VIII - Part 01

VIII

1. Urania Papaioannou came down the stairs into the café and stood by the counter. She smiled at Foti.

“Please pour me a cognac!” she asked Stoios, who at the time was preparing the glasses for their first customers.

“Right away!” he said, turned away, grabbed the bottle from the shelf, opened it and skillfully poured the cognac into a clean glass. “Here you are...” he said and again went back to washing the glasses.

“How long are you planning to be weird with me...” said Foti calmly and took a sip of his rakia.

Urania Papaioannou sat on a barstool, took a sip of her cognac and set her glass down on the counter.

“Weird is for people who are uncomfortable, I understand that. But why did you marry me? Do you think it was for love? Did you imagine yourself being the prince in the Cinderella story? Our marriage was a marriage of convenience that serves our mutual interests. You need to accept that and act appropriately,” she replied.

“So our marriage is a sham, hah! Why didn’t you say that to me sooner so that I could sleep peacefully? Didn’t you notice how my friends looked at me with disgust when you were adventurous with the American? Or does that not concern you? Who is Foti Steriov compared to her Majesty Urania?! Ah screw it! Why can’t you sit on your ass and start behaving like a normal woman. Do you think your youth is eternal? One day you will lose your beauty and everything will be different. The American will not be asking for you then and you will be looking for someone else to take care of you. Did you ever think about that? Do you think I will always be here and I will take care of you?!” he asked.

“Stop your whining! What do you know about life? Open your eyes man, or I will permanently shut them for you. Which of these idiots here do you think are your friends? You are afraid of everyone! Because you know they will slaughter you given the slightest chance. And don’t put all your trust on a pleasant village marriage. I need money and I am here to earn it. I am never under the illusion that I can earn my living with my body for my entire lifetime…” she replied.

“Okay, okay! But I just want you to know that I don’t like it when you sleep with other men,” said Foti who took his glass, sat at one of the tables beside window and looked outside.

Urania Papaioannou smiled, drank her cognac and sank into her own thoughts.

2. Two people wearing city suits, white shirts, ties and overcoats walked into the café. They each held a lambskin fur coat in their hands. They saw Foti as soon as they entered and went straight for his table. They momentarily stood above him and then sat down next to him. They were silent. Foti raised his head and looked at them. They had peaceful eyes.

“We want to trade with you…” one of them said.

“You are the Sheteriov brothers, am I right?” he said and before they had a chance to answer Foti said: “We can only trade food with you here… But you will have to trade with that woman over there,” and pointed at Urania sitting at the counter.

“I thought you were the boss…” they both said at the same time.

“Unfortunately I am not! Urania is the boss here and its best you deal directly with her. Leave me in peace now so I can finish my drink, I have work to do to prepare for our customers. Just be careful with her. She has good friends in the police station and Mr. Pampas the police chief is her lover,” he added.

“There is no need to threaten us…” said one of them.

“I am not threatening you, just a friendly warning for you to be careful with her…” he replied. “Now go and see her!” he added.

The two brothers left the table and went to see Urania, who at the time was finishing her drink. She was waiting for them.

“Please gentlemen, what can I do for you?” she said in a rough tone of voice.

“Take it easy Urania, we’re not here to cause trouble. We want to trade with you…” said the older of the two brothers who had a mole under his right eye.

“I don’t trade with black marketeers. Go away!” she said sternly.

“Take it easy Urania, hear us out, you may like our bargains…” said the younger brother.

“I said I don’t trade with black marketeers. Don’t waste my time. Leave my café now!” replied Urania and stepped down from barstool. “Get out you bastards and go to hell!” she yelled out loudly.

The older brother’s face went all red and his eyes flashed with anger. He grabbed his younger brother by the arm and dragged him towards the door.

And before leaving the café the older brother said, “You will regret this Urania, you worldly hoar! I will kill you before the day is over!”

Urania filled her glass with cognac. Foti Steriov giggled out loud. His tenor voice filled the room. Stoios Panagopoulos hid in the kitchen.

“Why are you giggling? Are you happy because these shit-heads threatened me with death?” she yelled out furiously.

“They will carry out their promise, I assure you. So my dear wife, please be careful and look out for yourself. Don’t be the most beautiful sacrifice!” replied Foti with an ironic tone of voice.

“Don’t worry about me. Worry about your own empty head. Maybe someone will cut it off and then you will have nothing to feel any more...” yelled Urania.

Foti stopped giggling. He returned to his drink, swallowed several gulps and leaned back in his chair.

Two strangers, talking among themselves and smelling like withered valley flowers, came into the café. There were no other customers in the café at the time.

