The Dark Side of the Island by Jack Higgins Read Free Book Online Page B

been staying with my wife. I have a bar down by the harbour called The Little Ship. Katina has been, coming out here each day with the horse and cart to look after things until they decide what to do. Apparently she was just leaving when she saw us coming down the hill through the vineyard."
     
     
"Does she know why we're here?"
     
     
Alexias shook his head. "Not at the moment. I'll tell her later. She could be very useful to us."
     
     
"How much do you think the fact of your brother's death will interfere with our plans?" Lomax asked.
     
     
"Very little," Alexias said. "But it means I'll have to make personal contact with various local people myself now. As soon as we've had supper, I'll go down into the town with Katina."
     
     
"That could be dangerous," Boyd said.
     
     
Alexias shook his head. "There isn't a curfew in force on Kyros and the cafe's on the waterfront are usually full until well past midnight. The Germans can alter many things, but not our way of life."
     
     
At that moment, the kitchen door opened and Katina came in. She was carrying a tray which she set down on the table.
     
     
She turned, brushing back a lock of hair from her forehead with one hand. "I'm afraid there is only cheese made from goat's milk and olives, but the bread is fresh. My aunt baked it this morning before I left."
     
     
"It looks bloody marvellous to me, love," Joe Boyd said, and she blushed and quickly poured coffee into four mugs.
     
     
Lomax had been pulling on his shirt and sweater at the fire and when he turned, he found her standing just behind him holding a mug of coffee.
     
     
She smiled shyly. "I'm afraid there isn't any sugar."
     
     
Her face was heart-shaped with a pure white skin drawn too tightly over prominent cheekbones and there were dark sunken circles.under her eyes. Her black hair was drawn back from her face and tied.carelessly with a ribbon. She was perhaps sixteen or seventeen, but it was hard to be exact. She had that tired, too-old look that he had seen in the eyes of so many people recently.
     
     
He smiled and took a sip of his coffee. "It tastes good anyway. Aren't you having any?"
     
     
She shook her head. "My aunt will have supper waiting for me when I return."
     
     
She wore a faded print dress which had obviously been washed and mended many times and an ancient Norfolk jacket, two sizes too big for her and belted round her slender waist.
     
     
Lomax ran a finger lightly down one of the lapels. "Harris tweed. Nothing very Greek about that garment. Where did you pick it up?"
     
     
She flushed and he was at once sorry knowing that in some way his words had touched her pride. "New clothes are one thing it is impossible to obtain here," she said. "I was given this coat by a friend, Mr. Van Horn."
     
     
"You know Oliver Van Horn?" Lomax said in surprise.
     
     
"Everyone on Kyros knows Mr. Van Horn," she said. "He's a fine man."
     
     
"Is he still living hi his villa out on the point?" Alexias demanded.
     
     
She nodded. "The Germans don't bother him. Since old Doctor Douplos died, Mr. Van Horn has taken his place. He's the only doctor available to the islanders."
     
     
"I'd forgotten he studied medicine as a young man," Lomax said. "Something else he has hi common with. Maugham. I'd give a lot to meet him."
     
     
"Who knows, perhaps you will." Alexias cut himself a large slice of cheese. "Katina, I've decided to go into town with you. Will it be safe?"
     
     
She nodded. "There should be plenty of people in the streets on a warm night like this."
     
     
Alexias turned to Lomax. "I'll be back first thing in the morning. I should have got things moving by then. You and Boyd can sleep here in the loft."
     
     
"Ill go and harness the mare," Katina interrupted. "If I'm not back soon Aunt Sarah will begin to worry."
     
     
The door closed behind her and Lomax pulled on his tunic and reached for the night glasses. "She's got a point there. I'll give her a hand and then