South of Mandraki Read online

  ‘You realize you’d go to prison?’

  ‘No! Oh, Daros, don’t say such a thing!’ cried his mother. ‘That’s why we’re here, to prevent Father getting into trouble with the police.’

  Ignoring that, her father shrugged and said it would only be a

  light sentence - a couple of months at most.

  ‘Don’t be ridiculous!’ Neither patience nor softness now in that curt tone. ‘The vendetta’s murder and this cannot be tolerated. Sentences are becoming heavier. You could die in prison.’

  ‘You can’t frighten me. Killing for revenge is not considered murder.’ For the first time since the appearance of the other two the old man looked at Toni. ‘I’ll kill her. I’ve sworn to do it and I shall.’

  She shuddered. The man was a fiend. Her gaze moved to his grandson. No resemblance, except for the height. The old man was a peasant type, having lived, he said, in a remote village, a village where, obviously, the vendetta was strong. Daros on the other hand was highly educated and cultured. His mother also was very different from her father. Obviously she had been lucky enough to break away from her village and marry an Englishman. Daros’s eyes were on Toni and she looked straight at him. He too could be merciless, she concluded. He had portrayed no concern at the ordeal through which she had passed; like his mother his only concern was for the old man and the problem of keeping him out of prison. Toni spoke at last, to say tartly,

  ‘Thank you very much for rescuing me from this madman! ’

  A pair of straight black brows lifted arrogantly. Daros coldly looked her over.

  ‘Perhaps you’d like to leave? You’re at liberty to do so just whenever you wish.’

  She gasped. No apology, no word of sympathy for what she had suffered. What a detestable family they were!

  ‘Thank you,’ she retorted. ‘I shall be more than happy to find myself out in the fresh air! ’ But after rising she promptly sat down again, her legs unbelievably weak.

  Both Daros and his mother exhibited surprise at her action, but neither inquired as to the reason why she had changed her mind.

  ‘I intend to kill her!’ screamed the old man, glaring at his grandson. ‘I’ll never rest until I’ve done my duty!’

  ‘Father, you must not. Calm down and try to be rational. Daros has explained, dear, that your sister’s death was nothing to do with the vendetta.’

  ‘You can’t prevent me, either of you, so you’ve wasted your time in coming here.’

  Once more Toni scanned his face, becoming tense in spite of herself as she noted the determination there. Daros was also anxious. He said abruptly,

  ‘Miss Freeman—’ He stopped, frowning in concentration. ‘Your brother’s name is Freeman, I seem to remember?’ and when she nodded, ‘Miss Freeman, you must leave Crete at once.’ Dumbfounded by this cool order, Toni could only stare, and Daros continued, ‘You don’t understand Greek, otherwise you’d appreciate the seriousness of the situation. My grandfather was greatly disturbed by the death of his sister; it’s clear that he’ll never allow this matter to drop and therefore it’s imperative that you leave the island immediately.’

  Toni seethed.

  ‘I’m afraid that isn’t possible,’ she retorted, ignoring his comment about her not understanding Greek. ‘I’ve recently renewed my work permit and signed another six-month contract with my employer.’

  ‘Who is your employer?’ and when she told him, ‘Leave everything to me. I’ll obtain your release in the morning and you can be off the island later in the day. I don’t know if there’s a plane, but there are plenty of ferry boats to the mainland.’

  Anger almost suffocated her as she lifted her head, her manner as arrogant as his.

  ‘Do you really expect me to leave my job, and be off the island in a matter of hours?’

  He sighed impatiently.

  ‘Had you been able to understand my grandfather you wouldn’t be hesitating. For your own safety, Miss Freeman, you must leave Crete.’

  ‘For my own safety,’ came the quiet rejoinder, ‘I must go to the police.’

  A profound silence followed this threat, a threat Toni would never have made, under these particular circumstances, had Daros and his mother been a little less selfish and a little more apologetic.

  ‘My advice,’ said Daros firmly at last, ‘is that you leave the island.’

  ‘It doesn’t suit me to leave the island - to throw my job and flee because of this man’s threats.’