“Where is that Macedonian?!” one of them yelled out loud, his eyes darting wildly to all corners of the room. Their eyes focused on the grim smile that appeared on Stoios Panagopoulos’ face. They were caught by surprise. Stoios Panagopoulos began to laugh out loud. Surprised they both pulled out their guns. Stoios Panagopoulos stretched his arms out to receive them in an embrace and said:

“Hide those irons…What in God’s name are you doing?”

The two gunmen smiled, showing their yellow tobacco-stained teeth, went towards Stoios and each shook his hand.

“Please sit, sit down, we will have a drink,” he said and took them to the table near the window. The two men sat down. Stoios brought a bottle of rakia and three glasses. He sat in the chair next to them, poured rakia into the glasses, raised his glass and cheerfully said:

“To your health gentlemen, long live Crete and all the Cretans!”

The two toasted him back, drank some rakia and put the glasses down on top of the colourful tablecloth. One of them opened his eyes wide. He saw Urania Papaioannou coming down the stairs, accompanied by Dustin Brown. He stared at her sad face that had the colour of blooming lilacs. Urania calmly walked by them like she ruled the world by magic. Walking beside her with his head held up high, looking proud of himself like he had the most beautiful woman in Solun, was the American.

The two Cretans were upset at the sight of the American. They left their glasses and concentrated on Urania and the American. They stared with their wild eyes buried in their thick eyebrows and frowned at the sight.

“We must conclude our business here,” said one of the Cretans to Stoios. “We have been paid to assassinate her,” he added and they all pulled out their guns.

Stoios Panagopoulos suddenly jumped from his chair and stood in front of them.

“No!” he whispered loudly to the Cretans.

“Hide your guns and do it another time,” a loud voice was heard bellowing from behind them. It was Alexei Ivanovich Starovkin who then laughed so loud that he vibrated the glass in the windows.

Both Cretans turned around to see whose voice it was. They were surprised. Then they too burst out in laughter.

“It is the great chieftain of the Don, Alexei Ivanovich Starovkin!” they all yelled at the same time. “Greetings Alexei!” said Stoios and invited him to sit at the table with them. The Cretans put their guns away.

Alexei Ivanovich Starovkin stopped laughing and was greeted by the Cretans. He sat at their table. Stoios Panagopoulos breathed easier. Urania Papaioannou, who had apparently heard about her attempted assassination, almost fainted. Stoios grabbed her and led her by the arm beside Alexei Ivanovich Starovkin.

“This is Urania Papaioannou, the proprietor of this boarding house,” he said, introducing her.

Alexei Ivanovich Starovkin filled the room with wild laughter. His eyes danced merrily.

“Such a beauty is not for killing!” he yelled at the Cretans and kissed her hand with his rough and slimy lips. And even though she was grossed out by it, Urania did not flinch.

Stoios Panagopoulos brought her a chair.

“Sometimes you have to make friends even with this kind of people,” Stoios whispered in her ear while she sat down in the chair that he offered her. He was pleased to have the American distanced from their proximity. When he saw the American standing beside the bar with a sour face he left for the kitchen.

4. Alexei Ivanovich Starovkin took another turn greasing Urania’s gentle hand with his saliva. His laughter did not stop filling the air of the entire café. He was very pleased to have Urania sit beside him and allow him to kiss her beautiful hand lovingly.

“This is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen from the quiet waters of the River Don to the salty waters of the White Sea!” he yelled out loud and laughed.

The Cretans listened to Alexei’s cavernous voice and occasionally smiled, showing him their yellowed teeth. Although dissatisfied with her new company, Urania Papaioannou took Stoios’s advice and sat with her new guests. She occasionally toasted to their health by wetting her lips with a little cognac. When she was sure she had Alexei Ivanovich Starovkin on her side, who she thought had full control over the Cretans, she allowed the Ukrainian to touch her smooth face with his slimy lips and roar with pleasure. Being sure she had the Cretans overpowered, she asked:

“Who sent you to assassinate me?”

Both Cretans looked confused. They both tried to avoid the question by giving the impression that they were more interested in her beauty and in getting between her legs than taking her life.

But Urania Papaioannou was relentless and again offered her face to Alexei Ivanovich Starovkin.

“Speak donkeys! Who sent you?!” Alexei bellowed angrily.

Both Cretans began to shake in fear. They again looked confused.

“Speak!” thundered Alexei and raised his arm high in a menacing way, ready to strike them.

“No, don’t hit us… It was the Shteriov brothers who sent us. They paid us in advance… They gave us an amount of drachmas and some gold…” pleaded the Cretans.

