Drama on Euboea Ch. 05

Chapter 5: The Delight continues

While Daktylos was eating dinner by himself, sitting in front of his house, he almost expected Maria to come over to ask him what Lanike and he had done up in the olive grove this afternoon. Walking back down together, the blind young lady had confessed that she wasreally wetbetween her legs - which Maria would surely have seen when washing her.

Well, there was also some blood and tissue, which Lanike's healthy nimble body was getting rid of, since the little egg inside her hadn't been fertilized this month - something which Daktylos wanted to change as soon as possible, of course. Yet he knew that wouldn't be easy.

The problem wasn't so much Lanike herself, perhaps, who appeared willing and eager - and who seemed to have very few inhibitions, if any. No, in a very endearing and intriguing way, the riveting damsel was surprisingly shameless. Unlike the overwhelming majority of contemporary lower middle-class women, Lanike subtly put out and openly enjoyed being touched.

No, the hurdles that needed to be overcome wereoutside, so to speak: the lovely older neighbor couple, Maria and Stavros, as well as Lanike's mother, once she would be back from Chalkida or even Athens. And, of course, the folks down in the village, who knew that Daktylos was a relatively young widower and that his blind neighbor was approaching full age.

At least, Daktylos was fairly certain that he would never see Kostas again, Lanike's father, once he would have stepped onto that steam ship to America. Technically, Daktylos could also go over to Maria's house and explain that he and young Lanike had got carried away earlier, but he decided to let sleeping dogs lie.For now.

Such delicate conversations tended to turn awkward rather quickly, and Maria wasn't going to suggest that Lanike should stay at his house overnight, anyway. At nineteen, Lanike was old enough to get married and have a child - and many young women on Euboea did exactly that in 1911 - but Daktylos was more than twice her age, while her handicap screamed for extra protection.

At least, he wasn't married. And so, he read a bit after he had finished eating, before he went inside to alleviate the chaos and confusion in his mind and heart by jotting down a few lines in his new diary. He realized he didn't need to masturbate, as Lanike had relieved him so charmingly earlier, before he turned down the oil lamp to sleep.

During the night, he woke up once and went outside to relieve himself against the fence of his goat enclosure. The moon was almost full, but he couldn't decide if this was a good or a bad sign. Since it somehow seemed almost time to get up, Daktylos checked his pocket watch on the shelf: four-thirty.Hmh...

Obviously, it was still dark, but could he fall asleep again? He lay down once more, as it seemed awfully early, and then a rooster crowed. Which was the last thing he noticed, before he dozed off again. He slept soundly but much longer than usual and only woke up because his bleating goats were clearly hungry.

Perhaps, Stavros had already started fixing the fence, as they had talked about. Since the animals were his though, Daktylos got up in a hurry, but he took it as a good sign that, at least, Maria's husband wasn't bearing a grudge against him for the sweet transgression that had transpired with Lanike the previous afternoon, up in the olive grove.

Well, Stavros almost certainly wasn't aware of the fact that Lanike had grown wet between her legs yesterday and jerked Daktylos off. Even if Maria had her suspicions after washing Lanike, she would probably keep the piquant secret to herself. In itself, however, sexual arousal wasn't bad; perhaps Maria would recall the days of her own youth. But it was still hard to tell what she would do if Daktylos and Lanike overdid it.

Once outside, Daktylos saw that his older neighbor had indeed started to fix the fence. Some of his tools were near a post, but Stavros himself was nowhere to be seen.Perhaps, he went back to fetch something. And so, Daktylos fed his animals, including the chickens, and cleaned the yard, before he went back inside to place a pot with water onto the stove.

While he was waiting for it to boil, he fixed himself breakfast and then took everything outside, including his book. Lanike was certainly at Maria's house; whether he would read to her today, he didn't know yet, but they could use her argument - that she was spending too much time inside - and saunter up to the white rock behind the olive grove again, couldn't they?

It looked a bit like rain, however. Yes, Lanike would never be really alone; they had to rely on Maria relinquishing her. But Daktylos didn't want to think up some stupid excuse or ruse to pry her away from Maria. No, these things took time and needed to develop organically.

