YANNIS (Cretan Saga Book 1) by Beryl Darby Read Free Book Online Page B

eyes widened. ‘What for?’
    ‘To see the buildings and art they have there. He’s been to Athens and Egypt. I’m going too.’
    ‘Oh? When?’
    ‘When I’m older and have saved some money,’ said Yannis confidently.
    Yiorgo stepped ashore. ‘Until you two boys have finished mending that net you haven’t even earned your lunch.’ He started to stroll back up the road with Annita dancing along beside him.
    ‘What are you going to do this afternoon?’ asked Andreas.
    ‘Read, I expect.’
    ‘You’re always reading.’
    ‘I enjoy reading. I want to know all about the different places ready for when I visit them.’
    Andreas looked at his cousin in concern. ‘Don’t you like Crete?’
    Yannis smiled. ‘I love it, but I want to see other countries. I want to see where the Venetians came from before they came here and built forts. The Romans came here, the Arabs, the Turks. I want to see why Crete was so much better than their own country.’
    Andreas did not understand. If you loved Crete why bother to go elsewhere? It must be all the reading that made Yannis odd.
    The walk to Elounda, where he would meet Yiorgo, was cold. Maria had accompanied him part of the way, but now he bent his head against the wind as he trudged along the country road alone. It had been good to spend a week with his family. He had been surprised and delighted when Yiorgo had given him a whole drachma to spend before leaving Aghios Nikolaos. He had spent a long time looking in the shops deciding what he should buy as presents. Finally, with Annita’s help, he had chosen hair ribbons for his sisters, coloured marbles for his brothers; a skein of embroidery silk for his mother and a small packet of tobacco for his father. He had been quite unprepared for their joy over the insignificant little gifts and glowed with pleasure at their thanks.
    He was almost as excited to be returning to Aghios Nikolaos as he had been on his first visit and once he was aboard the boat he felt as if he had never been away. Throughout January and February the weather continued to be wet and windy, Yiorgo continually coming home soaked to the skin, began to cough and sneeze. One by one the children caught his cold, staying home from school until the worst was over.
    The term passed uneventfully for Yannis. He had sought out Mr Pavlakis and asked if there was a certain date when applications had to be made to a High School, but Mr Pavlakis had seemed vague and disinterested. Yannis was miserable and when he went to church he prayed long and fervently for a solution to his problem. He could hardly believe his eyes the day he returned from school and saw his father sitting at the table with Yiorgo.
    ‘Pappa! What are you doing here? Is Mamma all right?’
    Yannis senior hugged his son closely to him. ‘Everyone is fine. How you’ve grown since Christmas!’
    Yannis sat down beside his father. ‘Why are you here, Pappa?’
    ‘I was sent for. I had a letter from your teacher asking me to come to Aghios Nikolaos as soon as I could, so here I am.’
    ‘From Mr Pavlakis? What have I done?’
    ‘That I hope to find out when I meet him. I hear you know where to find him in the evening so you’d better lead the way.’ Yannis rose from the table and placed an arm around his son’s shoulders. ‘I don’t think you need to worry too much, though.’
    Yannis led his father through the maze of side streets until he found the shabby taverna. As they entered Mr Pavlakis was in the act of pouring himself a glass of wine.
    ‘Good evening – why, Yannis. What brings you here?’
    ‘This is my father, Mr Pavlakis.’ Yannis felt very nervous.
    Mr Pavlakis held out his hand. ‘I’m pleased to meet you. Won’t you sit down and have a glass of wine with me?’
    ‘Thank you.’ Mr Christoforakis was also feeling nervous. ‘You sent a message to me asking me to come to Aghios Nikolaos to see you about Yannis. Something to do with the High School in Heraklion.’
    Mr