IN THE BLOOD OF THE GREEKS

Mary D

Revised Version

*****

This story was originally part of the novel Out of Darkness. It has been revised and new material

added. Many thanks to my editor and beta reader Tee for all her help and support with this novel.

—Mary D

maryd@runbox.com

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IN THE BLOOD OF THE GREEKS

Chapter 1

ZOE LAMBROS LEANED AGAINST THE wall watching the army patrols begin their day. Butchers! she thought with disdain. She looked around the streets of her town-Larissa. It was a small farming town, the fertile countryside providing the community with cotton, olives and wheat. They sent their crops to Athens, or to Thessaloniki, which was only three hours away by train.

Following the progress of the hated German soldiers, her imagination peopled the street with friends and neighbors who were no longer among them. Larissa had seen its share of tragedy with the men of the town-actually more like young boys-going to war against Italy and dying for their country and their freedom. It had been a hard earned victory with many of the young men from the town surrendering their lives for their country.

The great jubilation had resulted in a joyous celebration that stretched for days. In the town the pride over the news that the Italians had been beaten back flourished amidst the sorrow for the fallen. Zoe sighed at the memory of those times that were bittersweet. Her three brothers, strapping young men just barely out of their teens, had died on the battlefields. Her beloved father, Nicholas Lambros, took the news hard and suffered a massive heart attack leaving Zoe and her mother to take care of the family farm. The celebrations went on without them as they mourned the loss of the men of their family. No family was spared from the grim reapers clutches as the black cloud of war descended on the small farming community.

After the euphoria of the victory against the Italian invaders had faded, the realization struck that the Axis powers had not been defeated, only stalled. The Greek government stumbled from one crisis to another, trying to pull victory from the jaws of defeat. The inevitable happened in the spring of 1941, a day that many Greeks knew would come. Although they had hoped their men could beat back the advance of German might, it was not to be and the Nazi war machine moved through the Greek countryside like locusts.

And inescapably, one morning, as the sun began its rise over Mount Ossa, in the tiny town of Larissa that nestled in the valley, the rumble of German tanks and the sounds of marching feet disturbed the silence. Larissa felt the full force of this advance. It was a trading town and its location-350 kms from Athens and 150 km from Thessaloniki-made it important to the occupying German force.

The town lost a staggering number of its young men and those who survived went underground. The subversive opposition in the countryside had grown and although the Germans had scoffed at the news of the Greek Resistance, their numbers were bolstered each passing day. For many Greeks, the notion of being an enslaved people was an abomination. They had long ago thrown off the yoke of oppression by the Turks, a war that heralded a new Greece with a new purpose.

Zoe watched the patrol pass by and wondered when the nightmare would end. For the invaders the Greeks were a stubborn people who refused to surrender when all was lost. Their harboring of Allied soldiers, their relentless need to kill the invader made the Germans even more determined to break the will of the people.

Zoe was a young woman of sixteen years, with long chestnut-coloured hair that reached her waist and emerald coloured eyes that her father would say reminded him of emeralds. She was barely above five feet, four inches, with a slight frame that hid a steely resolve and strength of character.

Zoe had a personal debt to settle with the invaders who occupied her beloved town. The wind was blowing her long hair into her eyes. She absentmindedly brushed back the strands as turned toward the sound of a black car coming to a stop across the road from where she stood. A young soldier held the door open and Major Muller came out a scowl on his face and a crumpled piece of paper in his hand. He barked orders to his men and, from the look on his face, Zoe was certain the news was not good. A grim smile creased Zoe’s face, as she knew where the Major had been. The Resistance was going to give Major Muller’s new troops a welcoming parade they would never forget.

Major Hans Albert Muller, the commander of the German troops, was a golden-haired, blue-eyed poster boy of the Nazi war machine. Standing six feet, five inches, with broad shoulders and a proud bearing, he was the epitome of the Aryan male. Muller was a career soldier who had tasted defeat in his twenties during the first World War and, when The Nazi Party had offered the young man a chance of reversing the demoralizing defeat of the Fatherland, he had joined the Party with enthusiasm.

Now, Muller was a much despised man, a violent and irrational German, or so many Greeks believed. They had witnessed his brutal treatment of them and they had seen many of their families shot dead in retaliation for the increased Resistance activity. The KKE, the Greek Community Resistance movement, was active around the countryside surrounding Larissa. The extensive cave system in the hills was used by the KKE to escape and hide from the Germans.

Zoe desperately wanted to join her compatriots, to join in the fight against the invaders. She wanted to pick up a gun and start killing anything that wore the despised uniform. She had the will if only someone would give her the opportunity.

Zoe was about to turn to enter her small house when she caught sight of a familiar figured coming up the cobblestone street. A sneer curled her lips. The distinctive tall figure of Eva Muller made its way slowly up the street, her head bowed. A hood covered her head, but it was unmistakably the German woman.

Zoe’s hatred for the woman was well known in the village and she had already twice been prevented from killing Muller’s daughter, much to her disgust. Eva was a tall, slender woman, with long, raven-black hair that surrounded an angular face and a dimpled chin that reminded Zoe of her youngest brother, Thieri. Her blue eyes were mostly cast downward as she went about her business, not eager to make eye contact with anyone. Wherever she went, she had two shadows beside her ready to protect her in case anyone tried to kill her. Not that they would have protected her if the Resistance really wanted to kill her, Zoe thought to herself as she watched the tall, slender figure.

Zoe continued to watch as the woman passed and, without thinking, she knelt and picked up a small pebble. She fingered the stone in her hand and threw it, hitting Eva in the back of the head. Zoe grinned and jumped in triumph as the tall woman stopped and slowly turned. Eva lowered her hood and stared at Zoe in surprise. Zoe continued to grin, oblivious to the very real danger that she could be shot where she stood. The two guards aimed their guns at her, waiting for their mistress’ signal.

Blue eyes met stormy green and held for a few moments. Eva lowered her gaze but not before Zoe noticed, much to her surprise, the cobalt pools shone with unshed tears . Eva turned back without a word and walked away. Her guards quickly followed her down the street.

Zoe stood transfixed at the doorway watching the retreating figure. She was mesmerised by the woman’s demure behaviour; not quite the image Zoe had envisioned. “The lioness is really a mouse. Fancy that,” Zoe chuckled to herself as she opened the door to her house. She had barely opened the door when she was pulled in and the door was forcibly shut behind her.

*

Captain Jurden Reinhardt winced at the expletives reverberating around the room. The ambush of the new patrol had caught them by surprise, even though they were anticipating trouble from the Resistance. Reinhardt flinched as the Major came within inches and screamed.

“What happened?” the German major yelled, waving a flyer in front of the Captain’s face. Reinhardt watched as the veins stood out starkly against the redness that enveloped Muller’s face and neck. “Well, are you going to answer me or are you going to stand there mute?”

“They ambushed us, sir,” Jurgen stammered.

“How many did we lose?” the major yelled.

“Twenty men and two trucks…”

Muller closed his eyes and screamed his abuse at his own inept soldiers and at the Resistance. The tirade continued as he threw the door open startling the two guards standing outside the office. “I want them rooted out-do you understand me, Captain? They are gloating. I want them rooted out.”

“Yes, sir,” stammered the young man and then glanced towards the open door and a hooded figure entered. He breathed a sigh of relief when he realized it was the Major’s daughter. The last thing Reinhardt needed was for Eva Muller to be ambushed as well.

“Where have you been?” Muller demanded when she entered and lowered her hood.

“I was in church, Father,” Eva replied quietly, meeting the stormy blue eyes of her father. She flinched when she saw the contempt in his eyes and she lowered her own, hoping the current męlée wouldn’t involve her.

“I don’t know what you are doing there at this time of morning, but I have a much more pressing problem than protecting your health.”

“I had my two guards with me, if that’s what you are worried about,” Eva replied quietly.

“Two guards will not save you against a Resistance attack, Eva.” Muller noticed that she was carrying the twin to his flyer in her hand and snatched it from her in disgust. He sat down and slapped the annoying paper down on his desktop. “Especially with this lot about.”

The major had already read the flyer that the Greek Partisans had produced. It was indeed the same as the one he had flung through the window moments before in rage. It proudly accepted responsibility for the bombing of the column and threatened to blow the Germans back to Germany in pieces. The major made a snorting noise and crumpled the flyer in his hand.

Muller sighed as he turned to his daughter. “Tell Despina I want breakfast.”

“Yes, Father,” Eva replied, she turned and met Reinhardt’s gaze for a few moments before leaving the room.

Hans Muller watched his daughter walk out and turned to Reinhardt. Putting aside the immediate issue of ambush, he glared at the young officer. “What does she do at this church?”

Reinhardt wasn’t expecting the change and stared at his commanding officer. “Uh..” Muller closed his eyes and growled as he waited for the Captain to respond. “She goes to church, Sir. She sits in the pew and prays.”

“Waste of time,” Muller muttered. “Have you been following her?”

“Yes sir,” Reinhardt nodded quickly.

Muller grunted and threw the flyer on his desk. He turned to the Captain and yelled. “You! I want you to find out where these animals are and bring them to me.”

Eva stopped outside the door and closed her eyes as her father took out his rage on the his subordinate and not on her. She licked her lips and swallowed as she walked away unaware of the furtive glances from the guards.

*

“What in the name of God are you trying to do?”

The door shook as Zoe was held against it by her good friend, Stavros Mavrakis. His black hair and dark eyes made him appear malevolent but Zoe knew he had the kindest of hearts. At that very moment he was snarling at her and despite the situation, Zoe couldn’t help but giggle.

“Stop laughing woman!” Stavros implored. “I saw you hit Muller’s daughter. Are you mad?”

Zoe looked up at the ceiling with a grin on her face. “Did you see me bop her the head, Stav?” she said excitedly. “Whap!”

Stavros sighed. “Zoe…”

“I didn’t think I would hit her, it’s not my fault the rock hit her on her noggin,” Zoe chuckled.

“You could have been shot,” Stavros replied realizing he wasn’t going to get his young friend to see reason.

“Ah,” Zoe held up a finger to stop her friend from continuing. “But I wasn’t.”

“Keep that up, Zoe and one day you will be on the other end of the bullet.”

“Well it’s not going to be today, my friend,” Zoe chuckled. “Whap!” she slapped her hand gently over his head. “I wish Mihali was still here so I can show him how my aim has improved.”

Stavros shook his head and tried once again to impress on his young friend that killing Muller’s daughter was not the solution their problems.

“Stav, are you going on soft on the krauts?” Zoe teased only to get a scowl from her friend.

“I’m not one to go soft on the krauts, but all you attacking his daughter will do is get us all killed. That demon is already demented; do you want him to kill us all?”

Zoe looked down at her scuffed shoe. “It would be easier than living like animals.”

Stavros hugged the young girl in his embrace. “I’m sorry I got rough with you. I was terrified of what they might have done to you.”

“Don’t worry about me, Stav,” Zoe mumbled.

Stavros grinned. “Who else do I have to worry about?”

Zoe shrugged. “Until you find yourself a girl and then you can worry about her.”

“I’ll always worry about you, ZoZo,” Stavros laughed as Zoe slapped him on the head for the use of a nickname she loathed. Her brothers had affectionately given their little sister the name and, to her utter dismay her friend, continued to use it when he wanted to tease her.

“So how did it go?” Zoe tried to change the subject away from her and her stone throwing. “Major Kookhead didn’t look too happy.”

“Kaboom!” Stavros made the sound effects of bombs going off, which had Zoe grinning.

“Big kaboom?”

“Very big kaboom,” Stavros grinned.

They had achieved their first goal of ambushing the German trucks and had done quite a good job. The partisan movement was growing. Stavros knew his countrymen would rally ‘round, like they had done with the Turks. They would overthrow this invader and Greece would once again be free. He watched the young woman go to a table where their maps were located. Zoe had a quick wit about her, despite her harrowing ordeal of losing her mother in front of her eyes.

“Does she go anywhere without a shadow?”

“Zoe, please drop the idea. It’s only going to get you killed.”

“I can’t,” Zoe mumbled and picked at the cracked wood on the tabletop.

“Why can’t you? She’s nobody.”

“If she’s nobody why can’t I kill her?”

“Because if you do, Muller will kill 100 of us, that’s why. Is she worth 100 of your countrymen?”

Zoe shrugged. “No.”

“Good, I’m glad we finally got that sorted out,” Stav sighed with relief. The relief was short-lived when he saw a mischievous look on the young woman’s face. “What?”

“What?”

“Spill it, I know you want to,” Stavros landed against the table.

“You are talking to the newest maid for Miss Eva Muller! Once I get close to her, then we can kill her when the time is right,” Zoe grinned and rubbed her hands together..

“Zoe, did you hear anything I just said to you?”

“Yep, I heard you. If the need arises, I’ll be in the right place at the right time,” Zoe reasoned. “Father Haralambos got me the job. Right out of the blue, you know. I was going past the church and he called me in. He asked if I wanted a job and I said, ‘Sure I do.’ When he told me who it was for, I knew that it was perfect. I don’t think he knew why I kissed him. It’s a message from God, Stav.”

Stavros groaned. “Zoe, you don’t believe in God any more.”

“I’m beginning to see the light,” Zoe said with a grin. “Stav, don’t worry. You already worry too much,” she admonished her friend and walked away chuckling to herself.

Chapter 2

THE LIGHT FLICKERED FOR A FEW moments as Zoe sat on the hard-backed chair and starred down at the paper. The pencil in her hand flicked across the page, seemingly on its own accord as the shape of a woman’s face was born. The eyes looked lost and alone in contrast to the figure that she had seen. Zoe stopped for a moment and took a deep breath. She looked into the eyes of a demon but saw no hatred.

She felt uneasy about that and wasn’t sure why. Zoe pushed the drawing aside and went to

look out the window.

The full moon shone through the window as the curfew on the town descended like a blanket. She looked out, scanning the street anxiously, hoping that Stavros had not been stopped by the hated patrols. The Germans were stopping any male in the street, but Stavros found that if he acted dumb, sometimes the soldiers wouldn’t pick on him. She smiled when she saw Father Haralambos walking steadily, the stiff breeze billowing his robes out as he hurried away towards the church. She saw him nod to the German soldiers who were barking orders to

“Mach Schnell.” She wondered if Father Haralambos still believed in a god. When she had met the cleric only a few days before, she had been rather surprised at his offer.

“Ah, there you are my child.” The old cleric was stooped, as always. She always wondered how old he was since he had been around the village for as long as she could remember.

“Father,” she said and bowed and kissed his hand in reverence. She may have lost her faith in God but she still loved the priest.

“We don’t see you at church. Is something wrong, my child?” The cleric’s blue eyes bored into the young girl who stood before him.

“War happened, Father.”

“Indeed it did. Indeed it did. I have a job for you, if you are interested.”

“Depends on what it is. I clean for Mrs. Androniki,” Zoe explained. She hated the job but she had to do something to earn some meager amount to keep her alive.

“This job will pay very well,” the priest informed her. “Major Muller is looking for a maid for his daughter.”

The priest wasn’t surprised when Zoe turned and began to walk away.

“Zoe, please stop and listen,” the priest begged. Zoe had turned and faced the cleric with a disinterested look on her face.

“I’m not interested, Father,” Zoe shook her head.

“You would be doing me a favour.”

Zoe had stopped and looked at the priest in confusion. “How?”

“I can’t tell you that now but you have to trust me.”

Zoe nibbled her lip as she considered the priest’s request. It would get her inside and make her job of killing the woman easier.

“Okay,” Zoe told the startled but relieved cleric.

“What are you doing?” Stav asked as he came up beside her and looked at the drawing on the table.

Zoe was startled and jumped at the sound of his voice. “Stav!” she yelped and slapped his leg.

“Hey, I didn’t creep up on you,” Stav protested. He thought he’d been very noisy coming up the stairs.

“Who’s that?”

Zoe looked down at the drawing. “The devil.”

“Looks awfully cute for a devil,” Stav chuckled.

Zoe looked up at him. “You wouldn’t think so if you knew who it was.”

“Can’t be Mrs. Pareskevi’s daughter; her eyes are not that beautiful.”

“It’s the Viper,” Zoe said quietly. ‘The Viper’ was the Resistance code name for the tall woman. Zoe had given it to her and adopted by everyone else.

“Wow, nice eyes.”

Zoe scowled. “Is that all you can see?”

“What do you want me to see?”

“The devil.”

“No horns or tail,” Stav chuckled and walked away.

Zoe pursed her lips and went back to her drawing. She stopped for a moment and then drew the horns.

“They don’t suit her,” she muttered

“Draw something nice,” Stavros said as he put down the meager food supplies. The food was getting scarce for everyone but the occupation forces as the war dragged on, leaving the Germans well fed and the Greeks starving.

“Maybe,” Zoe mumbled and put away the drawing. “Did you get stopped?”

“No. Apostolos met me and gave me a bottle of his new brew.” He beckoned her over to the table to eat the bread and olives he had procured. Olives and feta cheese were the two items they could get their hands on easily. Zoe looked down at her breakfast and sighed. When the war ended, she was going to keep away from olives and feta cheese for the rest of her life.

“What is this supposed to be?” She indicated the bottle in front of her.

“Well, according to Apostolos, it’s the next best thing to ouzo. He said it was his best brew yet.”

They ate in silence and jumped when they heard the church bells sound. Zoe hated that sound, for it meant that another mother had lost her son in the war. It was the practice of the local eklisia to let the church bells ring out whenever a mother found out her son had died fighting for the motherland. Larissa had lost too many of her sons and daughters. Zoe remembered

the first time she had heard the church bells ring out.

“Mama, why are the bells ringing?” Zoe looked around to where her mother had stop knitting. “It’s not a Sunday.”

“O Theos na tous prostatepsi,” her mother whispered.

“Why does God need to protect them? Who does he need to protect?”

Her mother looked at her, her eyes brimming with tears. “Ah mahtia mou, the war has come to our home,” her mother said as she held her child in her arms. “When those bells sound, it means a mother has lost her son.”

Zoe looked around her and saw that the women had either stopped what they were doing or were crying.

“Our men will win this war, Mama. Greeks don’t give up that easily! Remember we beat the Turks after 400 years of occupation!” the young girl said with the bravado and ignorance of youth.

Helene Lambros smiled at her young daughter. A daughter growing up so fast. She was already in her 13th year. Already she was turning down offers of marriage. Many of the mothers who had sons were looking at her daughter as a prospective daughter-in-law. Not until this war is over, she told her young daughter. All of her sons had fought the Italians and died.

“The Germans will be pushed back like the Italians have been. Remember Metaxas? He said ‘NO!’ to the Italians and we beat them back,” Zoe said, looking at the women, trying to get them to agree with her. “We can say ‘NO! ‘ to the Germans… can’t we?”

An elderly woman snorted. “Metaxas is dead, little one. We should all be so lucky.”

“Soon the Germans will be at our doorstep. We will have to fight like our fathers did so many years ago… I remember the first war… Germani goorunia.” An elderly woman spat on the ground and crossed herself. “Na pane sto thiabolo,” she swore. Her voice broke as she wished them to go to hell. “Yiayia! We will win!” Zoe exclaimed, not fully understanding her elders’ pessimism or the elderly woman’s curse.

“Believe in God, my child. Our Lord will keep you safe and also our beautiful country.”

Zoe stared down at her plate as she ate absently. How those words were burned into her memory. God and country. She remembered the day so clearly. It was in May 1941. She saw her first German soldier and realized that God didn’t listen to their prayers, nor would He. She stopped believing and whenever Father Haralambos asked her, she echoed the words of Metaxas and said “NO!” She found that rather fitting. That was two years ago and many things had changed in those years. She looked over to Stavros when he called her name.

“What are you thinking?” Stavros asked as he finished off his dinner.

“We didn’t know the horror that would come to us. Metaxas may have been right not to let the English land. Koryzis made a very big mistake,” Zoe said quietly.

“No, Metaxas was wrong, not Koryzis, Zo. We had to let the English come and then we relied on God to save us as well,” Stavros whispered.

“You know something, Stav?”

“What?”

“There is no God.”

“So says the fool…”

“What?” Zoe said, looking at him sharply.

Stavros held up his hand in surrender. “That’s what Father Haralambos says. He said that’s what the Bible says! Personally, I think there are a lot of fools in Greece.”

“We are so bright and cheerful.” Zoe smiled at him and gently hit him on the arm and they both laughed. “You know, Stav, we are way too depressed to be Greeks… I think we are Russians in disguise.”

“Ah but we are Greek and we do depression well. We’ve had a lot of practice. Joy is for another time and another place.”

Zoe stopped smiling and looked at her friend. “And you are too young to be without joy. It makes your black eyes even blacker.”

“I don’t think that’s possible, Zo. As for the joy… we will find our joy after the war,” Stavros mumbled. “Until then, we try and rid our country of the Germans.” He picked up the glass and took a swallow and grimaced. “I swear Apostolos wants to kill us with this brew.”

“Maybe we can give it to the Germans and the war will end,” Zoe said as she took a sip herself and had to swallow or spit it out. “This tastes worse than his other brew. Did Apostolos have any news?”

Stavros looked down at the liquid and swirled his cup. “The Germans killed 20 men and women from Nea Smirnea in revenge for the truck bombing. We lost Andreas. He was…” Stavros threw the cup against the fireplace where it shattered. “Apostolos thinks we have a collaborator in our midst… maybe from the KKE.” He ran his fingers through his hair.

He couldn’t believe the stupidity of the KKE and of course all the other Resistance groups, as well. They were fighting amongst themselves, each trying to outdo each other. All the while, the Germans were killing their people and raping their country. Zoe went over and collected the broken pieces of the cup and put them in the rubbish container. She looked back at her friend who had his head down.

“When is this madness going to end?”

Stavros had no answer to that, so he continued with his news. “He also told me that they are rounding up Greek Jews. He said they are being shipped somewhere.”

“Why?” Zoe asked, drying her hands with a towel and then sitting down opposite her friend.

“I don’t know. Apostolos told me that the three British and New Zealanders they helped escape last week told him some stories when they were in Trikala.”

“What stories?”

“They say that they are shipping people like cattle, that they have seen men, women and children in boxcars, heading I-don’t-know-where.”

“Do you believe it?”

“Maybe. I don’t know what to believe.”

“Are you going ahead with the bombing?”

“Yes, of course. We have to. If we can get the supplies in, we can go and play blowups,” Stavros said and banged on the table, startling Zoe.

“If we have a collaborator in our midst as Apostolos thinks, won’t they know what you are going to do?”

“I don’t know, Zo. I know I can trust you and that’s the extent to which I trust anyone.” He looked at Zoe and smiled. “I know you’re not with the KKE.”

Zoe gave Stavros a mock glare. “That’s not funny, Stavros Mavropoulos! Those communists! Come on, Stav, do I look like a Stalinist?”

The two friends sat silently. Zoe looked up at him. “It’s too bad you have to bomb Mrs. Vasos’ house.”

“Well, she will forgive us. It’s not her house any more. It’s a barracks. We will get to do some cockroach exterminating.”

“You know, the Germans will kill you if they catch you.”

“No, really? I thought I might go dancing with them IF they catch me. I’ll teach them the kalamatiano,” Stavros said and smiled.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea to bomb it. They killed all of those innocent people because of the truck bomb. What are they going to do when you blow up the barracks?”

“Yes, I know you don’t agree, little one, but it’s been decided,” Stavros said gently and tried to ease the young woman’s fears. “What are they going to do? Kill us all? Who will be here to feed their bellies and who will make their wine? They need us. I will be here when you get back tomorrow.”

“I have a bad feeling about this, Stavros.”

“You forget, God is on our side,” Stavros chided quietly.

“I’m a fool, remember? And we have a collaborator in our midst,” Zoe said as she set out clearing the table. They both fell silent. Zoe took the dishes and began washing them as Stavros pored over the Greek underground newspaper.

“I’m going to bed.” Zoe held the door open and looked back. “Maybe there is another way, Stavros…”

“This is the only answer I know, Zo. What do I know? I’m a sheep herder.” He shrugged. “Go to bed, it’s late.”

Zoe gave him a half smile and closed the door behind her.

“May God protect you, little one,” Stavros whispered as he watched the door close.

*

Eva sat with her back to the window as a slight breeze blew in ruffling the white lace curtains. The smell of rain hung in the air as the tall woman starred at the open book in front of her. She had been ‘reading’ the same page over and over but her mind was elsewhere. The lump on the back of her head made sure she would’t forget the green-eyed woman in a hurry. She was certain the young woman would cross her path again.

“EVA!”

Eva looked up at her father who sat meters away from her. He wore a scowl on his face. “I called you twice! Are you going deaf?”

“No, Father,” Eva replied quietly. “I was just thinking.”

Muller grunted and went back to signing some papers. “Did you hire a maid, like I told you to?” her father asked, not looking up from the papers he was studying.

“Yes, Father. A local girl. Father Haralambos recommended her to me. She’s starting tomorrow.”

“That’s good,” he said as he continued to read the reports. He stopped when he heard Eva gasp and looked up to see her getting up. Her hand went to her back as she straightened.

“What’s the matter?”

“Nothing, Father,” Eva lied as the ache in her back sent dagger-like pain shooting up her spine and down her legs. It made her ill to her stomach. But she wasn’t going to admit any weakness in front of the man. “I’ll be going to bed.”

Muller watched her walk away and he smiled grimly. He was very aware of her discomfort and knew in his heart that what was done was done for her benefit. She would one day understand his reasons.

He got up and opened the door and gave some instructions to the guards outside. A few minutes later, Captain Jurgen Reinhardt entered and saluted.

“Did you read these reports?” he asked, indicating the pile of papers on his lap.

“Yes, sir.”

“How reliable are they?” The major looked at him over the top of his glasses.

“Well, as reliable as the KKE can be, sir.”

“That doesn’t tell me anything, Captain.”

“I think they are reliable.”

The major continued to look down at the papers in front of him. “Let them.”

“Sir?”

“Are you deaf, man?”

“No, sir.”

“I said, let them. Get the troops out first, of course. Then have a reception waiting for them.”

“Yes, sir.”

“You can go.” The captain turned to leave. “Jurgen, don’t kill them. I have other plans.”

“Yes, sir.” Jurgen saluted and left.

Major Hans Muller sighed. He was tired of the war, tired of the Resistance movements. He picked up his wine and sipped it, contemplating life after the war.

Chapter 3

“SCHNELL! SCHNELL!”

“Anschlag oder ich schieße!”

The command was followed by gunfire and the sound of screams and abuse from the street woke Zoe from her sleep. She was disoriented at first as she struggled out of bed and pulled back the curtains. The tableau she saw before her made her blood run cold. A man lay on the road; already his blood stained the dirt, ebbing his life away. A German soldier stood above him. Zoe jumped when the soldier fired into the prone man.

Zoe was shocked and struggled to get out of bed. To her horror she saw three men nearby with their hands above their heads surrounded by soldiers.

“Oh no,” Zoe whispered in shock. “Oh, dear God, no,” she uttered as she met Stavros’ eyes. They looked at each other and the man nodded before being roughly led away.

Stavros was led away and there was nothing she could do about it. She could scream and holler until she was hoarse, but the image of the dead partisan, his blood staining the ground was too much for her to bear.

“You didn’t hear my prayers again!” Zoe cried out and aired her grievances against the God that didn’t exist for her.

“I’ll get you out, Stav,” Zoe muttered as she hurriedly got dressed. She had no idea what she was going to do but she was determined to try something. Even as she was collecting the necessary supplies, she was forming a plan to break them out. Zoe stopped and, with a thud, she let them drop to the floor.

“Who am I kidding?” she said as she sat on the floor and began to cry. She was helpless to do anything.

“Damn you GOD!” Zoe yelled and thumped the floor with her fist. “DAMN YOU!”

*

The sunlight filtered through the open window and woke Zoe, who had succumbed to her tears and had fallen asleep on the wooden floor. She looked a little disorientated and then the previous evenings horror came back.

Getting up, she began to cry again. She dressed mechanically and walked out to the kitchen. Going to get a cup, she found a note. Her hands trembled as she picked it up.