Urania Papaioannou went red in the face. Anger appeared in her magical eyes. She again let Alexei’s slimy lips touch the tender skin on her face.

“Maybe it’s the Shteriov brothers who need to lose their lives? I will trade you my love if you help me eliminate them…” she whispered to Alexei and gently rubbed his bear paw with her hand. She then kissed his rough, bearded face passionately, giving Alexei uncontrollable pleasure.

“Those mangy bastards… we will bury them in the White Sea before the end of the day,” said Alexei while menacingly staring at the frightened Cretans who agreed with him by shaking their heads.

Urania Papaioannou decided to take the final blow. She coughed and softly whispered in Alexei’s ear:

“I will wait for you in my room to bring me the news of their demise…” She then nibbled on his ear lightly with her pearly white teeth. After that she got up from her chair and slowly, bypassing the tables, climbed up the stairs and went into her room.

“We will give them a painless death!” he yelled out loud, finished his drink and left the café with the two Cretans. Alexei was very eager to get into bed with Urania Papaioannou and taste the sweet cake.

Dustin Brown saw them leaving. He stood by the bar for a moment and, unable to suppress his strong thirst for Urania, climbed up the stairs and entered her room. She was in bed hiding her snake face under the sheets. He was furious and his face was as red as a red pepper when he walked in.

“So you’re leaving me, huh?” he snapped angrily unable to contain his anger and frustration.

Urania Papaioannou pulled her head out from under her covers, smiled slightly and quietly said:

“I am not going anywhere. If you think it’s time for you to leave I am not going to stop you.”

Dustin Brown blushed even more showing his confusion and uncertainty.

“Here I buy and sell everything Mr. Americano! If you don’t like something about me you can complain to the Ukrainian…” she said, grabbed him by his hand and pulled him onto the bed. “You are my love Americano!” she added softly and seductively.

Still confused and insecure, Dustin Brown accepted her invitation and the redness in his began to dissipate. But still he was thinking of the Ukrainian as a thorn in his backside.

5. The program in the boarding house started a little earlier this evening. Under the cover of low lights and initiated by the start of the music, Sofia and the other girls began their routines bare-naked. They managed so skillfully to turn every eye in their direction, which made Sofia think she alone could lead an army to war. She was so confident with her abilities that she often placed her sweating toes into the noses of her patrons and they smelled them like they were soaking up the aroma of a steaming hot apple pie. She often got angry at the dock workers who, even though they were present in the boarding house during her performances, did not follow her attractive routine, especially when she was undressing. She often danced on the podium and looked at Pondilaki trying to catch a glimpse of him looking at her with his tiny green eyes. She always wanted to devour his calm face.

“Pondilaki will not settle down with me despite my ability to lift my feet all the way to the ceiling. However I have to fight for him,” she thought. “One of these evenings I will fall into his arms in front of

everyone and I will express my obedience to him like a slave…” she thought. “Sometimes I hate myself for not having studied a craft and for not being like the other women. It makes me mad... But all I can do now is have regrets. The moment I unbutton my bra he goes away...”

6. Sofia Geleva began to unbutton her bra. Pondilaki rose from his chair and slowly slipped through the tables full of customers unnoticed and went out into the street. Sofia Geleva slowed the rhythm of her performance and reddish spots began to appear on her face, making her even more attractive and desirable in the greedy eyes of her audience.

7. Pondilaki walked quickly down the street. He passed many streets before reaching the Zeitinlik cemetery. He shook the hand of a man in black clothes with a long nose.

“Have you brought the gold coins?” asked the man calmly.

“We agreed on thirty gold coins, of which I will give you fifteen in advance and the others you will receive after the job is done,” said Pondilaki sharply.

“The price has increased. You will pay me fifty gold coins… half in advance…” replied the man.

“No! No! A deal is a deal!” rebelled Pondilaki.

“It’s others that dictate the price. The coins are not for me. I am only the messenger…” replied the man.

Pondilaki put his hand deep into the pocket of his long winter coat and pulled out a leather wallet. He then counted out 25 coins and gave them to the man in black. He then shut his wallet and put it back into his pocket.

“You will receive the rest at midnight. I will cut off your head if you betray me!” he said and waved his hand in a sign of farewell.

“At midnight you will have your man,” replied the man in black and walked up the hill.

8. Pondilaki took the same path back to the café. Sofia Geleva was still performing under low light. It was her second performance and she was undressing to the rhythm of the bouzouki. Pondilaki sat with the dock workers and began to watch her.

“I better go home and relax for a while…” he thought to himself but did not get up. Some unknown force emanating from Sofia’s smooth body directed him to gaze towards her breasts dangling in the air. He stood there motionless and confused by Sofia’s beauty until her performance was over. He also noticed Sofia smiling at him contentedly. She purged her underwear. Pondilaki smiled.

