Page 65 of Villa of Secrets

Dear Diary, once again, I have been too busy to keep up with you on a daily basis. Nathanial assigned various acts of sabotage to me. Irini has been my lookout and helper, and I depended on her for my safety. This has further tightened the bond between us.

We put sugar in army petrol tanks, jammed wood up exhaust pipes, and wedged sharpened metal brackets behind the tyres of stationary jeeps.

After every job, Irini and I have a ritual of mutual appreciation. We shake hands vigorously, step back, and while saluting each other we chant, ‘Another job well done, corporal!’

The euphoria of success helps numb our deepest fears. At the same time, we grow even closer, protecting Evangelisa from any information that might cause her distress, and praising everything she does.

Thursday, 3 August 1944

Once again, I am summoned to the villa. Giovanni will come to the hut to fetch me, and I long to fall into his arms when we get into the woods. For now, I must put my diary away, and wait for him. I will record the day’s events, whatever they may be, when Evangelisa is asleep this evening.

*

Giovanni and I arrived at the villa flushed and breathless, I stood before Nathanial in the lobby and he gave me a knowing look before he spoke.

‘Be careful, little one, you’ll burn your fingers,’ he said nodding towards the door where Giovanni waited. He allowed the words to sink in before he continued. ‘Tomorrow, I’m sending you to our mud tunnels to learn to shoot.’

‘Mud tunnels? Why? Where are they?’

‘In the bamboo groves. The mud dulls the sound of the gun. It’s the only suitable location that isn’t too far away. There’s an old man there, Kapitanos Nikos, who knows every nook and stream of the place. He’s the best shot on the island too. You’ll be safe with him, and he’ll teach you well.’

Time had passed quickly since my family departed on the rusty ships. I wondered where they were and what was happening. ‘If it will help end the war, I’ll become your best shot,’ I said.

‘You’re a true freedom fighter, little one. I’m going to give you help. Xanthi’s just joined us. She’s older than you, but like Irini and Evangelisa, she’ll be under your command. Once I see you work well together, you can have more helpers and larger tasks to accomplish. Do you understand?’

Although thrilled that he trusted me with my own band of freedom fighters, I was also anxious about the consequences if I messed up. ‘I look forward to my next orders, sir.’

He laughed. ‘You’ve got spirit. I like it.’ He became serious. ‘You remember, everything that’s passed between us is confidential. Never repeat anything to anyone. Understand? I meant what I said the first time you came here.’

‘Yes, sir. Not to the shepherd, my friend, and especially not my sister, right?’

He nodded. ‘If you do, you will be killed, along with the person you pass the information to. These rules apply to everyone in the Andartes. Now, I’ve important cargo for the Kapitanos.’ He raised his arm and clicked his fingers. A rebel approached with a brown leather satchel and a wooden crate, and then moved away.

Chapter 29

Rhodes, Greece.

In the airport lobby, Naomi stretched her neck, trying to see past the stream of excited holidaymakers who trundled trollies and tired children through the sliding glass doors. She glimpsed anxious travellers crowded around a luggage carousel in the distance.

Where’s Rebecca?

The monitor claimed Rebecca’s flight had landed. Grinning tourists jostled and shoved, eager to greet the sunshine. A youth texting on his iPhone bumped into her. Despite the air con, the lobby smelled of body odour and cigarette smoke. She decided to wait outside.

On the forecourt, taxi drivers raised cards bearing their passenger’s name. Uniformed tour operators ticked clients off their clipboards, while others led tourists to their coaches.

Perhaps Rebecca had changed her mind. Naomi scanned the crowd once more. All the anger and bitterness at her sister’s departure came back. The shouting, door slamming, Bubba’s tears, Rebecca’s face white with rage. And all the time Naomi was caught between the two people she loved. The situation had spiralled out of control and neither Rebecca nor Bubba would consider the other’s feelings. She glanced at the arrivals monitor again and tried to swallow her trepidation.

‘Naomi!’ A woman’s voice called from behind. Her heart lifted. She spun around and saw her sister for the first time in a decade.

‘Rebecca!’ They both froze for a moment, separated by their past yet drawn together at the same time. Naomi felt detached, as if seeing Rebecca through a sheet of glass: cold and untouchable with emotional baggage far greater than the two cerise suitcases on her trolley. After a frigid few seconds, the barriers shattered and they rushed towards each other, sniffing back tears as they hugged.

‘My God, it’s been so long!’ Naomi said stepping away, ridiculously shy. ‘Look at you, auburn hair, and not a day older than when you left. All by yourself?’ She glanced about, anxious that Fritz might be there.

Rebecca smiled nervously. ‘He’s in New York. Anyway, better if he didn’t come, you know?’ She placed her hand on Naomi’s shoulder. ‘I wanted to say . . . well, I don’t want any problems, okay? If Bubba starts getting upset, I’ll simply go and stay in a hotel. How is Bubba?’ Her voice was breathy, panicky.

‘Good. Picked up a lot since you agreed to return home, but a little worried too. Try to be gentle with her, will you? She’s longing to explain how sorry she is for what was said.’

Rebecca stared at the ground for a moment. ‘I’m quite ashamed of the way I behaved, but she hurt me terribly, Naomi. I find it difficult to believe either of you realised how much. I love you both, you know?’