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 Daphneâs 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 wouldnât hang them, would they?
âIâm afraid for my baby,â she whispered to the man holding the cup.
What is Aristotle telling the giant? We should have made a plan before .â.â.
She needed the bathroom. Lately, she couldnât go half an hour before needing privacy behind a bush.
âWe volunteered to help,â she said to the giant. âIf weâd known this was how youâd treat us, Iâd have kept my mouth shut.â
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.
âTell them everything, Daphne.â
âDonât speak!â 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 couldnât do anything.
âBring her out, now!â 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 hadnât 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.
âDonât be afraid. I will not hurt you or your husband, so long as you tell me the absolute truth.â
She thought she saw compassion when she looked him in the eyes.
âWho are you working for?â he yelled with a sudden change of mood, slamming his fist into the palm of his other hand.
She quaked so violently she couldnât speak. Then, cowering in her seat, she whispered, âPlease .â.â. Iâm not used to this, to violence. Iâm not working for anyone. Are you going to kill us? Iâm having a baby .â.â. Please, be merciful.â
âWhy are you running away?â he yelled even louder. âWho are you trying to escape from?â
Daphne had no option but to tell him the truth. She took a breath, dared to look into his eyes, and said, âIâm Jewish.â
He sighed so hard she felt his breath on her face.
âWhat happened?â
âMy 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.â She began sobbing again and had to pause. After hauling in some deep breaths, she continued. âI wanted to stay with Aristotle. He was my art teacher for many years and I had fallen in love with him. We got married. Iâm pregnant. We are trying to get to my cousinâs farm on the islet of Aitoliko. My cousinâs name is Lola Abad. My family disowned her for marrying a Muslim, not that heâs religious at all, neither is she.
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