The Olive Garden Choir by Leah Fleming

Author:Leah Fleming [Fleming, Leah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781788548656
Publisher: Head of Zeus

32

Ariadne peered up at the chapel on the hill, wondering if Hebe could make the trek up from the village over the wooden bridge. The water ran off the hillside in a channel, then flowed out to Mistrali beach and into the sea.

Recent rain had filled the often dried-out riverbed into a steady stream. Then there was a steep path up to the little chapel of St Nicholas. It was 6 December, his festival day, and troops of Nikoses and Nicolettas would come to bless his icon and wish each other chronia polla, or many years. There would be offerings, candles lit, and Father Michaelis would be saying prayers. As it was on a weekday the lighted procession would come later, but the little chapel flickered with hundreds of tiny Christmas lights.

Ariadne wanted the choir to sing something nautical, since St Nicholas was the patron of seafarers and ladies of the night who plied their trade in the back-streets close to harbours and ports all over the world.

Peter, from the retreat, brought the little paper boats for the children and anyone else who wanted to light a candle and pop in their own wishes.

Hebe would be better off staying on the bridge and enjoying the flotilla of little boats bobbing on the stream into the sea. Ariadne did not want her out of sight. There were moments when she seemed so lost, complaining of a headache. It was time to see Dr Makaris again, to have her checked over thoroughly, and if that meant a trip to Heraklion Hospital on Crete, then so be it. Something wasn’t right. Perhaps she should pop her own wish for Hebe’s health into one of the little boats.

The turnout of residents at dusk was decent enough and this time they didn’t sing a carol, but that famous of all sea hymns:

Eternal Father, strong to save,

Whose arm has stayed the restless wave…

Who could complain about that? she thought, as the choir gathered together, singing in harmony. The sound wafted over the gathered crowds and she hoped it would carry down into the village.

Father Michaelis was quite happy to let them perform outside the church, where stars twinkled above them. There were benches by the chapel for the weary to sit awhile and catch their breath. The chapel twinkled in the darkness, set high to catch the last of the sunset, but tonight it was windy and cool. Ariadne was glad of her Puffa anorak, excited by their first public performance. She sensed it had gone well.

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