  ‘You absolutely refuse?’

  ‘Most certainly I refuse. The man should be put away.’ She did not mean that, because the man was very old and in all probability would not live long.

  Besides, even though to western eyes the vendetta was barbaric and the killings inexcusable, to those concerned this was part of an accepted way of life, a custom instituted long ago and probably as old as some of the peculiar marriage rites which also survived in the remote and undeveloped villages of the East. This man was carrying the vendetta to absurd lengths, but it was plain that his mind was affected by the loss of his sister, and owing to this he genuinely believed his duty lay in exacting vengeance.

  ‘Miss Freeman,’ put in the woman on a note of desperation, ‘will you go if we compensate you?’

  ‘No.’ Although she was slowly accepting the fact that she must leave the island, Toni could not resist making these people suffer a little anxiety, just to punish them for their heartlessness towards her. ‘I shall be quite safe here ... when I’ve been to the police.’

  A swift glance passed between mother and son. The old man was leaning heavily against the table, his breathing difficult and his face drawn. Nevertheless he was able to say, in English,

  ‘The police can’t watch you all the time.’ His black eyes-bored into her, virulent and threatening. ‘I’ll lie in wait - that sometimes happens in a village if someone is going to kill. He hides in a corner, or among the trees, then when his chance comes he strikes!’

  ‘Stop this nonsense!’ Daros looked wrathfully at his grandfather. ‘The vendetta is uncivilized.’

  ‘In your opinion, Daros, perhaps. But I’m not of your generation and I follow custom as I know it and as it affects my sense of duty.’ His voice was lowered and more controlled, but it conveyed with force his determination to carry out what he firmly believed to be his duty. A heavy frown had settled on Daros’s brow; his mother was under great emotional stress.

  ‘He means it,’ she sobbed. ‘Daros, what can we do?’ Without waiting for a reply she turned to Toni. ‘Miss Freeman, just state your price and we’ll pay - anything you ask.’

  Much as she would have enjoyed keeping them in suspense a little while longer, Toni was impelled to set the woman’s mind at rest. Her fare home was all she would ask, and this only because she did not have it.

  ‘I’ll return to England, but you’ll have to pay—’ She paused, noticing the sudden jerk of Daros’s head and the gleam of obstinacy that had entered his eyes. ‘You’ll have to pay—’

  ‘We’ll pay nothing!’ he cut in before she could finish. ‘We won’t allow ourselves to be exploited because of this stupid belief of my grandfather. Mother should not have offered you money.’ That did it! Toni was not now prepared to give an inch and with eyes blazing and fists clenched she threatened once again to go to the police.

  ‘So it’s the police, or money?’ His eyes raked her whole body contemptuously. ‘You’d deliberately take advantage of this situation?’

  ‘Daros,’ interposed his mother, reverting to Greek, ‘don’t argue with the girl. Give her what she wants.’

  ‘I’ll not submit to blackmail— Grandfather, what’s the matter?’

  The old man had a hand to his head; he looked thoroughly exhausted and Toni suspected the recent struggle was affecting him similarly to the way it was affecting her.

  ‘I’m going to rest,’ he said, and left the room.

  ‘Pay the girl, Daros, and let’s have this off our minds.’

  ‘I
’ll have no woman making demands of me. You were most unwise to mention money.’

  ‘But your grandfather ... he means it, Daros.’

  Her son nodded mechanically and frowned in thought.

  ‘There must be some way of saving him from himself.’

  ‘You’ve only to agree to pay the girl—’

  ‘It’s against my principle,’ he cut in inexorably. ‘There must be some other way. He glanced at Toni. ‘You’ll have to leave,’ he snapped.

  ‘I’m not leaving!’

  He gave an exasperated sigh, then spoke to his mother.

  ‘She’s obviously unwilling to co-operate — not without payment,’ he admitted reluctantly.

  ‘Then you’ll have to waive your principles. It isn’t as if you can’t afford it.’

  The dark eyes narrowed.

