An Island Promise by Patricia Wilson

Author:Patricia Wilson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bonnier Publishing Fiction

26

DAPHNE

Corinth, 1943

THE ANDARTES LIFTED THE CUP to Daphne’s mouth, and she drank, feeling the water sweet and cold in her dusty throat. She stared at the coiled rope on the wall. These thugs wouldn’t hang them, would they?

‘I’m afraid for my baby,’ she whispered to the man holding the cup.

What is Aristotle telling the giant? We should have made a plan before . . .

She needed the bathroom. Lately, she couldn’t go half an hour before needing privacy behind a bush.

‘We volunteered to help,’ she said to the giant. ‘If we’d known this was how you’d treat us, I’d have kept my mouth shut.’

The door opened. She held her breath, more afraid than ever. Aristotle staggered in, a trickle of blood running from the corner of his mouth. His bruised left eye had already closed.

‘Tell them everything, Daphne.’

‘Don’t speak!’ the brute yelled.

She could only gulp for breath, her chest jerking and tears streaming. Her fists clenched and she started shaking. Aristotle saw she was in a state, but couldn’t do anything.

‘Bring her out, now!’ the bully yelled.

The men lifted Daphne and carried her outside. One held her under the arms, the other clutched her feet. Their powerful hands gripped her with bruising violence. She realised the futility of trying to wriggle free. Anyway, she hadn’t the energy. She felt sweat trickle down her spine after the cottage door slammed behind her. They sat her on the bench seat in the truck. The bully sat opposite.

‘Don’t be afraid. I will not hurt you or your husband, so long as you tell me the absolute truth.’

She thought she saw compassion when she looked him in the eyes.

‘Who are you working for?’ he yelled with a sudden change of mood, slamming his fist into the palm of his other hand.

She quaked so violently she couldn’t speak. Then, cowering in her seat, she whispered, ‘Please . . . I’m not used to this, to violence. I’m not working for anyone. Are you going to kill us? I’m having a baby . . . Please, be merciful.’

‘Why are you running away?’ he yelled even louder. ‘Who are you trying to escape from?’

Daphne had no option but to tell him the truth. She took a breath, dared to look into his eyes, and said, ‘I’m Jewish.’

He sighed so hard she felt his breath on her face.

‘What happened?’

‘My father was a minister in the government until the Gestapo made him wash dishes. The bishop and chief of police got us papers so my father, sister and mother could escape to Cairo. The Nazis took my two brothers. One got himself shot so Mamá could escape.’ She began sobbing again and had to pause. After hauling in some deep breaths, she continued. ‘I wanted to stay with Aristotle. He was my art teacher for many years and I had fallen in love with him. We got married. I’m pregnant. We are trying to get to my cousin’s farm on the islet of Aitoliko. My cousin’s name is Lola Abad. My family disowned her for marrying a Muslim, not that he’s religious at all, neither is she.

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