would be able to ask relevant questions when the Greek representative spoke in two days time. He pushed his plate away and reached for his cigarette case.

He waited in eager anticipation for the day the Greek doctor was due to speak and settled back comfortably in his chair as the man took the platform. After the usual opening remarks he went on to say how deprived the country had been due to the occupation by the Germans during the war, how little money was available even now for treatment. He painted a glowing picture of the new hospital that had been built on the site of the old one, describing the facilities that long-term patients could expect, yet insisting that without international aid the treatment could not progress at the same rate as that enjoyed in the western world. Elias listened, amusement giving a small up-turn to his lips. This might be a medical conference, but it was turning into a begging campaign. Each country insisting they needed massive amounts of monetary aid to improve their medicine. Finally the Greek took his seat on the platform and waited for his words to be digested sufficiently before calling for questions.

Elias was on his feet. ‘I should like to ask a question.’ He waited for the nod of assent. ‘What is going to happen to the lepers from Spinalonga?’

There was complete silence. The doctor looked desperately at the chairman, who nodded. There was nothing irregular about the question. The doctor took a mouthful of water.

‘I do not fully understand the question.’

‘Then I will repeat myself, sir, and also expound. The lepers from Spinalonga have undergone protracted tests that have proved most of them to be burnt-out. I understand some of them were taken to hospital in Athens to undergo further tests. When these further tests prove a negative infection, what do you plan to do with these unfortunate men and women?’

The doctor licked his lips. ‘That’s a very difficult question for me to answer. It’s not entirely medical, but political also. I would not like to overstep the bounds of my ability.’

‘Why should it be political? Why should these people not be allowed to leave and live wherever they please?’

‘It’s not quite as simple as that. Although many of them appear to be healthy we don’t know enough about the disease to give them a completely clean bill of health. For all we know the disease could reappear at any time, striking them suddenly and fatally.’

‘In my experience that has never happened with a burnt-out case.’

A chorus of voices agreed with Elias and the Greek doctor looked around desperately at the chairman, who kept his eyes glued to the floor.

‘We do not feel we are in a position to be that positive.’

‘So what are you going to do with them?’ persisted Elias.

‘It has not been decided yet. I have not had an opportunity to examine the patients.’

‘Why not? I understand they arrived in Athens two months before you left for this conference.’

‘We thought it better to give them a chance to rehabilitate themselves. We do not wish to overawe them by asking probing questions until they are relaxed and familiar with their surroundings.’

Elias snorted. ‘These people are not primitive savages! A good many of them are well educated and had they not been stricken in their youth they could well be your politicians, lawyers, teachers or even doctors of today. I don’t feel they would be overawed in any way simply by being moved to Athens.’

‘We felt we should give them time. I intend to start my examination of their individual cases upon my return.’

‘And should you find them negative what will your recommendation be?

‘I would have to consult with my superiors.’

‘What would you like to see happen if they are negative?’

The doctor stood, silent and helpless under the merciless attack.

Elias tried again. ‘Would you like to see them kept in hospital if they have nothing wrong with them?’

‘There would be no need.’

‘So they could return to the island?’

‘I suppose so, if they wanted.’

‘Suppose they wished to live elsewhere?’

‘That would be up to the government.’

‘But you would be willing to see them leave the hospital and return to the island they consider to be their home?’

‘It would seem the most practical solution.’

‘I agree with you. For many it would probably be the only solution, but what of those who have families in other parts of Greece? Surely they should be allowed to return to them?’

The doctor shrugged. ‘I can’t answer that.’ He turned to the chairman. ‘Please, may I be released from this form of questioning? I do not feel it has any direct bearing on the conference.’

The chairman looked at Elias. ‘How many people’s lives are we discussing?’

‘About seventy.’

‘Then I think you should be satisfied with the answers given so far. The purpose of the conference is to discuss the suffering of some million or more, not to take up the cause of small groups, however worthy.’

‘Thank you, sir. I trust my questions and the answers were recorded.’ Elias resumed his seat. He knew he had discomfited the Greek doctor and he hoped it would have a beneficial effect. He would be visiting his family in Athens and could easily fit in a visit to the hospital, and if necessary, remind the doctor of the recorded conversation.

It was good to be home once more, to sit in the over-crowded, over-heated room and hear the sounds of Athens in the background. He wished he had been able to bring Annita with him, but she had become so Americanised he doubted that she would easily have been able to slip back into the role of the docile, Greek wife, even for a few weeks. She organised him, dictated to him and generally ruled his waking hours. He loved her dearly and admitted that without her continual management he would probably have become a recluse, dedicated to his research, and quite unfit to hold the important post that was his at the leprosarium.

It came almost as a shock to him when he realised he had already spent a week there and done no more than shopped for a present for Annita. He must visit the hospital and see Yannis. All the enthusiasm and fire he had experienced during the conference seemed to have dissipated from his body, leaving him weak and listless.

Without enthusiasm he propelled his steps in the direction of the hospital until he reached the gates. He traversed the grounds, pleased to see groups of patients sitting outside in the warm sunshine. At the information desk he asked for Yannis and was directed along the corridor to the unit of single rooms. There was no answer to his knock and he tried to find his way back, wandering as he did so into a small, secluded garden. The solitary occupant looked up and smiled.

‘Can I help you? Have you lost your way?’

‘I certainly have. I’m looking for Yannis Christoforakis. I went to his room, but there was no answer.’

‘He’s with the doctor. I don’t expect he’ll be much longer. You could wait here or go to the cafeteria. I can show you the way.’

‘I’ll wait here, if you don’t mind. It’s very pleasant.’

A look of sadness came over the girl’s face. ‘If only we could see the sea,’ she spoke wistfully.

