PART VI - Part 01

PART VI

1. Alexei Ivanovich Starovkin, accompanied by Hash entered café “Macedonia”. They sat at a table by the window. A young and beautiful lady was standing at the bar. Her face was white and her head was covered with long blonde hair that came down to her shoulders. Alexei Ivanovich Starovkin laughed out loud, sounding like his voice was coming out from inside a cave. Hash struck the table with his fist. The blonde woman jumped. She was startled.

“Rakia, young lady! Bring rakia!” Alexei yelled at her.

“Two large glasses and a bottle!” said Hash and giggled.

“We dusted those communists well, ha…” said Alexei.

“They needed it, Alexei,” replied Hash.

The blonde came over and put the bottle and glasses on the table.

“You can pour your own drinks,” she said and then naïvely asked: “Did you just come back from the war?”

“Yes, we came back from a battle. We won the war. We are winners…,” said Hash proudly.

He then opened the bottle and poured rakia into the glasses.

“I know,” replied the blonde, “I heard the news on the radio. They announced the defeat of the Democratic Army. Since then every day there have been demonstrations in the city.”

Alexei Ivanovich Starovkin laughed loudly. The café door flung open and Peter McDonald and Dustin Brown walked in. Their uniforms and hair were covered in dust and sweat was pouring down their dusty faces. Their eyes were puffed up and bloodshot but were glowing with pleasure. They sat at the table next to Alexei and Hash.

“Bring two more glasses!” yelled Hash.

“Right away, sir,” said the blonde and went to the bar.

“What’s your name?” Alexei yelled at her.

The blonde turned and a tiny smile appeared on her lips.

“Eva Zuzelska, sir,” she replied in a soft tone of voice.

“Eva Zuzelska! Where are you from, Eva?” asked Hash.

“From Poland! From Krakow,” she replied proudly, turned and went to the bar. She took two glasses from the shelf and brought them to the table. She then bowed humbly and went back to the bar counter.

Hash poured rakia into the glasses and handed them to Dustin Brown and Peter MacDonald. He then raised his glass up high and toasted:

“To victory!”

The other three also raised their glasses and toasted “To victory!” They then all took a sip of rakia.

Then, with a distorted smile on his face, Hash raised his glass again and said: “To the American aircraft and to their pilots without whom Vicho and Gramos would not have fallen. To the English officers…! To the American officers…! My fatherland will forever be grateful.”

Totally uninterested, Alexei Ivanovich Starovkin kept raising his glass and toasting with them. His face looked pale and tired but darkened from the scorching sun. He started drinking like he was trying to get drunk. Eva Zuzelska watched him curiously.

“He wants to get drunk. He wants to forget the heads that he cut off with his oily hands,” Eva thought to herself as she poured rakia into his glass. He took a long drink and moistened his lips. Eva looked at

him again and thought, “Who knows how much money the government gave them to cut off heads?”

Alexei Ivanovich Starovkin stood up and walked over to the bar counter. He then pushed Eva Zuzelska against the counter with his own body and quietly and seductively said:

“You are so beautiful. I will buy this boarding house and everything with it. You will then be working for me and not for that lousy whore Urania.”

Eva Zuzelska did not react. At that moment Urania was walking down the stairs. Alexei turned and looked at her.

“The boarding house belongs to Foti Steriov, Alexei. He has the title,” said Urania.

Alexei Ivanovich Starovkin slowly pulled away from Eva Zuzelska but kept looking at Urania.

“I will be back in an hour. Then we will see,” he said and stormed out of the café, to everyone’s surprise.

Urania went into the kitchen. A few moments later she came out and, while standing in front of Eva Zuzelska, said:

“From now on, every day you will bring my food to my room.” She then walked past her and climbed up the stairs.

Eva Zuzelska kept looking at her until she disappeared behind the door into the rooms. After that she had a shot of rakia and went into the kitchen.

2. Hash suddenly jumped off his chair. Peter McDonald and Dustin Brown looked at him indignantly.

“Excuse me, gentlemen, I have a little thing to do,” he explained. He then ran by the tables, climbed up the stairs and flung open the door to Urania’s room. He was panting.

Urania Papaioannou was sitting on her bed eating the grilled meat she had earlier taken from the kitchen. She turned and looked at him. He was breathing hard looking at her. She went back to eating. An ironic smile appeared on Hash’s distorted mouth. The scars on his lips and cheeks were highlighted by the dim light in the room. Hash stood there quietly at the door and stared at Urania.

Chewing very slowly, Urania ate the last piece of bread on her place and stood up. With measured movements she took off her dress. A beautiful body with well rounded breasts and bitten off nipples which had not completely healed, appeared before Hash’s eyes.