“What a devil woman...” Pondilaki thought to himself and kept staring into her twinkling eyes.

“I finally got you…” murmured Sofia. She twisted her hips one more time and left the stage. There was strong applause resonating all through the café.

9. Dustin Brown left Urania’s room and went down the stairs into the café. He drank a shot of brandy with the feeling that he had found something that he lost in the street. Stoios Panagopoulos smiled contentedly. Sofia Geleva appeared on the stage again. Members of her audience were jumping up and down, shaking, laughing and finally clapping. Suddenly there was silence. The sound of the bouzouki filled the café with soft slow music. Sofia took her steps following the rhythm of the bouzouki and stealthily looked for Pondilaki. She noticed him sitting at the table with dock workers happily smiling away. She began to dance more lively.

10. Alexei Ivanovich Starovkin, accompanied by the two Cretans, entered the café. He was carrying a large leather bag in his hand. He laughed out loud. Sofia, disturbed by his presence and by his loud

cavernous laughter, shyly left the stage and went into her booth. The bouzouki stopped playing. Pondilaki sighed.

“The Ukrainian has a gift for Urania,” Manoli Strezovski whispered quietly.

“What kind of gift?” asked Pondilaki with a surprised tone of voice.

“The heads of the brothers Shteriov, I assume,” smiled Manoli.

Pondilaki did not respond, wondering what he was talking about.

“Let’s go. We have a lot of work to do tonight,” Pondilaki said to the dock workers, got up and headed towards the door. The dock workers followed him without having finished drinking their drinks.

When they were out in the streets the bouzouki started playing again and the customers began to laugh and clap. They were clapping loud calling for Sofia to return to the stage.

11. Alexei Ivanovich Starovkin left the Cretans to finish drinking their rakia while he climbed up the stairs to Urania’s room. She was lying in bed wearing a transparent dress. The moment she saw him she began to cover her curves with the silk sheets, looking shy. Alexei Ivanovich Starovkin licked his lips with his big tongue and dumped the two heads covered in blood in front of her bed. He laughed out loud, a slimy laugh as the heads rolled on the floor. He was proud of what he had done for Urania… his eyes sparkled with joy.

Urania Papaioannou looked at the cut off heads, closed her eyes, laughed an evil laugh and invited Alexei Ivanovich Starovkin to sit on her silk sheets.

Alexei Ivanovich Starovkin long pondered whether he should sit or not and then, in a harsh voice, said:

“Let’s go down and celebrate our friendship…”

Wouldn’t it be better if we stay here?” asked Urania shyly.

“Whatever you like…” he said and sat on the bed next to her.

Urania put her hands around the back of Alexei’s neck and pulled herself out of bed. She had now captured the big man in her womanly net and turned him into an obedient kitten, ready to play with his mistress rolling on the floor. She pushed Alexei down on the bed with her beautiful body.

IX

1. A number of black shadows gathered around a large gravestone in the Zeitinlik cemetery in the dark of night. They were soon joined by five more men who brought with them a wooden stretcher with someone, whose life had not yet ended, laying on it. The man who lay on the stretcher was wrapped in an old brown army blanket and showed no signs of life. His face was lined with wounds and his lips were all cracked and loaded with clotted blood. His eyes were covered with dried feces, his hair was grown to shoulder length and looked dirty and straggly. He smelled bad like rotten meat. His bearded face was overgrown with long, thick, dirty hairs loaded with filth.

Pondilaki went closer to him, examined his face and sighed deeply. He then angrily looked at the man in black and menacingly asked:

“What have you done to this man?” and then pulled out the wallet from his pocket, opened it and counted 25 gold coins. He then gave the money to the man in black.

“We did not make a deal for you to bring me a dead man!” said Pondilaki furiously. “The man on the stretcher shows no signs of life?” he added angrily.

The man in black coughed and said:

“He is alive. He has been in solitary confinement for six months. He passed the last thirty days without bread or water. If you think he is dead I will give you your gold back and I will take him back to the

cell for the flies to finish him off,” he said calmly and waited to see Pondilaki’s reaction. When there was no reaction the man in black collected his people and got lost in the darkness.

Pondilaki looked at the man’s face one more time and said to the dock workers who had accompanied him:

“Let’s go, and be careful walking in the snow.”

2. Two of the dock workers grabbed the stretcher and walked behind Pondilaki over the marble slabs. Soon they came out of the cemetery. Then, after following a few dark alleys, they found themselves in front of Evangelia Gasparova’s house. They went inside. Evangelia welcomed them with excitement. They placed the man in the bed where Evangelia showed them and then they moved aside.