“You know what I want for breakfast? Fresh eggs, lots of honey and good Greek coffee and to sleep in but not in that order. Don’t worry about me, little one. Everything will be alright. Apostolos brought along a friend tonight and we will be going earlier than planned. We should be back after things calmed down in a day or so. In the meantime

do something about my breakfast order.”

S

She stared at the note for a long time. She didn’t want to believe what she had seen during the night. She wanted to believe it was one huge nightmare; a nightmare within a nightmare. She went over to the small weapons cache they had and picked up a small handgun. She was going to kill that demon spawn and she didn’t care if she died trying!

She closed the door behind her and could hear her footsteps echoing in the quiet of the early morning as a light drizzle began to fall. She slowed when she approached the prone figure on the ground. The Germans had not picked up the body. The man’s body was in full view of the village, his blood soaked the ground.

Zoe crossed herself despite her thundered admonitions to a God she no longer believed in. She pulled the shawl around her and put her head down and walked swiftly to her destination. She rounded the corner and slammed into Father Haralambos’ ample figure, which caused her to drop her bag.

The gun fell at the cleric’s feet.

“I’m so sorry, Father,” Zoe said as she knelt to collect her bag and the gun.

The cleric looked around, hoping the patrols had not spotted them. He helped her up. “Where are you going, my child?”

“An eye for an eye… isn’t that what your precious Bible says?” Zoe spat, trying desperately not to scream at the priest.

“No, it doesn’t say that, little one,” the priest replied. “Well, not exactly.”

“Don’t. Call. Me. That.” Zoe looked into his eyes and ground out the words, regretting losing her temper at the old man.

“Alright, I won’t call you that. You’re a woman now,” he said with a twinkle in his eye. “Come with me.”

“No.”

“You want to stay out in the rain? You can if you wish, but I’m old and I don’t think I’m going to get any younger or drier staying out here.”

Zoe noticed that the drizzle had developed into light rain and she mutely followed the priest into the church. She halted for a moment and then crossed herself, more out of habit than belief, before going by the altar. Father Haralambos watched her in silence for a few moments.

“You still believe.”

Zoe looked at the priest and shook her head. “No I don’t. It’s a bad habit.”

“Are you trying to convince yourself that you hate our Lord and to deny Him in your heart?” the priest asked quietly, watching the young woman as he lit a candle.

“What do you care, Father? You are wasting your time. There are Greeks dying out there. Don’t you hear them? You sit here and you preach about love and forgiveness. Who do I forgive, Father?”

“We all do our part.”

“Bowing to our slavers is what you are doing. Tell me Father, why does the demon spawn visit a Greek Orthodox church?”

“What do you mean, my child?”

“Do you think we are all blind, Father? We have seen her come here every day. Do you absolve her of her sins?”

“We all sin, Zoe and we all need forgiveness.”

“Do you know about loss, Father? You’re not married. You can’t know the loss of your wife, or children. You don’t know what it’s like to wake up and find out your loved one has been captured by the enemy. You don’t know, do you?” She stared at him and then looked up at the image of the cross, shaking her head in disgust. “Will you be there for Samia tonight when Giorgos is six feet under? His blood has stained the ground, Father. Will you forgive the animal that killed him?

“Sometimes, my child, it is best if our left hand does not know what our right hand is doing.”

“Are you going to join us, to free Greece?” She offered him the gun. “You can use both hands.”

“I am doing my part. Now you have to do yours.”

“I already am. Stavros told me you said that those who didn’t believe there was a God were fools. You know, Father, I’m a fool; but a fool that is going to do her part to save our country.”

“Is that why you crossed yourself when you came in?”

Zoe didn’t answer the cleric for a moment. She fingered the gun in her hand. “I told you, that’s a bad habit I picked up.”

“You haven’t killed anyone, have you?” He said it quietly as he watched her.

“No, but now is a good time to start-with that strigla.”

‘Zoe, you are in a house of God! Please don’t swear.”

Zoe mumbled her apology. “I haven’t killed,” she whispered.

“Don’t start now. You are innocent of shed blood.”

“Innocent!” Zoe yelled. “That bitch isn’t innocent!”

“Zoe! Don’t swear in church,” the cleric admonished her.

“Father, I can’t sit and watch. Someone has to pay. An eye for an eye and I want to be the one to pay them back,” Zoe replied bitterly.

“It’s not for you to judge and not for you to be the executioner.”

“Why not? Because you say so?”

“Zoe, you’re not a killer, I know you.” The cleric took the gun from her and pocketed it in his robes.

“Father, what would you have me do? Lay down and let them do what they want?”

The church doors opened and a young man raced in. He stopped and knelt and crossed himself and went hurriedly to the priest.

“Father, Father!” The young man was breathless. He bent forward trying to catch his breath.

“Take it slowly, Kiriako.”

“Father, they are rounding up everyone and sending them to the town square! They posted an announcement that our brothers that were caught last night would be hanged! I was told to come here and tell you! Hurry, Father.”

Father Haralambos held Zoe as she collapsed in his arms. “No! Do something!” she yelled at the priest.

“I can’t do anything, my child.”

“Hurry up, Father, please! They want everyone to be there or else they will start shooting people.”

The three of them hurried out into the busy street as the residents were herded towards the main town square. The German soldiers ringed the plaza and a scaffold stood in the center. The sound of grieving and babies crying could be heard over the murmur of the townspeople. Zoe looked around and she froze as four soldiers passed them, flanking three shuffling men. Zoe would not have recognized them, their faces were disfigured so badly from bruises. Father Haralambos held the distraught woman in his arms as Stavros shuffled away from her. He looked back and tried to smile at the young woman, but his attempt turned into a grimace.

The soldier coming up from the rear pushed him along with the barrel of his weapon and Stavros nearly fell into the mud. They slowly made it to the platform of the scaffold. The crowd was silent; only the sounds of a dog barking and a child crying could be heard.

Major Muller walked through the crowd, his guards pushing people aside and stood next to the scaffold. A guard held a black umbrella over his commanding officer to keep him dry. Muller tapped his black boots in a small puddle, clasped his hands behind his back and looked out into the crowd.

“I see Father Haralambos is here. Father, would you give these men the last rites? I am a God fearing man and I think that would be fair,” the German said as he gazed at the falling rain.

His arm still around Zoe, the priest whispered in her ear. He looked around and spotted an elderly woman and beckoned her to be with Zoe. The old woman came up behind Zoe and embraced her as the cleric went up the steps to the scaffold. He began to administer the last rites. All three men bowed their heads; the youngest began to cry as the priest made the sign of the cross on their foreheads.

“Be brave, palikaria, we will continue the fight for you,” he whispered to each man as he placed a kiss on his forehead.

“Hurry up, Father, I don’t have all day,” the major commanded, as he looked up at the priest. Father Haralambos shuffled and deliberately slowed as his descended the stairs and went and stood by Zoe and the old woman. He held Zoe’s hand.

“This is a warning to anyone who wishes to defy me.” The major raised his voice and lifted his arm, then dropped it. The executioner saw the hand signal and the lever was pulled. The scaffold ropes creaked as the three men were hanged.

Zoe closed her eyes as she began to cry, the priest holding her as he sent up a silent prayer. A tiny voice was heard singing; it was soon joined by all those assembled.

We knew thee of old,

Oh, divinely restored,

By the lights of thine eyes

And the light of thy Sword

Zoe looked up, her face tear-stained and realized the villagers were singing the Ymnos eis tin Eleftherian, The Hymn to Freedom-the soul-inspiring national anthem of Greece, their only way to be defiant as the rain continued to pour. Zoe looked up at her dead friends and began to sing:

From the graves of our slain

Shall thy valour prevail

As we greet thee again—

Hail, Liberty! Hail!

Long time didst thou dwell

Mid the peoples that mourn,

Awaiting some voice

That should bid thee return.

Ah, slow broke that day

And no man dared call,

For the shadow of tyranny

Lay over all.

The voices swelled in one voice as the major looked on, his face set in a scowl. He turned to walk off, then stopped and turned to Captain Reinhardt. “Leave them up there.”

“Yes, sir!” The captain saluted as the villagers continued to sing in open defiance.

And we saw thee sad-eyed,

The tears on thy cheeks

While thy raiment was dyed

In the blood of the Greeks.

Yet, behold now thy sons

With impetuous breath

Go forth to the fight

Seeking Freedom or Death.

From the graves of our slain

Shall thy valour prevail

As we greet thee again—

Hail, Liberty! Hail!

Chapter 4

THE WIND BLEW THE CURTAIN and swirled it around the figure at the window. The strains of the song washed over Eva as she leaned against the windowsill. She closed her eyes and prayed for the souls of the men that had been killed. Silent tears were shed as she listened to the anthem. In the blood of the Greeks. How appropriate that song was. She quickly wiped away her tears and turned from the window as the door opened and Major Hans Muller walked in, his uniform splattered with mud. Behind him came Captain Reinhardt.

“If I could, I would kill them all!” the major screamed.

“What happened to you?” Eva inquired calmly, as she sat down and picked up her cup of tea.

“Sir, it was a young child.”

“I don’t care! Those little monsters…” He went into another room to change and Jurgen and Eva exchanged wry glances.

“A little child kicked him in the shins and then threw some mud at him as we were walking from the town square,” Jurgen explained.

“He should have the child arrested.” Eva said sarcastically and then looked towards the window. “I heard them singing,” Eva said as she glanced at the captain. “Very stirring song, don’t you think?”

“They started after the three were hanged. Useless piece of defiance, if you ask me. Anthems don’t win wars, Fraulein. Might wins wars.

“No, no they don’t, but they stir a nation; and when a nation is stirred, passions are brought to the surface. Don’t you think so, Captain?”

“Do you believe our beloved Third Reich will fall? We will stand for a thousand years, Fraulein. It is predestined.”

“The Romans believed that their empire would remain for thousands of years, too. It’s easy to believe, Captain, what your heart tells you.”

The captain looked curiously at her and was about to ask her what she meant when the major came back inside wearing a clean uniform.

“Come, Captain, we have work to do!” He turned to his daughter. “Do not be soft-hearted Eva. They could easily slit your throat without remorse.”

“Yes, Father,” Eva nodded as she watched them leave. After a moment she walked to the door and signaled a guard. “I will go to church now,” she instructed the guard, who had a very worried expression on his face. “Is something wrong?”

“Fraulein, I don’t think it’s a good time to go to church. I mean…”

“Why is that, Private?”

The young man looked distressed. He didn’t want to tell the major’s daughter what to do for fear she might report him. Then it would surely be the front line tour of duty for him. But if he didn’t warn her and she were to get hurt… The private realized he couldn’t win and, with a mental shrug, he proceeded.

“There was a hanging and…”

“I know, Private, I heard about it. I don’t think it was a secret. I’m sure I will be in good hands with you guarding me. Don’t you think?” she asked with a smile and a raised eyebrow.

The other guard smirked as the private looked worried. “Y… Yes, Fraulein.”

“You’re not sure if I will be safe?”

“N… No… I mean yes.”

“Good, then we don’t have a problem, do we?”

“N… No.”

“Right, then let’s go shall we?”

*

Father Haralambos knelt down and began praying. Seeing those men on the scaffold was hard enough for the cleric. He had seen much in his life. Young Zoe had been taken to lie down by Sister Evthokia; the child needed some love and attention. Her temper will get that child killed one day, the cleric thought. A smile came to his face as he thought back to when little

Dimitrios had kicked the major in the shins. His mother looked as though she was going to die from the sheer shock of it all. I’m quite sure Zoe had something to do with that. Ah out of the mouths of babes, or in this case, the foot of babes. His thoughts were interrupted as a blast of cold air swept across his back. He turned to find a cloaked figure standing in the doorway, its face shrouded in shadows. But as the figure moved closer, a feeling of deja vu came over the priest. He had seen this person before, but where? As he bid the woman welcome and she knelt at the altar, he finally realized who she was.

He remembered the first time he saw her. It had shocked him and he nearly blurted out what he wanted to say right in front of the major.

He was ushered into the major’s office soon after Greece had lost the war. The major wanted to speak to the priest. He was a central figure in the village and thus a possible, if not, willing ally. “Father Haralambos, I would like you to meet my daughter, Eva.”

When the beautiful woman in front of him extended her hand, he had frozen. He nearly blurted out the first thing that entered into his mind… Daphne. He recovered quickly, although Eva had looked at him rather strangely.

“I’m pleased to meet you, Father. I’m sure I will be seeing more of you in the coming months.”

The cleric released her hand and smiled. “You are welcome to come and worship, my child. God welcomes all.”

‘Even Germans?” the major asked and laughed.

“Even Germans,” the priest replied with a nod.

That first meeting had led to the young woman attending church to worship. Long after the villagers had left one morning, he found her kneeling at the altar. “Is something bothering you, my child?”

Eva hesitated. She wasn’t sure she could do this, but she needed to know. She began to ask and then stopped.

“You know you can say anything to me and I will not tell a soul. It’s in the priest’s guidebook,” he joked.

Eva smiled and then her smile vanished as she looked at the priest, twisting the ring on her finger. “Father, did you know my mother?”

“I know many people, my child. There are many who worship here but my reach doesn’t extend to Germany.”

“She wasn’t a German. She was Greek and she was from this village.”

“Oh,” the priest nodded and began to stroke his beard. “As I said I know many people.”

“That’s not answering the question, Father. I heard that the priest’s guidebook says you must be honest.”

“Ah, that little clause.” He smiled. “What makes you think I knew your mother?”

“The fact you nearly passed out when you saw me and also that my mother was born in this very village. Despina tells me that the village priests knows everyone.”

“Ah,” the priest sighed.

“So you knew my mother?”

Father Panayiotis sighed and nodded. “Indeed. Daphne Mitsos. A very beautiful woman. You look very much like her. Yes, I knew your mother quite well.”

“And you knew my father?”

“Your father is Major Muller…”

“Father, remember that clause?” Eva had said and she had smiled at him, shaking her finger. “Father, I know Major Muller isn’t my father, I don’t look like him and I suspect you know who my father is, don’t you? Is he in the village?”

The priest hesitated. “Yes, your father is in this village.”

“Is in this village? So he’s still here? Who is he? I want to find him. Can you please tell me?”

“Let me tell you a story,” the priest said and smiled when the young woman groaned in frustration. “A very long time ago, a sheepherder fell in love with a young woman. As is customary, the woman’s family had already picked out a husband for the young woman. The young woman, as things go, didn’t want to listen to tradition. Her heart fell in love with the sheepherder, even though he was older and a very poor sheepherder, at that. Her father was against this union, so they called a halt to it, much to the deep and aching sadness of this sheepherder and the young woman. There was a slight problem. The young woman was pregnant with his child.”

“You are talking about my mother, aren’t you?”

“Indeed.” The priest hesitated. “Daphne was sent away before anyone learned she was with child. It was a miracle of sorts, because it’s hard to keep a secret in such a small village as this. Her father had relatives in Austria, so he shipped her there-away from her friends and away from the sheepherder. From there, I don’t know what happened to her.”

“That doesn’t tell me who my father is?”

“Ah, but I haven’t finished the story yet.” He looked down into her eager blue eyes and softly said, “The sheepherder lost his one true love, or so he thought and decided that no other would, or could, replace her in his heart. A little melodramatic perhaps, but he loved her so.” The priest cleared his throat and with all the courage he could muster said, “So the sheepherder decided to enter the priesthood…”

He watched as the realization surfaced on Eva’s face. “You! You’re my father?!” The shock was evident in her voice.

“I am your father,” the cleric answered and smiled. “And you are my daughter. You are more beautiful than I had imagined.”

Through the tears and the trepidation, they managed to talk. One day Eva had passed on the news that the Germans were looking for two British airmen and if the priest knew where they were, maybe he could warn them. Eva became the best source of information for the Resistance. No one knew where the priest was getting his information, so they kept it secret, for if Eva’s identity were to become known, it would get both of them killed.

Father Haralambos smiled at the young woman and wondered how God had manoeuvred events. He did work in mysterious ways. I just wish next time He wouldn’t give me a near heart attack.

“How are you, Eva? It is good to see you.” He kissed her lightly on the cheek and motioned for her to sit down.

“I am so sorry, Father. I couldn’t warn you in time,” Eva said as she pulled back the hood of her cloak.

“I don’t think there was anything you could have done. They are with our Lord; no one can touch them now, my child.”

“I have some news.” Eva reached into her cloak and stopped when the inner door opened and a very tousled-haired Zoe walked through.

“Father, I… What in God’s name are you doing here? Hameni skila,” Zoe spat out and pulled the gun she had concealed.

“Put the gun down, Zoe; and what have I told you about swearing in the house of God?” Father Haralambos stood and shielded Eva from the enraged young woman.

“NO! Get away from her, Father, or else.”

The cleric stood his ground. “Or else what? You will shoot me? Here? In the house of God?”

“If I have to,” the young woman said defiantly.

“Haven’t there been too many deaths already?” the priest tried to reason.

“This will be a justified death, Father. Now step away from her.”

“Do you think I can’t call on my guards at this very moment?” Eva asked as she peered around the priest.. The young woman shook with rage and leveled the gun at her. Eva had no doubt that if the priest moved she would be shot on the spot. “It’s not what you think it is.”

“I know what it is, bitch!” Zoe snarled as she waved the gun at her. The priest sighed and reached out and grabbed the gun from her. “Father!” Zoe protested.

“I told you, no swearing in church. Now sit down and listen.”

“Father, you can’t expect me to be in the same room with this…” She was about to swear again, but stopped herself. “… with this….pah!” Zoe gave up and threw her hands up.

“Why not?”

Zoe looked at the priest as if he had grown another head. “Father, were you at the murder of our brothers today? Or did you forget giving the last rites to them?”

“I haven’t forgotten, Zoe. It’s not what you think. You remember when I said it is best if our left hand does not know what our right hand is doing.”

“Yessss.” Zoe let out a frustrated breath. “What does that have to do with… her?!”

“Zoe, Zoe, Zoe. You need to cultivate patience.”

“Father, Father, Father,” Zoe mimicked the priest sarcastically. “I need to get out of here before I kill someone in this church.” Zoe got up, but was pushed down by Eva.

Zoe pushed her hands away in disgust. “DON’T touch me!” she yelled. “I don’t want your bloody hands on me.”

Eva sighed and shrugged her shoulders. It wasn’t the first time she had been abused and reviled by the villagers. She wasn’t surprised by the young woman’s reaction. She could understand it and was quite sure if the roles were reversed Eva would fight for all she was worth against the enemy.

“I’m not your enemy.” Eva told her quietly but Zoe’s response was to spit at her. The spittle landed on Eva’s cheek and dribbled down her neck. Eva wiped it from her face with her hand.

“Zoe!” the priest exclaimed and took out a handkerchief from his robe and handed it to Eva. “Need I remind you that you are in the house of God!”

“It’s okay Father,” Eva wiped the spittle from her face. “I understand her hatred.”

“What would you know about hatred?” Zoe snarled and crossed her arms over her chest.

“I know a lot about it,” Eva whispered.

“Zoe, I think you owe Eva an apology,” the priest said and wasn’t all that surprised to see Zoe’s outraged face.

“Like hell I will!”

“Zoe,” the priest shook his head resigned to the fact that he wasn’t going to get the girl to stop swearing. “You need to calm down.”

Zoe was so angry she paced around in a circle trying to calm herself before she said something to the priest that she would regret. She turned to the priest after a few moments. “Father, if I didn’t know better, I would say you were a collaborator.”

“Aren’t we all glad that you know that’s not the case?” Father Haralambos said and smiled at her. Zoe looked between the cleric and Eva and shook her head in disgust.

“Zoe, this is Eva Muller.” The priest grabbed the young girl’s hands and brought her to him.

“Father, I know who she is,” Zoe spat out bitterly.

Frustrated to the brink of anger he retorted, “No, you don’t and stop interrupting me!”

“Zoe, what Father Haralambos is trying to say is that I’m not who you think I am.”

“Oh, that’s even better. I don’t know who Father Haralambos is, you’re not who I think you are and you expect me to sit here and believe it? By the way, I’m not who you think I am either. In fact I’m a German spy sent here to live a miserable life as…”

“Zoe, do you remember when Stavros had to warn the British airmen that the Germans were trying to find them?” The priest sat down and clasped his hand over Zoe’s and looked into her eyes.

“Yes. We got them out in time but what…?”

The priest pressed his fingers to her mouth to quiet her. “How do you think we got that information?”

Zoe shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe Fraulein Muller gave you the news,” she said sarcastically. “This is worse than that drama that Petrakis put on last summer and that stank.”

The priest looked at Eva, who nodded at him. Zoe looked between the two of them and sighed. “A few months ago I approached Father Haralambos and gave him the news about the airmen’s whereabouts being sought by the Germans.”

“Oh how noble of you, Fraulein,” Zoe mockingly responded. “Is that your good deed for the week?”

“Zoe!” the priest admonished her again.

“What? Father are you telling me that she gave you the information? Do you really want me to believe that?”

“Yes,” Eva said simply.

“Oh right and I believe it,” Zoe nodded. “Look outside, Fraulein, old man Petros’ pigs are flying through the air.”

“Why is it hard for you to believe?” Eva asked. Despite the young woman’s hatred at her she found her interesting. The fire in the belly burned bright and the young woman’s eyes blazed

whenever she looked at her.

Zoe’s eyebrows hiked in surprise. “Oh I don’t know, could be it be that YOU’RE THE ENEMY!” she yelled at them both.

Despite the seriousness of the situation, Eva smiled. She liked Zoe’s feistiness. She continued to smile when Zoe stepped up to her and looked up into sparkling blue eyes despite the height difference.

“You’re a feisty little thing, aren’t you,” Eva told her which only earned Eva a growl.

“Eva is my daughter,” Father Haralambos announced and waited for Zoe to explode. He wasn’t disappointed as the young woman turned to him in disbelief.

Zoe shook her head and began to pace around the alter in disbelief. The priest watched the young woman and then turned to find Eva with a bemused look on her face. Zoe looked back at them, grunted and walked out.

Chapter 5

THE RAIN FELL STEADILY as Zoe thumped the ground in frustration. She was cold and angry.

Angry with Father Haralambos for taking the woman’s side and angry with herself for not killing her when she had a chance. Zoe splashed in the mud and sat on the old motorcycle that lacked a wheel. Muddy water had pooled in the sidecar and she watched the rain fall. The old motorcycle was a project she was helping the priest with. She loved the old machines and it allowed her to forget.

The priest stood under the overhanging shingle and sighed. “Zoe, come back inside.”

“No,” Zoe mumbled and straddled the bike.

“Getting wet won’t help, you’re going to catch a cold.”

“So what,” Zoe replied and looked at him. “If I die from a cold or if I die from a kraut bullet, what would it matter?”

“It would matter to me,” the cleric said and held out his hand. “Come back inside. We have to talk.”

“Father, what’s left to be said?”

“You would be surprised.” The cleric smiled as Zoe got off the bike and made her way towards him.

The young woman accepted the towel from the priest and dried her hair as she followed him inside the small office. With the towel around her head Zoe stood by the window, her head resting on the glass as she watched the rain falling lightly against the pane, making a kaleidoscope trail down the window. She sighed as she traced a droplet with her finger, disappointment weighing heavily on her shoulders.

“You’ve complicated matters.”

“Oh, how so?”

“I was going to kill her,” Zoe said quietly. “I had it all planned out. I was going to show Petrakis that I could be a useful member of the Resistance. Now you tell me she’s your daughter.”

“You are a useful member, Zoe.”

“Yeah, right,” said Zoe as she continued to watch the rainfall. “Very useful.”

Father Haralambos watched the young woman for a few moments. He got up and walked over to Zoe, gently placing his hands over hers. “You can be very useful, Zoe.”

“If I was useful, Father, why didn’t I help Stavros or Apostolos or Antonios? How useful was I to Giorgos or to the others that have died?” She turned and looked at him, her green eyes glistened with unshed tears.

“You can’t stop the war by yourself, my child. It’s going to take the might of the Allied powers to deliver the deathblow to the Nazis. Just like a hand needs the rest of the body to accomplish its desired action, so do we. We need the Allies to help us to defeat them. You are useful.”

“How? I haven’t done anything, apart from a lot of crying and watching my friends die.”

“You were very brave, Zoe. Brave enough to have witnessed the death of your friends so that they left this earth knowing their lives were not in vain. And you are here for moral support to your friends who still live. It takes a lot of courage to continue when death is all around you. Don’t cry for the dead, Zoe, for they are with our Lord in heaven. Cry for the living who need your help. Remember the job you said you were going to accept?”

“Personal maid to Fraulein Muller? How can I forget?” retorted Zoe sarcastically.

“Why do you think I recommended you to Eva?”

“Because I can clean and cook?” Zoe replied bitterly.

“Indeed you can, but Eva is going to need someone to help her to get us any information she comes across that would be useful in our struggle. She has noticed that Captain Reinhardt has been watching her closely, so she might want you to deliver the information. So, what do you say?”

“Father, I won’t kowtow to the krauts. I don’t care if one of them is your daughter!”

“Zoe, it doesn’t matter that she’s my daughter; what matters is that we need you. You need to put aside your anger and understand that you will be doing your comrades a service and possibly saving lives as well. Can you see how you are needed here?”

“Yes.”

“Killing Eva would only have caused more deaths to our patriotis.” Zoe shivered as the darkest memory of her life once again made its way to the surface to torment her. A torment so painful that Zoe was not even aware of the tears silently rolling down her checks. Nor did she feel the embrace of Father Haralambos as he tried to comfort her. Zoe was completely absorbed in her torment and in her memories.

Once again the villagers had been rounded up and forced to stand around without being told why. Finally through the crowds came the new commander, his grey and black uniform neatly creased and pristine. Zoe remembered thinking that it needed some mud on it to baptise it. A wry grin formed on her lips as she envisioned applying the mud herself, but she was abruptly brought out of her daydream when the sound of a gunshot pierced the air. She jumped at the noise of the bullet as it reached its target. In the blink of an eye, a feeble old man crumpled to the ground, the blood streaming down his face. His eyes gazed up into the sky unseeing. The major was brandishing a gun, shooting people at will. There was no rhyme or reason to the executions. Fifty Greeks had died that day, a loss felt by every family in the village.

The villagers panicked but couldn’t escape, as the village plaza was surrounded by German troops and those that tried to flee were shot. Zoe watched in horror as the young and the elderly fell. The major had stepped in front of Zoe and her mother. All Zoe could hear was the sound of the beating of her heart. Her mother whispered to her, but she didn’t hear anything. She only wanted to hide her face from this madness. She knew she would be safe in her mother’s arms, but on this day, in a heartbeat, they were torn away from her. Scarred forever in her memory and her psyche, Zoe closed her eyes and held on tight. But her will could not stifle the sound of the gun popping so close that she felt the bullet when it exploded in its next victim.

Her Mama.

Zoe felt her mother’s arms release their grasp and timidly opened her eyes to see her beloved parent slump to the ground. The madness continued around her as she held her dying mother to her chest, the blood mixing with the mud, caking her legs. Oh dear God, Mama!

Now, every time she closed her eyes she saw the blood. Every time she tried to sleep, the nightmares woke her up. She swore revenge for the death of her beloved mama and her belief in God died on that day along with her innocence.

“Zoe, Zoe are you all right?” the cleric asked as he held the crying young woman.

“Yes, I’m all right,” Zoe whispered as the memories receded and she regained her composure.

“We have lost too many loved ones, I know, my child. We can grieve for them, but they are in a better place.”

Zoe wiped away the tears and accepted the handkerchief that the cleric had handed to her. She nodded her thanks and sighed. “Father, remember that day when my mama died ?”

The cleric nodded.

“My belief in God died with her,” Zoe whispered.

“I know, my child, I know,” the cleric whispered back.

He remembered the nights he had held the child in his arms as she cried and swore that God was responsible and He was a demon. The many nights she fought him.

Zoe sighed again loudly. “Father, what do I need to do?”

