Drama on Euboea Ch.07

Drama on Euboea

Chapter 7: Deciphering the Message

Because someone could show up spontaneously at Daktylos' house, he and Lanike got up quickly from his bed, after their first real sex. It was almost eleven in the morning, and the blind girl had already said that she wanted to eat something. Maria, the neighbor, wasn't back yet from her trip down to the village, where she had gone to get her hair done.

The slightly ominous telegram, which a young lad had delivered an hour earlier, was still tucked inside Daktylos' copy of Stendhal on the bench outside, as he saw when he pushed the shutters open again, after he had put on his clothes:

"Lanike, I'll wash you quickly," he offered, looking at his young blind sweetheart, who was sitting dreamily on the foot end of his bed, in her older petticoat.

She looked exhausted but also relieved and happy:

"But don't wash everything away. It was so nice," she told him quietly, turning her face in the direction where she presumed him to be.

Now, Daktylos noticed a small blood stain on the sheet behind her but didn't mention it. Perhaps, she would feel bad for soiling his linen:

"Don't worry. I'll just rinse yourfloweroutside. There's also a bit of blood."

"Blood?! Do I still have my...?" Lanike inquired if her period was still in progress.

"No, that's normal for the very first time. There's a little membrane, like a thin piece of skin, which ruptures when... a penis goes in. Elena didn't tell you?" he tenderly asked his love, who only shrugged shoulders before she told him that she probablyjust forgot.

"Elena taught me so many things," Lanike almost apologized.

"Are you hurting?" Daktylos inquired, but Lanike only shook her head.

After Daktylos had dabbed herflower, so that her chemise wouldn't get stained, he led her to a chair in the kitchen and told her to wait. He put a pot with water on the stove, before he grabbed his two buckets to go over to Lanike's house where the pump was.

Eventually, he led her behind the small partition wall, where Lanike pulled her petticoat up to her stomach, so that Daktylos could wash her succulent, dripping treasure as well as her tousled and wet pubic hair - which he did almost devoutly. While he was at it, he reached deep between her legs to take care of her perineum and even anus, but without kneeling down in front of her.

He could be certain to see her precious flesh naked much more often now;until her mother would be back, at least. After he had tenderly rubbed her dry, Lanike let go of her petticoat, which dropped like a curtain in the theater. He took her hand, after they had kissed once more, and then led her back to his bed, where the rest of her clothes were.

Just when he wanted to heat up the soup he still had, Maria showed up, who knocked on his door, calling Lanike's name. Once he was outside, Daktylos passed her, saying that she had received a telegram from Vera and went around the corner to fetch it from his book on the bench.

Daktylos wondered if Maria could sense what had just happened, while she was talking to the blind girl. Well, the accomplishment was still in the air; perhaps Maria would put two and two together, as Lanike looked exhausted but also thrilled, somehow.

Women could tell such things, Daktylos was convinced. Anyway, Maria had cracked the wax in the meantime and was now quietly reading what Vera, Lanike's mother, had written, before she handed Daktylos the envelope, laughing nervously:

"Forgive me. In Athens. Kostas goes alone. He deceived us for years. Back in ten days. Vera," Daktylos now read out aloud, so that Lanike knew what the message said.

But why had Maria laughed? There wasn't anything funny in those words.

"You always suspected that there's something wrong with Kostas?" Daktylos thus inquired.

"Daktylos: He's a scoundrel. And a fibber. A boaster, too."

"Yeah, but what do you think has happened?" Daktylos tried to dig a bit deeper.

"Oh, he probably gambled the money for the steamship tickets away. Or something. You know how much he drinks... Vera will tell us when she's back."

"Yeah, he also likes to brawl, Vera told me once," Daktylos told Maria.

When he spotted a tear running down Lanike's cheek, he took her hand, wiped the precious liquid off with his other thumb, and tried to find some consoling words for her:

"Your mom will be back soon. Your dad is going alone, but that's maybe a good thing - as strange as it might sound. And Maria will be here. And me, too. Of course. And Stavros."

Daktylos noticed that Maria's hair looked much better now, but this wasn't the right moment to pay her a compliment. Lanike sniveled and nodded:

"I know. And when Mama is back, everything will be good."