Evengelia went closer to the bed. She looked at the man’s face and fell unconscious. Pondilaki, who was closest to her, managed to grab her before she hit the floor and carefully laid her on the other bed. He sprinkled her face with water and Evangelia opened her eyes. She looked around the room and her eyes finally stopped at Pondilaki’s face.

“He is alive. Don’t worry!” said Pondilaki. “Where do you keep your onions?” he asked thoughtfully.

Evangelia pointed to the bottom of the cupboard. Pondilaki put her head down on the pillow and a moment later was clutching an onion in his hand. He cut it in half and placed it under the man’s nose. The sharp smell of onions perforated the entire room. The dock workers said goodbye and left. Evangelia’s lips began to twitch. The man began to show signs of life. Evangelia started to cry. Pondilaki smiled contentedly. Evangelia got out of bed and cried tears of joy.

“Thank you, Pondilaki, thank you!” she said in a painful tone of voice.

“Look after him! He needs care. Forgive me but I have to go, people are waiting for me,” he said, bid her goodbye and walked out of the door.

“That is a unique man…” Evangelina thought about Pondilaki and sat on the bed beside the man who had just been brought in. He suddenly opened his eyes and, with great pain emanating from his soul, smiled.

X

1. The snow began to melt. The streets were wet. Water poured from the roofs and trickled downhill. Pondilaki left his house and quickly made his way to the café “Macedonia”. He sat at the same table with Manoli Strezovski where they always sat and ordered rakia.

“What’s new in town nowadays, Manoli?” he asked.

“Many things have happened in the last few days. Where have you been?” replied Manoli.

“I have many obligations. Tell me what happened. You know how I am, I have no patience. I want to know everything and now,” he said jokingly and thanked Stoios Panagopoulos for the drinks that he brought them.

Stoios Panagopoulos smiled and went back to his counter. Manoli Strezovski took a few sips of rakia and began to talk. He said:

“The Macedonian desire to move weapons to Solun, from the upper reaches of the great river, has died out. Many people in the city were outraged. They were taking their frustration into the streets.”

“But it’s best this way. Otherwise we would have had a fratricidal war.”

“Yesterday in the ‘Patera Hani’ boarding house the nationalists said that the Macedonians have raised their heads and want the Balkans for themselves. Word quickly spread to the police and many

unwarranted arrests were made. If this continues any longer all the camps and dry islands will be filled with Macedonians. I can tell you that people are afraid. The people locked themselves inside their homes... The city is sinking in terror. Some strange groups of people, armed with guns and knives, appeared on the streets this morning. They began to kill innocent people in full view. When the police arrived, the policemen greeted them like they were some sort of heroes instead of murderers…” concluded Manoli.

“I also have been told that the city does not have enough food to feed the population,” added Manoli and continued:

“It appears that there has been a shortage of food in Solun for a long time but the black marketeers are doing well. Women, even housewives, are beginning to sell themselves to strangers for a crust of bread. This is what the government has done to our people. It has pushed us back to 1942, to the time when we were dying of hunger by the hundreds each day. Just like then, now too they are hiding the dead but they can’t hide the houses that smell of death...” said Manoli.

“So are we returning to 1942?” asked Pondilaki with a surprised look on his face. “What happened to the peace and democracy we were promised?” he added.

“Not everyone is free. But we do have armed people walking around Solun and the surrounding area and they are waiting for a sign to be activated… That’s all I know,” replied Manoli.

“Is that everything you wanted to tell me?” asked Pondilaki.

“No!” he said. “I also want to tell you that more and more people are showing up in the boarding house and in the city that have escaped from other Balkan countries. They all look like Alexei Ivanovich Starovkin.”

“How is the American holding out with Urania?” asked Pondilaki.

“The American got pushed out of favour by the Ukrainian who is now in bed with her,” said Manoli and thought for a moment. “This

is to our detriment.” Everyone seems to pursue their own fancy, including Urania who is constantly flirting with her feelings. She is with everyone every day. The American, the Ukrainian, the Cretans, the English, Hash and his friends and with all kinds of people who seem to land in her lap. She also has so-called ‘friends’ from Albania, Serbia, Bulgaria, Skopje and who knows from where else…” concluded Manoli.

“So this is how it is now, eh. Supported by the strong, the democrats must be wiped out. Very cleverly done! I am hopeful that Urania is not strong enough to kick us out of the café,” said Pondilaki and scratched his head.

“Our future is written in the black cards, Pondilaki!” said Manoli Strezovski with a worried look on his face.