“Eva is expecting you, so I suggest you go and get cleaned up and report to Kiria Despina.” Father Haralambos stood up and wiped a tear from her cheek. With a twinkle in his eye he chuckled. “And try to be meek and humble when you are talking to Major Muller.”

Zoe glanced up at a drawing on the wall. It had a shaft of light descending from above, illuminating the figure of Daniel in the cave with lions around him. “Well I think I’m about to learn what Daniel felt like. At least those animals were tame compared to Major Muller.”

“You have a guardian angel like Daniel did, Zoe.”

“Well if I do, then I need to report him for not being on the job,” Zoe replied as she continued to look at the painting.

“Zoe, would you like to pray with me? I know you don’t believe in our Lord, but I do and I would want you near me as I ask for His help,” Father Haralambos said, taking her hand.

Zoe nodded. “All right Father, but I still don’t trust your Nazi daughter.” As they knelt, Father Haralambos put his arm around the young woman. They bowed their heads as he offered a prayer.

*

Zoe straightened her shirt one more time and then rounded the corner. Her palms were sweaty and she wiped them along her skirt as she spotted the major’s residence. She slowly made her way up the stone steps where two soldiers stood guard before the entrance. Above them the Nazi flag hung limply in the drizzling rain. One of the soldiers brandished his gun and pointed it at her. She stopped as she was about to take the final step to the landing. She looked heavenward. Now would be a good time to show up, guardian angel, she said to the heavens quietly.

Chapter 6

EVA SAT AT HER DESK, her long raven hair falling across her face as she looked at the photo she held in her hands. The smiling face of a young girl, her arms around an older woman, looked back at her. Eva remembered, so vividly, the day that photo was taken. She had been excited to join the Bund Deutscher Madel, the League of German girls from 14 to 18 years of age. She raced home to tell her beloved mother how she and her friend Greta had signed up. It was also one of the few times her father had been proud of her.

They found out they were going to parade in front of their leader and the following months saw them practicing how to march in formation. Greta had stayed over and neither of them had slept that night. The following morning, thousands of Hitler Youth paraded before the Fuhrer.

Eva closed her eyes and could still see the stands at Nuremberg, the banners flying in the breeze. Adolf Hitler stood at the podium, waved at them and said, “You, my youth, are our nation’s most precious guarantee for a great future and you are destined to be the leaders of a glorious new order under the supremacy of National Socialism. Never forget that one day you will rule the world!”

The cheers had reverberated from the stands as thousands of young voices were raised in enthusiastic response. And then Kristallnacht happened.

Eva shook her head at the memory and sighed. “Oh, Mutti, you would have been so ashamed of me,” she whispered to the woman in the picture as she brushed away tears.

She looked up at the sound of knocking and quickly composed herself. “Enter.”

The door opened and the rotund housekeeper, Despina, entered. Behind her came Zoe, clutching her bag. “Fraulein Muller…”

“Ah yes, Zoe, please come in. Thank you, Despina.” The tall woman stood and came around the desk. Eva sat on the edge and watched the young girl enter.

The housekeeper gave Zoe a wink as she left and closed the door behind her.

“So, this is how our slave masters live,” Zoe stated flatly as she looked around the well furnished room. She smiled grimly as she caught sight of a painting she recognized so well.

“My mother painted that,” Zoe announced and sat down.

“She’s very talented,” Eva replied and glanced at the painting of the countryside. She liked the painting and selected it for her room.

“She was,” Zoe whispered and cleared her throat.

A desk was positioned near the window and a light breeze blew the curtain over the chair. A portrait of Adolf Hitler with a group of young people adorned the wall. Zoe looked up at the portrait. She recognized Eva quickly as the gangly teenager who was taller than the others, including Adolf Hitler, her dark hair in a ponytail. She stood next to Hitler as he held her hand in a handshake, both smiling broadly for the camera. She has such radiant smile, thought Zoe, as she studied the photo.

Eva went back to her desk and put away the photo of her mother, then walked over to where Zoe stood. She ignored Zoe’s last remark.

“You don’t have an accent.” Zoe watched the tall woman for a moment. She was very surprised to hear the woman speak in the church. Zoe was fully expecting the rough German accent but instead she heard a gentle, softly spoken voice. The woman spoke fluent Greek without the trace of a German accent.

“My mother was Greek.”

“Oh I forget, you’re the bastard child,” Zoe retorted and smiled when she saw the barb hit the mark.

Eva took a deep breath and flexed her fingers. “How did the meeting with Captain Reinhardt go?” she said ignoring Zoe’s last comment.

“Nerve wracking. He wanted to know everything about me, why I wanted this job and if I could read and write.”

“You can read and write?”

“Of course! We’re not all illiterates here, you know,” Zoe said defensively. “I also understand some German, enough not to get me shot,” she muttered.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it that way.”

After a beat, Zoe looked up at Eva; their eyes met and Zoe smiled shyly. “Father Haralambos taught me to read and write,” she explained. “You never know when it could be useful. Do you know how to read and write?”

Eva smiled despite the obvious insult. The young woman’s fire intrigued her. “Yes, I know how to read and write.”

Zoe nodded. “So why are you betraying your Fatherland?” she asked bluntly.

Eva looked down at her hands, twisting the ring on her finger. “I have my reasons.”

“What? Did daddy not give you what you wanted?”

“Zoe, we are on the same side. I don’t want to fight with you.”

Zoe stopped and shook her head. “You don’t get it. I’m not on your side. Your side killed my mother. I’m doing it because this is where I live and the Nazis have killed my family and friends,” Zoe said belligerently as she stood again, walked over to the portrait of Hitler and pointed at the young Eva.

“You are a Nazi and yet you want to help the Resistance. It doesn’t add up. I don’t buy ‘Father H is my father and that’s why I’m doing it’.”

“You’re right, that’s not why I’m helping the Partisans,” Eva replied. “I’m doing it because I once believed in the promises of our Fuehrer but I see now that they were lies.”

“Very noble,” Zoe replied.

“Have you ever done something that you were ashamed of? That you wished that you could go back and change?” Eva asked as she looked up from the couch at Zoe who had leaned against the wall.

“Yes. Many times.”

“Do you know about the ‘Night of Broken Glass’?”

“Germany’s night of shame,” Zoe whispered. She recalled hearing her brother read the article in the paper aloud to her family. She remembered being horrified by what the Nazis had done.

“Indeed, a night of shame,” Eva said quietly. “Our group had assembled and a few of the older girls and a few of the older boys heard about a plan to scare the Jews. Greta, she was my best friend, wanted to go.” Eva stood and went to window and stared out. “Greta wanted to go and she wanted me along, so I went. Mutti thought I was at Greta’s house.” Eva tried to collect her thoughts. “I remember standing in the courtyard of a synagogue which was alight with flame. My friends were laughing and joking. For the first time I was ashamed to be in the Bund Deutscher Madel.

“Did you kill anyone?” Zoe asked, trying to reconcile the remorseful woman in front of her with what she had heard from the news reports and word of mouth about that ugly night.

“No, but I have blood on my hands.”

“How, if you didn’t kill anyone?”

“How, indeed,” Eva said quietly. “I watched as the rabbi was beaten, Zoe. I watched and did nothing. I might as well have been the one who dealt the blows.” After a moment, Eva continued. “I helped my friends destroy people’s lives and I didn’t stop them. I was a coward. I didn’t try to help them,” Eva said as tears fell down her cheeks. She wiped them away hurriedly, angry with herself for her loss of control. “I stood by and did nothing. I ran all the way home and then I found out my mother had been killed.”

“How?” Zoe asked quietly.

“Someone thought she was a Jewess and killed her,” Eva said, trying to regain her composure before turning around to face Zoe.

“Oh,” Zoe whispered.

“So we both know how it feels to lose our beloved mother,” Eva said. “You’re not the first to lose their parent, Zoe.”

“Is that when you decided to work against the Nazis?”

“No. It was soon after we arrived and my father had been told of an attack by the Resistance.” Eva closed her eyes and recalled, in total horror, her father’s reaction. “There was an incident…”

“A massacre,” Zoe corrected quietly.

“A massacre… in a nearby village… I don’t know what happened, but all I remember is the sound of the guns and the screams. I felt helpless. I didn’t want to be a part of the murdering again.”

“I was there.” Zoe lifted her eyes and met Eva’s.

“You were?” Eva asked in surprise.

“Yes. My mama died that day.”

“I’m sorry, Zoe,” Eva whispered.

“I wanted to kill you,” Zoe admitted and was surprised when she didn’t get any reaction from the tall woman.

“Hitting me with a stone on the head won’t do it,” Eva remarked wryly. “That just gave me a lump.”

Zoe couldn’t help herself and smiled.

“Why didn’t you?” Eva inquired quietly.

Zoe took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “I didn’t want to condemn 100 souls for yours.”

“Oh.”

“You represent everything I hate,” Zoe admitted. She wasn’t sure why she admitted that to the woman but that was the truth.

They sat in silence for a while, each in their own world of pain trying to come to grips with their own demons. For Eva, the gentle chimes of the antique clock were a decided relief, for they had broken what had been a puzzling train of thought. It was strange. Here she was, raised in a life of privilege, educated in the best schools and yet in some strange way, she was awash in the feeling that she somehow did not quite measure up to this intense peasant girl with the hard green eyes whose face was as beautiful as her name.

But there was more to it than that and Eva Muller knew it. Already she sensed that there was something about the lithe girl… something that was sparking emotions in her that she had not felt in a long time. Yes, it was indeed strange. In fact, as she sat there in the thick silence, it finally occurred to her that she admired the Greek’s courage and passion. The fire in her eyes when spoke about the things she loved and her commitment to her homeland.

Cupping her hand, Eve stared down at her perfectly manicured nails as if they encompassed in this moment all that made up the universe. For what seemed like an eternity after the clock’s chime, Eva continued to sit there alongside the equally mute Zoe.

Eva found the young woman captivating and had they been in another time and place, she wondered if they could or would have been friends.

She wondered if the only thing in Zoe heart was a burning desire for revenge, for swift and terrible retribution for what had been done to her homeland… to her mother. And who in God’s name could blame her?

Finally, in a voice so low Zoe had to strain to hear, Eva said, “You realize, of course, the risk you are taking.”

“Life is full of risks, both great and small,” replied the girl. Zoe stared deeply into Eva’s eyes and slowly added, “For all of us.”

“Yes,” said Eva, returning the girl’s mesmerizing gaze. “I suppose that is true.” What is it about her that captivates me so?

From down the hall the heavy tread of Despina reverberated as she labored up the stairs. Eva stood up and in a clear voice said, “You understand, then, what is expected of you?”

“Yes, Fraulein Muller,” Zoe meekly replied, standing up as well. “I assure you, I am a quick learner.”

As they heard the hesitant knock on the door Eva said, “Good. You will begin your duties immediately.”

“Yes, Fraulein Muller.”

“Come in, Despina.”

In a voice that seemed perpetually out of breath, Despina said, “Your lunch is ready, Fraulein Muller.”

“Very well,” pronounced Eva. She turned to Zoe and said, “At the moment I wish to do some writing. You will please bring it up to me.”

“As you wish.” The tone of Zoe’s voice was properly respectful, but as their eyes met, Eva thought she detected just a hint of grim amusement in the smaller girl’s expression.

“This way,” panted Despina.

Without looking back, Zoe followed her out the door and down the hall. Eva stood at the door and watched her as she patiently followed Despina, first as she waddled down the hall and then as they disappeared down the steps. They were gone now, but Eva’s gaze lingered for a moment or two before quietly closing the door once more.

Chapter 7

THE SUN BEGAN TO PEEK THROUGH the clouds and Eva looked heavenward. She walked slowly to the church, two of her guards behind her. The villagers were giving them outright hostile stares, but Eva held her head high and headed up the church steps. She motioned for the guards to remain outside and entered the church, covering her head as she passed the altar. She spied Father Haralambos talking to one of the elderly nuns. She patiently stood by until he had finished and then went over to speak to him. There were a few people milling around after the service.

“Ah, Fraulein Muller how nice to see you.”

“Father, I hope you are well.”

“Very well, my child.”

A short, elderly woman interrupted their conversation by raising her walking stick and striking Eva’s arm.

“Mrs. Elimbos! Please, we can’t have violence in the house of God!” Father Haralambos said as he removed the cane from her hand.

“Get this animal out of the house of God first!” the elderly woman replied and spat in Eva’s face. Eva deliberately did not move, but let the old woman continue her tirade until she had exhausted herself, grabbed her cane from Father Haralambos and walked off quite satisfied with herself.

Father Haralambos hurriedly gave Eva a handkerchief so she could wipe away the spittle. “I’m so sorry, Fraulein.”

“It’s alright, Father. I’m getting used to getting spat at,” Eva replied and held off from smiling at the priest.

“Well I’ll have a word with her next time I see her. Please come into my office.”

They entered the office and the cleric ushered Eva into a seat. “I am sorry, Eva. I didn’t know.”

“Of course you didn’t, Father. Mrs. Elimbos has probably wanted to do that for a long time,” Eva signed wearily. She pulled a packet from inside her cloak. “I have the new identity papers.”

Father Haralambos looked perplexed. “I thought you were going to get Zoe to deliver these? Has Zoe decided not to help?”

“No, Zoe is fine.” She handed the papers to the cleric and shrugged. “Captain Reinhardt was nearby and I didn’t want to arouse his suspicions.” She indicated the papers and said, “The Petrolakis family, I’m sure, will be happier.”

The cleric looked at the identity papers and smiled. Prewar Larissa had a large Jewish population and some had managed to flee before the Germans invaded, but others had been caught. Their neighbors sheltered the few that weren’t immediately captured.

The penalty for hiding Jews was death and Father Haralambos tried to get them out of the country as soon as he could. Eva had managed to get her father’s signature on new identity papers. How she had done that was beyond him and he wasn’t going to ask. The cleric had met secretly with Monsignor Jean Claude, from the French Resistance, who had given him some very inventive ways of getting people out of the country.

The two parted company and Eva rejoined the guards outside the church just as Captain Reinhardt rounded the corner.

“Ah, Fraulein Muller, out for Sunday worship I see.”

“It gives me peace, Captain.”

“I’m sure it does.” They walked quietly along for a moment. “Your new maid is working out nicely?” inquired Reinhardt, breaking the silence between them

“Fine, thank you.”

Captain Reinhardt stopped for a moment and indicated to the guards to continue on ahead. “Eva…” He placed his hand on her arm gently.

“Captain, let go of my arm,” Eva said frostily, trying not to flinch.

“Eva, why can’t we talk?”

“Captain, I have nothing to say to you and I’m quite sure that what has happened in the past, is in the past,” Eva said and walked away, leaving the captain standing outside the church.

“Forever the Ice Queen,” Reinhardt muttered, watching the woman walk away.

*

“Halt!”

Zoe sighed and turned to see the soldiers approaching. She had been stopped twice today already and it was beginning to get on her nerves. She put the sack she was carrying down on the ground and pulled out her identity card. Without waiting for the soldier to ask her, she handed the card over. “You are a smart one, aren’t you?” the soldier sneered as he read the papers and then glanced back at the chestnut-haired woman.

“No.” Zoe attempted to be humble but she didn’t think she could get away with it. She realized she hadn’t been successful when the soldier backhanded her, knocking her to the ground and spattering her clothes with mud. The other soldiers, along with the one who had struck her, snickered. “That was for having a smart mouth. Get up!” the soldier ordered. “Where are you going with that?” he asked, he pointing to the sack as Zoe struggled to her feet.

Zoe glared at him, wiping the blood from her split lip with the back of her hand.

“What seems to be the problem here, Corporal?”

Zoe glanced behind her, relieved to see Captain Reinhardt had come over to see what the commotion was about.

“Well, I’m waiting, Corporal,” Reinhardt said, since he hadn’t gotten an immediate reply.

“I was checking her papers, sir.”

“And giving her a fat lip in the process.” He glanced at Zoe and then back to the corporal. “I’ll take it from here.” With that he dismissed them and watched as they walked off. “You seem to attract trouble, Fraulein Lambros,” Jurgen said with a smirk.

“I don’t mean to,” Zoe mumbled.

“Where are you going?”

“Taking some vegetables back to Kiria Despina,” Zoe said quietly as she felt around her lip with tentative fingers.

Reinhardt looked at her and lifted her chin with his finger, inspecting her bloody lip. Zoe met his grey eyes and then she dropped her gaze as she remembered Father Haralambos’ instructions to appear meek and humble.

Reinhardt laughed. “You are a spitfire,” he chuckled. “I don’t think that look you have is quite humble enough. You need to work on it.”

“I will,” Zoe muttered as she looked down at her muddied clothes.

He turned away from her and looked at the fields where workers were stacking the wheat harvest. “A word of advice: be careful with Fraulein Muller. That one has ice in her veins and wouldn’t think twice about killing you if she finds out you are in the Resistance.”

Zoe’s eyes registered shock that Reinhardt was aware of her involvement. It only produced more laughter from the captain.

“Come now, Fraulein, you didn’t think I didn’t know?” Reinhardt taunted as he continued to smirk.

“Is there a Greek that isn’t in the Resistance?” Zoe countered.

The captain smiled. “Quite true, quite true.” After a moment the captain said, “I like you. Don’t make me shoot you.”

“That would be bad for me, huh?” Zoe commented dryly as she looked up and ran her hand through her unruly hair.

“Very bad. We understand each other, don’t we?” the captain replied as he chuckled

Zoe nodded her response.

“Good. Now go on your way before the Ice Queen starts yelling. God knows I don’t want to hear that,” said Reinhardt as he watched Zoe pick up the sack and continue walking slowly down the dirt road.

He sighed. Fraulein Muller, The Ice Queen. He shook his head at the memory of the young woman he had met in their Hitler Youth days. She had changed. He tried to get close, but all he got was rejection. That girlfriend of hers, Greta, had always been in the way. Always around when he tried to court her. He took great delight in telling her father about her and her girlfriend. He recalled that Muller was controlling his temper with him, but he hadn’t wanted to be in Eva’s shoes when she returned.

“Ah well, no use crying over what might have been,” he said as he pulled up the collar of his jacket up and walked away.

*

The rain clouds parted to allow slivers of sun to peak through. Zoe looked up at the sky and marveled for a moment at the patterns that were created. She paused outside the cemetery and made a decision. She walked towards the gate and entered. As she passed an elderly woman, she nodded and walked further in. She dropped the sack near a grave and knelt.

“Morning, Mama,” she greeted her mother as she pulled the weeds from her grave. A simple cross adorned the grave of Helene Lambros. “I know I haven’t come to see you in a few weeks, but things have moved so quickly.” She paused and watched an elderly man shuffle away from a nearby grave.

“Remember I told you how I was going to avenge your death?” Zoe sat on the damp grass. “It didn’t go so well and we lost Stavros; but I’m sure you know about it by now. They hung him, Mama.” Zoe’s voice caught. She wiped away the tears and, wiping at her eyes, she took a deep breath and continued.

“They caught him and Apostolos with Antonios and they killed them. Giorgos too. They are all dying, Mama. All my friends are dying. Be sure to kiss them for me in heaven, especially Stavros. Tell him, he is a big dumb Turk for not listening to me.”

The tears started to flow freely as she sat on the ground, her arms around her knees. “Mama, you won’t believe what I’m doing now… even Papa would be laughing. I’m a personal maid to the beast’s daughter. Can you believe it? Me, the one you kept yelling at to clean up after myself.” Zoe chuckled through her tears at the memory.

“Mama, remember Father Haralambos? Well, he gave me quite a shock the other day. Did you know he used to have a girlfriend before he became a priest? I never thought of him as anything but a priest… funny that. Turns out that the beast’s daughter isn’t his daughter. She’s Father Haralambos’ daughter. It’s worse than an ancient Greek drama. You would have loved that.”

Zoe plucked some more weeds from the grave as she continued her one-sided conversation with her mother. “I was going to kill her, Mama, but now I can’t because she is working with us. That’s very strange. My head tells me to kill her but my heart … well, it has other ideas. She is pretty, Mama. She has the bluest eyes I’ve seen. They remind me of the time we spent on Lymnos and the Aegean was so blue.”

She sighed. “And she’s tall, nearly gave me a neck pain from looking up at her,” Zoe laughed. “I like her, Mama, she has a kind soul for a Nazi.” Zoe gently brushed her hand over the cross on her mother’s grave. Then she stood up, picking up the sack of vegetables. “I have to take the supplies to the housekeeper, but I’ll visit you again soon. Kiss Papa for me and the boys. I hope God knows what a special person you are.” She closed her eyes for a moment. “I miss you, Mama.”

*

The housekeeper was bustling in the kitchen, heating pots of water for Fraulein Muller’s bath, when Eva poked her head in, scaring Despina so she dropped the plate she was holding.

“Sweet Jesus, Son of God and the Holy Ghost!” the housekeeper said as the plate broke into pieces on the stone floor. She looked at the broken pieces and then backed away from Eva who had entered the kitchen. She stood with her hands on her hips.

Eva’s eyebrows rose into her hairline at the expletive from the normally quiet housekeeper. “I’m sorry, Despina, I was looking for Zoe. Is she back yet?”

“No, Fraulein, she hasn’t returned yet. She is late, I’m…”

The door burst open and Zoe bustled in, muddied and wet. “I’m sorry I’m late,” Zoe said and stopped when she saw the housekeeper kneeling on the floor, picking up the broken plate and Eva standing there with her arms akimbo.

“Dear child, I thought something happened to you,” Despina said as she rose slowly and then took the sack. She then noticed the mud and the split lip.

“What happened?” queried Eva, holding Zoe’s face toward the light.

“A corporal took offence…”

“What did you do?” Eva asked as she was handed a piece of linen and began washing Zoe’s face as soon as the younger woman was seated.

“I had gotten stopped by two patrols previously and so I just handed him my card. He wasn’t impressed,” Zoe said quietly. “It was my fault.”

“It wasn’t your fault,” Eva said as she looked down into Zoe’s emerald eyes. Her hand was about to continue cleaning Zoe’s face, but she abruptly dropped her hand and averted her gaze. “Despina, can you please get my bath ready? I’ll see you soon,” Eva said quickly and walked out of the kitchen.

Zoe glanced at Despina who shrugged and went to put the water on to boil. Zoe looked again at the door through which Eva had departed and frowned.

“What was that about?”

Despina turned around and glanced at the young girl. “She cares about you.”

“I doubt it,” Zoe replied and helped empty the water into the bucket.

Chapter 8

“OH, THAT WAS BRIGHT!” Eva chastised herself as she closed the door to her bedroom. She felt an attraction to the younger woman, but Eva was determined not to put herself in a position that would cause her any more pain, not to mention getting Zoe into danger.

“Stupid, stupid, stupid,” Eva continued to rebuke herself. She will probably kill you if you made any move, she thought. Muller wouldn’t hesitate to praise her either for killing his ‘perverted daughter’.

“Not again.” Eva closed her eyes tightly, trying to keep the foreboding memory of that damp airless cell from resurfacing and the vision of her father standing over her, his arm raised and ready to strike, sent chills down her spine. That dark night her mother was murdered.

Kristalnacht

She walked into the house, dropping her knapsack on the floor. The ambulance had just left with her mother’s body. She felt empty inside. Her whole world had crumbled and the only person who understood her was gone. She slumped to the floor as tears flowed freely.

She heard her father and someone else leave the house, their voices subdued. She wasn’t sure how long she had been sitting on the floor. The door opened and her father walked in. He was still wearing his uniform, stained with blood … her beloved Mutti’s blood.

“Eva, I am going to ask you a question and I want you to answer me truthfully,” her father said as he sat on a chair across from her. Eva could see the fury in his eyes and knew that she had done something terrible, but for the life of her she could not fathom what.

“Yes, Papa,” Eva replied, her voice hoarse with emotion from crying.

“Where were you tonight?”

Eva brushed away tears as she looked up at her father, who she knew was barely controlling his temper. “I went with Greta and my friends and we… we burnt a synagogue,” she replied quietly.

“Didn’t I tell you to be here tonight? Didn’t I tell you not to go out, to stay with your mother?”

“Yes, Papa. I told her I was going to be at Greta’s house and then I was going to come back…”

“You lied to her and to me. You disobeyed me!”

Eva bit her lip, waiting on the answer.

“Do you know what your disobedience has produced?”

Herr Muller started to raise his voice, his face turned a bright shade of red, the veins in his neck pulsed rapidly and the control he had held so tenuously on his temper evaporated. “YOU,” he pointed at Eva who was cowering in a corner, “you killed your mother!”

“Oh Papa…” she cried.

He went over to the young woman, picked her up by the collar of her blouse and slammed her against the wall. Grabbing her by the hair, he screamed, “I will not tolerate your disobedience!” Then he slapped her so hard that it split her lip and she slumped in a heap. She dared not utter a sound and cowered against the wall trying to make herself a small target.

But his rage only served to urge him on as he beat her across the back and legs for several minutes, screaming incoherently. Finally his anger was satiated for a while and he sat down heavily, his head in his hands. “You have disgraced me.”

“I… I’m sorry, Papa,” the young woman hiccupped, tears staining her battered and bloodied face.

His voice rose as he neared the wide-eyed girl. “I will not tolerate a bastard child ruining my reputation!”

Eva looked at him, the confusion evident on her face. Muller stood and removed his belt. “I had someone tell me of your perversion, Eva. Did this person tell me the truth about you and Greta?”

When Eva said nothing to deny her father’s accusations, he exploded. “You disgust me!” he spat. “Do you know what that will do to my reputation? They will send me to the front for this. And you, do you know what they do to perverts in concentration camps?”

He folded the belt strap, popping it for effect and leaning over her, so close she could feel his breath. He hissed, “Is it true?” But Eva could not speak, her words frozen in fear. “Answer me, damn it!!” he demanded. Eva remained motionless, which only served to explode the rage once again boiling inside her father.

What followed was the worst, cruellest beating she had ever received. The leather belt, so mercilessly used against her back, left welts too painful to touch. But that pain was nothing compared to the mental anguish she now suffered. She had been beaten into the bottomless pit of guilt and shame and as she lay there sobbing, blood covering her back and legs, her father’s words “bastard child” tortured her until she wished she were dead.

That moment signaled the end of her freedom and the start of her longest waking nightmare. A nightmare she still endured after many months of incarceration and regular beatings.

At her father’s request that night she was taken to an Austrian clinic masquerading as a spa. There she was repeatedly tortured for her ‘deviancy’. The days and nights she spent wishing for death, longing for an end to her suffering. The constant pain seared into her soul …

“Fraulein Muller! Fraulein Muller!” Despina’s worried voice penetrated Eva’s consciousness from beyond the closed bedroom door. Eva shook her head to clear the memories and wiped away her tears. “I’ll be right there, Despina,” she called out as she stood trying to compose herself. She wiped away the sweat from her face and washed her face at the nearby basin.

Despina carried buckets of hot water from the kitchen into the bathing room. Zoe had been urged to clean up and soon began helping Despina with carrying the buckets of water and filling the tub. Eva walked into the room and nodded to Despina who left some soap nearby.

“Thank you, Despina.” Eva stood at the window watching the sun set over the quiet village.

“Are you alright?” Zoe asked quietly, watching the tall woman still standing by the window.

Eva remained quiet, willing herself to get better control of her emotions before facing Zoe. Turning toward Zoe, Eva observed her worried countenance. “I’m sorry I left so abruptly.”

“You know, I’ve had a split lip before, I’ll live,” said Zoe, trying to lighten the mood. “Are you going to take a bath now, or should we get Despina to reheat it?” she asked with a smile. Her smile turned quickly to a frown when she saw the large bruise on Eva’s arm. “What happened?”

Eva looked at her arm and shrugged. “Mrs. Elimbos objected to my presence at the church today and hit me with her cane.”

Eva removed her robe hoping Zoe wouldn’t see the red angry scar that ran across her stomach or those on her back. Those hopes were dashed when Zoe watched her lower herself into the water. Zoe’s voice caught mid sentence at the sight of Eva’s back. The scars went from her shoulders to below her waist. She gasped.