“If you want to have me, wait for me to completely heal. Only a beast would have me this way,” she said.

Hash hesitated. He wanted her beautiful body. Drool kept dripping out of his distorted mouth.

“Have it your way, but until then I will be in charge of the boarding house and collect the money,” he said rudely.

Urania did not answer. She picked up her dress and, with slow movements, covered her naked body. She then walked over to the door, opened it and with her hand showed Hash out.

A smile appeared on Hash’s distorted mouth. He gave Urania an ironic wave with his head and left the room. Urania took a long breath and held it for a long time. Her stress level dropped down to normal.

“So, he wants to own the boarding house, ha?! That son of a bitch! Foti Steriov owns the boarding house. You can take it, but you will have to give it back when Foti returns. Times are changing. Go ahead, take it!” Urania thought to herself, distorted her mouth and smiled a mild victorious smile. After that she laughed out loud and filled the room with infectious laughter. She calmed down so much so that she barely managed to change the direction of her fall. Instead of falling on her bed, like she wanted to, she fell on the floor...

The boarding house door opened with a loud bang and Alexei Ivanovich Starovkin appeared from behind it. He walked past the table where Hash, Dustin Brown and Peter MacDonald were sitting, finishing the last of their drinks, and climbed up the stairs. He entered Urania Papaioannou’s room.

“Come with me,” he ordered her rudely.

Urania Papaioannou became upset. Alexei grabbed her by the arm and pulled her towards him.

Urania Papaioannou did not resist. She put on her shoes and went with Alexei. They left the boarding house and went to a law office several blocks down the street. Alexei opened the door and led her in. He then pushed her forward. Urania almost lost her balance but managed to stay on her feet.

“This man is a lawyer, his name is Mikis Porfirogenis. He will tell you everything you need to know about the sale of the boarding house,” bellowed Alexei looking at her angrily.

Urania was silent. The lawyer waited a few moments for her to calm down and then opened a folder. He pulled out two typewritten pages and handed them to her. Urania took them and looked at them carefully.

“When your husband disappeared, you, as his legal wife, became the owner of the boarding house. All you have to do is sign a request to delete him from the living. But, you don’t have to do that. You also have another option. The part that belongs to your missing husband you can sell to Alexei,” said Mikis Porfirogenis and looked at Alexei inquisitively.

Urania Papaioannou was quiet. Alexei Ivanovich Starovkin pulled his dagger out from his belt and yelled out “sign!”, in a threatening voice.

“I have no choice. All right, gentlemen, I will sign. I will keep the hostel for myself and sell the café and bar to Alexei. Each will collect the profits from their own part,” said Urania.

Mikis Porfirogenis looked at Alexei.

“I agree,” replied Alexei and extended his hand to Urania. She shook it. Alexei then pulled a little bag out of his pocket, extended it towards Urania and said: “There are three gold coins inside. The government gave them to me. It was my pay for the many heads I cut off. The coins are yours.”

Urania took the small bag with the gold coins and put it in her large black purse.

“Good luck with the café,” she said.

Alexei bowed slightly and said:

“And you with your gold coins.”

Urania Papaioannou signed the documents. Mikis Porfirogenis took them and put them in a folder.

“Good luck to both of you with your profits,” the lawyer said and stroked his short black moustache which made his face look fatter. He then stood up and helped Urania to the door. He sent the two of them off along Ignatia Street.

Alexei and Urania walked side by side nervously. They had walked about two hundred metres when Alexei said:

“Excuse me, but I have some urgent matters to attend to…” and turned towards the port.

Urania Papaioannou smiled at him with an ironic smile, turned her back on him and continued walking slowly on Ignatia Street.

II

Urania Papaioannou walked through the café feeling furious. She did not look at Eva Zuzelska or at the customers sitting in the café and bar. She climbed up the stairs and entered her room looking very nervous. There was a surprise. Stavre Nakovski was sitting on her bed.

“Hello! I have been waiting for you!” said Stavre.

Surprised, Urania kept looking at his handsome face with much curiosity. She went closer to him and they shook hands.

“Welcome to the boarding house ‘Macedonia’! How long are you going to be in the city?” she asked.

“Are you worried because I am here? I don’t know how long I will be here. We lost the war and the government is after me. I thought perhaps I can hide here,” he replied. “Where is Foti?” he then asked.

Urania Papaioannou sifted through his tangled hair with her thin fingers and smiled gently.

“First make yourself comfortable! Don’t worry about the other things! It will be like in the old days before the war, but not like the ones that ended four years ago. We will talk later. Now I will bring you some food. You must be hungry? You look like a beggar in front of St. Demetrius,” replied Urania.