“Bring us one more rakia!” Pondilaki yelled at Stoios.

They were all quiet when Stoios brought them their rakia. They grabbed the glasses and swallowed the liquid.

“Did anyone return from prison? I saw some people on the street. They were circling around,” said Pondilaki.

“I don’t know anything about that but I am concerned about our guests from the neighbouring countries. The wolf has invited them to preserve their conscience before the people. We need to be careful. They cut heads off without asking to whom they belong. This is a bad time for such tactics... I almost forgot, Nika Maria is back. I know that you are friends with her. But she has changed a lot…” said Manoli.

“Where can I find her?” asked Pondilaki with much interest as he clenched his jaws and the veins in his neck swelled.

“In the same house, on Odos Vardaris street,” replied Manoli.

Pondilaki finished drinking his rakia and, with a blushing face full of rage, said:

“To hell with this! Thank you for the information Manoli, and be careful!” He then rose from his chair and, without shaking hands with Manoli Strezovski, stormed out of the café. In the street he joined a column of people who were rushing towards the city centre.

2. Pondilaki found Nika Maria sitting on an iron bed, layered with dust and a cloud of dust flew off whenever someone touched it. The door on the ground floor was gaping open and anyone passing by felt a gust of wind blowing from the great salt water. It was kept wide open and it often slammed shut, breaking the silence that reigned in the house. It smelled like death inside and one got a bad feeling just passing by it.

“There is no salvation…” he thought.

Nika Maria did not recognize Pondilaki. She constantly waved her hands without making a sound even though her mouth was wide open. When Pondilaki got closer to her he noticed that her tongue was cut off. He wanted to help her but thought she would be better off dead. Nika Maria sat curled up like a ball. She was a pile of unwashed skin and bones, terrible looking with her long hair covering nearly her entire face. She did not look at all like the girl Pondilaki remembered with her soft smooth, shiny skin. It seemed like death had grabbed her and dragged her into his kingdom. Pondilaki went closer and pushed her long black hair back. A terrible stench emanated from her body that smelled like a long-dead cat. In place of eyes she had two rotting holes. She had no eyes. Pondilaki remembered her well. She had beautiful warm green eyes looking back at him each time he looked at her. He remembered the time fleeing from the police, before the war had started, and hiding in a house. It was this house. He startled the young woman. He remembers looking at her naked silhouette in the dark of night, wondering if he should flee and run for safety somewhere else or stay with this dark nude figure that jumped in front of him and awakened his soul. She had a nicely molded body, two long delicate hands with pointed nails, clear translucent green eyes from which sprang confidence, warmth and obedience and a startled heart that was beating rapidly. He spoke to her and managed to calm her down. Soon he became lost in her beauty, shape and the dark and

light spots on her body. He had passionate feelings for her like never before, the kind writers write about in romance novels. He was entering uncharted territory which he later admitted. He decided to stay. It was in this decrepit ground floor that he spent an entire week in the arms of the most beautiful naked woman he had ever seen, whose smooth skin had the aroma of blooming roses. In those days there was no red lantern hanging at Nika Maria’s door. After they parted company they never met again even though he searched for her everywhere in Solun.

Now that he found had her again he felt chills running down his spine. She looked like death and that frightened him. He wanted to run but decided to stay and repay her for the selfless kindness and sweetness she lovingly offered him. Even though Nika looked like Black Death he decided to bathe her, clean her room and put her to bed. Even though he was traumatized from the way she looked; the burns on her body, her gouged out eyes, her terribly poor shape, her stench… he still felt obligated and hastened to repay the debt he felt he owed her. He brought food from café “Macedonia” and fed her. Then he put her to sleep and left. He left the house bewildered and walked the streets in deep thought. When he arrived at café “Macedonia” he leaned against the wall. He was dizzy and did not want to fall.

“Where is Foti?” Pondilaki called out loud.

“Don’t you know?! He has been gone for a few days now. We are all looking for him,” replied Stoios Panagopoulos surprised that Pondilaki was looking for him in the boarding house. Stoios poured a shot of rakia and gave it to Pondilaki.

“Drink it,” he said and asked him why he was leaning on the wall.

Pondilaki pushed the glass aside, turned and slowly went out of the boarding house.

3. Outside his shoes got stuck in the snow. The wind began to blow wildly. The water dripping from the rooftops was blown in his face and neck. He pulled up his coat collar and hastened his pace. He

turned onto a side road then, after passing a few streets, he reached Nika Maria’s house. He did not speak to her. He stood there looking at her in silence. Then suddenly, he turned around and without saying a word, not even goodbye, he left the room and went outside. He walked along the alley deliberately under the eaves trough to be dripped on. He suddenly stopped and turned left at the end of the alley. He started to run. His face turned red and he breathed heavily. He arrived at the church Sveta Katerina (St. Catherine), bypassed the large stone and headed straight for Done Bindov’s house.

