Authors: Julian Noyce
“
Jack,
”
her throat was dry. Her brain not functioning due to the sudden waking.
“
Natalie where are you? Are you all right?
”
“
Yes I
’
m fine. I
’
m at home
…
.What time is it?
”
she blinked at the windows. It was twilight outside.
“
It
’
s a quarter to nine Nat. We
’
re all here already.
”
She ran her fingers through her still drying hair.
“
I
…
.I
…
.must have dozed off!
”
“
Do you want one of us to come and get you?
”
“
What? No I
’
ll um, I
’
ll get a taxi.
”
“
Are you sure. It
’
s no problem for someone to come and get you. We
’
ve all had a drink but it
’
ll be O.K. Maybe we could all come.
”
“
No Jack. Really it
’
s all right. I
’
ll um
…
.just give me twenty minutes O.K. I
’
ll be there.
”
“
O.K Nat. I
’
ll tell the others not to order any food just yet. We
’
ll wait
’
til you get here.
”
The line went dead. She pushed the red button on the Nokia to make sure the call had ended. Then rubbed her face. She went through her phone book until she found
’
Yanos
’
and pressed the green button. He answered within three rings.
“
Natalie my darling how are you,
”
he asked in his heavy accent.
“
Yanos can you pick me up at my place and take me to
’
Zeus
’”
“
Yes my darling. I
’
ll be with you in fifteen minutes.
”
“
Can you not make it any sooner Yanos? I
’
m sorry but I
’
m late.
”
“
Yes my sweet. I
’
ll try to make it to you in ten.
”
“
Thank you. Yanos. Thank you.
”
She rang off and went into her bedroom to get dressed. A quick spray of deodorant and perfume. Quickly applied some eye shadow and lipstick. Her favourite drop earrings, checked her reflection in the mirror and was just putting on her shoes when the doorbell rang.
“
Is that you Yanos?
”
“
Yes.
”
“
I
’
ll just be a minute.
”
“
O.K.
”
Yanos stood looking at the door for a moment, then turned to watch two pretty girls walking past his silver Mercedes. Tourists, probably English he guessed judging by their white mini-skirts, white legs and white high heels. They each carried a small bag. One of them saw him looking and nudged her friend.
Yanos was a good looking Greek of twenty eight, tall, athletic, dark curly hair, lots of stubble, his sunglasses perched on top of his head. He called out to them and they giggled and leaned into each other as they walked. A bit further on they both glanced back over their shoulders at him. He was still watching them but this time stayed quiet. He turned to the door again.
“
I
’
ll wait in the car,
”
he called out. He went down the steps, got into the drivers seat and lit a Marlboro.
Natalie rushed through to the kitchen, grabbed her phone, rummaged through her bag for her keys and went to the door, she waved at Yanos in his taxi, slammed the front door, pushed it gently to make sure it was closed and then hurried down the steps. What she hadn
’
t seen before she left was the red flashing light on her answer phone signalling she
’
d had a new message while she
’
d been in the bedroom blow drying her hair.
Yanos drew his Mercedes to a halt outside the bar
‘
Zeus
’
“
Do you want me to pick you up later?
”
“
I don
’
t know. I might get a lift from one of the others. I
’
ll give you a call.
”
She gave Yanos a ten Euro note and he gave her five change instead of three. She walked past a group of young men and women smoking. The men leaning on their mopeds. One of their group came out carrying six bottles of beer and distributed them. Inside the bar it was busy. The music playing were this summer
’
s hits, a mixture of English and American artistes. There was a constant clack of pool balls as both tables were being played at the same time. A group of young British tourists were shouting and laughing over a table football game. A waitress rushed past carrying a tray of food. Natalie stood looking this way and that. Suddenly she spotted her friends and headed over to them. They all stood to greet her. Tom and Jack were with two girls, both holiday reps, working out on the island for the summer. Their holiday company one of two who used Natalie
’
s group for excursions. Both girls were very pretty. The attraction between, Tom, Jack and the reps was plain to see. They both mouthed
‘
Hiya
’
s
’
as Natalie reached the table. By the looks of the table the beer had been flowing.
“
Ah thanks for joining us,
”
Tom said jokingly
“
Perhaps now we can eat. I don
’
t know about the rest of you but I
’
m starving.
”
He picked up a menu and held it between himself and Sarah. When the waiter came round to take their order Natalie was last.
“
I
’
ll have Lamb Kleftiko please.
