"I see you are caring for someone. Always finding someone to help, and it looks like he could use some help."

"Yes, he could," she responded. "We haven't had a doctor or proper medical supplies for him. We are so isolated up here."

"I can go for help as soon as I leave," said Plato enthusiastically. "I knew being a helicopter pilot would come in handy someday!"

"You are a helicopter pilot Plato?" "Oh my God, that is wonderful!"

"You are a godsend, Plato."

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Plato hesitantly lowered his eyes and then looked up at Anna.

"After the tragic death of Thea Melpomeni ... Poor Aunt Melpo ... I took it upon myself to find out the truth. It was not easy. I had to force it out of Dr. Tsipras by any means possible."

At the mention of that name, Anna shivered and the badly wounded sailor seemed to hiss and try to spit.

"It was against my nature, but I had to. I finally offered him money, and that worked. At last, he told me everything, including the truth about Alexander, whom I was raising. I was appalled. I couldn't believe that a man ... this man ... could be so evil and Aunt Melpo ... well, it is not good to speak evil about the dead. I would have come sooner, but it took me and your father all this time just to locate where you were."

Anna was already in tears. Plato raised his hands, one to each side of his head. Rubbing his temples, he lowered his head. "I am so sorry I did not come to see you sooner … " He continued, "My dearest cousin, my best childhood friend, how much you have suffered ... But then, life is suffering."

Suddenly the wounded sailor raised his hand and summoned Plato to his side.

"He ... he seems to be motioning for you to come to him," Anna said, puzzled by this.

"Thank you Plato," the wounded sailor whispered to him and squeezed his hand.

Plato recoiled, shocked. " You know my name! Do you know me? Who are you?"

"My name is Nikolas Theophilos; I was an officer of the Royal Greek Navy ..."

"Oh God! Is it possible! This is a miracle!" exclaimed Plato.

"Yes it is, Plato!" replied Anna as she almost fainted again. "Nikolas! My Nikolas!" She leaned over and embraced him."My Nikolas?" She keeps repeating as it was difficult for her to believe.

Plato, stunned, but overwhelmed with happiness at the sudden turn of events, excused himself and left Anna and Nikolas alone. He came back a short time later, holding a ten-year-old boy by the hand. Anna took one look and ran to the boy and took him in her arms and hugged him tightly, but the boy seemed resistant at first, not sure how to respond.




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