Page 39 of Villa of Secrets

‘The weird things you lot do. I’d be ashamed.’

I pulled my chin in and stared at him. ‘You’re talking rubbish, Shepherd Boy!’ Then I had to ask, ‘What weird things?’

‘Killing babies and drinking their blood, for a start.’

‘What?! What a preposterous thing to say. Why would anyone invent horrible stories like that?’

‘Because it’s true, I’ve been told.’

‘Do you believe everything you’re told, boy? Because if you do, you set yourself up for pure ridicule. There’ll be lots of people laughing behind your back.’

He stopped in his tracks and frowned. After a moment he said, ‘So it’s not true? You don’t drink their blood?’

‘Of course it’s not true!’ Then I couldn’t help myself. ‘We roast them on a spit,’ I said quietly. He looked absolutely horrified. Unable to keep my face straight a moment longer, I burst out laughing.

He appeared confused, but then understood the joke.

‘All right, you got me. To be honest, I never believed it anyway.’ The vegetation grew higher as we approached the woodland.

We continued in silence and eventually pushed through the trees that surrounded our hut.

‘Dora!’ Evangelisa cried, running to meet us. ‘What happened to you?’

Relieved that they weren’t on the ship, I introduced Irini and my sister to Giovanni before telling them I had fallen and broken my wrist.

‘Is there any water in the hut, Irini? I’m terribly thirsty.’

She nodded and fetched me a glass, which I gulped down before even saying thanks.

Evangelisa started crying, ‘I want to go home! You left us all alone for days, Dora. I was scared you wouldn’t come back.’

I put my arm around her shoulders. ‘Look, we’ll return home soon. Mama and Papa have gone to work on another island for a few days, so we’ll have an adventure living in the sheep hut while they’re away. It’ll be fun, you’ll see.’

Irini told the shepherd boy, ‘We’ve no food left, even the pine nuts are finished, and Evangelisa’s only got one shoe.’

Giovanni promised to bring us something to eat in the morning, and he took my sister’s broken shoe with him. He jerked his head sideways at Irini and said, ‘Come with me, we’ll get some wild pears and pomegranates.’

I had the measure of him straightaway. I wasn’t going to let the shepherd boy kiss my friend. ‘You stay here, Irini. I’ll go,’ I said squinting at Giovanni.

He scowled.

‘But what about your arm?’ Irini looked disappointed. ‘You should rest it. Besides, I’ve been cooped up for days, Dora.’ She glanced at Evangelisa. ‘I really need a break.’ She took the contents of my bag into the hut, slung the duffel onto her back, and then followed Giovanni.

‘Don’t you dare try anything, Shepherd Boy!’ I called after them.

Frantic about Mama and Papa and, also, in severe pain, I went to lie down. I must have fallen asleep immediately. Evangelisa woke me.

‘Dora, I’m hungry.’

‘Evangelisa! My wrist’s broken and it hurts a lot, our family are on a ship bound for God knows where, and my friend’s just gone into the woods with an uncouth shepherd boy. I’m shocked that all you can think about is your belly!’ I snapped, instantly regretting my outburst.

Evangelisa’s lip curled. ‘There’s no need to be nasty. I want my Mama!’ she wailed.

‘I’m sorry. Please don’t cry.’ My own emotions bubbled to the surface. Starving and in pain, my own tears were dangerously close. I took Evangelisa into my arms and hugged her. ‘Come on now, be a big girl. We’re going to be fine.’

Irini returned alone. She gripped the hem of her skirt which contained a mound of small green pears and one large shiny pomegranate.

‘Where’s my duffel, Irini?’