Page 43 of Villa of Secrets

I recalled planting that shrub with Mama; one of my earliest memories.

The rose bush had been little more than a twig. While I helped her stuff soil around its roots, Papa and Danial roasted a lamb over a pit. Mama glanced at them and laughed. ‘There’s something about men and fire, Dora. Look at those two, in their element. It doesn’t matter how advanced man gets; that bit of caveman never leaves.’

Daydreaming about it, I could smell the roasting meat, the oregano, and the pungent charcoal. Such a glorious day. Mama hasn’t laughed like that for a long time.

Sammie and Jacob collected snails, placing them in an old orange crate filled with sage. They’d feed on the herb for a week, before Mama cooked them. My brothers were teasing each other, Sammie trying to get a small snail to balance on Jacob’s nose. Jacob laughing and going cross-eyed watching it. Papa caught my eye, smiled broadly and winked. Even when I was that young, I loved him more than anybody.

As I reminisced, the sun appeared through the mist. A huge yellow ball that silhouetted a couple of hooded crows, croaking untunefully. I promised myself that when my family comes back, we’ll return to the hut, enjoy the scent of roses, roast a lamb, and eat together.

Giovanni and his dog broke through the bushes. How dare he kiss Irini?! I wasn’t sure if I wanted to speak to him.

‘I’ve brought you a lump of boiled mutton and half a loaf of heavy bread,’ he called holding out the bulging duffel. My resolution to be horrible waivered. I was so hungry my stomach gnawed at my ribs. The dog was huge. A comical short-haired creature, buttery yellow with black extremities. It seemed to be wearing an oversized head and paws, which suggested it was a pup. It loped around the shepherd boy, its tail curled along its back, and its wide face turned up, waiting for a command.

Giovanni drew a line in the air with his finger, and the dog immediately sat at his feet.

‘She’s Kopay, a Turkish sheepdog,’ he said. ‘Only a year old, so I have to be strict with her, see.’ He grabbed a handful of loose skin on Kopay’s neck. ‘Come forward and let her sniff your hand.’

I went to go down on my knees. ‘No! Always be above your dog, right? She could kill you in a moment. In Turkey, they protect the flock from bears three times your size.’

‘A real beast, then.’ I held out my arm, calmly. Animals sense fear, I understood that. Kopay snuffled my palm, dropped her head to one side and fidgeted back a step.

‘She respects you,’ Giovanni said.

‘That pleases me. What would I have done if she hadn’t?’

‘Climb the nearest tree.’ He laughed. ‘You should have a dog up here to warn you if anyone’s about.’

‘We haven’t enough food for ourselves. How would we manage an extra mouth to feed?’

I entered the hut and woke Irini and Evangelisa. Together, we pulled a small table to the edge of the bed and put knives, forks, and plates out as Mama would have done.

The shepherd boy produced a saddle needle and some gut and began fixing Evangelisa’s footwear. ‘I didn’t have time last night,’ he explained. ‘Had another flock to deliver.’ He set the shoe on a log in the hearth and used a flat stone to knock the needle through the leather. Evangelisa watched him, admiration shining from her eyes.

Frantic about my family, I kept seeing that picture of them in my head, crammed onto the dreadful ship.

‘Giovanni, are the ships still in the port? Is it possible to stop them leaving and set our families free?’

He shook his head, avoiding my eyes. ‘They’ve gone to Simi or Kos. They’re not coming back, get used to it,’ he said quietly, out of Evangelisa’s earshot.

‘No, I refuse to accept it. There must be something I can do!’ Poor Mama and Papa. At least my brothers were with them. I was confident Danial and Papa would take care of everyone. Hopefully, they’d find a way to escape together.

Evangelisa gawped at Giovanni with her cow eyes. She might be taller, and far more beautiful than me, but she can be very shallow and it’s embarrassing. Still, I must remember she’s only a girl, so I forgive her.

I glanced at Irini and, as if reading my thoughts, she rolled her eyes and said to Giovanni, ‘How do you know where the ships are going?’

‘One of the Andartes told me.’

‘You’re friends with the rebels?’ Irini stared at him, then turned to me and made an O with her mouth.

‘Outside, please, Giovanni. I need to speak to you.’ I nodded at Irini and Evangelisa and said with authority, ‘Stay here, I’ll be back in a moment.’ I didn’t wait for a response, and marched past Giovanni and out of the hut.

My insides quaked, but I had to establish myself as leader. On my birthday, Papa told me there were two kinds of people: those who let things happen and those who make things happen, and I had to decide as an adult which one of those I would be.

I was born a fighter, so the decision had been made with my first breath. I would make things happen.

My music teacher told me timing was as important as pitch. I recalled the conductor of the choir that sang outside my father’s shop, a very small man who demanded everyone’s obedience. The choir, most of whom were head and shoulders taller, respected him. When he lifted his baton, talking stopped, people stood taller, all eyes were on him.

I admired that man and decided that I would take his example. Nobody would see me acting silly, degrading myself or anyone else. I would give credit where it was due, put others before myself, and not give in to false flattery. I would be as self-confident and respected as the choirmaster.