Is Lanike still menstruating? It began on Sunday, at the latest, and today is Tuesday.So, probably, yes. While he was enjoying his simple breakfast - bread, goat cheese, and honey - he wondered if he couldn't take one of Elena's dresses over to Maria, so that she could alter it. That would give her something to do - during which he could spend an hour with his beloved Lanike.

But then, it would be much more riveting if Lanike tried Elena's dresses on in his bedroom, where they were still hanging in the wardrobe. Maybe, he could briefly see her in her underwear.Or even naked. And he still had Elena's nightgowns.And underwear, too. His late wife was a bit shorter than Lanike but overall, they had a similarly slim, normal figure.

The good thing about Lanike being taller than Elena was that the latter's dresses would look shorter on Lanike, which was a nice touch.Would Maria insist on lengthening them? Was that even an option?Daktylos was wondering, when Stavros returned. They went behind the house to mend the fence, during which they talked about a lot.But not Lanike.

Which was probably for the better. Even though Lanike appeared open to sensual, sexual exploration, Daktylos had to see how far she was willing to go. Perhaps, she just wanted to satisfy her curiosity once, without having any strong feelings for him. Daktylos was the only man within reach; now that young Stavros had been drafted.

The most interesting, almost startling revelation Stavros had reserved for the very end of their conversation, though: He and his wife, Maria, would travel about twelve or fifteen miles on Thursday to attend a baptismal service for one of their grandchildren:

"You know, those things are usually on Sundays, but the other side of the family wants to be back in Chalkida by Saturday evening... to be able to attend mass on Sunday morning," Stavros explained.

"Oh... are you taking Lanike with you?" Daktylos was instantly concerned.

"Well, that's why I brought it up... she's not related to us, and she wouldn't fit on the cart," Stavros chuckled; perhaps alluding to the trip down to the village last Friday, during which the blind girl had been sitting on Daktylos' lap.

"Sure, she can stay here with me," Daktylos hurried to seal the deal.

"And we'll be back in the evening," Stavros assured his younger neighbor, before he placed several nails between his lips to hammer them in, walking along the fence, away from Daktylos.

Oh, what a beautiful day that could turn into, Daktylos rejoiced:Lanike's period should be over by Thursday, but even if it isn't... no, yes: We can sit next to each other and talk... and then go inside... there are so many lovely things we can do together, he got carried away by his imagination.

Eventually, he followed his older neighbor, after having stood rooted to his spot for maybe two minutes. He watched Stavros' dexterous movements, before he reiterated that he would only be too glad to take care of their blind young neighbor:

"You know, I could read to her, or tell her something. Make us some food. I'm here. On Saturday, however, I need to go to Karystos... to meet one of my former colleagues from the provincial administration."

Since Stavros still had a few nails between his lips, he didn't answer but only muttered and nodded in agreement. To not let the conversation about the day alone with Lanike on Thursday overwhelm him, he distracted himself - and Stavros - by asking him when he thought Lanike's mother would return.

"Oh, Daktylos, that's got to be another ten days, at least. You know, Vera has relatives in Athens. Once she's there, she will want to visit them. And then, coming back is going to take another two or three days, unless they find a boat going directly to Karystos."

To thoroughly enjoy what his vivid imagination was providing him with, Daktylos walked away to check the opposite end of the enclosure and be alone with his thoughts. He wanted to treat the spectacular prospect of spending a whole day with his Lanike nonchalantly, even though he was excited and tickled beyond all measure.

Yes, it didn't look as if Stavros suspected anything; he definitely didn't know what had happened the previous afternoon, not too far from here, actually; up there, near the large whitish rock.Would Stavros approve, though, if he learned how much Daktylos was yearning for Lanike to sleep with him? And bear his child...

Well, if Daktylos had one person on his side, if anyone, it was probably Stavros - who may grumble for five or ten minutes but then sayWhat better options does Lanike have?!Earlier, his older neighbor had also mentioned that Daktylos should come to their house in the afternoon to read another of Aesop's fables to Lanike and keep her company.

