Cleo gave her a sidelong look. ‘Hospitals?’
Tash nodded. ‘Alfie was in and out the whole time. We got to know everyone in the haematology ward.’ She gave a crooked smile. ‘All that time I thought if I just stayed positive enough, or prayed enough, or read him funny lines from books or newspapers, I could make him better. As if willpower could stop leukaemia.’
Cleo took a deep breath. ‘You did what you could,’ she said gently.
‘Did I?’ Tash looked down at her hands. ‘I can’t even stand bright lights now. The smell of disinfectant nearly sends me under and just the thought of performing in front of a crowd gives me a panic attack. It’s humiliating.’
‘But you’re here now, surrounded by people and interacting with them the whole time. That’s something.’
‘Is it?’ Tash gave a doubtful look. ‘I came here because I thought yoga and quinoa might fix me. You know – a few sunsets, herbals teas and voila! A new woman. Now look at us, stuck on a mountainside and the world falling apart.’
Cleo smiled faintly. ‘Maybe this’ll turn out to be the best therapy.’
Tash looked at her, surprised, then smiled back. ‘That’s an odd thought, but maybe there’s some truth in it.
‘The airport at Chania’s been damaged,’ she went on, changing the subject. ‘Some planes are taking off from Heraklion, but quite a few of the roads have collapsed and it’ll no doubt take time to arrange emergency transport. I suspect we’ll be here for a while yet.’
Cleo thought for a moment. ‘You know, I wouldn’t want to leave right away now anyway. I’d rather stay and help.’
‘Weirdly, me too,’ Tash agreed. ‘I say weird, because I know I can be more of a hindrance than a help. But it’s strange, I feel connected to the village and its people now in a way I’d never have imagined. I wouldn’t want to abandon them in their hour of need.’
She paused. ‘D’you remember what that bizarre old woman said in the bar – Katerina?’
‘What?’ Cleo frowned. So much had happened, her memory of the conversation which had taken place only the day before yesterday was already vague and fuzzy.
‘She said: “I can see you are all facing a big challenge,”’ Tash repeated. ‘“You will be tested, but I have faith you will come through.”’
She turned to Cleo, propping herself up on an elbow and looking at her seriously.
‘Do you think she’s psychic and she knew there was going to be an earthquake and this is what she meant? We’re being tested for sure.’
Cleo thought for a minute. Katerina’s words were certainly peculiar and the artist, Marina, was unusual, too. Come to think of it, so was her father, Konstantin, who looked older than the white mountains themselves.
It was true Cleo, Maya and Tash were all facing a massive challenge, which seemed to be changing them in ways Cleo wouldn’t have believed. But psychic? Pah! It would take a lot more than a random chat in a rowdy bar to convince her ofthat.
12
It was still dark when Cleo woke after a few hours of fitful sleep, but there were lights on in various tents, including the triage station. Maya was still sleeping but Tash’s bed was empty and her shoes were missing; she’d obviously risen already.
Feeling guilty for having left her post for so long, Cleo got up quietly and pulled yesterday’s sweatshirt on over her pyjamas. Then she padded across the damp grass towards the shower facilities.
It was sheer joy to find volunteers there, Marina and Katerina among them, handing out individual drawstring bags containing soap, shampoo, a comb, toothbrush, toothpaste and a small, clean towel. They also gave Cleo a change of clothes.
‘There are a few free cubicles,’ Marina said, pointing. ‘Help yourself.’
Cleo nodded in thanks. As she walked along the row of showers, she saw the heads and faces of various people she recognised, including Ingrid the Norwegian. They smiled at one another but didn’t speak; they wouldn’t have been able to hear above the swooshing water anyway.
When she finally came to an empty cubicle, she hung her towel on the peg outside and stripped off. The sensation of warm, clean water on her skin was so delicious, she almost laughed.
And it was bliss to watch the water run black, and finally clear, after soaping herself down thoroughly and washing her hair. It had almost been worth the wait, she decided, to experience such a simple but profound pleasure now.
When she’d finished washing, she dressed quickly in the clothes Marina had given her: a white T-shirt, a fresh grey sweatshirt and navy sweatpants. Everything was too big, but it was easy enough to roll up the sweatshirt arms and the bottoms of the joggers, and she paused for a moment to enjoy the sensation of soft fabric against her clean, sweet-smelling skin.
There was a tiny, circular mirror on the outside of the cubicle which she used to comb her hair after towelling it down. She was quite surprised to discover she looked relatively normal. Pale, perhaps, and make-up free, obviously, but her complexion was smooth and dewy and her eyes sparkled.
Perhaps, she thought, the light from within was coming from feeling useful and knowing she was doing a good job; she hadn’t lost her nursing skills after all.
Then there was Achilles too, of course.