“What happened?” Zoe whispered.

Eva didn’t speak for a few moments and Zoe thought she wasn’t going to get an answer. “My father beat me,” Eva told her quietly.

“They look old,” Zoe said and without thinking traced one particular deep scar causing Eva to flinch. “I’m sorry does it hurt?”

Eva shook her head. “No.”

Zoe picked up the sponge and gently began to lather the tall woman’s back. “Does he do that often?”

“No,” Eva’s voice broke with the emotions washing over her. “He doesn’t have to.”

“Another reason Muller should burn in hell,” Zoe muttered as she gently sponged Eva’s scarred flesh. Zoe often thought the tall woman led a privileged life because she was one of the enemy but that wasn’t the case. Her life wasn’t easy; easy, perhaps, in creature comforts, but where it mattered, she wasn’t happy.

After Eva had finished her bath, she dried her hair and was about to comb through it when the brush was taken out of her hands and she was directed to sit in front of the mirror. Zoe began brushing her hair.

“Why are you so nice to me?”

“You pay me to be nice,” Zoe replied with a smirk. She glanced at Eva’s solemn face in the mirror. “You’re not who I thought you were,” Zoe observed as she brushed Eva’s long hair. “No one deserves to be beaten, Eva.”

“Not even someone who was part of the Nazi party?”

Zoe stopped brushing and turned Eva towards her.

“Were you?”

“No but I took part in Kristallnacht and I didn’t help, but ran away instead.”

“That doesn’t make you a killer,” Zoe reasoned. Even she knew that.

“It makes me a coward,” Eva replied. “I told you that my mother was killed that night.” Eva turned away, unable to face the young woman. “My father… blamed me. He told me not to go out that night.”

“How was it your fault?”

“He said if I hadn’t disobeyed him when he told me to stay in … that had I been there, I could have protected her.”

After a few moments silence, Zoe put the brush down and took Eva’s hands and looked into her eyes, blue depths that glistened with unshed tears and said, “About as much as I was able to protect mine.”

Eva broke eye contact first and looked away. Zoe wrapped her arms around the woman and held her. She wasn’t sure why she did but for some reason the woman needed the comfort.

“He found out that Greta and I were… lovers,” Eva whispered, her voice breaking. “He was terrified of what it would do… what it would do to his reputation.”

“You’re a lesbian?” Zoe asked a little surprised. The woman was beautiful and Zoe thought she could have any man she wanted. She knew Captain Reinhardt watched her like a hawk and often wondered if he was sweet on her.

Eva smiled for the first time as Zoe uttered the word in wonder. “Yes.”

“Oh, can’t you get a boyfriend?” Zoe innocently asked as Eva looked at her with wry amusement.

“It’s not that simple, Zoe.”

“Oh?”

“I’ve never liked boys,” Eva explained a little puzzled by the inquisitive nature of the young girl.

“Never?” Zoe asked totally forgetting to comb Eva’s long hair.

“Never,” Eva shook her head slowly. “They didn’t interest me that way” Eva wasn’t sure why she confided this to the young girl. It wasn’t as if it needed to be told and yet she found herself unable to stop.

Zoe looked at the mirror and met Eva’s eyes. She smiled shyly and picked up the brush again. “How old were you when you realized you didn’t like boys?”

“Sixteen.” Eva replied. It was a moment in her life when it all became crystal clear. The first person she told was her best friend, Willie, who was a little shocked but then decided they could watch girls together, so it wasn’t so bad.

“Oh,” Zoe whispered as she continued to comb the tall woman’s hair. So that’s the problem, Zoe thought as she brushed Eva’s hair.

Chapter 9

THE HOT SUMMER SOON TURNED to autumn as Father Haralambos made his way down the well trodden cobblestone street. Over the last month Father Haralambos had witnessed a new purpose to the young girl he protected soon after her mother’s death. Being Eva’s maid had given the girl something useful to do and even though it wasn’t the direct method of resistance, it had restored her faith in herself even though her faith in God was still absent, or at least thoroughly submerged.

He also noticed Eva was less depressed which pleased him. His daughter had been a revelation; beautiful and softly spoken. So much like Daphne that he wished he could turn back time and just elope with her, just as she had wanted. He had to be the proper ass and go and ask her father.

Petros Mitsos. Daphne’s father, was a war hero and the big man in Larissa. He couldn’t just leave with his daughter. “Your first mistake, you idiot,” he admonished himself. Mitsos was justifiably angry to find his daughter pregnant. Panayiotis wondered how he ever managed to stay alive through the tumult.

“Ah, ancient history, old man,” he muttered to himself.

Daphne had done a great job in raising his daughter and for that he was grateful to God for listening to his prayers.

“Something has to go right,” Father Haralambos muttered to himself. He looked up into the bright early morning sun and squinted. He had a lot to do in church today and he was determined to get an early start. He rounded the corner to the small alleyway leading to the back entrance of the church, his mind on the matters of the day.

“Father.”

Father Haralambos was startled at the sound of a voice coming from behind him. He turned and saw a man in his mid-forties standing there, smiling at him. Father Haralambos embraced him and ruffled his dark hair. Athanasios Klaras’ brown eyes shone with joy at seeing the old man.

“Athanasios, my boy, so good to see you! What are you doing here?” Father Haralambos inquired with a smile.

“I was homesick,” Athanasios replied with a grin

“Have you eaten anything?”

Athanasios shook his head.

‘Well then, we have to remedy that. Come, we will go to my home and have some breakfast and we can talk.”

In deference to the cleric’s age, the two men walked slowly through the back alleys, avoiding the early morning patrols. Athanasios smiled down at the man he loved as his father. When his own parents had died when he was a young boy, the priest lovingly filled the void. He had spent many a summer’s day talking to Father Haralambos and playing backgammon. In more recent times, when he found the war too hard to bear, he would close his eyes and remember those treasured moments; summer days at the river and water fights with the other orphaned boys. The priest had run the local orphanage and made it a point that the young boys learned to play, read the Bible and be honest and upstanding members of the school.

Athanasios was brought out of his musings as Father Haralambos led him to a small house. He opened the door and led him into a sparsely furnished room; two rickety old chairs stood again a wooden table. A large crucifix hung on the wall, the only decoration in the room.

“It’s not much, but what is mine is yours,” the cleric offered.

“Father, I have missed you so much,” Athanasios said and gave the old man another hug.

“I miss you too, Thanasi. I long for the days when I was just a priest and my only worry was how to break up water fights between you and Giorgos!” the cleric laughed.

“How is that old goat? I must go and see him and Samia.”

The cleric frowned. “We lost Giorgos a week ago.”

Athanasios sighed. He glanced up at the large crucifix. “A good man.”

“We also lost Apostolos, Antonios and Stavros. They are at peace now. The village has been hit hard… God only knows what our future will be,” the cleric said as he took out some cheese and bread and started to heat some water for tea. “So, how have you been?”

“Father, I’ve seen better days. We’ve had some successes and a lot of losses… too many losses. We also have another problem-the British don’t want to help us. Churchill wants the King back and I say, to hell with the King!”

“Communism isn’t the answer, my son.”

“What is, Father? If we have British support, we can unite everyone and form a strong Resistance. Like the French have done. We can do it, but no one wants to sit down. Everyone is thinking about the end of the war instead of thinking about the present. We can’t form a government at the end of the war if we are all dead.”

He took the cup of tea the priest had put in front of him and took a sip. “Our government can’t organize a street parade, let alone this war, Father. The King is happy and we are dying. Mark my words, Father, there will be a civil war in Greece after the krauts have been defeated. We stop one war and we begin another,” he sighed.

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”

“Father, there will be a civil war in Greece. Not if, but when.”

“A civil war?” the cleric repeated. “More Greeks dying.”

“Father, I don’t know what the answer is-we get rid of the krauts and then what? We get the King back? That loser? He sits there waiting for us to do all the dirty work.”

“And the answer is communism?”

“I don’t know, but the monarchy hasn’t worked. Maybe communism will work. But we have a more pressing problem. I was in Thessaloniki last week. A trainload of supplies and krauts are on a train that will be crossing the Gorgopotamos gorge and it will also be carrying human cargo.”

A railway line going from Thessaloniki to Athens spanned the Gorgopotamos Gorge. The Resistance had destroyed that line, making the Germans unable to move supplies to North Africa. It was a major blow to the Nazis until they had repaired it. “Didn’t the lads blow up that line?” The priest stopped in mid-sentence as he frowned at the man’s last comment.

“Human cargo?”

“Jews, Father. They are treated like cattle and sent to their deaths. Remember those boxcars we used to send sheep in?”

The priest nodded.

“They put those poor souls in boxcars and they go to their deaths… like sheep.”

Father Haralambos stared at the man in shock. He was aware that the Jews were hunted by the Germans, but had not known how they were moving so many people. “That’s inhuman,” the cleric whispered.

“Wasn’t the line recently destroyed?”

“They blew it up and the krauts rebuilt it. We’ve been playing this game now quite a few times. We’re going to blow up the line and the train.”

“The train? You can’t do that-all those people!” the cleric cried out.

“Father, we have to destroy that line and the train. Either way, lives are going to be lost. But if we destroy the rail, we send a clear message to those monsters that we will not submit! We have to fight them in any way we can, regardless of the risk. What is life under Hitler’s regime anyway?”

“Thanasi, what about those poor souls?”

Athanasios looked up at the priest. “Father, those people are already dead. They live, but Hitler himself has ordered their deaths. What are you suggesting? That we don’t act? We don’t try and stop them? If we allow this train to pass, then they will be using this method to transport troops who will murder thousands. Didn’t you tell me that it’s a sin not to act when you can help a brother in need?”

“Thanasi, don’t quote my own teachings back at me.”

“Father, is it a sin not to act?”

“There must be another way. Can’t we bomb just the line, or liberate the train?”

“I wish we could, Father. We don’t have enough men to liberate the train. If we do that, the krauts will just start shooting and the prisoners will be killed. A few may get away but…”

“Isn’t it better to let the few get away than to kill everyone?” the priest asked.

“Get away to where, Father? The whole country is overrun by Germans. Where do they go? They are destined to die. The Fates have already snipped their lives short.”

“You are playing God.”

“Father, if I could find a way to stop the train, I would do it in a heartbeat. We have to bomb that train. There is no other way. What do you suggest we do?”

“I don’t know the solution to this particular problem. I don’t have the Wisdom of Solomon, Thanasi. I don’t have the answers and I don’t know what to do. If we blow up the train, how many people will be punished and killed because of it? You know they will kill 50 Greeks for every German life lost… and those poor souls…”

“If we do nothing, Father, those on the train are destined to die,” Thanasi said, looking at the distressed cleric. “As I said, I wish there was a way to liberate that train, but there isn’t. We have to blow it up.”

“We’ve been trying to get some of them out of the country,” the cleric said quietly.

“How? How are you getting new identity papers?”

“We have help from the inside.”

“Well, that works for one or two families at a time, not for hundreds of people.” Thanasi looked across at the distressed cleric. “Do I know him, this person from the inside?”

The priest smiled. “Major Muller has been doing it for us. He just doesn’t know it.”

More questions were left unasked, as there was a knock on the door. Athanasios was quickly hidden in the adjoining room as the priest opened the door to a frazzled looking Zoe.

“Father, why aren’t you in church?” Zoe asked as she entered and sat down.

“You were going to church, Zoe?”

“No. I was passing by and I saw the church closed. I came to see if you were alright.” Zoe looked around and noticed the two plates and cups. “Father, did I interrupt anything?”

“You want a cup of tea?” Father Haralambos asked, trying to change the subject as he held up the teapot.

“You’re not answering my question, Father.”

“Sometime, Zoe, your inquisitive nature is going to get you in trouble.”

“Story of my life,” Zoe muttered. “So are you…”

The other door slowly opened and Athanasios stepped across the threshold with his gun in his hand. Zoe’s eyes grew round with surprise. “Ares!”

Father Haralambos looked at the young girl with a frown. “The god of war? Zoe you’re reading too much.”

“No, Father, not that Ares, that Ares,” she said and pointed at Athanasios.

“What are you talking about, my dear child? This is my friend Athanasios.”

Athanasios laughed. “Ah, Father, the Nazis know me as Ares Veloukhiotis.”

“You chose to name yourself after the god of war?”

“Nice touch, don’t you think?” Athanasios chuckled. “I knew those stories on mythology you used to read to me would come in handy one day!”

“I think it’s great.” Zoe piped in as she stared at the man she considered to be a true war hero. His exploits were legendary among the local Resistance groups and made him a man wanted by the Nazis. Father Haralambos frowned at Zoe.

“Oh, Father, stop looking at me like that. We need heroes and if he calls himself Ares, why not?”

“Ares was a blood thirsty god…”

“Father, I hate to break this to you, but Ares never existed remember?” Zoe said with a chuckle. Father Haralambos ignored the young woman’s last comment. He was extremely concerned now for the man’s safety. He glanced at Thanasi who had a grin on his face and was enjoying the banter between the cleric and the young woman. “How did you recognize him?”

“I saw a poster of him in Captain Reinhardt’s office when he interviewed me for the job,” she said as she still looked up at the Resistance leader. “The poster doesn’t come close.” She realized what she had said and began to blush.

“Did you know about that?” the cleric asked Thanasi. He looked back at Zoe who was now looking down at the floor.

“They have a very old sketch of me, Father. I wouldn’t worry. The Nazis love me… problem is, I don’t love them,” he said with a smile and a wink at Zoe.

“What if someone saw you come into the village?” The cleric began to panic.

“Don’t worry, Father. No one knows I’m here.”

“You are a real hero.”

Athanasios sobered up and looked at Zoe. He knelt beside her chair. “What’s your name?”

“Zoe.”

He smiled. “You have a beautiful name, Zoe. I’m not a hero. I’m just doing what I have to do.”

“You’re still a hero… can I call you Athanasios?”

He nodded. “Or Ares,” he smirked

“You are a hero to me,” Zoe said softly. “My brother told me you saved his life on the front line with the Italians. He told me what you did.”

“Who was your brother?”

“Mihali Lambros,” Zoe answered.

“Ah that manga! How is he?” Thanasi smiled as he remembered a young man, his curly blond hair and hazel eyes that shone brightly when talking about his family and his home.

Zoe’s smile faded. “He was killed when the Germans invaded.”

“That’s a real shame, I’m sorry Zoe. Mihali was a very brave man.”

“Dimitri would love to meet you. You don’t know how many people look up to you. You give people hope.”

“Zoe, don’t romanticize what I am. I’m a two-bit freedom fighter with more shrapnel in my body than brains. God gave me the opportunity to fight for the freedom of Greece. Who am I to refuse God’s request?” he asked with a wink. “Even though I don’t believe in him.”

“You’re still a hero to me,” Zoe stated again. She stood and shook the man’s hand. “I have to get back or Despina will wonder where I disappeared to.” She smiled at Athanasios and opened the door. As she left the house, she saw a squad of six soldiers coming toward her.

Chapter 10

ZOE FROZE IN MID-STEP. Running towards her was a squadron of soldiers, screaming incoherently and brandishing their rifles. They reminded Zoe of a pack of wolves chasing its prey. For a fleeting moment Zoe imagined the worst, but instinct took over and she slowly backtracked her way inside Father’s house. Timidly she closed the door, still not feeling secure, yet confident enough to peek outside to see what was happening. The soldiers, though, were not after her but some poor soul who could not escape their wild pack attack.

“What are you doing, Zoe?” Father Haralambos asked, watching the woman who had her head stuck outside the door.

“Soldiers,” she muttered. She waited for a few moments and then headed out.

*

Zoe rounded the corner and stopped. She watched as two motorcycles, a car bearing the flag of a general and a truck proceeded down the street. She hurriedly made her way back to the major’s residence and watched from across the street as the general got out of his car. His aides fawned over him as they assisted him. I wonder who that tight-assed kraut is? Zoe thought, as she went to the servant’s entrance of Major Muller’s quarters. She entered to find that Despina was in panic mode.

“Despina, what’s going on?” she asked the harried housekeeper.

“Ah, there you are! Fraulein Eva was looking for you.”

“What’s going on?” Zoe persisted.

“Zoe, don’t ask so many questions.”

“I wouldn’t have to ask if someone told me what was going on,” Zoe muttered as she walked up the stairs and into Eva’s study.

“Where have you been?” Eva asked as she heard the door open. She continued to write.

“Good morning to you, too, Fraulein Muller. I am fine, thank you and you?” Zoe replied as she sat on the couch.

Eva looked up and grinned. “You know, Zoe, one of these days…”

“Don’t tell me, I’ll get into trouble. Trouble is my middle name, according to Father Haralambos.”

“Where were you? You rose early today.”

Zoe picked some nonexistent lint off the couch. “I went to the cemetery.”

“Oh,” Eva said quietly.

“Today was my mother’s birthday. So I took her some new flowers and filled her in on what dastardly deeds we were up to.” She grinned at the older woman. “Why is Despina in a tizzy this morning?”

“General Rhimes has decided to pay us a visit,” Eva replied and frowned. She didn’t like the overbearing German general. He always found it amusing to pinch her in the rear and give her a slap for good measure. She had hoped she would be able to get out of greeting him, but her father had insisted.

“Who is General Rhimes?”

“He is in charge of Thessaloniki and the surrounding districts.”

“That bastard!” Zoe spat out. She had heard stories of the infamous general but had never put a name to the face. His heavy-handed treatment of the Greek population had spread to Larissa. She also heard the stories about the brutality meted out to the Jews; a few things she had heard, she didn’t want to believe. The reports were full of brutality and inhuman behaviour.

“Do you know about the stories?”

Eva nodded. She didn’t have to hear about them. She had seen for herself when Major Muller and she had visited Thessaloniki before arriving in Larissa.

They had stopped near the general’s headquarters and admired the pier. She marveled at the deep blue of the water. The sun shone brightly and the smell of freshly made bread was in the air.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Major Muller had said.

“It’s too bad we are at war,” Eva said and then noticed her father had gone on ahead and was talking to an old man. She neared them.

“Where are you going, Jew?”

The old man trembled.

“Are you deaf?” The major raised his voice. Eva cringed and took a step back.

“Home,” the old man finally managed to reply.

“You swine don’t deserve to have homes!” The major backhanded the old man and he stumbled. The meager food he had fell on the road. Eva was rooted to the spot. “You are vermin!” the major spat out and hit the old man again.

“Ah, Major Muller, so nice to see you are cleaning the streets of my fair city!” The booming voice of General Erik Rhimes was heard as the general made his way across the street. His aide closely followed. “What seems to be the trouble?”

Major Muller turned and saw the general approaching. Immediately he clicked his heels and raised his arm in salute. “Hello, old friend,” the general said, returning the salute.

Muller grinned at his old school friend and the two embraced. “I thought you had rid the city of these pests,” Muller said.

“I have, but you know how it is… cockroaches breed and they come back. So, you found a cockroach, I see?” He turned his attention to the old man who was lying on the ground, bleeding. “Hans! You’ve dirtied my street. Do you know how difficult it is to get Jewish blood out of cobblestone?”

They laughed. Eva was sick to her stomach. She wanted desperately to help the old man, but more and more soldiers had gathered to see what the commotion was about and why their general was present. “So dear friend, what are we going to do with this vermin?” Eric Rhimes asked and raised an eyebrow at his friend.

“What do you normally do, Erik?” Major Muller, obviously proud of his handiwork, leaned against the lamppost and took out his cigarettes.

“Normally? I would get my fly squatter and kill it.” Rhimes acted out killing an insect and laughed.

“Okay,” Muller said and, placing his cigarette between his teeth, he took out his gun and cocked it. The old man began to sob, “Please, Herr Major, have mercy!”, but his pleas fell on deaf ears.

“Do we want to waste two bullets or one?” Muller tormented.

“Do you think you can do it with just one shot?” Rhimes goaded.

Muller looked around at his men, then back at Rhimes, “Perhaps if the animal would stop shaking…” he laughed.

Without thinking of the consequences, Eva screamed, “No, Papa!” but her voice was muffled by the cheering of the soldiers. She tried to reach her father and was stopped by a soldier who held her back.

“Don’t want to get anything on that pretty dress,” he told her. She could only watch as her father put the gun to the old man’s head and pulled the trigger. Horrified at the sight, she rushed to the bank and violently threw up into the sea.

As she wiped the spittle from her mouth, her father demanded, “Are you all right?”

“Yes… yes, Father,” she replied weakly.

“Ah, must be the sight of blood. My little one faints at the sight of blood.”

Rhimes patted her on the back. “It’s alright, Eva, we’ll get this cleaned up and you won’t have to see this mess when you go back to your hotel.” He turned to Muller. “You set a good example for your child today, Muller. She will be a tribute to our glorious Fatherland.”

The general’s approval bolstered Muller’s ego and with a mock glare he said, “Hans, you got more blood on the cobblestones.”

They both laughed. He turned to his aide and waved his arms over the dead man. “Get this filth out of my sight and get someone to clean the cobblestones. One less Jew to search for. Find out where he lived.”

Eva shivered at the memory. “They aren’t just stories, Zoe.”

“You mean they are real?”

“Yes, very real. The Jews are being hunted and exterminated.”

“They can’t do that! The Jews aren’t animals.” Zoe protested indignantly.

“They can, Zoe. A Jew is a nothing in the eyes of our Fuhrer.” She looked up at the portrait of Adolf Hitler in disgust.

Zoe looked distressed. She was sickened by the war and by the stories of the cruelty of the Germans. She wondered if Eva felt that way about the Jews.

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Always, Zoe. If I can, I will answer it.”

Zoe hesitated. She wasn’t sure how she was going to ask Eva if she felt the same way as Hitler did about the Jews.

“Do you… I mean,” she stammered, “Do you hate the Jews?”

Eva looked up sharply, not anticipating that question.

“No, I don’t. Not all Germans are barbarians, Zoe.” Eva looked down unable to meet Zoe’s gaze.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you,” Zoe said and went over to Eva and knelt beside her chair. “I just…”

“I know what you meant, Zoe. I’m sorry; I just wasn’t expecting that question. I was in the Hitler Youth, but everyone in Germany was, before the war… I don’t hate the Jews.” Eva looked down at the young woman and their eyes met, Zoe allowing a tiny smile to emerge.

Zoe was glad that she had finally asked that question. She had begun to feel a growing affection for the woman. She had amazed herself when she first realized that she actually liked Eva. It had only been a few days and yet she felt she had known her for a lifetime.

“I wish this war would end,” Zoe sighed.

“What are you going to do when this war does end?” Eva asked with curiosity. She had been thinking about the end of the war and what she would be doing with her life. She didn’t know what she wanted, but she knew she had found a friend in the chestnut-haired young woman. She wondered how her defenses had been breached so easily. She had built walls to protect herself but they had been quickly dismantled by this young woman. No matter how hard she had tried over the last month, she couldn’t get Zoe out of her mind. The fact that she was with her every day didn’t help. She found she could talk to this youngster so easily. She was tired of being lonely but she wasn’t sure she could live through the torrent of abuse she knew would follow would be worth it.

“What will I do when the war ends?” Zoe repeated. “I want to go back to school, learn the things I missed out on and I want to travel,” Zoe added wistfully. “I want to draw, to be a great artist.”

Eva smiled. “You like to draw?”

Zoe lowered her eyes and played with the fringe of her skirt. “Sometimes.”

“Can I see it?” Eva asked wondering how good the young girl was.

“Really?”

Eva nodded and chuckled when Zoe ran out of room leaving Eva alone. She ran back inside a few moment later with her bag and opened it. “It’s not very good,” she muttered as she handed the drawing to Eva.

The older woman was very surprised to see the pencil drawing of herself beside the window reading. “When did you do this?”

“Last week,” Zoe shrugged and waited to find out what the woman thought. Somehow her opinion mattered even though she wasn’t sure why it did.

“It’s beautiful,” Eva complimented her.

“Just like you,” Zoe replied without thinking and blushed furiously. Eva looked up and decided she wasn’t going to say anything. “So,” Zoe cleared her throat. “What do you want to do? Will you go and find Greta?”

“Greta? No, I don’t think so… I don’t really know. I don’t think I’ve allowed myself to dream.”

“Why?”

“You ask too many questions, Zoe,” Eva chuckled.

“My mama used to say if you never ask, you will never know,” Zoe replied.

“I don’t think I’m going to have a future.”

“That’s so sad.”

Eva wasn’t sure what to make of that or if she needed to remind Zoe that only a month ago she had wanted her dead. “Sometimes it’s the best, you know.”

“No, I don’t think it is, you are giving up and I don’t think you’re a quitter,” Zoe replied. For the short time she had known the woman, she had determined Eva was a survivor. That she was certain of because she knew she was one herself.

“Sometimes you have to know when to quit.”

“I don’t,” Zoe shook her head. “You never quit, even when things look like going to Hell in a hand basket.”

“Really?” Eva asked and wanted to add, ‘What would this young woman know about Hell’?

“When my mama died, I wanted to curl up under the biggest rock and never come out,” Zoe slowly revealed. “I want to die so badly.”

“You didn’t.”

“No, I didn’t because Father H picked me up and told me that my mama wouldn’t want me to quit. He had to do a lot of convincing but it finally seeped into my thick skull,” she tapped her head with her fingers.

“Father H helped you?”

“He saved me,” Zoe replied. “He is one of the most generous and loving men I have ever met. Next to my papa, of course,” she grinned.

Eva looked up at the clock a little upset that she had to cut the conversation short. “I have to get ready to meet General Rhimes. Did you speak to Father Haralambos? He said he was going to give me some identity papers to alter.”

“I went to find Father Haralambos, but he wasn’t in church.”

“He wasn’t in church?”

“No, so I went to his house. I couldn’t ask him because he had a visitor.”

“Is he alright?” Eva asked, concerned for the old man she had come to love. They had spent time talking, getting to know each other. She had found out he was a very gifted artist and quite a good singer. They had laughed when Father Haralambos insisted that he gave Eva his singing ability. He regaled her with his memories of a tone deaf Daphne. They had spent some time wiping the tears from their eyes as the priest shared memories of her mother. Memories she would treasure all her life.

‘Oh yes, he was fine; he just had a visitor,” Zoe said with a grin, remembering her encounter with the Resistance leader.

“Maybe you can go down and pick them up from him after I meet with General Rhimes.”

*

“So, dear friend, what brings you to my backwater?” Muller asked has he handed the general some wine.

Erik Rhimes was a big rotund man; his uniform was stretched across his girth and the buttons on his uniform appeared to want to break way. As he sat, he opened the collar of his uniform and exhaled. “Ah, that’s better.” He sipped his wine. “I came to warn you.”

“You came all the way here to warn me? Don’t tell me we have vermin?” Muller asked.

Rhimes’ booming belly laugh erupted and Muller joined him. “No, no, no. You are going to get a visitor soon to your little backwater.”

“Oh?”

“His name is Ares.”

“The god of war is paying me a visit?” Muller chuckled. “These Greeks are so inventive. Lousy

fighters, but inventive.”

“Indeed. I must say that policy of one German for 50 Greeks does prove to be an excellent deterrent. I have to remember to thank General Kiefer for that idea. A stroke of genius. As I was saying, Ares Veloukhiotis is coming here.”

“Why?”

“To blow up the line and…”

“Again? Damn it, Erik, that line has been blown up so many times, I’m getting tired of telling my men to rebuild it!”

“They want to blow up the train as well.”

“But they will be killing the Jews… I guess they will be saving us some work.” They both laughed at Muller’s joke. “I don’t understand why he wants to blow up the train.

“Well, according to our informant… to teach us a lesson.”

“If it’s a lesson they want, then I’ll be the one to teach it. Give me the men and I’ll take care of every last one of them.” Rhimes knew that Muller was deadly serious. Many times he had witnessed the ruthlessness that Muller possessed. He admired the man.

“No. We’re going to do something very different. I want you to put a prominent member of this little backwater on that train.”

“Prominent member? How will that stop them from blowing it up?