So, he lay down after lunch to take a nap, but not before he had pleasured himself once more to all the wonderful memories the previous afternoon had imbued his soul with: First, he saw Lanike in her underwear, here in his bedroom, feeling Elena's dresses and picking one to try on. This led, in his mind, to him undressing her tenderly, after which they rolled around here on his bed.

After he had splashed his semen onto the handkerchief, he let it drop onto the floor and turned around for another hour of sound sleep. When Daktylos woke up, he washed his face and put on a decent shirt and trousers, before he went over to Maria's house, where Lanike was standing next to the sewing machine, holding two or three different pieces of fabric in place, so that Maria could sew them together.

Although he couldn't really touch Lanike in Maria's presence, he still stood close to her and whispered a few words, so that she knew where he was in the room. Perhaps, she could also hear him breathe or even smell his skin, but it was better this way, he decided. After Maria had turned the fabric by 90 degrees, she suggested that hecould already sit down, but Daktylos told her that he wantedto watch what she was doing.

"We'll sit down at the table together, when you're done," he suggested, instead.

Maria probably knew that he wanted to remain close to the young lady he was infatuated with, but he didn't care. Maria would find out sooner or later, anyway. And the situation had changed, almost overnight: Lanike's parents were emigrating to America, and Maria, Stavros, and Daktylos would have to take care of the blind girl.

He would like nothing better, of course. Unlike other days, the wine jug was already on the table, as if there was something to celebrate. Lanike and Maria were talking amiably but eventually, the older of the two women remarked that she couldn't imagine that Lanike's mom was going to join her husband on the long journey:

"Vera can't want that. Here's her only daughter... and Kostas has changed so much. But certainly not for the better..."

"Yes,Papawas much more cheerful and funny when I was younger. He used to laugh a lot... and always played little tricks on people," Lanike confirmed.

"Yes, after your little brother died, he changed," Maria sighed and pushed her glasses up her nose with the middle digit of her index finger, as was her habit.

Now, Lanike also sighed and sniveled. Yes, the harrowing detail that Lanike's younger brother had died Daktylos hadn't completely forgotten, but it had slipped into the very back of his memory. Similar to the other boy, who had been born dead.

"How old was your brother when he died?" Daktylos asked Lanike.

After all, he had tosay something, without necessarily mentioning the stillborn.

"Five. Almost six," Lanike sniveled and sighed again.

"Tuberculosis?" Daktylos inquired further, although he already knew the answer.

He placed his hand on Lanikes shoulder, who nodded and sobbed briefly. As the three of them were united here but silent, the last few days were rushing past his inner eye: He thought again of Lanike sitting on his lap on the mule cart, pressing her young bum against his swelling cock; his brief trip to Karystos and his conversation with Leonidas; as well as his thoughts of suicide.

Which seemed completely ludicrous at this point. Looking at Lanike and Maria, Daktylos was actually embarrassed that he had even thought of eloping. Suddenly, he smelled lavender, though, which was probably triggered by his memories of that quarter of an hour inside the pharmacy in Karystos, where he had also bought some soap.

Hopefully, I can wash Lanike on Thursday. She'll like the smell. The flacon with the lavender oil for her was still next to his pocket watch on the shelf in his bedroom. He had seen it this morning at half past four.And yes, there had been these God-awful arguments between Lanike's parents, all morning on Saturday:

"No, yes, I mean, Vera should really stay," Daktylos sighed - because he felt he had to.

Actually, everything would be easier if she wasn't here, wouldn't it?he caught himself wondering, but chased the nefarious thought away like a pesky gadfly.

"But the house is already sold," Maria reminded him.

"Either, Vera and Lanike move in with me, or I buy the house back from whoever owns it now," Daktylos announced chivalrously: "As far as I know, the man who bought it is primarily interested in the land..."

After Daktylos had made his monumental offer, the room fell silent again; perhaps, as the whole situation had changed yet again and was now on a different, higher level. All three of them had to digest, so to speak, what he had just said:

"I don't think Vera can move in with you, Daktylos," Maria reminded him: "Even if she stays here and doesn't join Kostas, but I don't think they would get divorced. That's a lot of paperwork. And expensive. And I don't think she wants that to begin with. Do you want to marry her?" Maria chuckled, but then instantly focused on her sewing again.

