Read Online Hearts of Stone by Simon Scarrow - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Simon Scarrow
Tags: Fiction, Historical
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house.
‘Ah, there’re our German friends!’ He strode clumsily across the terrace and grasped Dr Muller’s hand and shook it effusively, before doing the same to Heinrich. He gave Peter a cheery pat on the cheek.
‘I hear you’ll be leaving us in a few days.’
Peter exchanged a glance with his father as he replied. ‘The day after tomorrow.’
‘That’s too soon. We shall miss you, eh?’
Dr Muller smiled and then he reached inside his jacket and took out a small envelope and handed it Eleni. ‘You wanted this.’
She opened the envelope and took out the photograph. Eleni stared at it for a moment before showing it to her parents and then replacing it in the envelope. ‘Thank you, Herr Doktor. I shall treasure it. It will be good to be reminded of my friend.’ She flashed a smile at Peter. ‘He has taught me so much.’
Katarides gently steered his guests towards the table that had been set on the terrace. The three Germans sat opposite those already seated while Katarides took his place at the head of the table and Thesskoudis sat at the other end. As they settled, the cicadas began to shrill in the surrounding garden.
‘It seems that this has turned out to be a farewell feast.’ Katarides smiled ruefully. ‘A pity. Especially as I have arranged a treat for you all. But more of that later. I shall miss you, Herr Doktor. There are too few learned people on this island, and this table holds those that are,’ he added smoothly for the benefit of Thesskoudis. The policeman’s wife, sitting between Eleni and Andreas, smiled discreetly for an instant.
‘We’ll be sorry to leave. Peter and I have become very fond of the island. And young Heinrich too, I expect.’
His assistant made a show of seeming to agree with the sentiment. ‘Of course. Although I am looking forward to returning to Germany.’
Their host folded his hands together. ‘May we expect to see you again, Herr Steiner? Once Europe’s statesmen have returned to their senses.’
‘Hard to say, sir. I have learned much from my time here. Perhaps I need new experiences. New horizons. Germany offers many opportunities to young men with ambitions.’
‘That is what we have been led to believe. I am sure you are right to pursue a future in your homeland. There is little that Lefkas can offer a man like yourself, once you have exhausted your curiosity in the fragments of past ages. Young men should revel in more spiritual delights. They are creatures of flesh and blood after all.’
‘Aren’t we all?’ Thesskoudis intervened with a wink. ‘It’s just that we lose the urge to act on it as we grow old, fat and content.’
‘I’ve often wondered about that . . .’ his wife said quietly.
Peter had met her on several occasions and found her to be a dour, firmly built woman of few words. He was surprised at her flash of humour.
Beside her Andreas met Peter’s gaze and both struggled to hide their smiles. The policeman could not help picking up on his wife’s comment and he frowned at her for a moment before his irrepressible good humour caused the severe expression to crumble and he laughed. Husband and wife exchanged a brief smile before Thesskoudis turned his attention to Heinrich.
‘A word of advice, young man. Never marry for love. That is the swiftest road to living under a tyranny. That was my mistake, and now I am enslaved.’
His wife glared at him. ‘Enslaved! Hah!’
This time everyone around the table chuckled and the atmosphere lightened. The poet’s servant appeared, dressed in plain black trousers and a white shirt, and placed two decanters of wine on the table before pouring glasses for the adults. Then he looked questioningly at his master. Katarides gave a nod and the servant half filled the glasses of the younger guests before disappearing back into the house. The host raised his glass and proposed the toast.
‘To friendship. To happy marriage. To knowledge. To beauty and art. I think that defines us
‘Ah, there’re our German friends!’ He strode clumsily across the terrace and grasped Dr Muller’s hand and shook it effusively, before doing the same to Heinrich. He gave Peter a cheery pat on the cheek.
‘I hear you’ll be leaving us in a few days.’
Peter exchanged a glance with his father as he replied. ‘The day after tomorrow.’
‘That’s too soon. We shall miss you, eh?’
Dr Muller smiled and then he reached inside his jacket and took out a small envelope and handed it Eleni. ‘You wanted this.’
She opened the envelope and took out the photograph. Eleni stared at it for a moment before showing it to her parents and then replacing it in the envelope. ‘Thank you, Herr Doktor. I shall treasure it. It will be good to be reminded of my friend.’ She flashed a smile at Peter. ‘He has taught me so much.’
Katarides gently steered his guests towards the table that had been set on the terrace. The three Germans sat opposite those already seated while Katarides took his place at the head of the table and Thesskoudis sat at the other end. As they settled, the cicadas began to shrill in the surrounding garden.
‘It seems that this has turned out to be a farewell feast.’ Katarides smiled ruefully. ‘A pity. Especially as I have arranged a treat for you all. But more of that later. I shall miss you, Herr Doktor. There are too few learned people on this island, and this table holds those that are,’ he added smoothly for the benefit of Thesskoudis. The policeman’s wife, sitting between Eleni and Andreas, smiled discreetly for an instant.
‘We’ll be sorry to leave. Peter and I have become very fond of the island. And young Heinrich too, I expect.’
His assistant made a show of seeming to agree with the sentiment. ‘Of course. Although I am looking forward to returning to Germany.’
Their host folded his hands together. ‘May we expect to see you again, Herr Steiner? Once Europe’s statesmen have returned to their senses.’
‘Hard to say, sir. I have learned much from my time here. Perhaps I need new experiences. New horizons. Germany offers many opportunities to young men with ambitions.’
‘That is what we have been led to believe. I am sure you are right to pursue a future in your homeland. There is little that Lefkas can offer a man like yourself, once you have exhausted your curiosity in the fragments of past ages. Young men should revel in more spiritual delights. They are creatures of flesh and blood after all.’
‘Aren’t we all?’ Thesskoudis intervened with a wink. ‘It’s just that we lose the urge to act on it as we grow old, fat and content.’
‘I’ve often wondered about that . . .’ his wife said quietly.
Peter had met her on several occasions and found her to be a dour, firmly built woman of few words. He was surprised at her flash of humour.
Beside her Andreas met Peter’s gaze and both struggled to hide their smiles. The policeman could not help picking up on his wife’s comment and he frowned at her for a moment before his irrepressible good humour caused the severe expression to crumble and he laughed. Husband and wife exchanged a brief smile before Thesskoudis turned his attention to Heinrich.
‘A word of advice, young man. Never marry for love. That is the swiftest road to living under a tyranny. That was my mistake, and now I am enslaved.’
His wife glared at him. ‘Enslaved! Hah!’
This time everyone around the table chuckled and the atmosphere lightened. The poet’s servant appeared, dressed in plain black trousers and a white shirt, and placed two decanters of wine on the table before pouring glasses for the adults. Then he looked questioningly at his master. Katarides gave a nod and the servant half filled the glasses of the younger guests before disappearing back into the house. The host raised his glass and proposed the toast.
‘To friendship. To happy marriage. To knowledge. To beauty and art. I think that defines us
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