Stavre Nakovski smiled. Urania waved her hand and left the room. She went down to the kitchen and filled a plate with roasted meat and some bread. She then went back upstairs and placed the plate on a small table. She went in front of the mirror and looked at herself.

Stavre came out of the bathroom half wrapped in a pink towel.

“You haven’t lost a gram of your looks. If I wasn’t your sister-in-law I would be all over you right now... I brought you some food,” she said.

Stavre sat on the stool beside the little table.

“You didn’t tell me where Foti Steriov is,” he said with a mouthful of roasted meat.

“Foti disappeared about two years ago and we have not heard from him ever since... how is your family? I heard you had twins,” she replied.

Stavre Nakovski was silent.

“I hope they were not killed during the war?” she asked anxiously and grabbed his head with her hands.

“No, No! They are alive and well in Yugoslavia. So they tell me…” he replied with a broken voice. He stopped eating.

“Eat! Eat! It’s my treat…” said Urania jokingly.

“I can’t. I get choked up when I think about my children. Our damned fate! Will there ever be a day for us? For me to play with them, like a father should with his own children… To be able to admire them and love them…?” he replied.

“How did you get here? I forgot to ask you. Did anyone see you?” asked Urania.

“No, no one saw me. I came in through the back door. I was very careful. I don’t want to bring you trouble,” replied Stavre.

“Lie down and rest now! I will go out for a walk. I will buy a new dress or something…” she said and went towards to door.

“Don’t buy anything for me. Things are very expensive here. I will never be able to pay you back?” replied Stavre.

“There is plenty of time. Life is long enough to get our debts settled. Lie down!” she said and walked out of the room.

Stavre Nakovski smiled kindly. He then left his food on the little table and went to bed. He closed his eyes and fell asleep...

Urania Papaioannou turned the corner onto Venezelos Street and entered the fourth store. She looked at the salesmen seductively.

“Pack me a suit number 52 and a shirt number 43. And hurry up. I have guests at home waiting for me, “said Urania in a mellow tone of voice.

The salesman came out from behind the counter and pulled out a dark brown suit from the suit rack. He placed it on top of the colourful paper that was resting on the counter. He then pulled out a cream coloured shirt from the shirt rack and packed them in the same paper. Urania handed him a gold coin.

“Is it enough?” she asked.

“More than enough,” replied the salesman.

Urania grabbed the package and winked at him. The salesman, looking confused, smiled. Urania went out of the store. The salesman ran after her. He stopped at the door and kept looking at her behind until she disappeared into the crowd.

3. Urania Papaioannou was in a hurry. She noticed two people following her. She ran and hid in a large building. The people following her passed by the building and ran down the street. Urania came out of the building and ran back to the boarding house. She collided with Hash as she entered the door.

“You sold the café?” said Hash threateningly.

“I had to. I had no choice. You’re never around to defend me,” she said in a rough tone of voice, pushed the door wide open and rushed by him and between the tables.

“The hostel is mine. My people are looking for you. They will find you...” replied Hash, laughed a contagious laugh, put his hand to his throat and said, “crunch”. He then went out and down the street.

Urania passed by the tables, climbed up the stairs and entered her room. Stavre was sleeping. She put the package in the corner of the room.

“God I am going crazy. I forgot to buy shoes... Oh God, what number?” she thought. She took some thread from the drawer and gently and carefully measured Stavre’s left foot. She then tore the thread and put it in her purse. She came out of her room and went downstairs into the café. She passed by Eva Zuzelska but did not look at her. She pushed a chair out of the way with her foot and stepped outside. There was a shoe store at the corner of the street. She went inside.

“I need men’s shoes. Here is the measure of the foot,” she said.

The salesman was an older man. He took the thread and looked at it.

“Please hurry, Tanas!” she said.

Tanas came out from behind the counter with a box in his hand. Urania grabbed the box and handed him a gold coin.

“That should be enough!” she said and left the store in a hurry. A few moments later she was back in her room standing in front of the bed. Stavre suddenly woke up startled. He looked at her frightened eyes...

“What happened to you? You look like you have seen a ghost!” he said.

Urania managed to compose herself.

“Get up, I bought you some clothes. We must go… Unfortunately you can’t go. You can stay here in my room,” she said and went out.

Stavre Nakovski jumped out of bed, hastily got dressed and ran after her. He caught her and grabbed her by the hand. She was running and refusing to stop.

“Please explain to me what is going on?” he asked.

Urania was silent. At the corner he tugged on her hard. She refused to stop. Stavre was confused. He ran along with her. They passed several streets. Urania finally stopped.

“We made it!” she said and tossed the fear out of her eyes.

“Please explain to me what’s going on!” Stavre insisted anxiously.