Perhaps, she was uncomfortable and a tad embarrassed that she had even brought it up. Lanike, at the tender age of nineteen, didn't know what to say, but it surely would have been interesting to hear what was going through her mind. If Daktylos married her mother, they could spend more time together. But then, she would becomede factohis daughter.

"No, I don't want to marry Vera," Daktylos managed to say finally: "All I want is a good solution for everyone. On Saturday, I'm going to meet Leonidas in Karystos. He used to be a lawyer. I'll ask him what we can do in this unusual situation..."

Of course, Daktylos couldn't marry Vera, as Lanike wouldn't be able to share his bed and open her lap to him. He assumed that his young love understood this part but obviously, he wasn't able to ask her at this moment.

"We have to wait until Vera's back. And then, we'll talk about everything again," he stated the obvious.

The tension in the room partially dissolved when Maria got up and three of them sat down at the table. Maria poured three cups with water and got a pear from the kitchen, which she then began to peel. She nodded at the jug of white wine, from which Daktylos now poured a bit into his glass.

As serious as the moment was, Daktylos didn't feel like opening the book on the table, though. Apparently, Maria and Lanike were feeling the same, as they had already started talking about the girl's family again, which turned out to be quite interesting:

"Yes, when I was younger,Papawanted us to be happy. He always brought us gifts from Athens. Toys and sweets. And we often had new dresses," Lanike recalled.

Daktylos didn't know what to say, but he didn't need to: The two women were chatting cordially, which offered him the chance to admire his young love a bit more with impunity. Yes, her breasts seemed to cover a large area, but they weren't thick or even round. He was exceedingly glad, though, that he had fondled them briefly the day before.

Oh, how lovely everything was up there, under that large olive tree!Not only had they kissed and been sitting close to each other for the whole time; no, Lanike had even jerked him off. Daktylos now also remembered how he once fantasized about placing his half-stiff shaft on her naked thigh; either here, or at Lanike's house, when they were alone.

Which was nonsense and utterly ludicrous, of course, as her knickers went all the way down to her knees. And he simply couldn't get his thing out, here at Maria's house. Anyway, it was still drizzling outside. Daktylos felt bad for Stavros, who had walked down to the village to have his shoes mended; probably for the baptism on Thursday.

Looking at the book in the middle of the table, Daktylos wondered if he would rather be alone with Lanike but the mood wasn't lighthearted enough, although the atmosphere was more pleasant now than earlier. But then, if he really wanted to share the rest of his life with Lanike - and have a child or even two with her - such moments were precious and important, too.

Obviously, Daktylos needed to know about the intricacies of her family and what had happened during the first nineteen years of her life. And so - after Maria had invited him to smoke and put an ashtray in front of him - he decided to join the conversation. He gave himself a refill from the wine jug, looking at Lanike's firm chest, which was nicely heaving.

Emotionally, everything felt warmer now, and he realized that he didn't just desire the lithe young woman's body here at the table beyond all measure but he also genuinely liked her.Intensely. As much as he desired her, yes: He could watch the way she laughed and was twisting and turning the cup in her elegant, relatively large, tanned hands forever.

And how she frequently tossed her long hair back with one forearm when it was tickling her endearing, dazzling face. When the two ladies got up to use the bathroom, Daktylos lit another cigarette and looked around. Whatever Maria was sewing wasn't finished yet, it seemed, but the small bed for Lanike along the wall was properly made.

Of course.Now, did Maria notice the additional sweet liquid between Lanike's slender legs, yesterday evening?It would be funny if he asked her, but he wouldn't.Of course not. Maria would perhaps talk about it, but Daktylos didn't want to embarrass his young love. But he could ask Lanike if Maria had said something, later.

After they had returned from their bathroom break, Maria asked Daktylos if he didn't want to come over for dinner again:

"You probably want to look after your goats once more, and I need to finish the curtain here, anyway. But I have chicken soup..." Maria added, in a tone that sounded like she knew the stew was excellent.

"Maria, I've been wondering if... I mean, I still have all... most of Elena's dresses. Lanike could wear them... I mean, it's raining. Otherwise, I could take Lanike to the goats..."