‘Oh, for God’s sake, you make it sound as if he’s completely barmy.’
‘Darling, just-’
Janice snapped the paper down. ‘Don’t do that Vince.’
‘Do what?’
‘Make the endearment “darling” sound like “pathetic female idiot”. You always say it when you’re about to patronise me.’
Vince smiled, not very pleasantly, then cleared his throat. ‘My apologies. All I was going to say, love of my life, is that just because Daniel’s wacky dream fits in with some poncey New Age gobbledegook you’ve read about in one of your-’
‘Okay, that’s it. I’m not discussing this any further with you,’
’Janice-’
‘No. If you want to tell Lisanne, that’s up to you, but I shan’t condone it and I shan’t back you up when Daniel comes gunning for you because you’ve betrayed a confidence.’
‘Gunning?’
‘Yes, well, on your head be it.’ Janice reached for her jacket. ‘And if, as I strongly suspect, you intend to drive Lisanne to distraction with your half-baked analysis, please make it absolutely clear that you are doing so off your own bat, and that it has nothing to do with me. Lisanne is a good friend, and I’ll need someone to stand by me after the divorce.’
‘What you don’t understand is that I’m just trying to help.’
‘I understand the “trying” bit, Vince. I understand that very well.’
Janice strode to the door, stepped into the fresh air, and resisted a powerful temptation to slam the door behind her.
Daniel searched all over Atheenaton for Kate. He ran from the Pumphouse to the Neraida to Kyma and back again, but there was no sign of her. He stopped to question a few of the villagers, but no one knew where she was. At Kyma he had hoped that Véronique might be able to help him, but she was not in her room, nor at any of the tavernas. Kostas said that he had seen the girls wandering up the beach several hours previously, but he did not know where they were heading.
Frustrated and tired, Daniel eventually found himself back at the Pumphouse. He sat down at the table beneath the gnarled olive tree and searched his pockets for cigarettes. When Barry appeared from the kitchens, Daniel beckoned him over, offered him a cigarette, and invited him to sit down for a while.
‘I’m not stopping you doing something important, am I?’
‘Not at all, Daniel. There’s always time to talk to a friend,’ said Barry, apparently pleased to be stationary for a few moments. He fished around in his shirt pocket and eventually retrieved a book of matches. He lit the cigarette, closed his eyes, and inhaled deeply.
‘Barry?’ Barry opened his eyes and smiled serenely. ‘Uh-huh?’
‘Why do you work so hard? Everyone else seems just to potter around and enjoy themselves, but you’re always on the go.’
Barry smiled. ‘It’s what I do best.’ He breathed the smoke out slowly, watching the grey plumes spiral up into the pine-scented air.
‘But do you have to? Couldn’t you just put your feet up for a bit, go lie on the beach? Relax?’
‘Nah, that’s not my style. I like to be active, to be doing something. If I just sit around, I get irritable and anxious. I’ve always been like that.’
Daniel decided that, now that he had Barry alone, he should risk asking a few of the questions he was desperate to have answered. It he transgressed some law or other, no doubt he would find out about it soon enough. But he had to know, even if it meant being hurled back to his waking world or temporarily banished from Atheenaton.
‘You mean, you were the same at home?’
‘Absolutely. it’s the cross I bear.’
’And where is home?’
‘Well, it was Boston. But Atheenaton has been more of a home to me than Boston ever was. Whether or not I decide to go back there remains to be seen.’
‘You don’t want to stay here?’
Barry started to tap the table nervously with his long, strong fingers. ‘I’ve been here a long time Daniel. It’s been wonderful. I can’t tell you how much it’s helped me.’
‘Helped? How?’
‘Aw, you know. Re-established some balance in my life. You know what this place is like, what an effect it has on you. I was crazy when I first arrived, off the wall. Literally didn’t know when to stop. You think I work too hard here; you should have seen me in the old days. I was working my way to an early grave. Atheenaton changed all that. It wove its magic and cured me, or at least, it slowed me down. If it hadn’t been for this place... well, I don’t like to think about it.’
‘Then why not stay?’
Barry sighed. ‘Daniel, you’re still kinda new here. Right now I guess Atheenaton seems like some sort of paradise, compared to back home. I don’t know what your situation is, but I suspect you, like most of us, have some stuff to work out. Once you’re straight, nice though this place is, it’ll no longer have the same appeal. Deep down, we’d all like to go home eventually.’
Daniel shook his head. ‘I don’t understand, When you say “all”, do you mean...?’
‘We’re all here for a reason Daniel; you must have seen that. All I’m saying is, take away that reason and... Anyway, for me it’ll soon be time to move on. You can’t stay here for ever.’
‘But Véronique can’t go home - wherever that is. She says she can’t leave.’
Barry nodded. ‘Well, everyone’s circumstances are different.’
‘I don’t understand.’
‘It’s not for me to explain, Daniel.’
‘Please, Barry, just tell me if-’
Barry held up his hand. His expression had changed slightly, from serene to severe, and Daniel sensed he was overstepping the mark.
‘That’s enough questions, Daniel. If you want to know more, you’ll have to ask Kate.’
‘Sure, but I can’t find her.’
‘Kate’s usually busy in the mornings. Why don’t you just hang out here for a while? She’ll probably be along around lunchtime. I’ll get you some coffee.’ Barry stood up to go. ‘You know, we’re all very fond of you Daniel. We’re especially happy about you and Véronique. She’s a good kid; it’s great to see her so happy.’