“We have to hide. Some people are bothered by my presence,” said Urania and pulled on his sleeve.

Stavre silently followed her. They rushed down a stone road covered with small stone cubes and arrived in Urania Papaioannou’s old dilapidated house. Urania was panting and out of breath. She collapsed on the bed.

“We are safe here. Sit down! Make yourself comfortable. The house is big and empty. I have no clientele and no girls working for me. No one is going to look for us here,” she said.

“Please explain to me what is happening!” Stavre demanded to know.

“Please sit down,” she said.

“I am not sitting down until you tell me what is happening with you. What is this circus?” replied Stavre angrily.

“They want to kill me! Are you satisfied now?” she snapped back angrily.

“Who wants to kill you?! Why do they want to kill you? And how?” yelled Stavre, enraged.

Urania Papaioannou smiled gently.

“I can’t tell you any more. It is best that you stay away from this game. If I can I will manage on my own, if not, the stray dogs will

be eating my dead body in the big city dump. I will not even have an ordinary funeral the kind most mortals have in this city full of rot and stench…” said Urania and laughed. Her eyes pooled with tears.

Stavre was confused. He wiped her tears and caressed her hair.

“Were you friends with my brother Hristo?” Urania suddenly asked.

“Good friends... Where is he now?” asked Stavre.

Pamapas’s people killed him. Someone betrayed him. I was very concerned about his safety. The bloody bastards, one day they will pay for this!” she cried out.

“Rest now! I will go and look up some of my friends in the city,” said Stavre.

Urania put her head down on her pillow. Stavre stepped out of the house. He had a concerned look on his face. He rushed along the streets and did not speak to any of the people passing him by or walking in the same direction. He arrived at a five storey house and went inside. He climbed up the stairs and stopped in front of a door with the inscription “DONE BINDOV”. He knocked several times but no one answered. He waited a while. A modestly dressed old woman came out from the door on the opposite side. She looked frightened. Stavre went closer.

“Go away, my son, as far away as you can from this house! The police took Done. Every day they come back to check and see if any of his friends have visited his apartment. Go away!” she said.

Stavre Nakovski looked at the old woman curiously. A moment later he ran down the stairs and onto the street.

“I never thanked the old woman for warning me,” he thought to himself. “It’s too late now. I must be careful. I must not be seen, especially by the police. That would be bad for me...” he thought.

He walked the streets for two hours.

“Now I can get back to Urania’s. I am sure no one was following me,” he thought and went inside the one storey house.

III

1. Stavre Nakovski was sitting on the bed in Urania’s old house watching Urania Papaioannou preparing dinner. They were both nervous.

“Why didn’t you go back to Kostaneria? To your own home,” asked Urania.

“Solun is a more secure place for a refugee to hide. They will arrest me in the village. When we left for Prespa the entire village left. At least I thought so because I personally escorted them to the Yugoslav border. After that I went to Gramos. It was very bad there, even the stones were burning. Everyone crossed over the border. I didn’t want to leave my homeland. I was hoping to rebuild the military and return to the battlefield. I took shelter in the mountains and waited. Unfortunately it was all in vain. Then I returned to Kostaneria. I was surprised to see people there. I went to Kolio Bochvarov’s house and found his wife Magda there. She looked very nervous and afraid… everything went wrong after that...”

“Why didn’t they cross the border?” asked Urania wondering.

“Kolio Bochvaro was afraid he may forever lose his ancestral home and returned. Others followed him. Unfortunately, a few days later the military came to the village. Ioannidis Karahopulos, the village teacher, also arrived at the same time. He accused Kolio of working for the enemy and the soldiers shot him... I too wanted to go across the border. However I stayed and here I am...” said Stavre.

“And you think you can put an end to this confusion?” asked Urania.

“I hope so. It can’t last forever?!” replied Stavre.

“Nobody is crazy enough to get out of their chair now. Even if the King himself wants to, the English and the Americans will not let

him…” said Urania, took the pot off the stove and put it on the table. She then brought plates and spoons and set them on the table.

“It’s dinner time! You must be hungry? I am so hungry my gut is gurgling…” she said.

Stavre Nakovski got off the bed and sat at the table. Urania put some stew in his plate. Stavre smiled.

“The beans are very nutritious…” said Urania.

Stavre Nakovski was silent. He spooned a few beans from his plate and put them in his mouth. He looked at Urania and felt odd. It looked like somehow she was disappearing from his sight, but only occasionally.

“I have a feeling that one of us will soon be leaving this world…” he said in a serious tone of voice.

Urania Papaioannou laughed loudly. She nearly choked from the food in her mouth but managed to recover.