The door opened and Eva walked in, with Zoe close behind. Eva had pulled her long dark hair into a pony tale and wore an elegant suit that matched her eyes. Zoe was rather pleased with how the outfit looked on Eva. She frowned when she spotted the general.

“Ah, Eva! How wonderful to see you.” Rhimes got up and kissed Eva and then pinched her on the behind and gave her a good slap. Zoe’s frown turned into a scowl.

“Hello, General,” Eva said with a forced smile.

“Eva, my sweet, we have to find you a dashing young officer. I’m sure you must be lonely out here.”

He glanced at Zoe who had stood behind Eva trying to be inconspicuous. “And who is this?”

“This is Zoe Lambros, my personal maid and assistant.”

“A Greek? Aren’t you afraid she might take a knife to your throat?” the general laughed.

“No, I’m quite safe with Zoe around,” Eva assured him.

He watched as Eva motioned for Zoe to leave the room as the door closed quietly. “Now, getting back to what we were discussing before the lovely Eva joined us.” He motioned for her to join him on the couch. “I was just telling your father how the Resistance is going to blow up a train.”

“Again?” Eva asked.

“Indeed. I think the Greeks believe in blowing something up until it doesn’t exist!” The general smirked, quite amused at his own joke. He turned to Muller and repeated his previous order. “I want you to put a prominent member of this town on that train.”

“So they won’t blow up the train?” Eva asked.

‘You’ve got it. They won’t blow it up if some high and mighty local is on board. Isn’t that just a brilliant idea?”

Muller grinned. “I take it you have someone in mind?”

“I do. I have found that the most prominent member of the community is the local priest. I want your priest on that train.”

Eva gasped at the thought of that brave, innocent man being used as bait. She hoped that she could warn Father Haralambos and he could get away. Eva whispered a silent prayer that the Resistance wouldn’t make the cleric another casualty of war.

“Ah, Father Haralambos. You know him well, don’t you, Eva?”

Eva nodded. “He is a very good man. Isn’t there another way?”

“I didn’t know you cared so much about these Greeks, Eva,” the General said and frowned at the young woman.

“My Eva is deeply religious. I’ve told her to be careful when she goes down to that church. I heard what happened with that old woman hitting you,” Major Muller said as he held his wine ready to drink and watched his daughter over the rim of the glass. “I was thinking about making an example of her and having her shot. What do you think Eva?”

Muller glanced over his wineglass and smiled. He wasn’t surprised to see the anguish on his daughter’s face. She was a gentle woman and Muller wished she didn’t have that one major flaw in her.

“She was angry, Father, she…”

“I’m not going to waste a bullet on her,” Muller chuckled and waggled his finger at her. “Although I am concerned that you are getting too close to that priest. Getting close to that priest is not a good idea.”

Eva nodded. She wasn’t surprised to hear her father had kept an eye on her activities. Ever since Kristallnacht, her father had made certain he knew who she was seeing and when. Since she had arrived back from Austria she felt like someone had put bands around her chest making it impossible for to breathe without someone knowing. Freedom, that’s what she craved for and yet Zoe’s words echoed in her mind. She wasn’t a quitter but the thought was appealing.

“They can easily turn and kill you where you sleep. I wouldn’t trust that servant of yours, either. Spending time with them is dangerous. They fill your young mind with ideas that are contrary to what we hold in our hearts,” Rhimes said as he pulled out some papers from his briefcase.

“I’m sure your Father Haralambos is a God-fearing man, but he is a Greek. He is prominent in the community and he is perfect for what I had in mind.”

“I will call him in tomorrow,” Muller said, writing a note to himself.

“There was another matter I had to discuss with you.” Rhimes handed the papers over to the Major.

“Identity papers?” Muller asked.

“Do you see anything strange about them?”

“Not really.”

“Well we found these on two of the Resistance fighters. They appear to have originated from here.”

“Did you ask them?”

“Unfortunately, we killed them before asking questions. They are good forgeries. Excellent in fact. Have you seen these before?” the general asked

Muller who was studying them.

“Not that I would remember. Not unless Captain Reinhardt signed them on my behalf, but that’s my signature. I don’t understand it.”

“Well then, you have a forger in your little backwater. A minor problem, but an annoying one. If we hadn’t shot those two, you would never have known about the forgeries.”

Eva paled as the blood drained from her face. The identity papers she and Father created were flawless, or so they thought. She had to get word to him and quickly; and then get him to safety.

Chapter 11

EVA BARELY HEARD THE TWO men talking. Her thoughts were on Father Haralambos and the dire predicament he was going to be in shortly. She was brought out of her thoughts when the two men began to discuss the state of the war. Eva had heard that the Allies had landed at Normandy, but from all accounts she was led to believe that the Reich was beating back the Allied advance. She had hoped at the time that it was the propaganda machine in action again.

“So we’ve lost Paris?” Muller exclaimed. He couldn’t believe what his friend had told him. He believed the Allies were being pushed back across the channel. “When did this happen?”

“August,” Rhimes said dejectedly.

“We’re nearing October. You’re telling me that we lost Paris in August? Damn it! Why didn’t anyone tell us sooner?”

“I think they had a lot more concerns on their minds, old friend, than telling us about Paris. We lost Bucharest, the Russian bastards have overrun Estonia and the Americans… oh dear God, the Americans. We are fighting on too many fronts.”

The two men sat smoking cigars. The smoke made Eva slightly ill but she wanted to remain to listen in on the conversation.

“We are going to lose the war, Hans,” Rhimes said.

“Never! I don’t believe that.” Ever the good German, Hans was shocked that his friend would suggest such a thing. “We’ve had some losses but…”

“Hans, the war is going badly. Very badly. If we are lucky, we will salvage some sort of agreement. The Russians are mauling us. Barbaric people.”

“What are we going to do here?”

General Rhimes pulled a piece of paper from his uniform pocket and gave it to the Major. Muller’s eyebrows rose into his hairline as he read the orders from Central Command.

“That’s why the train is important?” Muller queried.

“Yes. General Kiefer and I are organizing a slow withdrawal of troops from Athens. We are leaving only a few there. Our Jewish problem will be eliminated. The Final Solution, Hans.”

“Maybe we were given wrong information…”

“Hans, the Americans have crossed into the Fatherland.”

Both Muller and Eva gasped, although not for the same reasons.

“When?” Muller whispered. He couldn’t believe that the Allies had managed to cross into Germany. There must have been some mistake. It wasn’t possible. “Are you sure?”

“I wish I could say I was wrong, Hans, but I can’t. On the 13th , they marched into the Fatherland,” Rhimes said quietly. He mentally shook himself, knowing that it was already too late.

Getting up from his chair, Muller swore and began pacing around the room.

“Excuse me, Father, General Rhimes,” Eva said as she rose her from her chair. “I see that you have important matters to discuss, so I will leave you.”

“Yes. Yes,” her father replied absently, his thoughts on the Reich’s impending defeat. Eva walked out of her father’s office, her thoughts jumbled as the good news was replaced with the more pressing problem of getting Father Haralambos out of Greece. She walked into the kitchen where Despina was busy preparing the noon meal.

“Despina, where is Zoe?”

‘That child will be the death of me!” the housekeeper complained exasperatedly as she pushed back her hair from her eyes.

“Do you know where she is?” Eva asked again, becoming annoyed.

“No. She ran out of here like the devil was after her and with that child, he probably was.”

Eva thanked the housekeeper, rushed to put on her coat and hurriedly left the house. She would have to go and tell Father Haralambos herself. She couldn’t delay any longer.

*

Light rain had begun to fall as Zoe headed out of the house. The housekeeper’s words still echoed in her ears as Zoe tried to avoid any patrols. The good weather had changed so dramatically that Zoe wondered if the weather and the state of the war matched. She shook her head as she made her way to the priest’s house. Avoiding the puddles that were beginning to

form, Zoe walked up to the cleric’s door and tapped lightly. Adjusting her collar to keep the rain out, she impatiently wondered why the priest was so slow in answering.

“Zoe, is everything alright?” Father Haralambos asked when he finally opened the door.

“Well, we have General Rhimes here,” Zoe stated as she entered through the open doorway.

Athanasios entered the room again as the priest closed the door. “Big fat guy? Gourouni Rhimes”

Zoe giggled at the nickname. He did look like an overstuffed pig. “That’s him. Big fat guy had a meeting with Muller. I don’t know why, but Eva was with them.”

“Who is Eva?” Thanasi asked as he leaned on the table.

Zoe glanced at the priest before answering. “Eva is Major Muller’s daughter.”

“And this Eva is important?” Thanasi continued, sensing that the two of them were keeping some secret from him.

“She is very important,” Zoe exclaimed and grinned at the surprised look on the cleric’s face.

“The important question is: why is Rhimes here?” Father Haralambos said to Thanasi.

“I wish we had a way of finding out.”

“We do,” Father Haralambos stated. “Eva.”

“I’m now confused. How is the kraut’s daughter going to help you?”

“She is our contact.”

Athanasios stared incredulously at the priest. “She is your contact?” The priest nodded. “Dear

God, man. Do you realize what you have done?” Thanasi threw up his hands in frustration. “And I suppose it was her idea to help you? Right?”

“She did volunteer.”

“Great. This is just great! She has set you up, Father.”

“You don’t understand, Thanasi…”

“Father, what’s there to understand?! You have been duped! I bet all those people you have helped are now dead. You don’t honestly believe this woman came to help you?”

“Thanasi, you need to stop and listen. You’re getting ahead of yourself. This is not like you. You don’t panic. What’s the matter?”

“Father, you don’t understand,” Thanasi sighed. “Does she know I’m here?” He addressed Zoe who was starting to get very angry with this man.

“No, I only told her that Father Haralambos had a visitor.”

“Good,” he said, running his hand through his hair and trying to figure out a way he could get the priest out of the area. “We can get you away.”

“Do you always panic this way?” Zoe asked, frowning at the man as he paced.

“When you play with vipers, little girl, you get bitten. I’m not going to allow Father Haralambos to die because of this Eva,” Thanasi spat out. He didn’t understand why these people were so calm. Surely they had to realize that this German whelp was a spy.

“I am not a little girl.” Zoe retorted. “I don’t want him to die either, but Eva is as honest as the day is long. She is no more a spy than you are. She can’t help it if her stepfather is a kraut.” Zoe stopped when she realized what she had blurted out.

“What? Stepfather? What in God’s name are you prattling about?!”

Father Haralambos gave Zoe an exasperated look. “Thanasi, you need to sit and calm down. Stop getting so excited. You’re going to get a nosebleed.”

“But, Father…”

“Don’t ‘but Father’ me, young man. I know what I’m doing.”

“You don’t! You don’t know the first thing about the Resistance. You are a priest.”

Zoe snorted at Thanasi’s statement. “You sure don’t get around much do you?”

Thanasi glared at her but Zoe ignored it.

“You two, behave.”

“Father… you don’t understand. I can’t let those pigs get you. You are responsible for who I am. I’m not going to sit by and watch them kill you.”

“Who said they will kill me, my son?” Father Haralambos asked.

“I am saying it, Father!” All three jerked their heads towards the door where Eva had just entered. Ares immediately cocked his gun, ready to protect the priest.

“Eva, what are you saying?” Father asked

“Eva, that’s Eva? Stand aside, Father, she means to kill you,” Thanasi demanded.

“Of course I don’t! What gave you that idea?” Eva retorted, but that only caused Thanasi to become bolder, more determined.

“Oh, put that away,” Father Haralambos said as the last reserves of his patience wore out. He grabbed the gun from a very startled Thanasi and secured it in the chapel’s offering box that had been on the table. Zoe couldn’t resist laughing at Ares as she looked at Eva who had a very confused look on her face. “You. SIT,” he commanded and Thanasi slumped into a

chair. “And you,” he leveled his gaze on Zoe, “stop smirking and behave yourself.” Zoe slapped her hand over her mouth trying to comply. “And you, what are you talking about?” He directed his question at Eva.

“Did Zoe tell you that General Rhimes is here?”

The priest nodded.

“Well it seems they found some of the identity papers.”

“Father, I can’t believe you are trusting this kraut,” Thanasi spat out.

“Who are you?” Eva asked the sulking Thanasi.

“That is Ares, the Resistance god!” Zoe said with a laugh. “More like the panic god.”

“Athanasios Klaras?” Eva asked.

“You know me?” Thanasi said with some trepidation.

Eva nodded. “I know of you,” she replied.

“Oh great. Just perfect,” whined Thanasi.

“Oh, stop your whining. One would think you were 10 years old,” Zoe said and shook her head.

“Listen, little girl…”

“Stop it!” Father Haralambos yelled. He had reached the end of his patience. “Eva, what’s the problem with the identity papers?”

“I’m not a little girl,” Zoe said as Father Haralambos glared at her. “Well I’m not,” she insisted.

Eva looked at Zoe and then back at the priest.

“Father, we have two problems actually. The first is that they shot two of our couriers. They had the papers with them.”

“Those poor souls, may they rest in peace,” Father Haralambos said, crossing himself. “But Eva, they can’t link those back to us.” He sat down across the table from Eva.

“Father, eventually they will find out who forged them.”

“True,” the priest said as he scratched his bearded chin. He sighed. “And what’s our other problem?”

“There will be a train passing through here on its way from Athens to Thessaloniki, carrying troops. They are pulling out of Athens.”

Three stunned faces looked back at Eva. “You mean they are actually pulling back?”

“Yes, I heard General Rhimes telling my father that they are slowly withdrawing troops.”

“When?” Father Haralambos asked.

“In a few days, is how I understood it and they said something about The Final Solution…”

“The Jews… they are moving out the remaining Jews from Athens and all the way back to Germany… that has to be it.”

“They think the Resistance is going to blow up the train and the line.”

“They know?” Thanasi asked.

“It seems so,” the priest answered. “How is this a problem for us?”

“They want you to be on that train, Father. If you are on there, the Resistance will think twice about blowing it up.”

Shock registered on Zoe’s face, while the priest and Thanasi looked at each other. “You can’t go on that train!” Zoe said angrily.

“If we don’t blow up that train, many will die but…” Thanasi said quietly.

“What utter rot! Fifty Greeks will die if you do blow it up, smart man. And what about the Jews?” Zoe spat out. “Father Haralambos is not bait. He is a living, breathing kind man who you want to kill.”

“Zoe, calm down,” said Eva placing her hand on the younger woman’s shoulder. “That’s not going to happen.” Eva looked at the priest. “She’s right, Father.”

“No, she’s wrong,” Father Haralambos said. The three of them looked at the priest in shock.

“Father, have you been drinking?” Zoe asked angrily.

“Zoe!” Eva swatted Zoe on the arm.

“Will you three please calm down? If I don’t go on the train, then the Germans will know I’m in the Resistance, good people will die and the line will be used to move the Germans out.”

“Father, a good man will die that doesn’t need to die,” Eva said.

“We all have to go sometime, Eva.”

“Not when I’ve just found you,” Eva said quietly.

Thanasi frowned. “Father, we will find a way.” The priest exhaled loudly.

“What part don’t you understand, Thanasi? If I don’t go on the train, Greeks die, Jews die and I die for Resistance activities. If I do go on the train, Greeks don’t die, Eva is not implicated and…”

“And you still die, the Jews will die and I couldn’t give a damn about the krauts! I hope they burn in hell!” Zoe’s voice rose along with her anger at the frustration she was feeling at being unable to see a solution to this situation that did not include Father Haralambos’ death.

“Zoe, either way I die,” the priest replied

“I don’t want you to die,” Zoe said quietly.

“We all die sometime, my child,” Father Haralambos reiterated, just as quietly.

“How can you be so final about this?” Eva asked, suppressing her tears.

The priest could not answer for fear of losing his resolve. Truth be told, he was shaking inside and said a silent prayer for strength. “Father,” Eva whispered. “Oh, Father…” She was not addressing the priest, but her father that she’d only just met. They had spent such a short time together.

Father Haralambos rose and opened his arms and embraced Eva. “Don’t worry, Eva, everything will be all right.”

“I… I want to talk to you more about this, but I have to get back to the house. They will be wondering where I have gone,” Eva said, burying her head in the priest’s tunic. He could feel her tremble and held her closer until finally she broke away and walked to the door.

Eva stopped and looked back to see Zoe crying in the priest’s arms. She stepped out into the drizzling rain and allowed her tears to flow.

“So, you’ve made up your mind then?” Thanasi asked.

“I have to do what is best,” the priest replied, still holding the sobbing young woman.

“I won’t let you,” Zoe said wiping away tears.

“Even if I have to kill every last German myself, you are NOT going to die.”

“Can’t you see that the train will take you out of Greece? You may end up where the Jews are headed. You will die, Father and damn it, I’m not going to allow that!” Thanasi yelled.

“Thanasi, it is for the best. The Resistance will blow up the train. We can’t allow any more people to be led to their deaths on that line.”

“Father, please see reason. I wanted that train blown to kingdom come, but not with you on it. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself knowing I caused your death. Don’t you understand?” The young man pleaded with the cleric, hoping the old man would listen to him.

“Thanasi, sometimes the burden of leading is very difficult. We all make decisions that are too hard to bear. This is your torture stake, my son. I have to do what is right.”

“Father, please listen to me!” Thanasi begged his mentor. “The Resistance will blow up that train and I can’t stop it.”

“NO!” Zoe screamed at him and ran out of the house into the steady rain. Father Haralambos looked at the retreating figure and a tear made its way down his cheek. The priest wiped away his tears and left Thanasi. He went inside his bedroom and knelt, bowed his head and began to pray.

Chapter 12

ZOE RAN. SHE RAN UNTIL her heart pounded and her lungs ached for air. She didn’t know for how long and she didn’t care; she just had to run until she could run no longer. Exhaustion finally slowed her down enough to bring her to a stop in front of the cemetery. Realizing where she was, she plodded through the mud to her mother’s grave.

“Oh, Mama!” she cried and collapsed to the ground, crying. “Mama, why is everyone leaving me?” she said as she tried to understand what was happening. Everyone she loved was gone and now the man who was like a father to her would also die.

She wiped away the tears. “This isn’t fair. Eva just found her real papa, just when the Germans are leaving and now this. It’s not fair, Mama.”

She looked to the heavens. “Dear God, I know I don’t speak to you much and I know you don’t have to listen, but please, I beg you… please look after Father Haralambos. I know if you let him he will organise heaven for you.” Zoe wiped her eyes again.

“He is a good man and I love him so much.” Her voice broke as she looked down at the sodden ground. “I don’t have to tell you what he has done, how many people he has saved. Please make his death as painless as possible. Don’t let him suffer. I can’t bear to think of him in pain and alone.”

She rocked back and forth in the mud as the rain continued to fall on her forlorn figure. She wasn’t sure exactly how long she had sat there in the mud, but she realized that the pelting rain had turned to drizzle and the sun had gone down.

She was slowly making her way back to the house when she heard a soldier commanding her to stop. Zoe sighed and turned. She grimaced when she found herself face to face with the corporal who had manhandled her a few weeks previously.

“So Fraulein, we meet again.” The corporal grinned.

Zoe gave him a wry grin in return. “So it would seem.”

“Where are you going?” he inquired.

“To Major Muller’s residence,” Zoe replied quietly. She was wet, cold and emotionally tired. She just didn’t have any energy left.

“What are you doing out here at this time? Don’t you know about the curfew?”

“Yes, sir, I do and I’m sorry,” Zoe said quietly. The soldier was taken by surprise. He expected a smart mouthed retort from this young girl. Taken aback, he just told her to get going and then stood for a few moments and watched her leave. Passing the church, Zoe looked up and frowned when she saw that the door was open. She quickly ran up the steps.

*

The church was dark, the only light coming from the candles burning by the altar. Zoe stopped in the doorway when she noticed that Eva was kneeling in prayer. Not wanting to interrupt her, Zoe stood by a column and waited. But Eva was too emotionally overwrought to have noticed anyone as she looked up at the image of the crucified Christ.

“Lord, I can’t believe that it is Your will to let Father Haralambos drink from this bitter cup.” Her voice broke and she faltered. She wiped away the tears. “He’s my father, Lord… I know I was brought here to find him and I know there is a reason for things to happen the way they do, but I can’t see how this will benefit anyone. Please don’t let him die. He has been my one saving grace in this nightmare.” Eva choked on her words.

Tears welled up in Zoe’s eyes as well, her heart going out to the older woman.

“I don’t want to be alone again,” Eva cried to the statue.

“Who says you are?” Zoe said as she walked down the aisle and knelt beside her, taking her hand. “Not anymore.” Zoe tenderly wiped a tear from Eva’s cheek.

“You’re wet,” Eva looked down at the dishevelled young woman.

“I am,” Zoe shrugged. “I didn’t think God would mind.”

*

Father Haralambos hurriedly made his way to the church. He was going to make certain there was nothing left behind that could link Eva to the Resistance. He was sure he didn’t have anything in his office that would incriminate her, but he wanted to double check. Thanasi had warned him about such things before he left, about the patrols that would stop him if he was out after dark, now that the curfew was in place. The cleric wondered where he had disappeared to, but knew there was no use in speculating; still, it didn’t keep him from worrying about the lad.

Thanasi, God bless him, he means well but he is just too over protective, Father thought to himself. Besides, he had to make sure things were in order before tomorrow came and it was just a short distance from the house to the church, what could happen? The priest rounded the corner and stopped dead in his tracks. The church doors were slightly ajar and he frowned. He was sure that he had told Sister Maria to close the door when she had finished preparing for Sunday’s service. He shook his head and wearily climbed the steps.

He made his way into the church and stopped. Before the altar two figures were kneeling, their heads covered, but he was quite certain he knew who the two people were. He smiled. “Thank you, Father,” he said quietly and crossed himself. He then noticed the trail of mud from the entrance to the altar, shook his head and made his way out of the church.

*

Zoe and Eva rose and slowly made their way out. Eva stopped and saw the muddy trail. “Do you always like to play in the mud?” she teased, making an attempt to get a grin out of her friend.

“Only when it rains,” Zoe replied. They grinned at each other and closed the church doors. They didn’t encounter any patrols on the way back home. They stopped and watched as the car carrying General Rhimes sped off and they made their way around the house and into the kitchen.

“Oh, my God!” Despina cried out as Zoe carried the mud from her boots onto the clean kitchen floor. Her cleaned floor was now covered in water and mud. Zoe stood there with a sheepish grin and shrugged. “Get out of here, NOW! You are…” the housekeeper yelled, but was stopped in mid-sentence when she saw Eva follow Zoe inside. “Fraulein Muller, I’m sorry…”

“Sorry.” She took off her muddy shoes and threw them out of the kitchen door and looked down to find her white socks were now a mucky brown colour.

“Get some hot water prepared for a bath, Despina,” Eva requested, ignoring the glare Despina was giving Zoe as they both trudged up the stairs. Despina watched the two as they disappeared from view and shook her head. “One of these days that child will be the death of me,” she muttered as she placed a large pot of water on the fire.

*

Eva ushered Zoe into her bedroom, determined to get those wet and muddy clothes off of her before she developed pneumonia. Placing her on the bed as if she were a child, Eva removed her socks and tossed them aside. “What were you doing, Zoe? Did you jump in the river?” she asked as she unbuttoned Zoe’s skirt and watched it fall around her bare feet. “I don’t want you to get sick,” she scolded; unaware of the effect the undressing was having on Zoe.

Zoe tried to unbutton her blouse, but Eva pushed her hand away. “We can’t have you catching a cold after…” she looked up for the first time then and saw the sheepish grin on Zoe’s face, “… all, uh, can we?” Not sure how to interpret that expression, Eva stepped to the side and retrieved a blanket.

“This is very romantic, isn’t it? Somehow I didn’t think it would be quite like this… me being wet, cold and covered in mud, Despina yelling at me…” Zoe teased as she tossed her blouse to the floor, her shyness about revealing her own body forgotten. She looked up into blue eyes, losing herself in their depths.

Eva smiled. “You were thinking about it… about me?” she asked, placing the blanket around her friend’s shoulders.

Zoe blushed and looked away. Eva cupped the young woman’s face and turned it towards her. “You were thinking about me?” she repeated.

“Yes, sometimes.”

“Why?”

“You’re not a boy,” Zoe replied with a tiny shrug.

“No, I can’t say I am.”

“That’s good because,” Zoe stopped and looked up into sparking blue eyes. “I don’t like boys.”

“Oh,” Eva whispered and looked into the emerald-coloured eyes that seemed like an eternity. She had resisted her feelings for so long. Didn’t want to get involved with anyone. She had cut herself off and maintained that icy exterior. She had built the walls around her heart to prevent anyone from hurting her again and to protect herself from her father. She had managed to stay remote and aloof until she had met this young woman. Zoe had walked in and begun to disassemble the wall she had worked so hard at building.

They held on to each other for a few moments. Zoe was quite content to stay where she was. She realized she wasn’t cold anymore. I wouldn’t mind staying in her arms forever, Zoe thought to herself as Eva snugged the blanket around her more tightly.

“I’ve never been interested in anyone before,” Zoe said softly. “Not that way and I think I’m in love with you.”

“Well, that’s… what did you say?” Eva asked as she realized what Zoe had just said. Eva thought she would never hear those words again. Not dared to hope.

“I’ve fallen in love with you,” Zoe repeated softly but distinctly, looking into eyes that reminded her of the Aegean. “I’ve never felt for anyone the way I feel about you.”

“Maybe we…” Eva started, hesitantly. She wanted to believe what Zoe was telling her, wanted so much to feel that finally she could love someone but she knew the dangers and knew the penalties.

“When I said you weren’t going to be alone, I meant it, Eva Muller. I just said I was new at this and, well, you are just going to be patient with me.”

“You surprise me, Zoe,” Eva said quietly as she gazed at the blanket covered woman, her chestnut hair matted with mud but her eyes shining brightly. Those eyes looked up at Eva with emotions that she thought she would never again see directed at her.

“Oh? How so?” Zoe asked as she looked at her friend. She cocked her head sideways and watched the now fidgeting woman that held her.

“When I told you about Greta,” Eva said, looking down at Zoe.

“I didn’t go running out the door, is that it?”

Eva nodded. She wasn’t sure what would happen when she revealed her love for another woman to Zoe. She couldn’t believe it had only been a little over a week since she had confided in the younger woman. She remembered how Zoe had held her as she’d told of her pain and the beatings … the beatings she had endured at the hands of her uncle on orders from her father. The shame of being berated by her aunt. The rape by her uncle’s friends as he’d tried to find her the ‘right man for the job.’

After her revelations, she and Zoe had spent the night talking. It had felt good to be able to tell someone the whole truth. She had revealed a little of what she went through to Father Haralambos, but not the full story. She didn’t think she could voice her deeper pain. Until Zoe came into her life. Now, she had to make certain that Zoe knew where they were headed. She owed her that much.

“Why should I run out… you were hurting and you needed a friend so badly,” Zoe reminded her quietly, looking into Eva’s eyes.

“You are special, very special, to me,” Eva quietly said and, cupping Zoe’s face in her hands, she slowly leaned over, pressing her lips to Zoe’s. Gently at first, so as to explore the sweetness of this young woman, Eva slowly became more aggressive until she could feel the excited response from Zoe and sought to quench her desire.

“Oh boy!” Zoe whispered as they parted.

“Good or bad?” Eva asked with a bit of trepidation.

“Oh good! Better than good!” Zoe exclaimed as they shared another kiss. “Much better than when Tasos kissed me.”

Eva looked down at her and her brows furrowed together, which caused Zoe to start laughing.

“Are you jealous, Fraulein Muller?” Zoe asked with a grin.

“No… I mean… yes… well… when did you kiss Tasos?”

“Let’s see now.” Zoe made as if she was trying to remember and then smiled up at her friend. “I was 12 years old and it happened at the back of the chicken shed. Very sloppy kissing.” She laughed. “My brother, Mihali, came out and stopped us. He told me that if I kissed a boy I would have a baby.”

They both laughed as Zoe continued, “Which I believed and so I never kissed anyone again!”

Eva looked down at her own tall frame. “Well I’m not a boy, so I can’t get you pregnant.”

