‘I’ll take helpful as a compliment.’
His eyes met Cleo’s and she looked away quickly, hoping to contain the flutter in her chest. She didn’t want her friends to know about the gorgeous, unexpected kiss, or notice how attracted she was to him.
But they were no fools and must have suspected something was up. Maya frowned, unimpressed, no doubt, by his flirty manner at what she must have deemed a highly inappropriate time.
‘We should get back to work,’ she said, rising briskly and pulling down the front of her sweatshirt.
‘Of course,’ Achilles replied, bowing with exaggerated ceremony. ‘But even in the middle of a disaster you should make time for music. It raises the spirits. I believe it’s what you English call a pick-me-up.’
Cleo laughed, feeling some of her tension melt away, and Tash leaned gratefully against her. Even Maya’s shoulders relaxed a little.
Achilles began singing a tune, like a reassuring lullaby, and Cleo took a steadying breath, closing her eyes and allowing herself to feel everything: grief, fear, confusion, exhaustion – and newfound hope.
All of a sudden, she felt a fierce tenderness towards Tash and Maya – the actress whose confidence had been stolen by grief, and the executive stripped of her power.
Thrown together in extreme circumstances, they were, perhaps, unlikely friends. But one way or another, she thought, they were going to get through this together.
None of the women slept that night and as Cleo continued to treat patients, she was aware her decision-making skills were declining, along with her hand-eye coordination. She was also hyped up by the extra stress hormones flooding through her body to keep her awake.
If help didn’t arrive soon, she feared she might start making mistakes or simply collapse, then she’d be no good to anyone.
But still she pushed on, cleaning, stitching and bandaging, as the sun started to rise high in the sky and the heat returned with a vengeance, soaking her back in sweat.
Thankfully, just before midday, the rescue party began to arrive by boat, helicopter and on foot, to the barking of dogs and cheers of those who still had the energy to raise their voices.
A team of volunteers organised by Maya immediately set about helping to erect rows of first aid tents which had arrived. As they worked, helicopters whirred constantly overhead, dropping more supplies to the stranded villagers and transporting the injured to hospital.
Each time one landed, the noise was immense – with blades thudding and dust whipping up in spirals. Men in orange uniforms then jumped out, shouting in Greek and directing ropes and stretchers.
Noreen was one of the first to leave, and Cleo left her post briefly to say goodbye and see her off.
‘Thanks for everything,’ Noreen said, before making her way across the lawn to the waiting air ambulance. One of the emergency workers had an arm round her back.
‘I just did my job,’ Cleo replied with a smile. ‘Look after your wrist – and keep that spark alive,’ she added with a wink.
Noreen managed a laugh. ‘I’ll do my best!’
An hour or two later, Tash appeared by Cleo’s side, carrying a jug of water.
‘For you,’ she said simply, her eyes wide with awe. ‘You’re amazing.’
Cleo smiled up at her, sweat streaking her forehead. ‘Hardly. Anyway, you’re amazing too, the way you’re helping the children, entertaining them and making them laugh. I’ve watched you, you’re a natural.’
Maya, meanwhile, was now stationed beside the lead rescuer, translating what she could, writing down names and helping separate tourists from locals.
Her hair was a mess and her clothes were filthy, but her voice was firm, clear and commanding. Every now and then she glanced towards Tash and Cleo, as if trying to draw strength from their calm.
When at last things quietened for a moment, the women found themselves standing side by side, staring at the scene around them. People were clinging to each other and smoke curled from small fires, while children ran around as if everything was fine and nothing had happened.
Cleo rubbed her stiff neck.
‘I’d forgotten what it felt like to have purpose and be really useful,’ she said.
Tash smiled, a real one this time. ‘You never stopped being useful, silly. You just didn’t realise it. You needed an earthquake to remind you.’
Maya let out a short, tired laugh. ‘True. Maybe we all did.’
A little later, along with Achilles, Cleo helped the emergency services erect a triage station near the tents. They were soon joined by two young men in their late teens, probably, who turned out to be Achilles’s sons.
