The Dark Host by Archie Roy

Author:Archie Roy [Roy, Archie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

11 Poseidon’s other Island

At breakfast, Helen and Stavros made various suggestions regarding morning activities. None of the other people who had been present at dinner seemed to be around. I sat at the table admiring the southwards view and listening benevolently to the conversation. The eastern side of the dining room was curtained against the strong morning sun but the other two windowed sides showed that we were on the upper slopes of a small wooded valley leading down to the sea. The luxuriant growth testified to the fertility of well-watered soil. I looked at the intensive blue of the sea and estimated that it was no more than a quarter of a mile away. Several wide paths wound down the hill among oleander bushes, olive, cypress and pine groves.

We finally agreed that Helen would show the girls something of the island.

‘It is so very beautiful,’ she said. ‘This half of the island has several little bays with sandy beaches, completely secluded and sheltered by high cliffs. There are grottos, archaeological sites, vineyards, springs. The name of the island, “Kalloni” means “beauty”.’

‘I think,’ said Stavros, ‘that while the ladies are admiring the unspoiled beauty of Kalloni, we shall see the industrial and technological side. Oh yes,’ he added, ‘Kalloni is two-faced. As you will see.’ He finished his coffee. ‘I suggest that we go our separate ways and return here at eleven-thirty and then go for a swim at Cave Bay. Agreed ?’

Mike, Stavros and I took one of the smaller electric cars, rather like a jeep in size, with Stavros driving. It had an open top, with a canvas shade. The breeze was pleasant. We turned inland, climbing steadily along a tarmac road. On the right, bare mountain rose; on the left the scrub and boulder-covered slope fell steeply to the sea. The car whined at the severe gradient but got to the saddle which, Stavros said, split the island into a Garden of Eden and a Hades.

We descended the other side of the saddle on to a plateau resembling the burnt islands of Santorini, obviously volcanic in origin, built out of ancient lava flows, clinker blocks and pumice. In several places fumaroles still issued whitish gases. Over on the far side, industrial buildings stood.

‘Kalloni was once active volcanically, like Santorini,’ said Stavros. ‘In fact when Santorini exploded, Kalloni erupted in a minor way in sympathy. Below the surface, there must still be large reservoirs of magma. It is from this molten rock that all our energy comes.’

By now the car was approaching the first building. Stavros stopped the vehicle and we got out. The building turned out to be a power-station in which turbines were driven by steam generated from the geothermal energy tapped from the magma. The turbines in turn drove dynamos. In the continuous roar of the black monsters, Stavros added that with an inexhaustible source of electricity it was common-sense to have electric cars.

‘We also use it for de-salinization of seawater, mining and all other processes requiring an abundant supply of energy.

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