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."I think we'd better findsomewhere we can get rooms for the night, before they lock the hotels.We'll talk on theway."*When he reached Salonika, the following afternoon, Zannis stopped by thePension Bastasini and told Escovil that his friends in Belgrade would agree to join theoperation.Escovil was clearly relieved; one of many things he had to do was nowaccomplished.Maybe too many things, Zannis thought--he could smell alcohol onEscovil's breath."We'll be in contact," he told Zannis.What they had to do now was wait.Back in his office, Zannis made a telephone call to Vangelis, then walked over tosee him."You may as well close the door," Vangelis said, a St.Vangelis glint in his eye.He was very much a ruler of the civic kingdom that afternoon, in his splendid office witha view of the harbor: his shirt crisp and white, his tie made of gold silk, his suit perfectlytailored."Thank you for taking care of our esteemed mayor," he said."And, by the way,the lovebirds are back together, all is forgiven." This was accompanied by a mischievousflick of the eyebrows."So then, what's going on with you?""I will have to go away for a few days, commissioner, some time soon, but I don'tknow exactly when.""Again," Vangelis said.Zannis nodded."Yes, sir," he said, apology in his voice."Again."Vangelis frowned."Saltiel will take care of the office?""He will.""What are you doing, Costa? Does your escape line need tending?""No, sir, this time it's.a British operation."Vangelis shook his head: what's the world coming to? "So now I've got a secretservice running on the Via Egnatia, is that it?" But he was only acting his part, stern commissioner, and suddenly he tired of it--perhaps he slumped a little, behind his granddesk--because he knew precisely what the world was coming to."Oh fuck it all, Costa,you better do whatever you want, and you better do it quickly.""Thank you, sir.""It's probably what you should be doing, that sort of thing, though I don't likeadmitting it.What's the matter with me?""Nothing, sir.""I wish you were right, but you're not.Anyhow, you should likely go back towork, as long as you can, and I'll just say farewell."The word puzzled Zannis who, having been dismissed, rose slowly from his chair."What I mean to say, is, well, may God watch over you, Costa.""Over us all, sir.""Yes, of course," Vangelis said.Somebody was certainly watching over something.Zannis eagerly checked hismailbox when he got home, but what he was looking for wasn't there.Instead, an officialletter from the Royal Hellenic Army, informing Lieutenant Zannis, Constantine, that hewas as of this date relieved of active duty in the event of a call-up of reserve units, byreason of "medical condition." Signed by a colonel.What was this? Zannis read it again.Not, he thought, an error.Rather, it was as though he'd been moved a square on aninvisible board by an unseen hand, because he had no medical condition.On the seventhof March, sixty thousand British Commonwealth troops, mostly Australian and NewZealand divisions, disembarked from troop ships at various Greek ports.In Salonika, theywere welcomed with flowers and cheers.Help had arrived.And, Zannis thought as thetroops marched along the corniche, any nation that would do that might do all sorts ofextraordinary things.Finally, she telephoned.The call came to the office, late in the afternoon."I'm at a friend's house, inAthens," she said.To Zannis she sounded defeated, weary and sad."I was wondering," Zannis said."What happened to you.""I was afraid of that.Maybe you thought I.didn't care.""No.Well, not really.""I'm miserable," she said."Demetria?""Yes?""Get on a train.Tonight.Call, and I'll be waiting at the station.""I want to.""Well then?""I don't know what to do." Now she was crying."I love you, Demetria.I think about you, I want you with me.Is there somethingyou want me to say? Promise? Anything.""No! It's beautiful.what you say.""And so?"Now she didn't speak."Please, don't cry.""I can't help it." She snuffled."Forgive me."He paused--was there a worse time to say what now had to be said? "There is something I have to tell you.""What?" He'd frightened her."I'll be going away, soon, I don't know when, and not for long.But I'll leave a keywith the neighbor downstairs, I'll tell her to expect you.""Where are you going?""It's for work.A few days, only."For a time she was quiet, then she said, in a different voice, "I understand, youcan't say.But, what if you don't come back?""I will, don't worry about that.""Do you have a pencil?""Yes.""My friend's number is Athens, 34-412.Her name is Theodora.Telephone herwhen you return.""Three, four? Four, one, two?""Yes.You don't know when you're leaving?""Days, maybe a week, maybe more.It doesn't matter
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