Read Online Harvest of War by Hilary Green - Free Book Online

of our Serbian friends. He told me that not so long ago this was the third largest city in southern Europe, after Constantinople and Salonika. It was an important crossroad for trade, you see. The Roman Via Egnatia passed through on its way to northern Europe, and another important route going from the Adriatic to Constantinople crossed it here. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries it was so important that many nations felt it necessary to have consulates here – hence the elegant buildings. And it was a cradle of Orthodox Christianity. When the Turks arrived there were so many monasteries in the surrounding hills that they gave it the name Monastir.’
    â€˜And now it’s almost deserted, and being smashed to pieces,’ Leo said. ‘I wonder if it will ever recover.’
    Bitola was under constant bombardment from Bulgarian artillery and from German planes. By Christmas there was scarcely a building in the city undamaged and even the hospital had been hit. With snow blocking the mountain passes it was impossible for supplies to get through from the south and rations began to run short. Working twelve-hour shifts on inadequate food, Leo’s health began to suffer. Looking at herself in the mirror, on the rare occasions when she had time, she saw a haggard face with hollow cheeks, and sticklike arms and legs protruding from her swollen belly. She began to dread her encounter with Sasha more than ever.
    Christmas passed, both the Western one and the Orthodox. Then one evening she was folding sheets in the tiny storeroom when she heard his voice behind her.
    â€˜Leo! Here you are! I’ve been searching for you.’
    She put down the sheet she was holding and turned slowly to face him. For a split second she saw the happy anticipation on his face, then it faded to consternation and finally to anger.
    â€˜My God! What are you doing here in that condition?’
    Leo took a deep breath. She longed to throw herself into his arms but the expression on his face froze her to the spot. ‘My job,’ she replied quietly. ‘Like you.’
    â€˜Like me? The difference is I am not carrying a child!’ They gazed at each other in silence for a few seconds. Then he went on: ‘How long have you known?’
    â€˜Since . . . since just after you left Salonika.’ It was only a small lie.
    â€˜And the child is due when?’
    â€˜I’m not sure. A month, six weeks . . .’
    He made a gesture of incomprehension. ‘What were you thinking of? How could you risk yourself, and the baby?’
    â€˜I wanted to be near you.’ Her voice was shaking. ‘And I hoped the campaign would be over much sooner . . . before the worst of the winter. I thought by now we would either be in Belgrade, or back in Salonika.’
    He shook his head in disbelief. Then, at last, he came close to her and put his hands on her shoulders. ‘You must go back.’
    â€˜I can’t. Not until the spring comes. All the roads are closed. But I am in the right place, you see. This is a hospital, and Doctor Pierre is very competent . . . if he should be needed.’
    â€˜A hospital in a town that is being shelled every day! In a town that is running out of food! How could you be so stupid?’
    Tears scalded her eyes. She moved to him and laid her head against his shoulder. ‘Don’t be angry, Sasha. I want you to be glad, for both of us. We are going to have a child . . . our child.’
    â€˜A child born out of wedlock,’ he said. He did not draw back, but neither did he fold her in the embrace she craved.
    She looked up at him. ‘What does that matter? We are going to be married, one day.’
    â€˜One day. But that could be months, even years away. And the child is due long before that.’
    â€˜Why should we care? It doesn’t matter to us.’
    â€˜But it will to other people. Even when we are married, to some people it will still be a