“Don’t be so dramatic! Our life is ahead of us…” she said and laughed again.

2. After they ate Urania Papaioannou picked up the plates, spoons and pot and placed them in a larger pot that sat on top of the stove.

“Okay! Now we can go for a little walk,” said Urania.

“It’s dangerous out there. The police are everywhere,” replied Stavre.

“No matter, we are going anyway. We will dress up in old ragged clothes and go to the pier,” said Urania cheerfully.

“We are asking for trouble…” replied Stavre.

“I have been cooped up for seven days behind these four walls. I can’t take this anymore. I will go crazy,” she explained.

“Go ahead then, I am not going,” he replied.

“Are you afraid…?” she asked.

“I am not afraid. We should wait a while longer. The confusion will subside. Then we can go out as often as you like,” he replied.

“If you are afraid then I will go alone,” she said, put her coat on and, as she headed for the door, looked back and said “I am going” and walked out the door.

Stavre Nakovski jumped out of bed, put on his old jacket and ran after her. He caught up to her and walked beside her along the cobblestone roads. They soon came to the seaside. The splashing water calmed their souls. A silent wind was blowing. They walked a long way and then turned back. The place smelled fishy, deceiving their senses into thinking that they smelled fish soup. They went towards the café “Macedonia”. They walked in through the back door. The kitchen was empty and in disarray. Urania walked through the door then peeked into the café. She saw the new cook. He was standing leaning on the counter, facing the other way. The sound of a bouzouki was heard playing in the back. The lights went dim. There was a gentle stroke on the strings followed by two sharp ones and then a gentle one again. Urania strained to see what was happening. She noticed a naked body in the middle of the café. She recognized it… It was Eva Zuzelska. Her girlish body was wafting to the sound of the bouzouki, raising the passions of her deceived customers. Then everything went quiet. Eva Zuzelska gathered up her clothes from the floor and bowed at the guests showing her naked behind. She then disappeared behind the stage.

Urania noticed Peter MacDonald sitting with one of the girls. They were glued to each other and discussing something. At the next table she saw Sofia Geleva caressing Dustin Brown’s face with her chest.

She also saw Hash. He was sitting closest to the stage.

“I don’t see the Ukrainian. Why is that ugly bastard not looking after his end of the boarding house?” she wondered. She then looked at the table where her brother Hristo used to always sit and felt anxious. She felt sad for the loss of her brother. She felt a tightness in her throat… she felt like she wanted to cry from the depths of her soul but decided not to… She clenched her teeth and firmly maintained her composure.

3. Stavre Nakovski was standing behind her. He was afraid someone was going to see them. He grabbed her by her arm and pulled her towards him. Then, almost forcibly, pulled her out onto the street. It was very dark outside and impossible to clearly see faces. They grabbed each other arm to arm and went down the bay feeling calm and alone in the world. A warm wind was blowing and messing their hair. Urania leaned her head on Stavre’s shoulder and the two returned to Urania’s ramshackle house on whose door still dangled a red lantern. The lamp was not lit and the red glass was broken. They went inside and lay on the bed. They were tired and fell asleep.

4. The next morning they were awoken by the rolling wooden wheels of a wagon moving along the alley way. They did not immediately get up. When the wagon passed by Urania’s old house Stavre Nakovski got up and got dressed. He then fell back into the bed and rested there for a while longer.

“Where do you think you are going?” asked Urania when she saw him all dressed.

“I am going out to pick up something to eat. I am hungry,” he replied.

“Don’t take too long! And be careful no one identifies you and comes after you…” she advised.

“Don’t worry!” he said and went out.

Urania turned in her bed facing the wall and fell asleep again.

Stavre Nakovski stopped in front of the Sveta Katerina (St. Catherine) church. He hesitated about going inside but eventually walked in. He stared at the frescoes and icons as he inconspicuously looked for Iraklo, the priest.

“It’s like he had been swallowed by the ground. Maybe he is gone and I am wasting my time,” he thought and came out of the church. Large crowds were gathering on the road and shouting: “WE WANT PEACE! AMERICA GET OUT! ENOUGH BLOODSHED!”

Stavre passed by the crowd and, while in deep thought, found himself four streets over at the city market. The stands were empty. There were only a few proprietors. From their clothes he gathered they were villagers. He walked up to one of the counters and asked:

“Are these beans from this year?”

“I don’t have any other beans,” replied the man behind the counter.

“Please give me half a kilo,” said Stavre.

The man nodded, scooped up three handfuls of beans and placed them on the scale. He then added a few extra beans and said:

“Exactly half a kilo, sir.”

Stavre Nakovski handed the man a small skin sack and the man put the beans from the scale pan into the sack and placed the pan back on the scale. Stavre took out a few bills from his pocket and handed them to him. The man took the money and put it in his pocket.

