The Oar of Odysseus by Richard M. Bank

Author:Richard M. Bank
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction & Literature
Publisher: Histria Books
Published: 2022-08-22T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

Penny and Michael waited on the tarmac with the resort’s minivan as the twin-engine Gulfstream taxied up to the private terminal. Hermes, aka Herman Kogen, flew in and out of Karpathos all the time and had an arrangement with the security and customs officials. That’s why they were able to drive onto the tarmac after a brief check at the gate, and why they would be able to leave with their passengers in like manner. It was quite early, not yet 6 a.m. local time. They would have left Boston in the afternoon, and with the time change and the eight or so hours in the air, cheated the night. Penny hoped that everyone had been able to sleep, excepting the pilots, of course. A big day was ahead of them, bigger than any of them could probably imagine. It was to be the day of the big reveal.

The plan was for all of them to spend the day on Karpathos and stay the night at the Amazon owned resort, the Palace — actually in Greek, Παλάτι Αιγών, the Palace of the Goats. Penny wanted to get Marisol alone for a time, on the ferry or perhaps visiting the goats, to tell her first. Coming from the Caribbean, Michael thought Marisol would be familiar with notions of living spirits, magic, and fatalism, and therefore more open to the truth of Penny’s tale. Later, after dinner, with Marisol by her side, Penny would tell her parents and her aunt.

The plane pulled to a stop, engines cut, and the stairway pushed against the hatch and locked into place. Penny and Michael walked in that direction as the door opened and Sappho came charging down the stairs, dragging her leash, apparently pulled suddenly from Alice’s hand if the accompanying screech was to be believed. Sappho made short order of the distance between them, dancing and jumping around Penny and Michael as if they were doggie treats of the finest quality. Laughing, Penny knelt and embraced the squirming dog, as Michael fumbled for the leash, finally securing it, but with little effect on the dog’s excitement.

“You wonderful sweet dog. You seem quite happy to see us. Or maybe just to be on solid ground,” said Penny, looking up at Michael. “And she probably needs to pee.”

“Good point. We’ll make sure before we leave. Come, let’s greet your parents.”

Introductions were pro forma, for the most part. Siobhan, Penny’s mother, embraced Michael warmly; her father, Frank, scrutinized him appropriately. They had counted on the long plane ride with Alice and Marisol, who had lived with them for several weeks, to vouch for Michael and the authenticity of their love. And to avoid too many embarrassing questions during the drive to the harbor at Karpathos, Penny planned to ride next to her father, with Siobhan up front with Michael. The one surprise was Cynna, who, along with managing the coffee shop on the BU campus, was a certified pilot and had signed on as copilot for the chance to visit her home and attend the wedding.

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