Confident that he was resting comfortably, Anna was at last willing to take time away from her patient. She sought her old friend's company.
"It is so nice to have you here, Father Gregorios. It was good of you to come. I'm sorry I've been ...," said Abbess Agatha all at once, with a tired smile, surveying him carefully. She noticed that Father Gregorios didn't look terribly well. He had aged considerably. His hair and beard were practically all gray, and his belly protruded through his long black vestments.
"I am happy to be here An … Abbess
Agatha, always at your, I mean God's, service."
"I'll have Novice Despina make us some coffee. Or would you like something stronger?"
He responded by raising his shoulders slightly to accept. "I've watched you taking care of your new patient. Do you know what happened to him?" he asked.
"A shipwreck below the monastery. They brought him here. He is badly burned, and has some fractures, but he is doing well. And I am doing my best." Anna turned her eyes to meet Father Gregorios'.
"Is there anything you would like me to do?"
"Yes. I'll care for his wounds. You pray for him."
"Of course, Elder Agatha."
They sat around a low table as Despina brought coffee, a bottle of ouzo, and some water. They each had some ouzo and then the coffee.
"Thanks for writing me, but there was so little news about you in your letters. It is true, I knew someday we'd meet again and … "
"I have a lot to share with you, Father, but now I want to hear from you."
"Thank you, Elder Agatha." He took a deep breath and let it out with a sigh. "Let's see, where should I begin? After you left the monastery in Crete, I worked with British intelligence to help as many soldiers as possible escape to Egypt. Weeks after the paratroop invasion in Crete, the Germans marched into the monastery and arrested me. There was a Greek man with them called Phobos."
Anna jumped, her hand jolted, and her coffee spilled all over her habit.
"What did I say?" asked a concerned Father Gregorios.
"That name ... that man!" exclaimed Elder Agatha, still shaking.
"I was brought to Vianos and taken to the school yard, along with a hundred or more men, including Christomanolis. We stood in line for hours, waiting to be executed, the German soldiers with machine guns across from us. It was torture."
The Father raised his gaze heavenward. "For some reason the German officer was hesitant to give the order to shoot. He paced nervously by the wireless radio transmitter, waiting for orders. Then he came over and talked to the mayor of Vianos. 'Why don't you tell us who the partisans are? Where are they?