Zoe looked Eva up and down. “You certainly are not a boy.”

“I thought you said you didn’t like boys?”

“I kissed him to see what it was ‘like’,” Zoe grinned. “Let me tell you something Fraulein Muller, you definitely don’t kiss like Tasos.”

They looked at each other. Eva frowned. “You know this can be very dangerous for you.” The thought of her father laying a hand on Zoe made her angry. She could withstand his beatings again if she had to, but could not bear for Zoe to suffer any punishment because of her.

“For me? What about you?” the young woman asked, wrapping the blanket around the older woman, as well.

“He will hurt you if he finds out. I don’t want to see you going through what I’ve been through. You are a very gentle soul, Zoe and if it means we can’t take this further…”

“And you are a hard bitten Nazi, right? How do you feel about me, Eva?”

“I love you, Zoe, but because I love you, I don’t want to put you in danger. I don’t want to see you hurting.”

Zoe sighed with frustration. She reached up and tenderly caressed Eva’s cheek. “Eva, you may not have noticed this, but we are in a war. I’m in danger just walking down the street. I can get shot for nothing more than looking at a soldier the wrong way.”

“My father…”

“Your father is an abusive man, who hurt you physically and mentally for loving someone. Father Haralambos told me that when we find love, we accept it. We don’t question it, we don’t deny it.”

“Father Haralambos said that?” Eva asked.

“Yes, he did. I don’t think he was talking about us, but I do know how I feel about you. My brother described it once as Heavy Like.” Zoe chuckled as she remembered her older brother describing his feelings for his newest girlfriend.

Zoe stopped and mimicked her older brother. “He said ‘Zoe, there are three stages to a relationship: Like, Heavy Like and Deep Love. I’m in the second stage. Heavy Like. When I get to stage three you can shoot me, because I’ll be useless. So I’m in stage two and I think there isn’t any cure to stop it from going to level three.” She grinned up at Eva. “I wouldn’t want to be cured.”

Eva leaned down and softly kissed her again. They parted when Despina yelled through the door, “Fraulein, I have the water ready.”

“She has lousy timing,” Zoe muttered as Eva reluctantly let her go and opened the door.

It was cold, dark and airless. Eva took a deep breath and regretted it as her chest heaved and spasmed. She lay on a grotty, thin mattress, the iron spokes of the frame dug into her already beaten flesh. This was this teenager’s world for over six months. A world of endless pain and suffering so severe she prayed to die. She didn’t know whether it was night or day and after a point, didn’t care.

Her only means of telling time was by the visits of a woman who had no name, a woman who represented pain, her very touch violent. She was the only face Eva saw every day. A pinched, prince woman who seemed to delight in injecting the teenager with drugs that made her so sick she would retch until the pains in her chest made her cry out in pain.

She was told by her nurse that a friend was going to visit but she wasn’t told much else. For the first time in a long time, Eva looked forward to something. Excited at the possibility that it might be a school friend. Logic didn’t enter into the young woman’s mind to figure out that anyone coming here wouldn’t be for a visit.

The door opened once again and Eva sighed as the light was turned on and illuminated the small room.

“Right, young lady, It’s time for your visitor and we need to make you all pretty,” the woman said.

Eva did not protest, did not utter a word as she was helped up. The pain radiated through her and she wanted to scream as she was wheeled to the bathroom. A real bathtub stood in the corner of the white room and Eva smiled.

The nurse watched her patient. “Would you like a bath?”

Eva looked up into the nurse’s dark eyes and nodded, feeling like a kid on Christmas Day. She moaned with pleasure as she sank deep into the water and let the soothing water wash over her. The warm water rejuvenated her.

After the bath, the nurse combed her long, dark hair and added a ribbon to it, Eva looked in the mirror and sigh with approval. She was most surprised to find that as soon as they got to the ‘visitors room’ she was blindfolded. “You’ll get more of a surprise this way,” the nurse had told her. They entered the room and the first thing Eva smelt was perfume, a perfume so familiar that her heart filled with joy. Then this person with the perfume spoke and if the nurse wasn’t standing nearby, Eva thought she would have collapsed.

“Hello Eva, my sweet,” the voice, so familiar and so loving, said. Eva made her first, most costly mistake, one that would cost her dearly. She gasp, “Greta” and then responded the only way she knew how, falling into Greta’s arms and kissing her soundly. Only it wasn’t Greta. It was a ruse that worked so well Eva could still hear that Hitler bitch’s laughter.

The cruel laughter reverberated all around her.

“NOOOOOOOOOOO!” Eva screamed and bolted upright, Her breath came in shallow gasps as she woke from the recurring nightmare. Her heart raced to the point where she thought it would explode out of her chest.

Zoe bolted upright herself at the scream and turned to find Eva doubled over, hyperventilating. Recognizing the signs of a nightmare, since she was prone to them herself, Zoe turned around and removed the cover from the pillow.

“Hey, it’s okay,” she gently placed her arm around the tall woman’s heaving shoulders. “Breath into this, it works for me,” she said. She’d often found herself in Eva’s position and would hyperventilate so badly the priest would give her a bag to breath into. When none were available he improvised and used the pillow cover as an alternative.

Eva breathed in and out of the pillow case, grateful she wasn’t alone when she woke and that someone cared.

Zoe held her for what seemed an eternity but was actually only a few minutes. Eva put the pillow case on the floor and slumped back down to find Zoe holding her tightly. She turned her head and found tears running down Zoe’s face.

“Sorry…”

“It’s not as if you wanted to do that,” Zoe quietly told her. “I have those as well.”

“You do?”

“Yeah, always the same thing,” Zoe shrugged. “I like holding you.”

Eva smiled and swallowed the lump in her throat. “It’s been a long time since anyone said that to me.”

“Well, we’re going to change that,” Zoe resolutely announced as she laid her chin on Eva’s chest and looked up.

“Are you sure you want to get involved with me?” Eva whispered hoping for all she was worth she wasn’t going to hear the words that she dreaded.

Zoe didn’t say anything for a few moments. “I’m sure.”

“If Muller…”

“I’ll kick him in the crotch and enjoy the experience,” Zoe giggled as she mentally pictured the Nazi falling to his knees in agony.

Eva couldn’t help herself and she laughed. It felt good to laugh after experiencing once again the nightmare that haunted her.

“I told you, Evy,” Zoe surprised herself by using the diminutive form of the woman’s name. She looked up to see Eva’s huge smile. “You may not have noticed this but we are in a war, every day is dangerous,” Zoe shrugged. “What’s one more danger?”

“This one is different, Zoe.”

“I know,” Zoe told her and looked up to find a look of absolute astonishment on the older woman’s face. “Sometimes you have to go with your heart and let it lead you.”

“You’re one of a kind, Zoe,” Eva replied a little hoarsely

“They made me and threw away the mold,” Zoe chuckled as she snuggled against Eva’s chest.

*

Despina looked up at the clock and sighed. “Where in God’s name is that child!” she muttered to herself. She had prepared Eva’s breakfast and it stood waiting for Zoe to take it up but Zoe was no where to be found.

Making a decision, she picked up the breakfast tray and walked out of the kitchen and up the stairs.

She waddled down the corridor to Eva’s room, set the tray nearby on a low table and knocked. She waited for a moment and then entered the room. “I’m sor…” Despina stuttered to a halt. Eva was lying in bed asleep; curled around the tall woman was Zoe, her chestnut head nestled on Eva’s shoulder.

“Mary, Mother of God and Baby Jesus!” Despina exclaimed and crossed herself twice. She stood for a moment and shook her head. She liked Fraulein Muller-she was much nicer than the rest of the Germans. She closed the door quietly behind her and went over to the sleeping pair. In the time she was their housekeeper, Despina had grown to love the tall woman.

“Zoe.” She gently nudged the sleeping young woman. “Zoe!” she repeated, “Come on, child, wake up!”

Zoe stirred and opened her eyes to find Despina’s worried face inches above her own. “Ahhhhh!” Zoe exclaimed and jumped, causing Eva to stir.

Blue eyes sleepily opened and turned to Zoe. “What?”

“What in God’s name are you doing in that bed, child?!” Despina exclaimed.

“Ah…” Zoe looked around at Eva who had the beginnings of a smirk on her face. “Ev… er… Fraulein… oh hell,” Zoe said, as she tried to form some coherent thoughts and gave up.

“It’s alright, child. I’m not going to tell anyone you were… asleep,” Despina stated quietly. “Now get out of bed!”

“Zoe will be down shortly,” Eva informed the housekeeper.

“Yes, ma’am,” Despina said and waddled over to the door and closed it behind her. Eva laughed as Zoe tried to get out of bed but was prevented when Eva wrapped her legs around the smaller woman.

“I sure hope this doesn’t get around the village before I have a chance to get up,” Zoe muttered.

“Don’t worry, Despina won’t tell a soul you slept in.” Eva laughed at the look on Zoe’s face and kissed her.

*

Zoe came down the stairs absolutely mortified on being caught by the housekeeper. Despite that she felt it had been the best evening she had ever spent in a long time even with Eva’s nightmare. They’d talked and shared their feelings for each other and their past. Eva was a little reluctant to reveal her nightmare and Zoe understand that quite well. It would take time to make the tall woman believe that it was safe to do so. Zoe was willing to wait.

Other than this morning’s rude awakening she finally found what she had been looking for. Sometimes God had a way of giving her what she least expected. Her faith in Him had suffered a mortal blow but deep down there was a spark still remaining. “This Heavy Like stuff is really good,” she muttered as she reached the kitchen. If only they could get Father Haralambos away, it would be perfect. She quickly sobered up when she caught sight of Reinhardt leaving the kitchen, quite angry as he ran into her.

“Watch where you are going!” he yelled out and stomped off.

“I guess he didn’t have a good morning,” Zoe muttered as she entered the kitchen. She caught sight of Despina who was crying near the washbasin.

“Despina, what’s the matter?”

The housekeeper dried her eyes with her apron. “Nothing, child. I’m alright,” she stammered.

“Well you don’t look like you are alright. What did that kraut do to you?” Zoe inquired, taking the heavyset woman by the shoulders and making her sit.

“Nothing. He just yelled. The war is going badly for them, I think. I hear things… things you don’t know anything about.”

“You’d be surprised,” Zoe muttered.

“What?” the housekeeper asked.

“Nothing. So the war is going badly? And why did he yell at you?”

“I don’t know, child. Men yell. These krauts yell louder than Greek men.” She sighed and got up again to finish the cleaning.

Zoe stood watching the housekeeper as she busied herself around the kitchen. “Despina… um…”

“Yes, child?”

Zoe hated being called a child but she was willing to let it go since the woman was old enough to be her grandmother. “Please don’t say anything about this morning to Major Muller.”

Despina turned and looked at the younger woman and frowned. “Not my place to tell you how to behave, child.”

“You won’t say anything, will you?”

“Why would I do that?”

“Ah… well… um…” Zoe was at a loss for words. “He is a very violent man.”

“Yes, I know that, Zoe,” Despina said and stopped her activities and sat herself down. Zoe joined her at the table.

“I mean, he will hurt Eva.”

“Yes, I know,” Despina said. She had seen the young woman’s scarred back when she helped with her baths. She was quite aware of how violent the major was. She was very surprised that Eva allowed this young slip of a girl to see her scars. “I don’t intend to tell anyone that you slept in, or with whom you slept.”

“Oh,” Zoe said quietly.

“Come on, child, we have work to do!” Despina got up and went over to the washbasin again. Zoe followed her to the basin and quietly gave her a peck on the cheek, then quickly busied herself with the dishes. She didn’t see the motherly smile on Despina’s face as she put her hand to her cheek before joining her at the sink.

Chapter 13

MAJOR MULLER SAT AT HIS DESK and stared up at the ceiling. He couldn’t believe what he had heard from his old friend, General Rhimes. If it were anyone else who had told him about the Fatherland’s losses… well he wouldn’t have believed them.

‘The Americans have crossed into the Fatherland.’

“Mein Gott,” Muller muttered. “My God, what a shambles,” he said and sighed. His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door which he answered with a curt, “Come.” Captain Reinhardt entered and saluted. Muller motioned for the young man to sit. “Has the train arrived?” he asked.

“Yes, sir, with three cattle cars.”

“Good. You’re probably wondering why there are soldiers on that train? Nicht?”

Reinhardt nodded. He had wondered that when he saw the train pull in first thing in the morning. He had asked a few of the soldiers, but they didn’t know what was going on. All they had been told was they were being shipped to Thessaloniki and from there they didn’t know what their orders were going to be.

“We have a problem,” the major said. “We’re pulling out of Greece.”

Captain Reinhardt’s eyes went wide and his mouth dropped open. If it weren’t so serious Hans Muller would have laughed at the comical look on his second in command’s face.

“Close your mouth, Jurgen and listen.”

“But…”

“I said listen. Did I say for you to ask me questions?” the major snapped at him. “The train that came in this morning is going to Thessaloniki. Men from here will join the soldiers from General Kiefer’s command. The rest will be sent via truck convey. I’ve heard that there may be Resistance activity to blow up the train. Bring Father Haralambos here to me. He will be on that train.”

“Yes, sir. May I make a suggestion?”

The major nodded.

“Why not get 100 villagers and put them on the train? One man won’t matter much to the Resistance. Even if he is the priest. They will think twice about blowing up their countrymen.”

Captain Reinhardt waited as his commanding officer turned his back on him and looked outside. “Alright. Round up 100 villagers to go on the train,” Muller said as he picked up a pen and began to sign papers. “Bring the priest here now.”

“Sir, it’s Sunday…”

Muller looked at the young man as if he had grown two heads. “So what? You don’t bring priests in to me on a Sunday? Is there a problem?”

“No, sir.”

“Well go and do it then.” Major Muller yelled.

*

“And so when you do a kind deed, don’t let everyone know of it, let God know.” Father Haralambos finished his sermon on letting good deeds go unnoticed. His congregation was sparse today and he sighed. Only the old women and a scattering of old men were present. The young didn’t have time for God with the war raging. Even Eva was missing today and he was worried. She was always there unless she was ill. He was sure that she had been fine when he had seen her here last night. He was startled when the doors to the church were opened and Captain Reinhardt and six solders entered the church.

“You’re a bit late for the sermon, Captain,” the priest quipped, knowing full well the reason the captain was there.

Reinhardt grimaced. “I’m not here for that. You are to come with me.”

“May I ask where to?” he asked, hoping to prolong the inevitable.

“Major Muller wants to speak to you,” he answered the priest and then turned to the corporal on his left. “Gather everyone here and take them down to the train.”

He led the priest out of the church as the soldiers rounded up the priest’s congregation. The priest looked back and frowned. “I said I was coming with you, what have these people done?” The priest tried to plead with the Captain, but he could see he was not going to appeal to the man’s kindness.

“Don’t ask so many questions, Father. You may not like the answers,” Reinhardt answered as he walked quickly back to Major Muller’s residence. The old man shuffled along, quite unconcerned at the hurried pace of the younger man and he deliberately slowed down. “Come on, Father. Move!”

“Captain, I am old enough to be your grandfather. Would you talk to him in that manner? And please slow down,” the priest asked.

Reinhardt stopped. An incredulous look crossed his face. He couldn’t believe how the priest had spoken to him, as if he wasn’t afraid of him. He laughed. “Come on, Father, Major Muller is waiting.” Reinhardt liked the old man. He had spirit and quite a good sense of humour for a priest. A priest who was quite sullen and all fire and brimstone had educated him. This man was very human. He ushered him into Major Muller’s office where the major had sat watching the priest enter.

“Ah, Father Haralambos.”

“Good day to you, Major,” the priest greeted the German as he sat down, uninvited. The major frowned.

“You’re going on a trip,” Major Muller stated and signed some forms without looking up at the cleric.

“I am? How lovely. To where?” Father Haralambos answered and smiled.

Reinhardt suppressed a grin. He really liked this old man. He turned to his commanding officer and watched as a scowl formed on the older man’s face.

“That doesn’t concern you at the moment.”

“I’m going on a trip and you won’t tell me where? Ah, must be a German thing,” the priest said as he folded his hands and rested them on his lap.

“Father Haralambos, your lack of concern interests me… why is that?” the German asked. He tapped the pen on the desk and looked at the priest quizzically.

“Why am I not scared, or why am I looking forward to a trip when I don’t know where I’m going to?” the priest quipped.

Reinhardt coughed to suppress the chuckle that had bubbled forth. Muller frowned at the captain and then turned his attention to the priest. “You are not amusing, Father.”

“I’m not trying to be, Major. I’m an old man; I’ve lived a long life and I’ve seen a lot. I know you can kill this old body, but you cannot kill my soul,” the cleric said and he smiled at the Nazi. Major Muller was stunned. He wasn’t used to people being so honest with him. He was used to fear and hatred, but not open honesty. He turned to Reinhardt.

“Leave us.”

The door closed behind the captain and Major Muller turned his attention to the priest. Muller leaned back on his chair and looked at the priest. “What secrets do you hold, Father?” Major Muller wanted to know why his daughter thought so much of this man. Reinhardt had told him of his meetings with her, the hours they had spent together. He was suspicious.

“I am the keeper of many secrets, Major, most of them spiritual. I’m a simple priest,” the cleric replied.

“You’re not the simple priest you want me to believe you are.”

“You mean I’m not a priest? The Archbishop will be most surprised.” His eyes were still smiling, but the major could sense a steely resolve. “It’s a lovely dance we are dancing, Major, but I’m getting older so why don’t we say what we want to say,” the priest suggested.

“Tell me, Father, why does my daughter Eva come to church so much?”

“Why do people come to church?” the priest asked back as he looked back at the major. “Eva is a spiritual child, Major.”

“She is a perverted child,” Muller mumbled. “I know what she has been doing, Father.”

Father Haralambos realized he was being baited and he inwardly smiled. Muller was just a pup when it came to these tiresome mind games. “She has been cleansing her soul, Major. The death of her mother caused her so much grief. I’m sure, as her father, you are aware of that. She has been in pain and she needs the solace of the Lord.”

Major Muller watched the old man for a few moments. “Tell me, Father, what has my daughter told you about her mother’s death?”

“A child is scarred from such an experience, Major.” The priest lost his good humour and his blue eyes turned cold as he looked at the man responsible for his daughter’s pain. No child should ever be treated like an animal, he thought.

Major Muller was startled. The good humoured priest’s eyes showed hatred for a moment and then the priest smiled. “Major, any child that loses a parent is lost. Eva is no different. As I said, she has found solace in the Lord.”

The major decided to let that issue drop as he was rather unsettled by what had transpired. He fussed with some papers on his desk. “You will report to Captain Reinhardt for your train trip,” he ordered, not looking at the priest.

“Ah yes, my little trip. Will I have time to let the good Sisters know I will be gone for a time?”

The major nodded. “Tomorrow you will board the train,” he said, refusing to meet the priest’s eyes. “Leave,” he directed, turning his chair around away from the priest. He was unaware of the smile that crossed the priest’s face.

“Have a good day, Major.”

Muller didn’t answer as the door closed quietly when the cleric left. Muller felt that the old priest had challenged him and somehow he had lost. He shook his head.

*

Father Haralambos was deep in thought as he made his way through the forest, the autumn chill creeping into his robes. He reached the end of the trail and settled down as he gazed out across the northern horizon.

The forest that surrounded the area appeared to be succumbing to the weather-their leaves falling, leaving the shrivelled, bare branches to face the coming winter. He found a secluded area overlooking the northern mountains, the clouds skimmed across the mountain peaks, the mountains themselves looking grey and depleted. The river, a vital resource for the war ravaged community, was a center of activity for the many local farmers, its crystal clear water and powerful currents bringing a sense of intensity and vigour to the atmosphere. The rich, opulent fields of wheat flourishing as the time for harvest neared gave an almost golden hue to the skyline. There was an eerie silence that forced the Father’s thoughts to focus on his imminent future.

He sat on the boulder and contemplated his life. He was fortunate, he thought, that he could take a moment to reflect on his life. Others were not so lucky as their life was cut short. He could find some time to organise his affairs and say goodbye to those his loved. Maybe that’s a curse and not a blessing, he thought to himself.

He had found his only child and now to see her being taken away from him again hurt him a great deal. She was a spirited and deeply religious woman who he was proud of. He didn’t think he could ask for more in a child. He smiled. When he looked at her, it was like he could see the love of his life, Daphne. He heard a rustling and he turned and saw Zoe coming towards him. He smiled and she promptly sat beside him.

“I thought I would find you here,” Zoe said, looking out over the valley. She had seen the priest leave Muller’s residence. She had hoped to stop him before he left, but Despina held her back with some chores that needed doing which took her some time.

“It’s quiet here,” Father Haralambos said, fingering the well read Bible in his hands. They sat in silence for some time, Zoe playing with a stick as she watched the clouds slowly pass.

“I’m going to miss you,” she said quietly.

“I’m going to miss you too, Zoe.”

“Don’t give God a hard time okay? I know you want to organize everything,” she said and gave the priest a grin.

Father Haralambos laughed. “I promise not to give God a hard time. I’ll tell Him you told me to behave.”

“I’ve already told Him,” Zoe said shyly and looked away.

“Are you speaking to Him now?” the priest asked. Zoe nodded and prodded some dead leaves with the stick.

“I asked Him to take care of you and told Him that you are a bossy boots.” She grinned at the priest who was laughing. She hadn’t seen him laugh so much in years. His whole face changed and it made him look younger.

“Can I ask you to do something for me?” the priest asked

“Anything,” Zoe replied.

“Behave when I’m gone,” the priest said as he hugged the young woman. He looked down to see tears running down her face. He kissed the top of her head and rubbed her back with his hand. They sat like that for some time, each with their own thoughts, gazing out to the mountains. A memory surfaced as Father Haralambos smiled at the memory of a very young girl putting her hand up eagerly to answer the question he had put to the class

“Alright, children, which is the highest mountain in Larissa? Who can tell me?” Father Haralambos said as he looked out at the sea of faces before him. The young children scrunched up their faces trying to think. The priest smiled as he watched them. A little hand shot up. The child’s honey coloured pigtails bobbed up and down as she tried to get his attention.

“Yes, Zoe?”

“Father, the highest mountain in Larissa is Mount Olympus!” she said with conviction and sat back down.

The priest smiled. The children looked at Zoe and laughed. The child was crestfallen and began to pout.

“Now, now children. Zoe is nearly right. Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece and you can see the mountain from here if you look hard enough. The highest mountain in Larissa is Mount Ossa.”

“What’s so funny?” Zoe asked of the grinning priest.

“Ah, I was just remembering a very young girl and Mount Ossa,” he said cryptically.

Zoe looked at the mountains and smiled. “Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece.”

Zoe looked shyly at the priest who was looking out at the mountain ranges. She tried rehearsing what she wanted to say to him on the way out there but it sounded so silly to her. She wasn’t sure how to tell the cleric about her love for Eva or how much Eva meant to her. She wiped her palms against her skirt, quite surprised to find she was worried. She mustered her courage and said, “Father, I have something to tell you.”

“You do?” Father Haralambos asked. He was wondering when the subject of Eva and Zoe being together would come up. I am an old man but I am not blind, he thought to himself as he watched the young woman.

“Um… You know about Eva and what happened in Germany with her… I mean Major Muller…”

“He beat her, I know that,” the priest replied.

When Eva had told him he was so angry he wanted to confront the major, but he quickly realized that it wasn’t the best laid plan and it would only hurt his daughter more if he had done so.

“Hmm… did she tell you why?” Zoe asked. She wasn’t certain how much Eva had confided in the priest but she felt she had to tell the cleric. Wasn’t sure why but she felt she needed to.

“Father?”

“Yes?”

“Um,” Zoe played with the rock she picked up nearby. “You remember how I told you that boys were icky.”

The priest smiled. “Yes, I remember.”

“Well, um, I think I found out why,” Zoe stammered and looked up into the cleric’s eyes that were identical in colour to his daughter’s.

“Is that right?”

“Yes,” Zoe nodded and went back to playing with the rock. “I like girls.”

The priest took a deep breath waiting for Zoe to continue but instead she looked away. “Do I know the girl?”

Zoe turned back and smiled. “Eva.”

“Oh I see. And how does Eva feel about you?” he asked, knowing the answer to that question already. He had seen how Eva looked at the young woman when they were together and although he was sure they were unaware, he saw the connection between them.

“Um… she feels the same way,” Zoe said self-consciously. “

The priest smiled at her and took her hands and held them. “Zoe, never be ashamed of loving someone. You don’t get many chances in life and when they come, treasure them. Bottle them up and treasure them, my child. Eva is a precious human being.”

Zoe looked up startled on hearing the cleric’s words. She was expecting fire and brimstone not gentleness and love. She had seen others who were ‘different’ in the village being treated like lepers and she felt sorry for them. Didn’t understand them until now.

“She has gone through the fires of hell and she needs someone to love her and help her. You are a special person, Zoe. You have lost much, but I see a fire that burns so brightly. You have a gentle heart and a loving soul. Give her that love, my child and she will love you with equal measure. You have my blessing.”

Zoe looked up into his eyes and she could see glistening unshed tears. She nodded mutely. “She loves you very much.”

“I know,” the cleric nodded.

They sat in silence for a moment. The cleric picked up his Bible and turned to the young woman.

“Zoe, I want to read something to you.” He opened his Bible and found the passage that he wanted to read to her. “When the time comes I want you to remember this.”

Zoe nodded. She didn’t trust her voice to speak. The priest began to read. “‘And He will wipe out every tear from their eyes and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed way’.” The priest’s voice broke. “I am going to a better place, my child. I will not be alone. Whenever you are afraid I want you to remember what the Psalmist wrote: ‘The Lord is my shepherd, I shall lack nothing. In grassy pastures he makes me lie down. By well watered resting places he leads me. My soul he refreshes. He leads me in the tracks of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk in the valley of death, I fear nothing bad for you are with me. Your rod and your staff are the things that comfort me’.”

The priest stopped as Zoe sobbed beside him. He held her for a moment and then continued, “‘Surely goodness and loving kindness themselves will pursue me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of God forever’.” He finished and closed the Bible.

“I want you to have my Bible, my child. Keep it with you and read it. I’m going to be keeping an eye on you.” He handed the black book, the corners upturned and well used, to Zoe who took it and held it close to her chest.

She held the Bible in her hands. His Bible. A small possession that she would treasure for the rest of her life. “I love you, Father,” Zoe said and leaned against the priest as he held her.

“I love you too, Zoe,” the priest replied, holding the young woman in his arms. He was certain his prayers were answered and that Zoe had come to realize that God was not to blame for the war or the terrible fate that had befallen the country. He was satisfied that his work was done.

Chapter 14

FATHER HARALAMBOS LEFT ZOE at Athena’s Bluff and made his way back to the church to let the Sisters know he would be gone for a while. There was no reason to get them upset. He was sure they would be able to carry on in his absence. He needed to write a letter to the Archbishop asking for a replacement. I have so much to do, he thought as he climbed the stone steps. He entered to find Eva talking to one of the sisters.

“Ah, Eva. Are you alright?” the priest asked as he took her hand.

“Yes, Father…”

The priest ushering her into his office interrupted her.

“Sit, sit,” the priest urged the young woman.

“Now where were you this morning? I was worried you might be ill.”

Eva smiled. She wasn’t sure how to tell her father that she was in bed with Zoe, or why they had been in bed, though she didn’t think she could lie to him, either. “Uh… we… I mean I was in bed,” Eva stammered. The priest turned to get a pitcher of lemonade and grinned. He did so enjoy trying to tease her, it wasn’t often he had the luxury. “You were in bed?” he repeated and offered her the drink.

“Yes, Father,” Eva said quietly, thinking that she might as well dig a hole and bury herself in it. She hadn’t thought it was going to be so hard to tell him.

“Zoe told me,” the priest said with a gleam in his eye. Eva stared at him in shock; her eyes went round and her mouth dropped. “Are you alright, child?” the priest asked, grinning. He sat back and folded his hands on his lap. Eva had confided in him that she was a lesbian. It was a shock at first but he couldn’t just push his daughter away just when she came back into his life. He made the decision to love her and to support her no matter what.