”
The waiter beamed and took the menus away.
“
Is that nice?
”
Louise, the other rep asked.
Natalie was just taking a swig of her drink. She released the straw.
“
Kleftiko?
”
Louise nodded.
“
It
’
s beautiful. The best Kleftiko in all of Zakynthos. The lamb kind of melts in your mouth. I
’
ll let you try some of mine when it arrives.
”
“
Do we have a big group tomorrow Natalie?
”
Alex asked.
“
Twenty two,
”
she looked at the empties on the table
“
I don
’
t mean to be a killjoy but you
’
d better not get too drunk.
”
George was the only one of the group sitting quietly staring into his glass. Natalie guessed at what was wrong with him but asked anyway.
“
Have you heard from your wife George?
”
He turned a dark eye to her.
“
Yes.
”
The others were trying not to smirk. George and his wife Rosa
’
s fights were legendary. They lived on the neighbouring island of Kefalonia and George hadn
’
t been home for two weeks.
“
She
’
s accusing me of cheating on her. Of having affairs which is keeping me away from home. I tell her that I
’
m always working hard to provide for her and the little one. She says if it wasn
’
t for little Costas she would kill herself for the misery I cause her. Then the line went dead. So I ring back and she no answer. So I ring and ring and ring and when she answers she crying, so I tell her I love her which is why I
’
m never home and she doesn
’
t believe me.
”
“
George take tomorrow off. Take a few days. Take the speedboat tomorrow and spend some time at home.
”
“
I can
’
t afford to take time off. I can
’
t afford to lose the money.
”
“
I
’
ll pay you. Don
’
t worry, no one will have a problem with it,
”
she said looking at each individual in turn. No one raised an objection. George had tears in his eyes.
“
We have a big group tomorrow. It
’
s not fair on the others.
”
“
We
’
ll manage,
”
Natalie said knowing they would be stretched without a third diver. The others would understand. George was looking at his colleagues.
“
I can
’
t Natalie. It wouldn
’
t be right.
”
“
George look at me,
”
she held his gaze
“
I
’
m your boss and that is an order. I
’
m telling you to take time off. You
’
re no good to anyone in this state, especially yourself. Get some rest, you
’
re tired and I won
’
t have you diving while you
’
re like this. Do you understand?
”
George smiled at her.
“
Yes Natalie thank you. I
’
ll do as you say.
”
She looked at the others for reassurance. None of them dared to object.
“
Now,
”
she said
“
When the food arrives would anyone like a drink? The next round is on me.
”
Natalie waved once more from the top of the steps as Alex and Tom sped away in their open top Jeep. Once inside her door she kicked her shoes off and got herself a glass of water from the kitchen and went into the lounge. She threw herself down onto the sofa and picked up the T.V. remote and pushed the power button. The television came on and she pushed the correct number for satellite. She flicked through half a dozen channels or so and not finding anything of interest she turned it all off again. Glancing at the clock she saw it was just after 1a.m. Tired, she got up, emptied her glass in one gulp and refilled it to take it to bed. On her way past the telephone answering machine she saw the red light flashing. Glancing down at the little digital screen she saw a two. Two new messages. Despite her tiredness she pushed the play button. First came the bleep, then in an excited voice.
“
Hi Natalie it
’
s Jim Hutchinson. If you
’
re there can you please pick up. Something very exciting has occurred. You
’
re not going to want to miss this. Call me as soon as you hear this. Bye.
”
“
End of message,
”
the machine said
“
Next new message.
”
“
Natalie it
’
s Jim again. Did you get my previous message? Can you please call me. I
’
ll be in my office until at least ten tonight. If not can you please call me at home. Don
’
t worry about what time you get this. Please call it
’
s urgent. I
’
ve tried your mobile.
”
“
End of messages. To delete all messages, press delete.
”
She played them through again. There was an urgency in his voice she
’
d never heard before.
Jim Hutchinson, was an American by birth but had lived in England most of his life. He was the head of the small research company that employed Natalie and her crew, the Oceanic Archaeology Institute, otherwise known as OAI. He was fifty eight, tall with a neatly trimmed beard, typical university lecturer in his corduroy suits with elbow patches.
She took her Nokia out of her bag. Three missed calls. She hadn
’
t heard the mobile ringing in her bag on the floor in the bar. She brought up the number for the Institute, then remembering the time, she found Jim
’
s home number and yawning pressed the green button. After six rings a sleepy female voice answered.