He became even more agitated. "Oh, yes, and if the Soviets don't cut a deal with Germany, then we will fight the Germans in Greece. Right here in Crete!" he shouted, glaring and pointing his finger at Christomanolis' face. "And we will be victorious!" His face brightened. "Isn't that exciting?"
"Phobos, my family needs to rest. So please go now. Our wheat fields need weeding badly. Sophia and I with one more worker are leaving early in the morning. I will see you when I get back."
***
After Phobos left, Christomanolis made sure to bolt the door behind him. Christomanolis was a man of his word and Phobos knew it. He was a good husband, and even after many years of marriage and three children, he was still in love with his wife. Sophia had taken his heart the moment he first saw her fetching water from the spring. She had raised her long skirt so as not to get it wet, and when he noticed her lovely legs, he was overcome. The following morning, Christomanolis went to her father and asked for his blessing to marry his daughter. The father's reluctance to agree prompted Christomanolis to go to Sophia's house at night and elope with Sophia, who had fallen in love with him as well. They were soon married and had always been happy together. The two of them were so close that they got into the habit of eating out of the same plate, with their knees always touching under the table.
***
Down in the basement of the house, the exhausted Anna could no longer keep her eyes open. She surrendered to the welcoming sleep. Christomanolis and Sophia did not sleep that night. Sophia prepared food for Anna's journey: hard bread husks, olives, cheese, onions, garlic, and red wine. Christomanolis was careful about his activities when he went out, to avoid raising any suspicions, because Phobos' men were always watching.
They were not originally from the village, but had recently moved in and were trying to take over and run things. Fortunately, that meant that they did not know all the different villagers and their routines, so
Christomanolis asked the shepherd whose herd of goats passed through the village every morning to take Anna as his helper, promising that he would meet them past the cemetery. The kind man agreed without hesitation. At six in the morning, Anna left the house wearing a long black gypsy skirt, a dark wool cape, and a deep mauve kerchief that covered her head and most of her face. She was given a staff and a knapsack to perfect her disguise.