As there was another little tear, Daktylos gently rubbed Lanike's cheek again, who then turned her head toward Maria:

"I'm hungry," she whispered, as if she felt bad that she wasn't going to eat with Daktylos.

She probably wanted to cover up what had just happened and not overdo it. Daktylos still reiterated that he also hadsomething for lunchat his house, but Maria had already grabbed Lanike's hand to take the knackered young lady back to her place.

"Daktylos, you took care of Lanike all morning," Maria reminded him, perhaps unaware of the innuendo, before she pushed her glasses up her nose with the middle digit of her index finger.

But sure enough: a quiet, knowing smile was playing around Lanike's mouth, as the irony and the unintended humor weren't lost on her. Daktylos knew what his young love was thinking, and he felt proud that he, at his age, had managed to win such a young woman's heart and body - granted that the circumstances had played into his hands.

To end the stalemate, Daktylos shoved the little wooden windmill into Lanike's hand, before he announced that he was going to return to his kitchen.

"I'll come around between four and five. But I need to do the laundry, first," he let the ladies know.

As they were passing Lanike's house now, Maria turned around and holleredYes, good!Daktylos was watching Lanike's butt under her dress and felt chuffed again. Since Lanike was leaning into Maria and holding onto her arm, her gait didn't look very elegant, but her slim ankles were quite something.

Yes, my sperm is melting inside her now, he was immensely proud, but then regretted that he hadn't concocted a story with Lanike to tell Maria what they had done all morning. Obviously, the girl had to tell her something - which he, however, couldn't know. But then, Maria was no detective who would then question him to see if the stories matched.

He decided not to worry about it and put his soup on the stove, before he collected his laundry. The two new knickers for Lanike were still on his nightstand, but he finally decided that today was the time to wash them.There was no need any more to gratify himself and come onto them.

When Maria is washing Lanike later today, she may wonder why there's a blood stain on her petticoat, while her knickers are clean. Daktylos didn't know how he would explain this to his older neighbor, but he probably didn't have to. But if he had washed her chemise and she had put one of Elena's on, that also would have needed some explanation.

Yes, the new knickers I can't hang up outside, either, Daktylos mused.And, once Lanike wears them, I should probably say that they are Elenas, he made another mental note. Or she could wear them only here, in his house.After they had sex again.Yes, perhaps when she would stay overnight.

Anyway, he now drizzled diluted Perhydrol onto the blood stain on his bed sheet and waited, until it began to foam. He then took the linen and placed it in a large tub with cold water to let it soak. If he was lucky, he could perhaps get Lanike to again come to his house later, remove her petticoat, and treat the blood stain there in like fashion.

The chemise could then dry here for an hour, while they could go up through the olive grove to the white rock.After which, Lanike could return and put the petticoat back on, Daktylos forged a plan to rectify his earlier oversight.Maria wouldn't know. She probably wouldn't be upset anyway, but the widower naturally wanted to develop his taboo-laden relationship with his young blind neighbor as discreetly, taste- and tactfully as possible.

When the food was hot, he put a larger pot with water for his laundry onto the fire, before her took his soup and book to eat outside on the bench again.Well, Vera's telegram was a tad cryptic, but not really disturbing, was it?he wondered. But what had Lanike meant with the lineYou can also have her?which she had uttered twice, while they had been thrusting their hips.

Yes, perhaps we'll go up to the white rock later and have a chat. All in all, he was exceedingly relieved and chipper how his infatuation with his young blind neighbor had turned out. His sensual energy had found an outlet - and a climax.

Sitting in the shade here was so pleasant that he even imagined having a child with Lanike. He caught himself smiling; for some reason, Daktylos was decidedly optimistic that - with Vera's, Maria's and Stavros' help - everything would turn out well.But what should we forgive Vera for?

That she had contemplated leaving for America?Well, until a few days ago, she hadn't been aware that they wouldn't let her blind daughter in, since they had changed the immigration laws in 1907. Of course, Vera had assumed all those months that the three of them could start a new life there.Together.

And what had Kostas done?! What had he lied about? Had he gotten into fights again, when he was drunk? Had the police thrown him in jail?No, Vera had writtendeceive. Perhaps, he had found another, younger woman in Athens, where he worked as a builder. Or, he wanted to get rid of Vera and Lanike,since he didn't have enough money for the three of them.

