The Messenger of Athens: A Novel by Anne Zouroudi

Author:Anne Zouroudi [Zouroudi, Anne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Mystery & Detective, General
ISBN: 0316069914
Google: tZBR6FyDNEsC
Amazon: B003JTHXS6
Publisher: Reagan Arthur Books
Published: 2010-07-19T05:00:00+00:00

Outside, beneath the window, tires scattered the loose stones and gravel of the unmade road. A car slowed, and stopped. Above the idling engine, a tape was playing, traditional music, rembetika, slow and sad.

Elpida crossed to the window. In Theo’s space, a silver Mercedes was parked. In its time, it had been a showpiece; its upholstery was soft, red leather, its trim walnut veneer and highly polished chrome. Now, it was a curiosity, the kind of car tycoons drove in black-and-white, after-midnight movies. Elpida knew the car, and its driver. Everyone knew Michaelis Kypreos.

Kypreos switched off the engine; the music stopped. The talismans dangling from the rear-view mirror—a turquoise-studded crucifix; a small, laminated icon of a rosy-cheeked madonna; a sachet of pot-pourri—became still.

Elpida switched off the iron, kicked off her slippers and put on her yard shoes. A length of straw was stuck to one sole with drying chicken shit.

Kypreos stood in the road, hands on his waist, looking up at the window. He was a big man, and ugly. Face like an octopus’s underside, the people said. They didn’t say it to his face. Kypreos had money, and influence. The people didn’t like him, but his money bought their respect.

Kypreos began to shout up at the window.

“Carpenter! Carpenter! Are you there, God damn you?”

Elpida ran a hand through her lank hair and went out into the courtyard. As Kypreos strode towards her, she opened the door wide.

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