Mykonos After Midnight

Chapter Twenty-four

Temi had spent most of the afternoon at his old friend Frederiko’s farm next to the reservoir in Marathi. His friend had supplied the homegrown vegetables and freshly caught fish, and Temi the homemade wine. By the time Temi and his small, dust-covered pickup truck reached his favorite hangout in Ano Mera, he’d fully attained the state of philosophic ecstasy so sought after by the ancients through wine.

His jolting ride in the harbormaster’s SUV from Ano Mera’s town square to the house at the top of the mountain had done nothing to diminish Temi’s self-perceived clarity of thought on all things.

A small, thin man, with a craggy, walrus-mustached face and a black fisherman’s cap perpetually perched upon whatever silver hair remained beneath it, Temi embodied the tourist’s post card image of “old” Greece; and he relished that role.

Andreas offered Temi coffee. Temi refused and instead magically produced a small bottle of wine from a front pocket of his baggy pants.

“Later,” said Andreas holding out his hand for the bottle. “But first I need your help with something very important.”

Temi shrugged and handed Andreas the bottle. “Wine is also important. It captures the essence of sun, rain, earth, wind, all of God’s unique natural gifts in one exquisite form for us to enjoy while bringing us closer to the Almighty.”

This is going to be tough, thought Andreas. “Frankly, at the moment, I’m more concerned about keeping a really close friend away from the Almighty.”

Temi twisted his head like a perched hawk trying to make out what had caught its eye.

“Do you know Tassos Stamatos?”

“Yes, of course I do. I knew him and his wife. Tragic what happened to her and their baby. When was it now?”

“Around forty years ago. His wife and son died in childbirth,” said Andreas.

Temi nodded. “Yes, tragic.”

“He needs our help and we’re hoping you can answer some questions about Stapodia.”

“Ah, Stapodia. My personal Delphi. How I miss my visions there.”

“Is there another way to the top besides following the church path?”

Temi smiled. “Ah, I see you are also a philosopher,” and waved his hands in the air. “All about us are the results of men who listen to the charlatans of change telling them that the way to the top is easy. Just allow money to lead you.

“Our beaches, our land, our culture, our children, our very souls are all we need offer in exchange. A simple transaction. Why not? Who cares about those yet to come? Or those who came before and left us as shepherds of this island paradise.”

“I’m talking about a somewhat different path,” said Andreas.

Temi nodded. “I know. But mine is for more than one man, it is for our island, our nation. We have lost our way.”

“Please, Temi, is there another path to the top of Stapodia?”

“Follow Satan’s path.”

Patience, Andreas. “What are you talking about?”

“My dog. Satan was my companion there for many years. He knew a way. But he’s gone and the path may be too. Who knows what could have happened to it in these frenzied times of build everywhere.”

Vangelis said, “No one has built anything there since the church.”

Temi grinned. “Not that you wouldn’t have tried if you thought you could make money from it.”

Andreas raised his hands. “Gentlemen, this is not the time to debate the pros and cons of development. We are trying to save a man’s life.”

“Communist,” said Vangelis.

“Malaka,” said Temi.

Andreas raised his voice. “Cool it. Please, just show us that other way up to the top.”

The harbormaster unrolled a nautical chart on a stone table next to Temi.

Temi’s head rocked back and forth, his eyes drifting on and off the map.

“Please,” said Andreas pointing to the map. “Show us.”

“I’m trying to remember. It’s been a very long time.”

Andreas held his breath and looked at Kouros. Kouros looked at his watch. Andreas didn’t have to. He could tell it was getting late by the large orange ball about to drop into the sea off to the west.

“I think it was here.” Temi aimed a shaky finger midway along the south side of the tiny drawing of the island.

“The path starts around here.” He waved his finger in a circle around a small cove. “And runs like this up to here.” He squiggled his finger from the cove to a spot directly above it and due south of the lighthouse. “I’m sure it comes out there because that’s where I’d see Satan coming back from the sea. But I’m not so sure of the rest.”

“Have you ever walked it?” said Kouros.

“Are you crazy? There’s a simple path for man to follow. I had mine, Satan had his.”

Stay with me on this, Temi, for just a little longer, Andreas prayed. “How long do you think it takes to climb to the top from the cove?”

“I could give you an idea if you were a dog. But, as a man, all I can suggest is that you take a look at it and judge for yourself.”

“No time for that. We’re climbing tonight,” said Kouros.

“In the dark? Do you have a death wish? It’s a cliff face.”

“Is there any other way up?” said Andreas.

Temi gestured no.

Andreas shrugged. “Then what choice do we have?”

“What else do you want to know from me?”

“A lot. But give me a few minutes while I get our harbormaster to make some arrangements for us.”

“What do you need?” said the harbormaster

“A squad of your best navy seals would do nicely.”

He smiled. “Sorry, all out. You’ll just have to settle for Yianni.”

***

“Hi, Maggie.”

“Andreas, what’s happening? I haven’t heard from you in hours!”

“Sorry, we’ve been making preparations to bring back Tassos.”

“You know where he is?”

“We think he’s in a lighthouse on a tiny island just off of Mykonos.”

“Are you sure?”

“As sure as we can be.”

“When will you know?”

“When Yianni and I break down the door.”

“Just the two of you?”

“The coast guard is ready to play the cavalry if we need them. But this is the safest way to do it for Tassos.”

“What about for you and Yianni?”

“There’s something in my office I need right away. I want you to get it to me by helicopter and I don’t care how you find one.”

“You’re not going to answer my question, are you?”

“Maggie. Please. Just do what I’m asking.”

“Okay.”

And she did.