“Uh…” Eva was stunned. She wasn’t sure what to expect, but she hadn’t expected that reaction. Father Haralambos continued to smile. “What do you think?”

“What do I think?” the cleric said and stroked his long beard. “I think you’re going to be playing with fire.”

“Pardon?”

“Zoe is a spitfire, she won’t take no for an answer,” the priest grinned. “but she’s also very loyal, loving and will fight to the end for things she believes in.”

“So you approve?” Eva tentatively asked.

“Would it matter if I didn’t approve?” the priest asking carefully watching for Eva’s reaction. Eva stared impassively at him, her slender fingers clasped and resting on her lap. “Only someone who has been hurt so deeply could feign indifference,” he thought to himself as Eva looked back at him.

“Yes,” Eva finally replied finding her mouth had gone dry.

“I approve, Eva,” the priest took Eva’s hands and held them. “I want you to find happiness and if it means you find it with Zoe, then you have my blessing. The church says otherwise but this time, I will go with what my heart says.”

“My head says to run away but my heart…”

“Listen to your heart,” her father finished her thought, placing his hand over his own heart. “I didn’t listen to my heart and it meant 24 years of not knowing my child. I don’t want you to regret not following your heart.”

“Yes, Father,” Eva softly wept as the man who rightly claimed the love and respect she wanted to give held her.

“I’m leaving tomorrow,” Father Haralambos said quietly and brushed the tears with the end of his black robes.

“Father, maybe Ares can take you away,” Eva said, as she tried once again to convince him to leave Larissa, to escape.

“This is my cup, my child. I can’t give it to someone else,” the priest replied, knowing that no matter what he said Eva would try and change his mind, just as Zoe had tried.

“Ares said they will blow up the train. I don’t want to lose you,” Eva said as she looked at the priest, trying desperately to get him to change his mind, knowing it was a lost cause; but if she had learnt anything during this nightmare of a war, it was not to give up.

“I don’t want to lose you either, but my time has come. You have to be strong. You have to help Zoe as she will help you. You’re not alone anymore,” he said, trying to ease the young woman’s fears.

“Because I have Zoe, does that mean I have to let you go?” Eva asked, her voice breaking. “Can’t I have you and Zoe in my life?”

“Eva, I can’t let Major Muller know that I know what will happen to the train. He is not a stupid man, he is an evil man, but not stupid. He will make the connection. I don’t want you to suffer again at his hands. Do you understand?”

“Father, maybe I can escape with you and then he won’t be able to get his hands on either of us.” Eva was desperately clutching at straws.

Father Haralambos sighed. “What of Zoe? Will you leave her behind?”

“No. But she…”

Father Haralambos stopped her with a finger against her lips. “My child, if I could do that, I would, but we can’t all escape. That would risk many lives. I have lived a long life, a very good life. I don’t have a death wish but Eva, my darling daughter, there is no other way. I won’t sacrifice your life. You have lost too much already.”

Eva sighed and sagged against the cleric. Father Haralambos kissed her tenderly. “I think you need to go to Zoe. She needs you now. You both need each other. She came to see me at Athena’s Bluff. She’s still there.”

Eva nodded, brushing away the tears. She wanted to get her father away from this nightmare. She had spoken to Ares and it was set, but she realized he wasn’t going to listen. “She told me how she felt about you. Do you love her Eva?” Father Haralambos asked as he tenderly wiped away her tears with his handkerchief. Eva nodded. She found a lump in her throat and she drank some lemonade.

“She is everything to me, Father.”

“Love her with all your heart, child. She is a rose among weeds. As I said to Zoe, you don’t get many chances in life and when they come, treasure them. Bottle them up and treasure them. Love one another and treat each day as if it is the last day you will be alive. Believe in God and He will never fail you. Will you do that for me?” he asked her.

“Yes, Father,” Eva said quietly as she held the old man’s hands.

“I want you to do something else for me,” the priest continued. “I want you to get out of Greece when the war ends. I want you and Zoe to leave. Thanasi tells me there is more bloodshed coming. He said Greece will be plunged into civil war and I don’t want you two to be here. Just remember that I’ll be with you in spirit. Zoe’s asked me not to try and reorganize heaven, so I will need something to occupy my time,” Father Haralambos joked. “Take care of Zoe,” he added.

Eva nodded, not trusting her voice.

“Remember my child, I will always love you and I thank God every day that He brought you to me,” he said as he brushed back the dark bangs from her eyes. “Don’t forget now, remember to pray,” he admonished and kissed her tenderly on the cheek.

*

Eva had an idea as she left the church. She wasn’t going to give up trying to find a way to rescue her father. She owed him that much. If she had learnt anything from living in Larissa over the course of two years, it was the unyielding spirit of the Greeks against the occupation. They never gave up hope; they found ways to survive and to thwart the Germans. She slowed as she came to the train station. It was tightly guarded on all sides. The soldiers were milling around and she wondered if they were from General Kiefer in Athens. The piteous cries coming from the boxcars broke her heart. She watched as the soldiers poured water onto boxcars to quiet the yells and screams that were coming from inside of them. The weather had turned cold and it sickened her to think of the poor souls in the boxcars being drenched with the cold water. She shook her head and said a silent prayer. Turning away in disgust, she stumbled into Captain Reinhardt, who held her to keep her from falling.

“Ah Fraulein Muller. Don’t fall now… we wouldn’t want that cold mud on you,” Reinhardt said and grinned. He had been watching as she had looked over at the boxcars.

“Captain. Thank you for your concern,” she said as she tried to extricate herself from the captain’s embrace.

“My pleasure, Eva,” he said as he let her go. “What are you doing here?”

“I was curious,” Eva replied. She hadn’t anticipated being stopped. There were some advantages to being the major’s daughter. The soldiers knew her and didn’t attempt to ask her questions. Except for Captain Reinhardt, who had made it his personal mission to make her life uncomfortable since her arrival.

“Curious?” Reinhardt repeated. “Would you like to see some of the scum that we took off the train?” he asked as he scrutinized Eva’s face. He smiled at her discomfort.

“No, that’s fine. I’d better be going,” Eva said, trying to get away from the smug looking German.

“By all means, have a good evening,” Reinhardt responded, as he watched the woman walking away. He frowned when she headed in the opposite direction from the major’s residence. “Now where are you going little Eva? Hmm?” He decided to follow her.

Eva walked down the cobbled streets towards Athena’s Bluff. Distracted by her thoughts of the poor Jews, Father and Zoe, she was unaware of her surroundings; unaware of the children playing in the street or the dog that barked at her passing. She was too distracted to see Captain Reinhardt follow close behind.

Finally reaching the bluff that Father was so fond of, she saw Zoe sitting on the cliff reading. Smiling, she took a moment to drink in the sight of this lovely young woman who filled her heart with hope and joy. Just the sight of her could lift Eva’s heart and the power of that was not lost on her either.

Zoe turned around when she heard the scrunching of the dead leaves. She smiled when she saw Eva. “Hi. You look exhausted.” Zoe said and made room for Eva on the ledge. Eva sat down and put her arm around the younger woman.

“You spoke with Father H?”

“Hmm, I told him about us,” Eva smiled as Zoe snuggled closer. ‘I could get very used to this,’ she thought to herself as Zoe held her hands.

“So did I,” Zoe replied. “He gave us his blessing. For a loving man he is a stubborn old goat. There must be something we can do, Evy. What if we can sabotage the train before it leaves?” Zoe asked.

“It will only postpone the inevitable,” Eva responded dejectedly.

“What if Ares can get Father out of the train?” Zoe tried again. She had been thinking of ways to get the priest off that train since Father Haralambos had left her at the bluff.

“I’ve seen the train, Zoe. It’s guarded by so many soldiers no one can get close without being stopped. There are four boxcars,” Eva replied, unable to dispel the image of the soldier pouring the water into the boxcar and the screams that she had heard.

“What’s in the boxcars?” Zoe asked, gazing up at Eva. She frowned when a tear rolled down Eva’s face. “What’s the matter, Eva?” she asked and brushed away the tear with her fingers.

“They,” she paused, “they hold Jews. I could hear their screams, Zo. The soldiers were pouring water into the cars to quiet them down,” Eva said as she rubbed at her eyes.

Zoe stared away. She closed her eyes and sighed. The barbarism of the invaders was widely known. Larissa had lost so much. Every family suffered, but it was the Jews that suffered the most. Being unable to help these poor souls when they were forced out of their homes made her more determined to help the Resistance with trying to overthrow the occupation. Eva held Zoe closer as they sat in silence watching the sun set. The mountains had turned a golden hue as the last rays of the sun saw them for the final time that day.

“Eva, after the war ends, I want us to leave together, out of here,” Zoe pleaded.

Eva watched the clouds slowly drift away and turned to the young woman. “I would follow anywhere you lead,” she whispered as she leaned down capturing the young woman’s lips.

The two lovers were unaware of Captain Reinhardt hidden in the bushes watching them. The captain grimaced as he watched the two women kissing. He was disgusted by their behavior.

“Little Eva, you are still a pervert,” Reinhardt whispered to himself. Major Muller had been right to order him to watch Eva.

Captain Reinhardt stood stiffly to attention. He was proud of his new commission and his new assignment with Major Muller. He had known the major before the war when he was trying to court his daughter. He and Eva Muller had been in the Hitler Youth together. He never understood why he couldn’t even get her to go with him to the park, until the day he saw her with another young woman. They were holding hands and kissing. He was disgusted. He knew then it was his duty to report this perversion to the authorities, but he held back.

On Kristalnacht, when they went to the synagogue, he watched again as Greta held Eva and tried to stop the tears that flowed because she had seen the old Jew being killed. When Greta kissed her that had been the final straw for the young man. He had to tell her father; it would be a betrayal of the Fatherland to let the perversion take root. He remembered his instructor saying that homosexuals were deviants and needed to be reformed. There was hope for them if they were not too far gone into the perversion. He remembered what happened when he told her father, who was then still a captain.

Captain Muller’s eyes went an ice cold blue and Jurgen was afraid he would feel the brunt of the man’s anger. But he thanked him for coming to him and asked him not to report what he had told him to the authorities. He said he would see that Eva got the proper treatment for her sickness. Only later did he find out that the captain had beaten the woman severely. He couldn’t find out any other information and wondered if the treatment her father had talked about worked. Major Muller had looked the young man up and down and grinned. “So, Jurgen, you’re all grown up and a captain.”

“Yes, sir.” The young man grinned and stood a little bit straighter.

“Sit down, boy, before you break your spine standing so straight,” Major Muller said as he sat down.

They had gone on to discuss his current assignment. He hated Greek food, but that’s where the Fuhrer wanted him, so that’s where he would go. At least it wasn’t the Russian front. “

Now, Captain. I have another assignment for you. I’m sure you remember my daughter Eva?”

Reinhardt nodded.

“I want you to keep an eye on her. If you see…” the Major had stopped and exhaled loudly, “if you see any kind of perversion, you are to let me know. She has been treated for this sickness.”

“Yes, sir,” he said.

“She hasn’t had a relapse, so I don’t think it will be a problem,” the major said and went on to give him his other assigned duties.

“I wonder how you seduced that child,” Reinhardt muttered as he watched the two holding each other and kissing. He admired the fire in the young Greek which remained unquenched, despite the hardships she had endured. He hoped he would be able to save Zoe, if she could be saved. He would see to it. He continued to watch as the two rose from the bluff and, hand in hand, walked back to the house. Reinhardt spat on the ground and allowed them to leave before he set out himself.

Chapter 15

FATHER HARALAMBOS SAT ON HIS bed, the early morning sun shining through the threadbare curtains. His suitcase stood in the corner and the priest frowned. Sister Maria brought him a woollen scarf she had made, saying that he would need it since she had heard that the weather in Thessaloniki had turned cold. He had tried to decline, but the good Sister was quite stubborn-even more than him-so he relented. He was surprised even more when Sister Gregoria gave him a woollen jacket. He had spent the rest of the day writing letters to the Archbishop and getting the church ready for the Sunday sermon, which was to be delivered by the organist since he wasn’t going to be back in time.

He was brought back from the goings on of the previous day by a knock on the door. The cleric frowned and took out his pocket watch. It was only 7: 00 a. m.- too early for his call to go to the train. He opened the door. Thanasi stood there thumping his feet on the ground because of the cold. The priest ushered him inside. “What are you doing here, Thanasi?”

the priest asked as he watched the younger man remove his scarf and coat. “Father, I know I said goodbye last night, but I had to see you one more time,” Thanasi said. He was going to try and convince the priest that he could escape; there was still time.

“I thought we already had this discussion yesterday?” the cleric said as he went to the teapot to brew some tea.

“Father, please, I beg you, please reconsider,” Thanasi pleaded. If it meant groveling he would do so. He was prepared to die for this man.

The priest sighed and turned to Thanasi. “Don’t you know how much I would dearly love to stay? To watch my daughter find happiness, to watch you find peace. Do you think I haven’t thought about escaping? Don’t make it more difficult for me, Thanasi. Today I know maybe one tenth of what Jesus must have felt like in the Garden of Gethsemane. Don’t you know that I would dearly love to hand this bitter cup to someone else?” he said as he turned away from the younger man. He hurriedly brushed away the tears.

Thanasi sat there not knowing what to say to him. He watched as the priest poured him a cup of tea and then sat down. “I’m sorry, Father,” Thanasi apologized quietly.

“I know, my son, I know. I want you to promise me something.”

“Anything,” Thanasi said and knelt near the priest.

“I want you to promise me you will keep an eye on Zoe and Eva. Watch over them. They are going to need your help. When the war ends, I want you to take them out of the country. I don’t want them to be here when the civil war starts. Can you do that for me?” the priest asked as he looked at Thanasi.

“I promise, Father.”

“Good boy. I know you don’t believe in God anymore but for a tiny moment I want you to believe,. Believe in Him.” the priest said as Thanasi put his head on the priest’s lap and began to cry. He held the young man and patted his head. “Now, now… come on, have courage.” He lifted the man’s face and brushed away the tears with his hand.

“I love you, Father.”

“I love you, too, my boy. Now go and make me proud,” he said and kissed Athanasi on the top of his head. He watched as he put his jacket back on and then his scarf. Thanasi brushed away the tears and went to the door.

“Father, you are my hero,” Thanasi said and walked out the door and down the alleyway.

Father Haralambos watched the door close and smiled. “His hero,” the priest repeated and shook his head. He finished his tea and cleaned the kitchen. He looked at his timepiece again. “Well, it’s time I made way to the train station,” he said aloud. He stopped in front of the crucifix and crossed himself. “Dear Lord, you know what is to come. Use me as you see fit in

the remaining time I have left.” He kissed the icon and picked up his suitcase. “I hope Saint Peter doesn’t keep me waiting at the Pearly Gates, I hate waiting,” he said aloud as he left the house and walked out.

He glanced up at the sky, which was cloud free and shook his head. He shuffled along and rounded the corner to the church, stopping for a moment to watch the routine activity around him. Dimitri the baker was starting his day; he saw him and bade him a good morning. The priest raised his hand and waved back. He had watched this town’s residents grow up and get married, had baptized their young and watched their young repeat the cycle. He wondered if life ever truly stopped. Probably not, he thought and started walking again.

“Ah, Father Haralambos. Beautiful day isn’t it?”

Father Haralambos turned around and saw Captain Reinhardt.

“Good day to you, Captain. Yes, it’s a beautiful day,” the priest replied and began walking.

“Are you looking forward to your trip?” the captain inquired, easily keeping pace with the older man.

“Quite. I hear Thessaloniki is quite cold at the moment. Beautiful city. I’m looking forward to seeing Father Makarios when I get there,” the priest said and continued to walk towards the station.

“Can I ask you a question?” Captain Reinhardt asked. He didn’t usually request permission to speak to the villagers. He just went ahead and asked them the questions he wanted answered. Somehow this man’s occupation and position in the community made him respectful.

The priest stopped and looked up at the golden haired young man. “Certainly. What would you like to know?” He smiled.

“Would you consider sitting up front with the troops?” the captain asked.

The priest frowned. “Where are the rest of the villagers going to be located?”

“In the boxcars. There isn’t much room…”

The priest smiled at him. “I would rather be with them as we make our journey to Thessaloniki. I’m sure we can find something to amuse ourselves,” the priest replied as he watched Reinhardt nod.

“I have to go ensure that it leaves on time. You don’t need to hurry, Father,” he stated as he walked away.

The priest shook his head. He picked up his suitcase and shuffled along. He glanced up at the major’s residence and spotted Eva at the window. Beside her was Zoe, who looked like she had slept in her clothes. He shook his head. He smiled up at them and waved.

Eva blew him a kiss and mouthed, “I love you.”

The priest nodded and walked away. He didn’t want to turn back and have another look. He would lose his composure if he did. He finally arrived at the train station where soldiers milled about.

“Halt. This area is restricted,” a young German soldier said in broken Greek.

“I am to board the train,” the priest informed him and handed his papers to the soldier.

The soldier looked at the papers. He wondered why he wasn’t with the rest of the villagers who had been in the train since the day before. He shrugged. None of my business, he thought and waved the priest through.

The priest stood on the platform as the chaos swirled around him. He sniffed the air and grimaced. The smell of decay was all around the train. Before he could discover the source, the door opened on one of the boxcars and a body was thrown out. The soldiers held their noses as their comrades dragged the man from the platform and threw him into the ditch near the tracks, causing the body to roll down the embankment and land with a thud at the bottom.

Father Haralambos bowed his head and said a silent prayer. He looked up and met the eyes of the soldier that had pushed the man into the ditch. “Forgive them, Father,” the priest prayed quietly.

“You!” the soldier pointed at him, “There is a space here.” He pointed to the boxcar. The priest picked up his suitcase and walked to the car.

“Maybe you can convert these animals before they meet Jesus,” the soldier said and sneered and his comrades laughed.

“I’m sure Jesus will be most happy to meet them, I’m not so sure what he will say about you,” the priest said as he walked into the car, leaving the soldier slack-jawed.

The stench hit him as he stepped into the crowded car. The priest inhaled sharply. The occupants looked at him wearily and bowed their heads again. Their pain was too overpowering to be worrying why a Greek Orthodox priest was in the car with them. He found a small spot near the rear of the car and put his suitcase down and sat on it. He mentally kicked himself for not bringing food with him.

He bowed his head and prayed. When he looked up, he saw a young child looking at him. The little girl smiled at him. Her big brown eyes were red from crying and tears stained her grubby cheeks; her dark hair was matted and her clothes were dirty. He tried to see if her parents were with her, but no one was paying any attention to the young girl. He smiled at her and waved her over. “What is your name?” he asked gently.

“Rebecca Stavrithis. What’s yours?” Rebecca asked, looking at the man with the long white beard and the black robe. His gold crucifix stood starkly against the black of his robe.

“Panayiotis Haralambos. Are you here alone?”

“My daddy was here but they…” the young girl stopped and starting crying. The priest hugged the young child as he realized that the body of the man that was dragged out was indeed the child’s father. He held the child as she sobbed. “Do you want me to tell you a story?” the priest offered as he wiped away the tears.

Rebecca hiccupped and nodded and rubbed her eyes.

“Okay, do you know the story of the donkey that talked?” the priest asked. Rebecca shook her head and the priest began his tale as the train started to move.

Chapter 16

“WHAT?” MAJOR MULLER LOWERED THE telephone handset and just stared at it, unbelieving. Propaganda, it had to be. Propaganda made up by the Resistance. Athens couldn’t fall that quickly. While it was true that the majority of the troops had left with the train bound for Thessalonki, the troops that remained were hardened soldiers.

The major moved his attention back to the phone as he raised the handset to his ear. “What about General Kiefer?” he asked, running his other hand through his hair and holding the back of his head. “Are you sure? Yes… yes, fine… I’ll see what I can do here.” He hung up the phone and fell into his chair, pinching the bridge of his nose between a thumb and forefinger as he loudly blew out a breath.

There was a knock on the door and after a pause Captain Reinhardt walked in, moving to the front of the major’s desk and patiently standing at attention for several moments.

“Athens has fallen,” the major stated, not looking up.

Reinhardt’s eyes grew as big as saucers and his jaw dropped as the news registered. “What about General Kiefer?” he asked.

“He is being held as a prisoner of war by the Americans.”

The phone’s shrill tone startled them both. Muller picked it up. “Yes?”

Reinhardt watched his commander’s face turn a pasty white as he slumped further into his chair. He was sure that if the major hadn’t been sitting, he would have fallen down.

“When?” the major asked as he glanced at Reinhardt. “Yes, General. Heil Hitler.” He replaced the phone on the hook. “What else could go wrong today?!”

“What happened, sir?”

“The troop train going to Thessaloniki was bombed an hour ago by the Resistance. The train fell down the gorge.”

“Father Haralambos,” Reinhardt whispered, feeling a pang of remorse at the thought that the old man had died.

“What?”

“Nothing, sir. What are you going to do?”

“We are pulling out. General Rhimes has ordered us to withdraw to Thessaloniki. Well, we can’t catch another train on those tracks. The bridge and line have been totally destroyed. The only way out is by truck. See to it,” he said dismissively and turned to start collecting paperwork.

Captain Reinhardt still remained, a look of total indecision on his face. Muller frowned as he noted Reinhardt hadn’t left to start carrying out his orders.

“Is there anything else, Captain?”

“Uh…” Reinhardt was of two minds and wasn’t sure how to broach the subject of Eva’s latest indiscretion.

Muller looked up sharply at the sound. “Out with it man, I don’t have all day!”

“It’s about Eva, sir.”

“What about Eva? Did she spurn your advances again? Is it so important that you have to tell me now?”

“Yes, sir. We have a problem.”

“One of many, Captain,” Muller growled, now annoyed with him. “Out with it, man! What problem do you have with Eva?”

Reinhardt swallowed. “Her perversion has come to the surface… again.”

Muller’s blue eyes turned to ice. Reinhardt was glad he wasn’t on the receiving end of Muller’s fury. The man’s face had turned a bright shade of red as he sat at his desk, his fists balling up in fierce anger. A problem with Eva, especially this problem, was the last thing Muller had wanted to hear in the middle of this crisis. “I thought you told me differently in your last report?” he asked dangerously.

‘Yes, sir, but…”

“Captain, you will tell me what you know. I will not play a question and answer game with you!”

“I observed Eva at the train station yesterday and we accidentally bumped into each other,” the captain said quickly as Muller’s face reflected his irritation. “We talked, then she told me that she was going back home. She didn’t. She went north. So I followed her. She went to Athena’s Bluff and she met Fraulein Lambros there, sir.”

““Who?”

“Zoe, sir, her maid. They sat for a while and then they kissed. It wasn’t… uh…” Reinhard was unsure of how much he should tell Major Muller. His commanding officer already looked ready to have a stroke. “There is no doubt in my mind, sir, that she has corrupted the young woman.”

“Mein Gott,” Muller whispered, sitting back in his chair. With all that was happening, he wasn’t ready to deal with Eva’s betrayal again. But he knew he had to deal with it now, decisively and with no remorse. Major Muller sat back up and trained dangerous eyes on Reinhardt. “How long has this been going on? Under my very nose? In my house?” The Major’s voice rose as he thumped his desk. Reinhardt jumped.

“I-I don’t believe, it’s been…”

“I don’t care what you believe!!” Muller screamed. “I gave you an assignment to watch her and what do you do? You bring that whore into my house!”

“I…”

Muller looked daggers at him. “I have no daughter from this moment on.” His calm voice belied his rage. “I will get someone else to start the redeployment. Your assignment now is Eva. Take care of it,” Muller said, staring at his second in command. He had warned Eva, had told her in no uncertain terms that if she relapsed, he would kill her. Her betrayal of him now, when he was in such a vulnerable position, was inexcusable and Reinhardt’s ineptitude compounded the problem.

The man still standing at attention in front of his desk was looking nervous and uncomfortable. As well he should, Muller thought. His anger flared again and he narrowed his eyes at the captain. “I will deal with you after you have dealt with this problem. Your incompetence astounds me, Reinhardt. Now get out of my sight!”

“How… I mean the problem, how should I handle it, sir?”

Muller cursed. “Do I have to tell you everything? How did you become a captain? Did your father buy you this commission? Eradicate this perversion from my house. Get the hell out of my office and go and deal with it! Now get out!!”

*

“Athens is free!” Thanasi declared and raised his arm in salute at the other grinning Resistance members. They cheered loudly and began to sing ‘Ymnos eis tin Eleftherian,’ The Hymn to Freedom. Their voices harmonised even as they laughed. Finally, their dreams of a free Greece were going to be realized and the war would soon end. Thanasi saw Zoe standing out near the edge of the group. He frowned for a moment and left the circle of celebrating men. Walking over to Zoe, he gently took her arm and silently guided her over to one side.

“Zoe… we got word that the line was destroyed about an hour ago.”

Zoe lowered her head and Thanasi held her for a few moments. “Did anyone…?” she asked softly against Thanasi’s shoulder.

“No. No survivors. The train went down the gorge…” Thanasi replied, not bothering to tell Zoe that the soldiers that were still alive were shot dead by the Resistance. Sometimes things were best left unsaid.

They stood there, amidst the celebrations, each feeling their own grief at losing a beloved friend. “Alright, we’ve been told the Americans are on the move. I’m not sure when they will get here, but I think it’s our duty to help our kraut friends out the door.” Dimitri, the Thessalian Resistance leader, yelled, trying to be heard above the din of the celebrations.

Dimitri came over to where Thanasi and Zoe were now standing apart. He clasped the older man on the shoulder and grinned. His smile turned to a frown when he saw their faces.

“What’s the matter?”

“The train was blown,” Zoe said quietly.

“Oh.” Dimitri looked down and sighed. He had forgotten about the train amidst the good news from Athens. They had lost another 101 people from the village. We will mourn when the war ends, he thought to himself. They still needed to focus on killing as many Germans as they could. He turned to Thanasi.

“Leftheri has gone to Muller’s place. As soon as the bomb is detonated we can begin…”

“What bomb?” Zoe interrupted the man, her eyes wide with alarm.

“The one that will blow Muller straight to hell,” Dimitri replied.

“No, wait!” Zoe cried out, “Eva is in that house!”

“So?” Dimitri asked and shrugged.

“But you can’t kill her!”

“She’s a kraut, Zoe. Or are you going soft on krauts?”

“Shut up, you idiot!” she yelled right in Dimitri’s face. “You don’t understand, Eva and Father Haralambos were working together!” Grabbing his arm, she pleaded with him, “When was Leftheri going to detonate the bomb?”

Dimitri checked his watch. “In ten minutes… you’d better run. You don’t have much time to get her out.”

“I have to stop him!” Zoe cried, running out of the house and down the alleyway. Her heart was beating so hard it felt like it would explode from her chest as she ran, her thoughts only on Eva and reaching the house in time. Her attention blinked back just in time to see the slow moving horse and cart ahead of her. It stopped, blocking the exit from the alley. Running up

to the cart, she saw that its load had shifted and fallen to one side, the contents of the wheat filled bags spilling on the ground all around the cart. There wasn’t enough space to squeeze around the sides and the spilled bags blocked the route underneath. She was trapped in this godforsaken alley while precious seconds ticked away against Eva’s life. Meanwhile, the old man driving the cart still hadn’t moved from his seat. He was sitting halfway turned, forlornly gazing at his spilled cargo.

“Come on!” she yelled at the old man, “Move!”

“What’s your hurry, little Zoe? Is the devil after you? You young people have no patience,” the old man grumbled, as he slowly climbed down to the cobblestoned surface, limping around to take hold of the horse’s lead and trying to coax it to move.

“Damn it, pappou!” Zoe cursed and scrambled up the piles of wheat, slipping several times before she made it to the cart and climbed over it. Jumping off the seat to the ground, she tripped as she landed awkwardly on her ankle. She got to her feet and began to run, despite the pains shooting up her leg with every step. She had to get to Eva in time, before Leftheri blew up the house.