  ‘You expect me to yield to her demands?’ His voice was brittle, and he shook his head as he spoke, but as she cast him a sideways glance Toni noticed the tenseness of his face, and the movement in the jaw that had until this moment remained flexed. He stared into space, frowning darkly at his thoughts. Toni continued to watch him, wondering what traits he had inherited from his bloodthirsty old grandfather. Not the lust to kill, but that he was heartless was patently clear. After remaining deep in thought for some time he at last said, with suppressed fury,

  ‘How much do you want, Miss Freeman?’

  A sigh of relief from his mother; she appeared to have shed a great weight.

  Now was the time, thought Toni, to tell Daros she had merely meant to ask for her fare, but some devil entered into her and, lifting her head she answered defiantly,

  ‘Nothing. I’m going to the police.’

  Daros frowned at her.

  ‘But you intended asking for money.’

  ‘I’ve changed my mind. Why should I leave my job?’

  His eyes narrowed dangerously. What would he like to do to her? she wondered.

  ‘That’s your last word? You’re quite determined to go to the

  police?’

  She hesitated. What had caused her to go this far? And how could she now draw back?

  ‘Quite determined,’ came the swift reply as she saw the sudden gleam of optimism at her delayed response to this question. All these fibs! What would he eventually think of her? Not that it mattered. The opinion of a man like Daros could not affect her in the least.

  ‘Oh, dear,’ wailed his mother. ‘It’s all your fault, for interrupting her. She was ready to discuss payment. There’s absolutely nothing we can do now—’ She broke off as her father came back into the room, his eyes glazed and darkly threatening.

  ‘I’ve just thought of something,’ he snarled. ‘That killer has an uncle living in Crete. I discovered this when I was making inquiries about her! So if she goes to England I’ll kill the uncle.’ He laughed in Daros’s face. ‘Yes, I’ll kill him - or one of his children. He has a very beautiful daughter, so I’m told.’ He leant forward, leering at Toni. ‘That’s right, isn’t it? His youngest ... very beautiful.... ’

  Toni’s heart missed a beat.

  ‘You can’t bring my uncle into this—’ But he had gone again, and as Toni’s voice trailed off the only sound in the room was that of the soft weeping of Daros’s mother. Both Daros and Toni became deep in thought.

  What was to be done now? Toni wondered. Almost from the first her intention had been to co-operate, to go home, but this new development had most seriously complicated the situation. If she stayed, her life would be in danger, but if she went home her uncle - or one of his family - could very well be attacked.

  The woman was the first to speak as, lifting her head, she looked curiously from Daros to Toni, and then back again to Daros.

  ‘Do you think she would marry you?’

  ‘What! ’ The exclamation could very well have come from Toni, but it didn’t. Daros literally gaped at his mother as if she, like her father, was half-way to insanity. Toni just gasped, having successfully bitten back her own incredulous exclamation even as Daros uttered his.

  ‘As you know, it’s forbidden to attack a relative.’ The woman spoke quickly, avoiding her son’s gaze. ‘If you were to marry her they’d all be related and he couldn’t touch any of them - not according to the laws of his village, and you know he’d obey them implicitly.’ She waited, rather apprehensively, but Daros remained speechless and she added swiftly, ‘I know you’ll hate it, but -but— Daros, could you bear to marry her?’

  Still dumbfounded, he could only stare at his mother. Clearly, he was thinking, she had taken leave of her senses. As for Toni, she almost revealed the fact of her having understood, but she managed somehow to smother the second exclamation that rose to her lips.

  The audacity of the woman! Never since her arrival in Greece had Toni met such a family. First she was almost murdered by one of them; then after their timely arrival had averted the danger neither the woman nor her arrogant son had thought fit to inquire how she felt or offer something to steady her nerves. In addition to this she had been ordered to leave the island, falsely accused of blackmail, and now she was to be used - should it suit that insufferable man to fall in with his mother’s suggestion — in order to save that homicidal maniac from himself! Not once in her life had she felt vindictive, but Toni knew that if a way of revenge should present itself she would be quite unable to resist it. However, no opportunity for revenge could present itself, and she remained silent, deeply interested in what was to happen next.