“Eat the beans in good health, sir!” he said.

“Thank you. Spend the money in good health, “Stavre replied and left the counter and the market and headed back to Urania’s old house. He felt calm as he jogged down the cobblestone alley. But he was shocked when he went inside. Urania’s body lay there naked

with cuts all over it. Her flowing blood made him sick to his stomach. He dropped his bag of beans and ran over to her.

“She is alive!” a thought flew into his mind.

Urania Papaioannou opened her eyes. Stavre Nakovski felt her warm breath smelling like sweet chestnuts.

“Don’t worry! Everything will be fine,” said Stavre.

Urania Papaioannou opened her mouth but there was no sound, only a whisper.

“In the other room... in the cupboard near the window... there is... a bag with money... and... a sack... with... gold coins... take them...” she whispered, smiled and exhaled.

“The poor woman is dead…” Stavre thought to himself, picked her up off the floor and laid her on the bed. He noticed the nipples on her beautiful breasts had been burned. He covered her with a sheet and sat on the bed beside her.

“How much blood must be spilled to satisfy the soul of the bully?! How long must we be afraid for our lives and hide to avoid the knife in the back from the backstabbing paid assassins, the scoundrels or the police? Who is to blame for all this?” thought Stavre. He had a lot in his mind. He thought of Evangelia Gasparova and of his twins. He then looked at Urania’s luscious bloodied lips. All sorts of images began to stir in his mind, images of the torn up corpses left all over the mountains. He could hear the unbearable ringing and whistling of flying bullets, the loud explosions of grenades and shells, and the roar of the airplanes swooping down and dropping fire from the sky. The images of the people burning were mixing with those of the burning stones. He began to sweat and felt cold all over his body. He was getting very tired trying to make sense of what was happening. He fell asleep with all those images running though his mind. About half an hour later a loud bang on the door shook him awake. He jumped out of bed. He was hearing voices outside. They were making him very nervous.

“Her companion is here. He is a communist,” he heard a voice saying.

Stavre ran into the next room, opened the cupboard next to the window and opened the leather purse inside it.

“Poor Urania, she was telling the truth. There is a fortune here,” he thought. He opened the window and jumped out through it. He ran between the houses and in less than five minutes he found himself on Ignatia Street surrounded by many strangers. He managed to calm down and took the road towards the train station.

IV

1. The train rumbled toward Athens. Stavre Nakovski sat in the last car. The compartment was empty. He tilted his head on the window and fell asleep. He slept for a long time. The conductor passed by but did not see him. The window curtain was covering his body and the light in the compartment was off. He woke up late at night. People he did not know had entered the compartment and sat beside him. He moved to make space. Once in a while he glanced at their worried faces. The train engine headlights cut through the dark highlighting the flying bugs in the air. Stavre Nakovski got up and left the compartment. He clutched the small leather bag in his hand. He stood by the exit door of the car and waited for the train to stop. The clanking sound of the wheels banging against the track and the cars banging into one another was deafening. Stavre opened the door, got off the car and quickly stepped away from the platform. He went inside the waiting room but did not stay. He came out the other side of the building and ran down the street.

“I will go to Vanko Budbarovski’s cabaret. He will hide me,” he thought and hid in a house in order to avoid the two civilians who were coming towards him. When the civilians disappeared in the dark Stavre came out of the house.

“Policemen! Surely there must be a curfew? It’s late,” he thought and began to run again. The streets were dark and narrow and surrounded by tall buildings. The only light filtering out was that

from the windows. He finally arrived at Vanko Budbarovski’s cabaret. He shuddered at the sight. About a dozen metres ahead of him he saw a collapsed building.

“The cabaret is gone. Everything is destroyed. Where do I go now? Perhaps I can go to Vanko Budbarovski’s house?” he said to himself and began to think. “Or maybe I can go and visit Ksanthina Periklis? I helped her become an actress and earn a living. But she lives in the Peloponnesus... It may be best if I went to the Peloponnesus? No one knows me in that village near the Mediterranean Sea. When things subside I can always go back to Kostaneria,” he convinced himself and smiled. “But, what was the name of her village? Oh God my Lord, what was it called? Damn it, how could I have forgotten it? Anyway, I should go to Vanko Budbarovski’s place now,” he decided and continued walking down the dark street. He then ran down several streets, came out near a large fountain, and turned left on the next street which led to some underground corridors. When he came out he found himself a few metres away from a stone slab. He then slowly and carefully entered the tall house located next to it. He quietly walked up the stairs to the second floor. He stopped breathing for a moment and knocked on a door. He listened. There was no sound made and no one responded. He knocked again. There was silence again. He was getting upset. His heart was pounding. He looked at the other four doors in the hallway. There was no activity. He knocked again. Again, no one responded. He remained still for another moment. A door opened on the floor above. Stavre was startled. He pressed firmly on his little leather bag, ran down the stairs and disappeared onto the street. He ran fast but did not look back to see what he was running away from. When he passed the last city houses he stopped running. He walked slowly. Suddenly he had an idea.