*

Reinhardt was shaken. He closed the door to Muller’s office and stood there for a moment trying to get his control back. The guards looked at him but didn’t say a word. They had heard the yelling coming from Muller’s office and were quite content to be outside rather than in there with their commanding officer.

Reinhardt straightened his uniform and checked his gun. With a scowl, he turned and stomped up the timber steps to Eva’s office and, without knocking, he threw the door open and walked in. Eva looked up as she heard the loud footsteps head for her door. Instead of the usual knock, the door flew open and she saw Reinhardt heading straight for her.

“I hope you have a good reason for barging in like that!”

Reinhardt slammed the door shut and turned. “Shut up,” Reinhardt commanded as he walked up to her, grabbed her shirt and lifted her off the chair. “You’re a deviant whore,” he yelled and backhanded the woman. Eva fell to the floor, looking up in surprise and shock with a hand to her cheek where she’d been hit. Her lip began to bleed from the swastika ring the man wore.

He snarled, “Get up! You’re going to write a note to your whore. You will tell her you need to meet her at Athena’s Bluff, at the cabin.” He was yelling the orders at her as he grabbed her arm painfully and yanked her to her feet.

She stood unsteadily, still reeling with confusion and shock, before being jerked toward her desk by the hand still tightly gripping her arm. She was shoved into her chair and a gun was being waved in her face. “I said do it!” Reinhardt screamed at her.

Her hands shaking, she picked up her pen and began to write the note. When she finished, Reinhardt grabbed it and folded it in half, setting it before her again. “Write ‘Zoe’ on it in big letters!” he demanded and then he set it on the front of her desk, prominently displaying the ‘ZOE’ to get the woman’s attention.

“Get up. You give me any trouble now and I swear, I will have that whore of yours begging me to kill her. Now move!” Reinhardt growled, as he took Eva by the arm again and halfway dragged her downstairs. He poked his head in the kitchen to where Despina was cooking.

“Despina! Fraulein Muller and I will be at Athena’s Bluff. Make sure Zoe knows where we are and tell her to meet us there,” he instructed her and then left without waiting for a response.

Despina frowned at the now empty doorway. “That man has the manners of a pig,” she spat out. A few minutes later, the kitchen door opened and a curly-topped young man entered. “Leftheri, what are you doing here?” the housekeeper asked.

“Kiria Despina, I have to get you out of here!” the young man said and took the older woman by the arm, turning to drag her out of the house. Despina stood her ground and the young man fell backwards to land with a thump on the kitchen floor.

“What is going on here?” she demanded.

Leftheri sighed and got up from the floor. “Look, the house is going to get bombed! Now please, can we get the hell out of here?”

“Well, why didn’t you just say so?” the older woman groused. She took off her apron and followed Leftheri out the door.

The two Greeks walked outside, calmly crossing the street and heading down the sidewalk toward the alleyway. It appeared they were just out for a stroll, the younger man politely assisting the old woman.

The guards watched them and one of them recognized Despina. He shrugged and shifted his attention elsewhere, unconcerned. After a moment longer, the other guard did the same. Despina and Leftheri had just managed to turn the corner into the alley when the building exploded, sending debris flying everywhere and starting fires.

Leftheri peeked around the side of the wall and grinned. “Boom Boom!” he said to himself. They watched, staying hidden in the shadows, as the remaining solders ran to the remains of the building to try and put the fire out and look for survivors. They never got the chance.

As the soldiers reached the front of the burning building and waited for orders, the remaining Resistance fighters began their assault from hidden positions.

A gun battle quickly ensued, but the German soldiers were rapidly finding themselves on the losing end, many of them having foolishly left their weapons behind in the panic that ensued immediately following the explosion.

Leftheri, watching the battle, felt his shirt being tugged and Despina urgently calling his name. He looked at her to see her pointing the other direction and crying, “Look! Isn’t that Zoe?”

Looking down the street in the direction she was indicating, he saw a figure running awkwardly toward them. After a second, he did recognize the figure as Zoe, a pained and panicked expression on her face. “Zoe!” he yelled to her, with no effect. Before the stumbling woman reached the alley, Leftheri jumped out in front of her to get her attention. He couldn’t let her run right into a raging gun battle.

When she still appeared to ignore him and tried to hobble past, he quickly grabbed her around the waist and carried the struggling woman into the alley.

“EVA!” Zoe screamed, having seen the remains of the building, realizing she had been too late to save her lover.

Zoe fought against Leftheri’s hold and he gripped her even tighter, enduring her hits and kicks. As she tried to twist and squirm away, he finally lost his balance, collapsing against the alley wall, still desperately hanging on to the screaming and sobbing Zoe. They slid down into a heap, Leftheri finally able to wrap his legs around hers and grabbing her wrists to hold her still.

Zoe was reduced to sobbing, the long run and then the struggles to get free having sapped her remaining strength. “Eva… oh, Eva…” She was half sobbing, half wailing the name.

Despina watched as Leftheri finally got the distraught woman under control and was instantly at Zoe’s side, holding her and stroking her hair, trying to help Leftheri calm her feeble hysterics.

“Shhhh… there there, little one.” She gently tilted Zoe’s face, wet with tears, so she could look at her.

“You could have gotten hurt if Leftheri hadn’t stopped you! Didn’t you see the soldiers and hear the guns?” she asked, concerned.

“B-But the building… Eva… oh God… I had to get to her!” Zoe stumbled over the words in between sobs.

“Eva wasn’t there, sweet child,” Despina said with a soft smile as she started drying Zoe’s face with a small kerchief. “She wasn’t in the building, Zoe. She left earlier with Captain Reinhardt.” She gave Zoe a small kiss on her forehead, seeing the young woman calming at her words.

Leftheri finally released Zoe and helped her to her feet, seeing her favor one leg a bit. He helped brush her off, then brushed off his own clothes as Zoe and Despina hugged each other.

“But,” Zoe was saying, “she really wasn’t there? You saw her leave?” She saw the older woman nod her head.

“Eva has gone to Athena’s Bluff. She and Captain Reinhardt said you were to meet them there.”

Zoe looked at the housekeeper and frowned. “Why would Eva go with Reinhardt? Unless…” The blood drained from her face as Zoe realized that Muller must have found out about her and Eva. “Oh dear God!” She turned to Leftheri and grabbed his arms. “Leftheri, can you run and get Thanasi? Tell him Eva is in danger and Reinhardt has her. We have to save her. Tell him to meet me at Athena’s Bluff.”

Leftheri looked at her, confused. Zoe shook him gently, her eyes pleading with him. “Leftheri, please? Please don’t let her die! You must find Thanasi, quickly!” She released him when he nodded at her, then started painfully running towards the bluff as Leftheri went to find the Resistance leader.

*

“So, little Eva, we’re here. Now, where is your slut?” Reinhardt finally said as he sat across from the bound woman. They had tied her arms and legs to the chair and placed the chair in the center of the room.

“You’re a pig, Jurgen,” Eva said and her eyes shot daggers at her former friend. She hoped Zoe wouldn’t see the note they left on the desk.

“You know, Eva, I did so enjoy watching Greta being pushed onto the train with those Jewish swine. I wish you would have been there to see it,” Reinhardt said with a grin. “She didn’t look all too healthy to me.”

“You bastard,” Eva spat out and tugged at her bonds to get free. The chair creaked as she struggled to no avail, the ropes keeping her immobile.

“You know, your father wanted me to kill you. Did you know that? He said that you weren’t his daughter anymore,” Reinhardt said, wanting the denunciation to hurt the woman.

“Doesn’t surprise me,” Eva sighed. Her father would have killed her back in Germany if he had thought he could get away with it. But in the Fuhrer’s regime, he would have appeared weak and useless if it got out. A man who cannot even control his own daughter wouldn’t be worth much to the Fatherland.

Reinhardt laughed. “Ah, yes, I suppose it doesn’t surprise you. You know, I would have enjoyed watching the beating you took; it would have made up for all the times you refused my advances. You had the opportunity to become an officer’s wife! You could have been somebody. Instead, you are a nobody. Nothing. You’re worthless and so ugly that no man

would touch you now.” He motioned to one of the guards to keep his gun trained on her as he moved behind her. Roughly pushing her forward, he grabbed the fabric of her shirt and ripped it open to reveal the scars that crossed her back.

“See that, boys? That’s what you get when you’re a pervert. Very nice work. I should congratulate Major Muller and tell him how much I admire his skill.” He laughed as he traced several of the scars across her back. Eva struggled in vain to move away from his touch and two of the soldiers grabbed her shoulders to keep her still. Reinhardt walked back to sit in front of the woman.

“Do you think your opinion matters to me?” Eva spat at him as he resumed his chair.

Reinhardt shrugged. “I don’t care. You’re already going to die. But before that happens, you’ll see that Greek slut of yours get some action.” He chuckled and the guards joined him. “Was she a virgin when you perverted her, Eva? Maybe little Zoe didn’t have a good man around to show her how it’s done,” he grinned.

Eva was sickened by the thought of what they had in mind for Zoe when she arrived. She prayed for the younger woman to be delayed, or that Despina would have sent her on an errand-just something, anything to keep her from seeing that note on her desk.

“So why don’t you just kill me and get it over with?” Eva taunted him. She was certain of her fate, but the thought of her friend and lover being killed sent a stabbing pain through her heart. She knew Zoe would follow her after seeing the note. If she could provoke Reinhardt enough, he might kill her now, the gunshots alerting Zoe or someone else and keeping them away from the door.

Reinhardt smiled coldly. “Not yet, we’re still waiting for someone. It would be quite rude to start without the guest of honor. You know, I really liked that kid, smart mouth and all. It’s too bad she’s been corrupted and I have to kill her.” He leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees. “Tell me Eva, how did you seduce the poor girl? Such a sweet innocent child. Has she seen your ugliness?”

Eva looked away and remained mute.

“You see, it is our duty to root out perversion and destroy it,” Reinhardt continued. “And you, you are a freak, a perversion.”

“Who will root out your perversion?” Eva snapped at him, unable to control her temper.

The blow came quickly as Reinhardt backhanded her. It threw her head back, splitting her lower lip badly. She looked up at Reinhardt, standing over her and grimaced. The blood ran down her chin and dripped onto the white shirt she wore.

Reinhart was furious, his face had turned red and the veins in his neck were visible. He backhanded her again with the hand that held his gun, the butt of the pistol striking her in the side of the head, laying the skin open above her eyebrow. The chair fell sideways and she lay on the floor, blood starting to pool beneath her head.

“You dare call me perverted? The Reich is my father and my mother. That is no perversion.” He bent down to yell at her as she lay bleeding on the floor. “You were with me in the Hitler Youth, Eva. You were touched by the Fuhrer. He stood right there in front of us and shook our hands. Didn’t you feel like you were in the presence of Christ himself?”

“And I didn’t wash my hand afterward for a month,” Eva retorted weakly, knowing that would infuriate Reinhardt further.

“You filthy whore! How dare you speak of our great leader like that. Oh, now I’m going to take great pleasure in killing you.”

He kicked her several times in the ribs and then sent a kick to her head. “You bitch,” Reinhardt spat out and prepared to kick her again when his corporal distracted him.

“Sir?” the man timidly said.

“What?”

“Sir, perhaps we should wait for the other girl,” the young soldier said.

Reinhardt paused, then nodded. The soldier was right. She was trying to goad him, make him mad enough to kill her. He straightened his jacket, which was splattered with droplets of her blood and went over to sit back down. “It’s not going to work, bitch. You’ll still see her die before your eyes.”

Eva struggled to breathe. Her world was rapidly spinning out of control and she was close to blacking out. She was sure he had broken her ribs and there was a lot of blood running down the side of her face from the laceration above her eye, her torn lip and another cut on her head from his kick. She lay on the floor trying to get her bearings. Reinhardt signaled to the guards to haul her back up. She stifled a groan as she and the chair were roughly handled and set upright.

“Was that as good for you as it was for me?” Eva hoarsely whispered, though truth be told she could barely focus, let alone breathe.

Reinhardt glared at her. “No, sweet Eva. I’ve got something much better planned. Something I will enjoy a lot more,” Reinhardt said as he controlled his temper.

The door to the cabin opened and all eyes went to the door. Eva sighed in relief as she saw a soldier walk in. Reinhardt sighed in frustration. That girl was taking too long. He was sure the note would be seen. He even made sure the old housekeeper knew where they were headed, in case Zoe didn’t see the note.

The young solder that had just entered saluted his commanding officer. “Sir…”

“What now?” Reinhardt asked, glaring at Eva.

“The Resistance has bombed Major Muller’s residence,” the solder blurted out looking at the captain and then his fellow solders.

“What?”

“Resistance forces have also attacked the soldiers at the building after the explosion. Also, we got word that the American tanks are hours away from here.”

Finally, my own command, thought Reinhardt. The Americans weren’t important. Major Muller was surely dead and he was in charge. His priorities had shifted. He needed to start thinking of the welfare of his troops. Well, his first order would be to move his forces to Thessaloniki as the major had told him earlier.

“Have the men prepare to move out. Commandeer every available truck. We will fall back to Thessaloniki. Go!” Reinhardt ordered. He watched as the guards that were with him ran out of the cabin. He turned to Eva, his eyes filling with hate.

“I didn’t want us to part this quickly, Eva, but I have other pressing matters. May you burn in hell with the rest of the perverted. Oh and send my regards to Greta.” He pointed the pistol at her, “Bye bye!” and pulled the trigger.

Eva didn’t hear the gunfire, her eyes going wide as the bullet hit her in the chest. Her body reacted to the bullet, however, causing the chair to fall over backwards. She hit the floor, still tightly bound in the chair, her previously white shirt stained red from her blood. “Zoe!” she whispered before blackness overtook her.

*

“Where is he?” Zoe muttered as Thanasi knelt beside her. The members of the Resistance cell hid behind the rocks and bushes, watching the cabin. They had been waiting for their scout to come back and report on the number of soldiers inside the cabin

“Patience, Zoe,” Thanasi counseled.

“Yeah? Well, I’m telling you, Thanasi, if she dies while I’m being patient…”

“They won’t kill her. Not right now,” the Resistance leader said as he watched the scout running carefully back, dodging behind cover to hide his movement.

“They have her and there are six soldiers plus Reinhardt,” the scout panted, then looked at Zoe. “She doesn’t look good, they’ve beaten her quite badly. They’re not doing anything now, just standing around like they’re waiting for something.”

“What?” Thanasi asked.

Zoe looked back at the cabin, her anger coming to the surface. “Not what. Who. He’s waiting for me,” she said as she looked at the Resistance leader, making a decision. “They want me? Well, why don’t we give them what they want?”

“No way am I going to let you go in there! I promised Father Haralambos!” Thanasi said, shaking his head.

Zoe glared at him. “I don’t care what you promised. Eva is in there! I’m not going to stand out here arguing with you and let that woman die. Got me?” Zoe seethed, trying to keep her volume down. “Thanasi, if she dies, I’ll die. Then we can both tell Father Haralambos how we stuffed it up. I’m going in there and if you want, you…” Zoe stopped talking as the cabin door opened and the six soldiers ran out, heading for the vehicles parked along the road, not too far from their positions.

Zoe looked out at the cabin once again and then towards the men. She’d had enough of talking.

“Alright, can you stop this chin wagging and let’s get moving.” She was interrupted by a single gunshot from the cabin and was out of the bushes and heading for it before Thanasi could grab hold of her.

The entire Resistance cell started running behind Zoe. Thanasi shook his head and followed. They started firing at the soldiers, who were too startled to put up much of a fight.

Zoe picked up a dead soldier’s gun and rushed through the door of the cabin. She stood at the threshold, stunned. Reinhardt was standing over the prone body of her lover, who was still tied to the chair. Blood covered Eva and had pooled around her body. He was just standing there, laughing.

“Get away from her!” Zoe yelled.

Reinhardt turned and grinned, raising his pistol in Zoe’s direction. “Well. You took your time coming here. I had wanted…” Reinhardt didn’t finish his sentence as Zoe raised her gun and fired. Reinhardt looked down at his chest in surprise and then crumpled to the floor. Zoe approached him, still firing at his body, emptying the clip.

“Go to hell you bastard!” she screamed and spat on him. Dropping the gun, she fell to her knees, untying Eva’s arms and legs from the chair. She gathered the woman into her arms, ignoring all the blood. She held the unconscious woman in her arms, hoping she wasn’t too late.

Chapter 17

THE RAIN HAD STARTED TO FALL again and Zoe didn’t mind it at all. Zoe looked out of the window watching the puddles that formed. All around her were American medical personnel treating soldiers and civilians. The large tent was filled with bodies. She couldn’t understand a word they were saying, but she was happy to see them. The Americans rumbled into town scattering the remaining Germans; it was a dream come true. The moment she had waited for years. She didn’t see it. Didn’t savour the victory.

While the Americans were liberating her home, Zoe was trying to save Eva’s life.

It was a moment in her life she would remember forever. Reinhardt standing over Eva’s body enraged her. She had shot the captain so many times she didn’t think anyone would recognize the kraut if they tried. Now she knew what it meant to kill and even though the thought of it made her ill, she knew she had done it to save Eva’s life. Zoe took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. It had been only a short time since she’d wanted to shoot Eva in revenge for the death of her family and now she had shot someone to protect her. Life was just so damn confusing, sometimes.

She was grateful for Thanasi’s help in the cabin. He had organized everything and for that she would love the man for an eternity. He had come through for them when she thought everything was lost. Seeing Eva on the floor, her face bloodied, had nearly broken her heart. She wasn’t even aware of how long she sat there while Thanasi tried to stop the bleeding. It was all a blur for Zoe.

The good news had been that the bullet entered her shoulder, broken her collarbone and exited out the back. This, added to her other injuries, was going to keep Eva out of action for some time. Zoe looked down at the woman on the cot and smiled. She brushed away the dark bangs. Bloodshot blue eyes opened and Eva turned her head and gave a weak smile to the dishevelled chestnut-haired woman. “Water?” Eva requested hoarsely.

Zoe went and poured some water in a cup and gently put the cup to Eva’s lips, helping her to drink. She laid the woman back, fussing over her. “What happened?”

“The force of nature that is Zoe happened,” Athanasios Klaras said as he dropped down on his haunches and greeted Eva.

“Morning, Thanasi,” Zoe greeted the Resistance leader and glanced at the young American by his side. His orange hair stuck up at awkward angles and the smattering of freckles on his face made Zoe grin.

“Funny. Now you’re a comedian.”

“I try, little one, I try,” Thanasi retorted and grinned. He turned to Eva. “Well, what happened was … while Reinhardt was taking you for his date in the cabin, the Resistance blew up some buildings, we made a lot of noise and the Americans came.”

“I missed out on all the fun,” Eva complained and grimaced with the effort.

“Oh yeah. So when Hurricane Zoe found out that Reinhardt had taken you, she called in the cavalry. We went on a search and destroy mission and here we are. Anyway this is Captain Anthony Jenkins. He is a medic. He looks like he is only 14, but he isn’t. They breed them to look young.” He turned to the young man and repeated what he had said in English.

Anthony laughed and went to Eva’s side. “Thelo na se…” Anthony said and frowned. He turned to Thanasi. “What’s the Greek word for examine?”

Thanasi told him and he turned back to Eva. “Thelo na se eksetaso.” He grinned when he realized his patient understood that he wanted to examine her and see how she was. After he completed his examination and pulled the blanket back up around Eva, he quietly gave some instructions to Thanasi before getting up to attend to his other patients.

“Kalimera kiria Zoe, eise… askemi,” Anthony said as he stood looking down at Zoe. He was rather taken with the young woman.

Zoe’s grin turned to a frown. She wasn’t a married woman and he had just called her ugly. Thanasi laughed at his new friend’s use of the language. He explained what the young man had said to him and his face turned the brightest shade of red that Zoe had ever seen.

“Oh no! Tell her I think she’s beautiful,” the American stammered.

“Come on, let’s get you away before you get Hurricane Zoe on to you,” Thanasi replied, as he steered the man way from the two women.

Zoe took Eva’s hand and smiled. “We’re moving. Thanasi is going to America and he said we can come, too.”

“Why?”

“He promised Father Haralambos that he would take us out of Greece.”

“So we’re going?”

“We are. Do you want to go back to Germany?” Zoe asked, hoping the answer was ‘no’. She wasn’t looking forward to the prospect of living in the land that she despised.

“Germany is in ruins. We can’t go there. I don’t want to go back,” Eva replied and smiled as she caught sight of Zoe’s relieved look. “Zoe, what happened to Reinhardt?”

“I killed him. He was taking something that didn’t belong to him. You belong to me. I’m not sorry I did it, Eva. He hurt you,” Zoe said as she saw glistening tears in Eva’s eyes. “Don’t cry.” She brushed away the tear that had fallen. “I would do it again if I had to. I love you, Eva.” She bent down and gently kissed Eva, oblivious to the people around them.

“I love you, too,” Eva replied

They sat looking at each other, Zoe fussing over the injured woman. She straightened the blankets around Eva and tried to make her comfortable.

“What happened to Major Muller?” Eva asked. She didn’t want to acknowledge any relationship to that beast that she grew up with as her father. Father Haralambos was more a father to her in the short time she had spent with him.

“Antonios bombed the house…”

“What about Despina?” Eva asked in alarm. She loved the old woman.

“Don’t worry, Despina was taken out of the house before that. We found out that Athens had fallen and then all hell broke loose. Even little Paul … he climbed the flagpole and tore down the swastika and put the blue and white up. I didn’t see it, but when Dimitri told me, it brought tears to his eyes. Then the Americans rumbled into town and here we are. Now, I think we’ve talked too much. Just shut up and rest,” Zoe ordered with a grin.

It hurt half her face to smile, but Eva gave a lopsided grin at Zoe’s command. She closed her eyes and Zoe sat there watching the older woman sleep until her stomach grumbled. She got up and stretched, left the tent and walked outside.

They had managed to live through the war. She never thought this day would come. She would go to church later and thank God for helping her through. She never thought she would go back to church, but Eva had helped her see that God was not to blame for the death and the misery.

She would thank God for helping Eva. If only Father Haralambos were here to share in her joy. “I hope you’re behaving yourself, Father H,” she muttered and looked to the heavens. She looked over at the flagpoles and saw the blue and white cross of Greece and the American flag. Her new country. She wondered how it was going to be, what new customs and the language. No matter. They would manage. They had survived the war; they would survive America.

Now, to find someone who could teach me some English before we get there. She spied Captain Jenkins and Thanasi at the mess tent and she walked purposefully over to them.

1945 - On a ship bound for Australia….

The sea churned as the huge passenger liner slowly and steadily made its way towards it’s destination. The full moon above pierced the darkness of the night sky like a beacon, overpowering most of the stars and glinting from small waves in the black sea. The Patris was a huge beast and showed the wear and tear of heavy use during the war. Used as a troop ship and now a refugee carrier, she had seen many thousands of people travel on it and if she could talk, the tales she would tell.

Zoe’s chestnut hair whipped around her face as she stared up at the twin funnels, just making out the black smoke billowing into the air. She grimaced. She was seasick. This was the first time she had sailed and wanted desperately to be back on dry land. That wasn’t going to happen for at least another month.

She braced her arms on the railing and stared off into the dark horizon. She had come a long way from Larissa. She had survived the war, lost family and many friends, but she had also gained a good friend in Thanasi and something very precious - a lover and a best friend rolled into one very special person. Eva had come into her life and although the circumstances were tragic, she had recognized a kindred spirit and couldn’t help being drawn to her.

The refugees were packed like sardines, something Eva had mentioned to her not long after they left port in Egypt. Eva made Zoe laugh when she screwed her face up and puckered her lips like a fish. They were luckier than most, though, they had their own cabin, although Eva thought the room could have been used as a broom closet, it was that small. It was lucky for both of them that neither of them minded the tiny, claustrophobic room.

Her partner Eva was down in their small cabin, after spending the day being ill with the flu that was sweeping the refugees. They had spent their day with Eva being sick and, in between her spells of nausea, discussing what lay ahead of them.

“I’m okay… argh, no, I’m not okay,” Eva groaned and heaved again into the bucket Zoe held for her. Zoe had patted her on the back and gave her a glass of water, then opened the cabin door to slip the bucket outside. It was bad enough that the cabin was small; they didn’t need that smell in there as well.

“Any better?” Zoe asked as she helped the older woman sit up. The tiny, narrow bunk was almost too small for Eva. She had to sleep with her legs pulled up, lest they hang over the end of the bunk with its thin mattress.

“Oh yeah, fine. Wish I could stop this room from spinning.”

“Oh is that all?” Zoe responded and kissed her on the head.

“Zo, can I ask you something?”

“No, you can’t ask the Captain to stop the ship and get off. I tried,” Zoe replied and got a chuckle from her sick friend. She perched on the edge of the bed and caressed Eva’s cheek for a moment, before moving her hand up to softly stroke her dark hair.

“What do you want to ask me?”

“I know it’s not a good time and it’s not very romantic here, but…” Eva swallowed. She was nervous. She had spent the last year loving this woman and falling in love with her. She got out of her bunk despite the dizziness and fell to her knees in front of a very confused young woman.

“Evy, why are you out of the bunk?”

“Has your ‘heavy-like’ progressed yet?” Eva said quickly ignoring her partner’s question, needing to say anything to hide her nervousness.

“Huh?” Zoe replied and looked down at her friend in confusion for a moment before she realized what Eva was talking about. She started grinning. “I think I passed ‘heavy-like’ between Alexandria and Cairo.”

“You did?” Eva said in a small voice that sounded so young to Zoe, even though Eva was the older of the two.

“Oh yeah. You know, Eva Muller, I have bad news for you,” Zoe said, suppressing a grin.

“Oh?” Eva sounded alarmed and looked up with a frown.

“I’m afraid you’re stuck with me. It’s too late to throw me back, you know. I can’t swim,” Zoe joked. Her eyes gentled as she gazed at the woman she had almost lost to the cruelty and hatred of war. “I love you so much that it hurts. That’s how much I love you.”

“Oh!” was all Eva could say.

Zoe leaned down and gently wiped Eva’s face with the moist towel and kissed her. “So tell me, is that what you wanted to ask me, love?”

“No, I mean…um…Zoe,” Eva stammered.

“You know, that fever is going down. You remembered my name,” Zoe teased.

“Will you marry me?” Eva was able to ask quickly. “I mean it’s not the same as a man and wife marriage thing,” Eva rambled. “But I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

“Um, are we allowed?” Zoe asked quietly.

“Not legally and I don’t think it’s allowed in Australia, but you know, in Ancient Greece it was allowed. I don’t see why we can’t follow our ancestors and their traditions…”

“That’s good, I’m sure there was a wild woman in my past.”

“So is that a yes?” Eva asked tentatively, still worrying over Zoe’s answer.

“To what question?” Zoe teased.

“Will you spend the rest of your life with me?” Eva asked again a little unsure of what Zoe’s answer was going to be

“I would spend an eternity with you,” Zoe announced and took the older woman’s hands in her own. “I love you with all my heart and soul.”

Eva smiled and produced a small tin-plated ring, placing it on Zoe’s ring finger. “I promise to love you for the rest of my life,” she said as she let the ring rest on Zoe’s finger. “I’ll also get you a better ring in Australia but that belonged to Father H and it was the ring he was going to give my mother. I’ll get you something…”

“No, I love this ring,” Zoe shook her head. “It doesn’t matter what it’s made of.”

Silent tears tracked down Eva’s cheeks as she scooped up the young woman in her arms and kissed her passionately.

“I wish you could be here, Father H. I married your daughter today.” Zoe said quietly into the night, tears tracking down her face as she remembered her adopted father and friend who gave up his life; one of many. She twirled the tin plated ring around her finger. It wasn’t much, but it didn’t need to be, serving as a reminder of the love the older woman had for her. They held a simple ceremony in their cabin; nothing fancy, just the two of them promising to be there for each other, to love and respect one another… forever.

THE END

*****

Follow the adventures of Eva and Zoe in the next story Out of Darkness - Part 2 : Land of Milk and Honey as they settle into a new country.