  ‘Marry her! Are you mad?’ At the disgust and contempt, at his impudence in assuming she was ignorant of what went on, Toni felt she could take no more and she opened her mouth to speak, but his mother was before her.

  ‘It’s the only solution. Of course she might not marry you, just to save her uncle, but I think if she learns about your wealth—’

  ‘It’s absolutely unthinkable!’ He made a gesture with his hand, a gesture of finality. ‘You’re out of your mind to suggest such a thing!’

  With a hopeless little movement the woman turned away from her son and Toni saw the fear and dread in her eyes. Without doubt she loved her father and it would break her heart if he went to prison.

  ‘If you married her it would only be temporary,’ the woman began again with dogged persistence. ‘Obviously you wouldn’t want her in - in— What I mean is, you wouldn’t want her in that way, and so immediately anything happens to Father you could send her off - have the marriage annulled. I wouldn’t ask you to marry her if it was going to affect your whole life, but it can’t possibly be for long.’ No comment from Daros, just a scowling glance, and his mother, still undaunted, went on, ‘There’s also the disgrace. Have you thought of that? The vendetta is now regarded as outlawry by educated Greeks and you have your position to think of. You’ve always been looked up to, held in the highest esteem by your business associates. Do consider my proposal, for all our sakes. There are your sisters, remember,’ she added in further desperate persuasion.

  Toni felt she must surely burst a blood vessel. Consider it! Just as if that arrogant son of hers had only to lift his finger and she, Toni, would come running. Sacrifice! That word did nothing to help either.

  ‘It’s out of the question! ’

  ‘Julia, at university ... and Margharita. Her husband’s in business, and he’s just been made the President of the village. You can’t allow them to suffer this disgrace.’

  White knuckle bones shone through the skin of Toni’s clenched fists. If she didn’t leave this house soon she must surely explode. Yet she made no move to go, so great was her curiosity as to how they meant to deal with the situation.

  ‘It’s impossible. You know my opinion of English women.’ He went on to elaborate, and Toni’s anger was fanned into an all-consuming flame as she heard English girls described as unattractive and conceited, as mercenary gold-diggers who trapped their victims by assumed helplessness, but who later imposed their emancipated strength on their unsuspecting husbands, red
ucing them to spineless creatures from whom even self-respect was stripped. ‘No, thank you! When the time comes I’ll take a Greek, who knows her woman’s place.’

  ‘I do understand your aversion, Daros, but as I’ve said, it’s the only solution. I deplore the idea as much as you, but only such a sacrifice on your part can save your grandfather from prison. And if he does go to prison he’ll die there, for I’m sure the sentence will not be light, even though he is very old.’

  Daros gritted his teeth. Clearly he had never been in such a humiliating position in the whole of his life. His mother would have spoken again, but was silenced by a quelling look. He was battling, Toni felt sure, and the glances he threw at her were as virulent as any she had received from his grandfather. At last he staggered her by saying, to his mother,

  ‘She’s so steeped in the Englishwoman’s obstinacy that she’ll probably not consider marriage - even for the money.’

  His mother gasped and so did Toni, but silently. And she kept her head adverted, for her face registered both fury and disbelief. For him even to think of marriage to her! Of course, it was only a temporary arrangement; his grandfather could die within weeks, for Toni judged his age to be well over eighty years. Daros must be thirty-five, at least, and his mother looked to be in her late fifties.

  ‘You’ll ask her?’ cried his mother eagerly and, without awaiting a reply, ‘I’m sure she’ll accept, even though she has shown she can be stubborn. The mention of the money will do it. You’ve always maintained that English women will do anything for money, so I don’t know why you should feel doubtful of her accepting you. Mention that you’re a shipowner and she’ll fall over herself to marry you.’ The woman went on to say that in the unlikely event of Toni hesitating he should not forget to mention his mansion in the Peloponnese and his summer residence on the island of Rhodes. ‘She’ll not be able to resist,’ she added confidently, while Toni by some miracle managed to maintain her wooden expression. ‘You’ll have to compensate her later, when you’re ready to end the marriage, and in all probability she’ll demand a large sum, but it will be well worth it.’