“I will go to the old run-down single storey house,” he thought. “It’s not far from here. Maybe half an hour or so away…”

Hidden away behind some lumber that was scattered on the right side of the Athens-Piraeus road, he approached the old run-down house. The house was nestled inside a small grove. He carefully went inside and looked around in the dark. He was so tired he collapsed forward on the dusty bed. Dust flew everywhere and filled

his mouth. He spat on the floor. He did not cover himself with the blanket. He squeezed the little bag under his chest and fell asleep.

2. Stavre Nakovski woke up. He washed his face at the well with cold water and wiped it with his coat. He walked around the outside of the house. He came back inside and sat on the bed. He was hungry. He wanted to sleep but couldn’t. He lay there until it was dark. Hidden in darkness he followed the road to Piraeus. He arrived at the harbour late at night. He was tired and could hardly move. He saw a man in a boat. He carefully approached him.

“Get on the boat! I know what you want,” said the boatman quietly.

Stavre Nakovski hesitated.

“Come on, man, the police or gendarmes will spot you. Either climb aboard or go away.”

Stavre, still uncertain about what to do, put his foot inside the boat.

“Welcome to the ‘Agamemnon’. This is my boat. I have taken many like you to the other side of the Corinthian Gulf. Ten gold coins and I will take you to the other side.”

“Okay,” said Stavre. “When are we leaving?”

“Now!” replied the boatman.

“Then let’s go!” said Stavre.

The boatman laughed quietly.

“First the coins, my good man,” he replied.

Stavre Nakovski doubted the honesty of the boatman and looked at him curiously. The boatman laughed.

“Maybe you don’t have any gold coins. One of my compatriots was killed by three people I took to the other side. Such are the times my good man,” the boatman said.

Stavre opened his leather bag, took out the little bag with the coins, counted ten and gave the boatman five.

“You will get the other five on the other side of the bay,” he said and put the other five coins back in the little bag. “I will also need a gun,” he added.

“I don’t have a gun,” replied the boatman quietly.

“I will give you ten gold coins for the gun,” insisted Stavre.

“Agreed?” said the boatman and laughed quietly. “You must be very rich…” he added.

“You will give me ammunition with the gun,” insisted Stavre.

“One box of bullets,” replied the boatman.

“Three boxes of ammunition,” insisted Stavre. “I am giving you ten gold coins. This is a lot more money than you can earn in ten years working,” said Stavre.

“I will give you three boxes,” agreed the boatman. “Now go below,” he insisted.

Stavre Nakovski carefully descended down to the next level of the boat.

“Give me the gun and the ammunition!” he then said.

The boatman laughed and started the engine. The boat began to move. The boatman turned the steering wheel with one hand and pulled three boxes of ammunition from a cupboard, with the other. The entire cardboard was packed with boxes of bullets. Stavre sighed. The boatman gave him the boxes.

“Now give me the gun,” said Stavre anxiously.

“You will get the gun on the other side,” said the boatman calmly and laughed.

Stavre Nakovski looked at him curiously. The boatman nodded his head affirmatively.

“On the other side, my good man,” he said quietly and stared at the dark blue waters of the calm sea.

3. The shore on the other side was deserted. Stavre Nakovski gave the boatman the fifteen gold coins and stuck his hand out.

“Here is your gun, my good man! Look after yourself because there are people in this country who will kill you for much less than what you have. Here your head is not worth a broken Drachma. Be careful!” said the boatman, waved a friendly wave and pulled away. Stavre Nakovski coughed and covered his face with his hands.

“He is a good man. But how many good people still exist in this country… especially in the Peloponnesus? It’s a damn shame I still don’t remember the name of that damn village,” he thought. He looked towards the boat that brought had him there but it was gone. All he could see were the lines on the surface of the water over which it traveled. Piraeus was on the other side in the distance with lights burning bright in the harbour. Stavre left and began to walk away slowly. His feet were hurting from walking on the rough terrain. He was very tired and his hunger was making his stomach hurt. He arrived at the foot of a hill. He saw a light.

“This must be the house the boatman was talking about,” he thought to himself and accelerated his pace.

The house was very low, made of dried mud and covered with straw. He knocked on the door. He waited. An abnormally fat woman opened the door. She was chewing on some bread.

