Page 84 of Villa of Secrets

Rebecca frowned and glanced at the rug. ‘Ah well, I guess she had her reasons for wanting to do them again. Anyway, take as much time as you want, you deserve a break. I’m about to have half an hour with the diary.’

‘Great, see you later. Bye.’

Rebecca settled in her grandmother’s armchair and opened Bubba’s journal.

Saturday, 19 August 1944

I arrived at Mount Filerimos, eager to be with Irini and Evangelisa. I’d never been away from them for so long before and needed their affectionate hugs and kisses. Yet, when I returned, I sensed something had changed between us. While they were friendly, they seemed to be holding back. Particularly Irini. An atmosphere of shyness hung over our embraces, and for a short time I saw myself as an intruder. ‘Is everything all right?’ I asked.

She nodded, her eyes doleful, shifting to the ground and then to me. ‘Did you miss me?’ she said in a strange way, and I wasn’t sure if she was being sarcastic.

‘Of course. What do you think?’

She shrugged. ‘What’s going to happen to us, Dora?’

‘I’ve no idea. I only know that with every day that passes it becomes more crucial for this war to end soon, because irreversible things are happening in faraway places.’

All through our meal, Evangelisa and Xanthi quizzed me about learning to use the pistol.

‘Won’t you be too afraid?’ Xanthi asked. ‘I mean, if you have to shoot somebody – end their life. I’d find it terrifying. Imagine who that person might be . . . somebody’s father or brother. Wouldn’t you compare their family to your own? I couldn’t do it.’

‘Just thinking about it scares me to death,’ Evangelisa added.

‘Enough! You’re not helping me. I really don’t want to consider it!’ I pushed myself away from the table. ‘And you’d better not repeat what I’ve told you. It’s secret!’ I stormed out of the hut, turned, and barged back in. ‘I must report to Nathanial tomorrow and he said I would be shot if I repeated anything to anyone at all.’ I stopped to let the statement sink in. Their eyes were fixed on me when I continued. ‘And the person I spoke to would also be killed in the most horrible way! You three with your constant nagging have put us all in danger!’

I’d hardly slept the night before, asking myself the same things. Could I kill somebody again? I shouldn’t have talked about it, but tiredness and their relentless questions got the better of me.

It’s an odd thing, but as I’m bringing my diary up to date, it dawns on me that when you write things down, everything becomes clearer. I realise now, it was wrong of me to talk to my friends about the relationship I had with the Andartes. And, I really should have shown more affection to Evangelisa right from the start, as I am all the family she has at the moment and she is still very much a child. Now that I read back, I also see that I have taken Irini’s love and loyalty for granted, and I am ashamed of myself.

I can’t change the past, but the past can change me. I can and will learn from my mistakes. I will try to be a better person, and give more to my loyal and loving companions in the future.

Sunday, 20 August 1944

Dear Diary, Giovanni arrived at the hut eager to accompany me to the Andartes this morning. As always, we made the most of our time alone together and eventually emerged from the woods breathless and blushing. We both needed a moment to recompose before facing Nathanial.

Once we had pushed through the final wall of trees, Giovanni reached for my hand. In the afternoon breeze, we stood and gazed at the mansion that we believed had once belonged to a great sea captain. Mesmerised by the overpowering beauty of the ancient building, I felt Giovanni’s hand tighten around mine, and knew he was equally fascinated by the Venetian villa.

The shutters on the upper floor were open and, for a moment, the rising sun was reflected, golden, in the windows, shining like some great, fat, Buda in the depths of the forest, happy to see us.

Then, with a shift in the breeze, slender tree shadows swayed across the dusty pink walls and the building took on a different appearance. Something green, leafy, and fragile had caught hold in the high gutter and trailed its fern-like foliage down the timeworn façade, like the delicate veil of a blushing bride. I was drawn to the cream balustrades of the Juliet balcony and imagined myself up there, gazing upon my beloved Romeo.

‘One day, I’ll have a house like this. It’s my dream,’ Giovanni whispered. He let go of my hand and slipped his arm around my waist. ‘What’s your secret dream?’

I turned to face him, our eyes met and I wanted to melt against his body. ‘I think you know that already.’

He kissed me chastely on the lips and nodded. ‘We’d better go inside, Nathanial’s waiting.’

*

We found the leader of the Andartes in a pleasant mood. ‘I’ve had good reports from Kapitanos Nikos, little one,’ he said. ‘You were brave at Seven Springs, and added two more weapons to our cache. Also, in the bamboo grove, I hear you were very quick-thinking. Now, I want to hear about what happened in your own words.’

I hesitated. Was this a test? ‘I’m sorry, sir, but I don’t know what you’re talking about.’

‘The shooting? The snake? Kapitanos Nikos?’

‘With respect, sir, I don’t know anyone with that name, or anything about a shooting or a snake. You must have me confused with somebody else.’

Nathanial roared with laughter. ‘Be ready for fresh instructions. I want you prepared to leave in an instant.’