‘You come from the coast?’

‘From Spinalonga. You can see the sea wherever you are on there. I do miss it.’

Elias looked at her. ‘Please, don’t think me impertinent, but may I ask you some questions?’

She looked from Elias to the door leading back into the hospital. ‘What do you wish to ask me?’

‘I’d like you to tell me about Spinalonga.’

‘There’s not much to tell. It’s just a small island, but at least you can walk where you please and do as you want.’

‘Can’t you do that here?’

Flora shook her head. ‘We’re not allowed to leave the grounds and they prefer us to stay round here rather than mix with the other patients.’

‘Why is that?’

‘I don’t know. We’re not infectious. It’s almost as though they want to hide us. Yannis is getting very cross. He blames himself. If he hadn’t continually pestered the government to say we could go wherever we wanted they wouldn’t have brought us over here. We could have stayed on the island where we were happy.’

‘Were you all happy there?’

Flora shrugged. ‘Most of us were. I was. Yannis was. There’s only Mikalis who likes being here and that’s because his family can visit him.’

‘A very good reason.’

‘I agree, but let him stay and let us go home.’

‘Wouldn’t some of the others from the island like to come here? Maybe they’d be able to see their families again then?’

‘Some of them would. That’s why it seems so unfair to have brought us.’

Elias nodded sympathetically. ‘What do you plan to do when you return to the island? Do you have a husband there?’

‘No.’ A guarded look came over Flora’s face. ‘Who are you anyway?’

‘I’m a specialist in leprosy. You needn’t be afraid of me.’

‘I’ll go and see if Yannis’s returned.’ Before Elias could say another word Flora had gone, rushing down the corridor, knocking on each door as she went. Grumbling the occupants came out, demanding to know what was wrong.

‘There’s a strange man in the garden. Says he wants Yannis, but he’s asking an awful lot of questions.’

‘Where is Yannis?’

‘With the doctor.’

‘I’ll come.’ Spiro reached for his jacket. ‘You wait here until Yannis gets back.’

Spiro sauntered into the garden. ‘I hear you’ve been asking for Yannis?’

Elias rose. ‘Pleased to meet you at last.’

‘I’m not Yannis. I’m a friend of his. What is it you want? Yannis is likely to be a little while yet, he’s with the doctor.’

‘Yes, the girl told me that. I don’t know what I said. I seemed to frighten her. One minute we were chatting and the next she was running back inside the hospital. She is all right?’

‘She said you were asking a lot of questions. Why did you want to see Yannis?’

‘I’m his cousin’s husband. He may have mentioned me to you. I was at the conference in Vienna and decided to take the opportunity to visit those of my family who still live in Athens. Yannis wrote to me and I thought it would be a good idea to visit him also whilst I’m here. We’ve never met, but we are related, and I thought my wife would appreciate news of him.’

A broad grin spread over Spiro’s face. ‘You must be Elias. You received his letter, then? He’ll be glad to see you. Did they say anything about us at the conference?’

‘I brought the subject up, which was no doubt what Yannis intended.’

‘What did they say?’

‘Let’s wait for Yannis, then I can tell you and any of the others who may be interested.’

‘They all will be. Wait here and I’ll find them.’

Elias waited a good half hour before Spiro returned with a group of men and two women.

‘We’re still waiting for Yannis, but I’ve left a message pinned to his door asking him to come to the garden as soon as he returns. He can’t be very much longer.’

‘He’s probably well into an argument with the doctor. He could be hours,’ groaned Sifis.

‘My son and daughter-in-law are visiting me this afternoon. I want to have had my lunch and a shave before they come,’ grumbled Mikalis.

‘There’s plenty of time. You know your visitors are always late.’

‘That’s not their fault,’ Mikalis defended them. ‘They have to travel from Piraeus.’

Elias listened. They sounded no different from any other group of patients waiting impatiently for visiting hours. The door opened and a man entered. As if in deference to him the talking stopped and they moved back to allow him through. ‘What’s so important?’

Elias stepped forward. ‘I can’t be wrong again. You must be Yannis.’

‘I am.’

‘Elias. Elias from America.’

‘Elias! What are you doing here?’

‘You wrote to me in Vienna and I was coming to Athens so I thought I’d visit you.’

‘You got my letter then?’

‘I raised a question and forced an answer for you. It’s not entirely satisfactory, but it was the best I could do before I was told to sit down.’

‘What is it? Tell us?’

‘I asked what would happen if you were declared negative and the doctor tried to hedge. He tried to avoid answering the question, so I changed it and asked if they planned to keep you here in hospital if you were negative and he said no. I then asked if you would be sent back to the island and he said it would be the most practical solution.’

Audible sighs of relief were heard.

‘Suppose we don’t want to go back?’ asked Mikalis.

‘That was when they made me sit down and keep quiet. It’s all recorded and I’ve a copy at home that I can translate for you. They gave me mine in English, of course. If they try to keep you here against your wishes you can produce that and they won’t have any grounds.’

‘I can’t thank you enough, Elias. We were beginning to think we were prisoners here.’

‘They can’t keep you here against your will. You came voluntarily for tests. If those tests show up negative they can’t force you to stay in the hospital.’

‘Suppose they try?’

‘Then write to me immediately. I’ll keep my copy of the conference minutes in a very safe place and if necessary I could take your case to the Court of Human Rights.’

‘What good would that do?’

‘I’m not sure. It would depend a good deal on how your case was presented. The Greek government could show that it was for your own well being that you were kept here, but at the same time it would high-light your predicament world wide. I don’t think they’d like that kind of publicity. You could say it’s a threat to hold over them if extreme measures were necessary.’