famous and interesting from all walks of life who wanted to visit Crete and Livakia could usually be found staying there or in one of the other foreigner’s houses because there was no hotel in the village, no
pension,
just a few Livakians who would let out a bed for a night or two. Mr Average Tourist rarely turned up in this coastal village which was too remote, difficult to get to, too closed a society, and very Cretan. This paradise and the people lounging round the table were lost to the package holiday visitor but graciously embraced any traveller on a voyage of discovery, poets and dreamers, and most especially if they were pleasure seekers ready to play for a few days. The residents of Livakia, both Cretan and foreign, by the very nature of the way they lived and loved, automatically dispelled any unwanted intruder.
The people sitting round that table were intrigued by the sight of the
Black Narcissus
sailing into port in all her glory. This wasthe quiet, lazy time of year when the more interesting travellers en route to Egypt and North Africa arrived for brief visits. And if the grand sight of her coming in was not enough to stir their hearts, the thought of someone new on board, put a sparkle in their eyes.
Mark Obermann was the first to speak up. ‘Expecting guests, Elefherakis?’
Elefherakis told them, ‘Not that I know of. One of your millionaire patrons or some art dealer on the hunt for a painting?’ he asked Tom Plum.
‘No, but you never can tell, only refuse the visit,’ answered Tom, who was famed for guarding his privacy, receiving visitors on his terms only.
‘It must be a friend of D’Arcy’s or Max’s. Damn, and they’re not here, vanished as soon as they arrived the day before yesterday,’ said Rachel, who immediately took out her compact and began repairing her face. New men were always desirable to the French coquette-cum-poetess.
Manoussos, who was sitting with them and whose eyes had not left the sight of the magnificent yacht tacking across the harbour, relit his cigar and listened with amusement to his friends. He too would have liked D’Arcy and Max to have been here for Chadwick’s arrival.
People began to rise from their chairs and walk the few feet to the edge of the quay the better to see the
Black Narcissus,
still under full sail, make another impressive tack across the water. He rose from his chair and went to the cook Despina to order food for the lunch he had offered to buy Chadwick, captain and crew in celebration of their arrival. Then he went to stand next to Elefherakis and Mark.
‘She’s still coming in fast – impressive. That has to be Dimitri Cronos captaining. It’s his style. I know, I’ve sailed with him several times.’
‘It is,’ Manoussos offered.
The two men turned to look at him. ‘You’ve been expecting this yacht and you know who’s on board?’ said a surprised Mark.
Manoussos remained silent, his gaze still fixed on the yacht, now searching for his first sight of Chadwick. He was feelingincredibly happy but calm, in control in spite of his racing heart and lustful mind. She was here and she was his as she would never be any other man’s again. The sex, the glorious sex they had revelled in! How well matched he and Chadwick were to make the erotic part of their life an adventure to love by. And then he saw her and his heart raced that little bit faster. How was it possible that she was even more ravishingly beautiful than he had remembered? It was then that he turned his gaze to the two men and told them, ‘Yes, I have been expecting the
Black Narcissus,
and yes, I do know who is on board. She’s called Chadwick Chase, come and meet her. And the captain? You were of course right, Eleflherakis. Dimitri Cronos is the man bringing in the yacht. I’m giving Chadwick, Dimitri and the crew lunch at the Kavouria.’
‘You’re in love!’ piped up an astounded Rachel who had overheard the men.
Manoussos smiled at Rachel who had not the
pension,
just a few Livakians who would let out a bed for a night or two. Mr Average Tourist rarely turned up in this coastal village which was too remote, difficult to get to, too closed a society, and very Cretan. This paradise and the people lounging round the table were lost to the package holiday visitor but graciously embraced any traveller on a voyage of discovery, poets and dreamers, and most especially if they were pleasure seekers ready to play for a few days. The residents of Livakia, both Cretan and foreign, by the very nature of the way they lived and loved, automatically dispelled any unwanted intruder.
The people sitting round that table were intrigued by the sight of the
Black Narcissus
sailing into port in all her glory. This wasthe quiet, lazy time of year when the more interesting travellers en route to Egypt and North Africa arrived for brief visits. And if the grand sight of her coming in was not enough to stir their hearts, the thought of someone new on board, put a sparkle in their eyes.
Mark Obermann was the first to speak up. ‘Expecting guests, Elefherakis?’
Elefherakis told them, ‘Not that I know of. One of your millionaire patrons or some art dealer on the hunt for a painting?’ he asked Tom Plum.
‘No, but you never can tell, only refuse the visit,’ answered Tom, who was famed for guarding his privacy, receiving visitors on his terms only.
‘It must be a friend of D’Arcy’s or Max’s. Damn, and they’re not here, vanished as soon as they arrived the day before yesterday,’ said Rachel, who immediately took out her compact and began repairing her face. New men were always desirable to the French coquette-cum-poetess.
Manoussos, who was sitting with them and whose eyes had not left the sight of the magnificent yacht tacking across the harbour, relit his cigar and listened with amusement to his friends. He too would have liked D’Arcy and Max to have been here for Chadwick’s arrival.
People began to rise from their chairs and walk the few feet to the edge of the quay the better to see the
Black Narcissus,
still under full sail, make another impressive tack across the water. He rose from his chair and went to the cook Despina to order food for the lunch he had offered to buy Chadwick, captain and crew in celebration of their arrival. Then he went to stand next to Elefherakis and Mark.
‘She’s still coming in fast – impressive. That has to be Dimitri Cronos captaining. It’s his style. I know, I’ve sailed with him several times.’
‘It is,’ Manoussos offered.
The two men turned to look at him. ‘You’ve been expecting this yacht and you know who’s on board?’ said a surprised Mark.
Manoussos remained silent, his gaze still fixed on the yacht, now searching for his first sight of Chadwick. He was feelingincredibly happy but calm, in control in spite of his racing heart and lustful mind. She was here and she was his as she would never be any other man’s again. The sex, the glorious sex they had revelled in! How well matched he and Chadwick were to make the erotic part of their life an adventure to love by. And then he saw her and his heart raced that little bit faster. How was it possible that she was even more ravishingly beautiful than he had remembered? It was then that he turned his gaze to the two men and told them, ‘Yes, I have been expecting the
Black Narcissus,
and yes, I do know who is on board. She’s called Chadwick Chase, come and meet her. And the captain? You were of course right, Eleflherakis. Dimitri Cronos is the man bringing in the yacht. I’m giving Chadwick, Dimitri and the crew lunch at the Kavouria.’
‘You’re in love!’ piped up an astounded Rachel who had overheard the men.
Manoussos smiled at Rachel who had not the
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