Yes, Kostas had probably lost money, gambling - and then the idiot tried to palm his blind daughter off; maybe when he was selling the house.When the money he was being offered wasn't quite enough.For his and the ticket for his mistress. Yes, that would explain the ominous, fateful sentence that Lanike had uttered earlier, during their beautiful very first real sex.

Of all occasions.But what a rollercoaster of emotions this last week has been!Daktylos realized once more; now that he was sitting by himself in the quiet countryside, around noon. He could only hear his goats bleating. At least, the - by far - most important act had been wonderful.And happened at all.

Now, Stavros was returning as well. Under his left arm, he was holding the rolled-up sheepskin for tomorrow. He waved at Daktylos with his other hand, in which he was holding a jug, presumably with honey. In a minute, Maria would tell her husband about the telegram from Vera, and then the three of them would perform their exegesis.

Maybe, we could have dinner together tonight and talk about everything?Eventually, Daktylos got up and went inside to take care of his laundry and the dishes. He also put on a fresh bedsheet, before he washed his face in the kitchen. The small enema that Elena had brought here from her parents' pharmacy caught his eye; it was a bit dusty, but he conceived the idea that - once he cleaned it - he could use it to prepare Lanike's anus for anal intercourse.

Well, let's see it, first. And lick it. As it is, he reminded himself. Since he didn't want to walk down to the village tomorrow, when he would be here alone with Lanike, Daktylos decided to do right then. He wasn't quite done with the laundry, but it could soak for another hour or two.

He felt like having a shave, to celebrate, and the barber was a jolly, entertaining man. Unfortunately, he couldn't tell Georgios that he had lain between Lanike's fabulous legs this morning, on top of her, but the elan, virility, and optimism that the monumental act with the young woman had imbued him with lent him wings.

As he was passing the communal well, the three ladies there greeted him cordially.For now.As yet. Daktylos had a hunch that that could change, once his relationship with Lanike became known. Well, there was a pump next to Lanike's house; he didn't have to come here to the well if he didn't want to.

In all likelihood, he would buy their house back from whoever bought it, anyway. And obviously, Lanike wasn't going into some stranger's arms. As soon as Daktylos was seated in the barber chair, Georgios asked him about Kostas and Vera:

"He is going to America, yes. But Vera will stay here, because of Lanike, you know..."

"I saw her sitting on your lap, last Friday," chuckled the barber - who, the older he got, the shorter he appeared.

"Well, there was no other way," Daktylos laughed apologetically, trying to play down the fateful moment.

"Sure. I understand," Georgios mocked him a bit, before he asked: "How old is she now?

"Nineteen, I think."

What's he going to ask next?!Daktylos worried.

"Pretty girl," was all the barber added, before he focused on the shave, frothing up the soap.

One of the two backgammon players had gotten up in the meantime and quietly asked Georgios something, so that he got distracted, and the hot topic dropped; partially, since Daktylos couldn't answer without getting foam in his mouth. He still liked, though, that the two men had let him go first, since they were immersed in their game.

While Georgios was shaving Daktylos' face now, he reminisced about Lanike sitting on his lap on the coach box - for the tenth time;yes, this afternoon, we could do it again. He couldn't imagine Lanike having other plans, but he also wanted to remain in Maria's good book.

If she said that Lanike should help her with some simple task, he wouldn't come up with a ruse to lure her to his house.But the curtain Maria has been sewing must be done now, he wondered. While Georgios was putting on some finishing touches, he remarked that Kostas had been to his barber shop last Saturday:

"Somehow, he seemed sad. Burdened with problems. He admitted that he probably had made a huge mistake, but he didn't say exactly what he meant."

"Oh," was all Daktylos murmured, tasting the soap in the corner of his mouth.

"Yes, Daktylos, Kostas was rather serious... but also more modest, almost sheepish. You know how boastful he usually is..."

Daktylos wanted to wait until Georgios had rinsed his face, before he would answer, but now the other of the two men came to the chair, saying that he wasin a bit of a hurry. Since they had let Daktylos cut in line, he told Georgios that he was done and got up. He didn't want to talk about Kostas or Lanike, anyway.