“God, I forgot about the meeting!” Pondilaki thought to himself. “They must have meetings! The entire peninsula is simmering and all they want is to hold meetings. All we wanted was some bread and now they are ready to cut off our heads. What stupidity! Our power flew out of our hands. All we have now are regrets because we acted like stupid children...” he thought to himself as he entered the building where Done Bindov lived. In front of his door stood a young girl with gentle eyes and a mole on her neck.

“They are expecting you in the guest room,” she said and opened the door for him.

“You are Iana Chakalarova, right?!” asked Pondilaki.

“Iana Chakalarova, yes, that’s my name,” replied the girl.

“I know your boyfriend,” said Pondilaki.

“Please come in, they are expecting you,” said Iana and rushed him towards the guest room and entered after him. She smiled gently at Done Bindov and showed Pondilaki where to sit.

Pondilaki nodded at the attendees and sat on the chair that Iana offered him. The attendees each discretely nodded back, welcoming him. He smiled at Iana. After that he concentrated on the discussions.

“We can now start the meeting,” said Done Bindov. “With Pondilaki we are all here.”

“Let us start then. Yes, let’s start,” some of the attendees murmured.

“I propose that we put one item on the agenda and that is: The political and economic situation in this country and the role of the Macedonian organization in achieving political and economic life with a view at resolving the Macedonian Question, which our organization is targeting… do you agree?” asked Done Bindov and waited for responses.

The attendees nodded their heads affirmatively.

“Then let us go to the first part of the first item on the agenda. Please allow me the liberty to inform you about the political and economic situation in the country. Is anyone against my motion?” asked Done Bindov and waited for the attendees to respond.

When no one objected Done continued: “I must say that the people are sick and tired of what has been happening. There is uncertainty everywhere. The war took many lives and, even though we won, we have not solved our problems. Hunger has become our enemy number one. The government made no effort to help us or protect us. We all agreed to bring democracy in this country, to take action and to restore our national wealth. But instead of taking positive action the royalists have increasingly and insistently drifted towards the English, and with each passing day they have succeeded in this regard. But not only that! They have consistently attacked our democratically-minded citizens and destroyed their role as a force with which we agreed to form new policies in this country. So far things have gone from bad to worse. Our task is to prevent the destruction of the democratic forces in this city. We as a Macedonian organization need to remain separate from the whole political life of this country. We will stay in the fight and together with all the progressive people in the country; we will form a government that will solve our Macedonian National Question. We will lay down our lives if necessary but we will not give up...” said Done, coughed and opened the floor for others to speak.

“If I understand you correctly, war is imminent,” remarked Pondilaki with a serious look on his face. “The Macedonian Question cannot be solved without a struggle. What is even more

important is that we must win or otherwise we are done for. The gentlemen in Athens have begun an offensive against everything that is progressive in our country. I have received information which indicates that we have a need to form a joint democratically inclined defense system... I think we should be arming ourselves again,” added Pondilaki.

“The mountains are near and we have the guns. Let us pray to avoid bloodshed,” said Iana Chakalarova with a serious look on her face.

“We surrendered our guns when the Varkiza Agreement was signed. What are we going to shoot with now, sticks?!” yelled Pondilaki with a raised tone of voice. “If you don’t have any other pressing issues, I would like to excuse myself from this meeting. I have more urgent commitments. My objective is to fight against real problems and not to attend meetings where we talk, talk and talk. I will see you at the next meeting.”

“You can go, Pondilaki,” replied Done. “The organization needs people like you who are brave and uncompromising. Thank you for coming. Farewell and greetings to your dock workers,” added Done.

“Goodbye everyone and keep your heads up,” said Pondilaki and, accompanied by Iana Chakalarova, left the guest room.

“How is Stavre Nakovski?” asked Iana as they were walking through the kitchen.

“How do you know Stavre?” asked Pondilaki surprised.

“We are marrying him to Evangelia Gasparova tomorrow. I am her maid of honour,” she boasted.

“Ah, fantastic!” he replied. “Excuse me… I must go now,” he said and stepped outside.

4. Pondilaki traveled hurriedly down the dark Solun streets, walked into café “Macedonia” and sat at the dock workers table. Nikos

Zaikopoulos was there, offered him a chair and ordered rakia for him.