Daniel opened his mouth to respond, but Barry was already half-way to the doorway. ‘I’ll get that coffee to you,’ he called over his shoulder before disappearing into the darkness of the taverna.
By the time Daniel found Kate, sitting on the patio outside the villa, his mood had deteriorated from mere impatience to anger and frustration, so he was not mollified by the friendly wave and accompanying smile that Kate gave him as he marched down the garden path.
‘I’ve been looking for you everywhere,’ he said petulantly, and was annoyed when Kate did not acknowledge his distress.
‘And now you’ve found me,’ said Kate.
‘You don’t understand; I’ve chased all over Atheenaton!’
‘Oh, Daniel, do calm down. You’re getting very flustered, and for no reason at all.’
‘But I needed to see you. Urgently.’
Kate nodded. ‘And I needed to greet a new arrival. You’re very precious to us, Daniel, but you’re not the only visitor here, you know. So, now that your wish has been fulfilled and you’ve found me, what can I do for you? There’s something cold and thirst-quenching in the refrigerator if you’re over-heating.’
Daniel tried to ignore Kate’s flippancy in much the way that he had refused to acknowledge her gentle but firm put-down, but he had to admit that she had a most effective way of deflating his self-importance, and instead of holding on to his anger - which, he now realised, was going to do him no good at all - he took a deep breath and sat down on the patio beside her.
‘Sorry,’ he said, embarrassed by his outburst.
‘That’s quite all right. Anyway I’m so pleased to see you: it seems like ages since we last spoke. Actually, it’s just as well you dropped by, as I’ve been meaning to talk to you. About Véronique.’
‘Véronique? But... that’s why I needed to see you.’
Kate made only a marginal attempt to suppress a knowing smile, reminding Daniel of the underlying theatricality that coloured most events in Atheenaton, of the fundamental unreality of the place.
‘Well, seeing as you were so anxious to speak to me, perhaps you should go first.’
Daniel paused for a moment. He had been in such a panic about seeing Kate that he had not formulated so much as an opening sentence to explain what was bothering him, and now that he had the chance to address his problems, he wasn’t sure how to begin.
‘I take it you know about Véronique and me.’
Kate’s face lit up with excitement. ‘Who could fail to notice? And if it’s my blessing you’re after, then fear no more. She’s a wonderful girl, and it’s heart-lifting to see her so happy. You’ve done something very special Daniel; I hope you know that.’
Daniel frowned. ‘Special? I don’t-’
‘Sorry, I interrupted. Do carry on. About you and Véronique.’
This additional interruption put Daniel completely off his stride. What on earth did she mean, “special”? Daniel chose to let it go for the moment; he had questions to ask, and did not want to get involved in a discussion that would probably lead nowhere.
‘I want to stay with her.’
‘Of course. Is there a problem? She has a nice enough room as I recall. Or did you want to bring her back here, is that it? I can easily make myself scarce.’
Daniel could not tell if Kate was being deliberately obtuse, but rather than make any inflammatory accusations, he merely restated the matter in terms that could not be misimderstood.
‘I’m in love with her. She’s told me that she can never leave Atheenaton. I want to stay as well, with her, for ever. I don’t want to go back.’ Having finally given voice to his feelings, Daniel felt both relieved and exhausted. He was not prepared for Kate’s immediate, unequivocal response.
‘I’m afraid that’s impossible for a number of reasons, Daniel. Actually, I’m surprised that Véronique didn’t say as much herself.’
‘How can you say that? Why should anything be impossible?’
Kate looked at Daniel long and hard. ‘That’s a terribly naive question, if you don’t mind my saying so.’
‘Oh come on, Kate, don’t do this to me.’
‘Do what? Did Véronique tell you you could stay here with her?’
‘No, she fobbed me off and refused to tell me why.’
‘And you’re not prepared to accept that and just get on with things?’
‘No, of course not. Why the hell should I?’
Kate nodded. ‘Because there might be very good reasons for doing so.’
Daniel started to lose patience again. ‘Yeah? Like what?’
Kate sighed. ‘I have to tell you, Daniel, you’re not making this easy on any of us. Most visitors are a lot less bullish than this: they give Atheenaton a chance. They don’t make so many demands. I have to say that it doesn’t help your case one bit.’
‘Case? What are you talking about? All I want to know-’
‘Yes,’ interrupted Kate. ‘I know. You’ve made it abundantly clear.’
She paused a moment, during which Daniel had the distinct impression that he was about to hear something he’d rather not know.
‘Very well. I should explain that the information I’m about to give you is usually withheld until a later time, but seeing as you’ve been so insistent...’
Kate gave a little cough, which only served to put Daniel on edge. What was all this cloak and dagger stuff? Why was she treating him like a naughty child? After all, he was only after some information.
‘It’s clear to everyone here, Daniel, that you haven’t yet understood why you’ve come to Atheenaton. That isn’t altogether your fault; it is, after all, early days. It is also clear that you’ve taken to it very strongly, which, bearing in mind your current situation at home, is also not surprising.’
‘What do you know about my situation at home?’
‘Oh, Daniel, you needn’t sound so petulant. It’s not as if we don’t understand. We all want to escape at some time in our lives, particularly from emotional pain. Don’t you realise that we’re all here for the same reasons, more or less? We’ve been unable to cope. We’ve sought refuge; Atheenaton is our sanctuary.’