So, he went back to his house, up the hill, where his laundry was still waiting.And Lanike, of course. After the chores were done, he went to Maria's house. Lanike was sitting at the table, doing some embroidery. He could see that she, naturally, hadn't gotten the pattern right, but seeing her so quietly occupied still warmed his heart more than anything.

Lanike had heard his approaching steps as well as his voice and was now looking in his general direction. Yes, she also had a lovely face, apart from her lithe, slender figure. Her firm young bosom was heaving under her faded-brick-orange blouse, which was a tad too small for her.

Maria was sewing something, with her glasses down on her nose, but then she looked at Lanike before she said:

"Daktylos, Lanike has already asked where you were. Do you wanna go to his goats?" Maria built Lanike a bridge.

Them. The way she had pronouncedgoatshad also sounded likegonads. A bit.

Lanike instantly placed her embroidery onto the table, but only nodded. Sensing Lanike's wish, Daktylos only said:

"We could talk about the telegram once more, over dinner."

"Yes, we've been wondering about what Kostas could have done. Perhaps, Vera has sent a letter, too. But that will take longer to get here. Well, go outside. The weather is nice," Maria added, looking down at her hands and sewing machine again, as if she wanted to avoid direct eye contact - now that she had given her approval that the two unlikely lovers spent time together.

Glad that there was no fuss, Daktylos just took Lanike's hand, who had meanwhile gotten up. Bending backward a bit, she was pressing her lap toward him, it seemed. During the short walk to his house, Daktylos mentioned the blood stain on Lanike's petticoat and asked her if she wanted to do something about it:

"You can wear one of Elena's chemises, instead. Or none, while yours is drying," Daktylos chuckled jovially: "No one will notice."

For some strange reason, he wasn't sure though if he wanted to do it for a second time today. That seemed excessive - and he a bit out of practice. Lanike wasn't holding back, however: As soon as they had entered his kitchen, she unbuttoned her blouse; presumably because she wanted to hand him her petticoat.

And so, the widower grabbed the bottle of Perhydrol and positioned his young blind love near the foot end of the bed, where he eventually treated the stain, after she had taken off her chemise. He explained to Lanike what she could not see, while she was putting her blouse back on, covering her beguiling chest. At least, he had seen the firm pair for a second or two.

As there was no reason to be ashamed, Daktylos opened her shirttails again to fill his eyes with the sight of her budding breasts, whose nipples were erect again. His fingers were eagerly traversing over her smooth skin, but now he also caressed her face. Since she was sitting, she tilted her head backward, and he realized once more how beautiful she was:

"Lanike, we either lie down here or..."

"We go up through the olive grove?" she completed the alternative.

"Yes, the weather is really nice. Tomorrow, it might rain..." he panted, unsure what he would prefer.

"Can I go without my petticoat, though?"

"Why not?! You could also leave your knickers here. No one could see it if you're wearing your blouse and skirt..." Daktylos chuckled, and Lanike reached for the two strings at her waist.

"I'll rinse the stain quickly, and we'll hang your petticoat here over the wardrobe door to dry," he sketched his plan.

Lanike nodded, and Daktylos went to the kitchen, from where he then watched Lanike slowly taking off her drawers.What a revoltingly hot scene, he thought to himself, unable to turn his gaze away from the ravishing young woman. Only wearing her unbuttoned brick-orange tight blouse, she was now fumbling for her skirt, which she then put back on, too.

When he was back in the bedroom, Lanike buttoned her blouse, while he was hanging up her chemise to dry. She had probably never just worn a dress or blouse and skirt without any underwear, but Daktylos found it wonderfully brazen that she had no qualms. To prepare for their tryst up in the olive grove, Daktylos took off his undershirt as well, before he decided that he could also do without his boxershorts.

Lanike could probably tell from the faint and muffled sounds what he was doing, and a subtly mischievous smile appeared on her face. Daktylos grabbed a handkerchief, just in case, before he filled a waterskin, but then they were good to go.Shall I take some olive oil to massage her anus?he even wondered but decided to save that particular kind of stimulation for the next day, when they would be alone.