Stoios Panagopoulos brought him the rakia, put it in front of him and said:

“Here is the bottle, you can pour your own rakia. My legs are sore from constantly running to your table.” He then smiled and put the bottle on the table.

Pondilaki grabbed the bottle and poured his own rakia.

“Pour your own rakia, gentlemen…” he declared, swallowed several gulps and put his shot glass on the colourful but dirty tablecloth. He then opened his eyes wide, and when he saw a young man coming over to his table he jokingly said:

“Have I gone mad?”

“It’s over!” yelled the young man. “Athens is burning!”

“Sit down, rest and tell us all about it!” replied Nikos and offered him a chair beside him.

“The capital is burning!” said the young man, sitting down.

“Not so loud, Lazaros, not so loud!” advised Pondilaki.

“I can’t help it! My soul is dancing! This government will also fall! Athens is burning! I spent the last few days there. It is burning! The people have risen against the government and against the English. They all came out into the streets. The gendarmes were not strong enough to stop them. Many people were shot and killed. It’s the same thing every day…” he declared.

“So its war!” echoed Nikos. “And so they will have war!” he added.

Pondilaki handed Lazaros a shot glass and filled it with rakia.

“Have a drink! Wash your throat! You are a good journalist. Done Bindov will love your stories. You will fight against the fascists with your pencil and slogans and we will pick up the guns. Have another drink!” said Pondilaki.

“Thank you Pondilaki, I am honoured. It’s a great honour for me to sit here with you and talk…” replied Lazaros.

“Have a drink and only worry about your pencil,” said Pondilaki while staring at the stage spotlighting a performer swallowing fire. He then looked back at the table and said:

“Forgive me gentlemen, I have to go.”

“What is the hurry?” asked Lazaros surprised.

“I have obligations, my good man…” replied Pondilaki and got up from his chair. Stoian Dzhavalekov followed.

“I am going too. I will see you tomorrow,” said Stoian and smiled gently.

Pondilaki too said his goodbyes and the two men left the café.

“Lazaros thinks it’s a big deal,” said Pondilaki.

“Do you think there will be war?” asked Stoian, worried.

“It is inevitable is my friend. We avoided one fratricidal war and now we are about to run into another one,” replied Pondilaki.

“Oh my dear Lord, will I ever see peace on this earth? What have we done that was so bad to deserve this? Perhaps there will be no war,” said Stoian.

“Yes, there will be war. It will be a fierce, bloody, fratricidal war. Whoever survives will suffer for a long time. He will live in the darkness and his soul will be filled with bitterness. It will be worse than the war in Spain. Worse than the plague!” replied Pondilaki.

After that both of them went quiet. They split up at the next corner. Pondilaki went left on Eptapirgon Street and Stoian headed straight for the market.

XI

1. The priest Iraklo, whose real name no one knew nor to which nation he belonged, approached Evangelia and Stavre and wet their hair with water.

“Kiss each other!” he said.

Evangelia and Stavre kissed. Everyone clapped their hands. Evangelia blushed. Stavre smiled.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife to be together until death do you part…” he said and sprinkled them with water.

“You made a mistake, Father,” yelled Iana Chakalarova. “You should have proclaimed them married before they kissed. Now they are blasphemers.”

The priest laughed loudly.

“May they be healthy and alive. They may kiss as much as they want. The most important thing is that they don’t lose their love for each other,” replied the priest.

2. Pondilaki, standing on the side, smiled. He was pleased that he had succeeded in fulfilling Evangelia and Stavre’s desire to bring them together. He then bumped Iana Chakalarova who stood beside him, causing her to leap forward.

“What are you afraid of?” he asked her.

“Are you kidding me?” she replied.

“No,” he said. “I am just happy to see them together. Evangelia and Stavre together again.” He then looked at Iana and said: “You need to find someone for yourself!”

“I can take care of myself and my son, by myself!” she said quietly but was unable to conceal the vibration in her voice.

“Your life and your happiness is yours and you can spend them any way you see fit,” replied Pondilaki.

“You are invited for lunch. Will you attend?” Iana suddenly asked him.

Pondilaki was confused. He did not know what to say. He coughed and said:

“You are a beautiful woman, truly beautiful! I will certainly attend!” He then leaned on the pillar beside her.

“Let’s go closer to the newlyweds,” Iana said and began to move away from the pillar. She then took Pondilaki’s sleeve and pulled him away towards the newlyweds. They stood beside each other in silence.

3. Done Bindov approached Stavre Nakovski and in his baritone voice, pleasing to God and the saints painted on the walls in the church, pleasantly blessed the marriage and from the inside of his coat pocket removed his goat-skin wallet and smacked it into Stavre’s hand.