"It's Tuesday, a cursed and unlucky day for the Greek people."
"There must be some kind of reason for that."
"Yes. The fall of Konstantinopolis."
"I hope this Tuesday is not the same."
"I hope not, Sara."
Anna felt the warmth of the sun's rays on her shoulders, and the air smelled fresh with wild mint. Like a soft veil, the haze spread over the fertile land and the Mediterranean coastal waters.
All of a sudden, it felt as though the whole island was shaking violently. As the ground vibrated in earthquake proportions, the mule lost its balance. Anna and Sara quickly jumped off and lay on the ground with their ears close to the earth. They heard the tremendous sound and felt the earth moan under them. Anna looked up and there, from the northwest, hundreds upon hundreds of planes entered the Souda Bay and Maleme airspace. Flying low and buzzing like angry hornets, they spread fear and inspired anger in the freedom-loving Cretans.
The tall handsome woman who had taught the other women how to use guns gathered the women together and gave them instructions.
"You have guns and bullets. Use them.
And when you run out of ammunition, hit them with the butt of your weapon. Hit them hard while they are still disoriented from the fall. Take their guns and bullets. The Ever Holy Mother of God will be with us, fighting with us. We will stand beside our men in every capacity. Don't forget, it is better to live one hour free than forty years in German enslavement."
The women, including Anna, came to embrace her one by one and to receive her blessing.
"You look terrific, Aphroditi!" said one woman encouragingly, straightening her ammunition belts across her chest.
"And you, Rinoula," answered Aphroditi, as she was fixing her beret.
"Ekaterina, Kaliopi, Anastasia, Rosanti, get ready!"
At the end of the line was Ikaros. A little embarrassed, he shyly raised his hand to ask a question, but instead Anna kissed him on the left cheek. Ikaros turned his face, suggesting another, and Anna obliged. Ikaros' smile sliced his young face from one end to the other.
"Can I be with you when we fight the Germans, Anna?"
"Of course, Ikaros," replied Anna.
Before long, the clear sky was darkened with parachutists. "Evil polluting the heavens," snarled an old woman between her clenched teeth. Men, women, and children waited for the invaders. Many of them never touched the ground alive. Not a single bullet was wasted. Pitchforks proved deadly, so did the strong Cretan hands armed with sickles and hammers, picks and rakes, sharp fence stakes, kitchen knives, old bayonets, machetes, and even pocketknives. The Germans would never forget the long skewering sticks, too.