“Come in!” she said in a rough tone of voice.

Stavre Nakovski went inside. The room was small. It had a low ceiling. Stavre bent his head forward to avoid hitting the ceiling beams. To the left of the door was a straw mattress lying on the hard ground. On the other side, pushed against the wall was a wooden bed covered with a rough patched up blanket.

“You will sleep on the straw mattress,” said the fat woman in a rough voice. “If you want to eat, the food is included in the lodging,” she added.

“I will pay,” replied Stavre.

“Pay now!” insisted the fat woman.

Stavre took a gold coin out of his bag and gave it to her. The woman took the gold coin and slid it into the patchwork pocket of her soiled woolen dress. She took a plate out of the wooden chest and with a large wooden spoon scooped some soup out of the large kettle hanging from the rafters in the middle of the room, poured it in the plate and gave it to Stavro.

“There is no bread,” she said in a rough voice.

Stavre took the plate, ate some of the soup with the big spoon and frowned. The fat woman laughed. Stavre continued and ate all the soup on his plate.

“Now go to sleep. It will soon be dawn. I need rest,” said the fat woman, blew out the tallow candle and sluggishly lay down on her wooden bed.

Stavre Nakovski slid onto the straw mattress and fell asleep.

4. They got up early the next morning. The fat woman did not come out to send Stavre off. Stavre kept walking on the dry rocky ground.

“I think I will go in this direction. Only God now can take me to Ksantina Periklis...” he thought to himself, then suddenly he yelled

out: “Oh, God thank you!” and laughed loudly. He remembered the name of the village, it was called “Periklisis”.

He walked along hoping to run into someone. It was cold. He put his coat on. He saw an old man in the distance and went towards him. They both stopped when they met. They both began to examine each other with much attention.

“You’re full of lice,” said the old man.

Stavre Nakovski laughed out loud.

“You must have slept at sweet Melina’s place,” said the old man and laughed.

“Which way is Periklisis?” Stavre suddenly asked.

“The place is all stones. What will you be doing there? Go to Sparta, they hire shepherds there,” replied the old man.

“I want to visit a friend. He promised me a job,” said Stavre.

“Periklisis is on the other side of the island. Your shoes will rip to pieces before you get there. Go west!” replied the old man.

“Thank you, I will,” said Stavre.

“It’s nothing, son. Just follow the road. But be very careful there are all kinds out there who may want to bring you harm,” said the old man anxiously.

Stavre Nakovski was surprised and opened his eyes wide open.

“Don’t worry, son. Peloponnesus will not surrender you. My son died in the war,” said the old man and began to cry.

“Thank you Sir and goodbye!” replied Stavre.

“Goodbye my son and take care!” said the old man.

Stavre waved at the old man and continued to walk on the rocky road towards the west.

V

1. Stavre Nakovski roamed the island for a long time. He arrived in Periklisis on the seventh day. He stopped in front of the house that was pointed out to him by a lame child as the house that belonged to Ksantina Periklis. The lower part of the house was built with stone blocks. The upper part was covered with boards. There was a porch at the front of the house which could be accessed via wooden stairs. Stavre climbed up the stairs carefully. The boards looked rotten. He knocked on the wooden door. A moment later a young girl opened it. She had braided hair that parted at her cute, high forehead.

“Good morning Mr. Stavre,” she said smiling, stepped aside, bowed humbly before him and invited him inside. She then ran behind him. “Please, sit Mr. Stavre!” she said kindly and pointed to a wooden bed.

Stavre Nakovski was completely confused. He sat down on the bed without taking his eyes off the girl.

“My mother is not home right now. She will be back in half an hour. She went to gather some pears,” the girl said and sat opposite him. Her face grew serious. “You are Stavre Nakovski from Athens, right?” she asked, which surprised Stavre even more. “We have a picture of you. My mother often talks about you… My name is Poliksena,” she added.

Stavre sat there flabbergasted. The girl got up and went to the next room and came back holding an old yellowed photograph.

“Mom keeps it under her pillow,” she said proudly.

Stavre did not know what to say. He looked at the picture with a confused look on his face and again turned his attention to the girl.

“Will you please bring me a glass of water?” he said.

“Of course, Mr. Stavre. Mom told us a long time ago that one day you would come and visit us. She told us to give you everything you want,” the girl said, went down to the yard and returned with a glass filled with well water.

Stavre Nakovski drank the water. He then took some money out of his pocket, extended his hand towards the girl and said:

Take it, buy something for yourself…”

The girl took the bills and nodded humbly in gratitude.

“You must be very tired, Mr. Stavre. I will let you sleep and I will wait for mom on the stairs,” she said cheerfully and walked out of the room.