Tom’s smile reached his eyes and little wrinkles radiated out from each corner. ‘You did well. But I can see you as a nurse. You will have to prepare yourself. I’ve heard some of the injuries you will see there may be pretty horrific.’
Cassia looked puzzled. ‘How can something be pretty and, how you say ho-rri-fic — does it mean horrible? It is not possible, eh?’
‘I mean really bad. Some of the people are terribly injured from the earthquake,’ said Tom.
Cassia became serious. ‘I know. But I must do something to help. They are my neighbours, my friends. I say goodbye now.’
Tom shook her hand. ‘Goodbye. We are here for as long as we are needed so I am sure we will see each other again.’
‘I hope so.’
As she walked away from the tall, handsome sailor, she realised she did mean it. There was something about Tom Beynon that made her think he would make a good and caring friend. It was what she needed right now. Without warning, her eyes misted with tears. What did the future hold for her and the inhabitants of this island?
* * *
Her walk to the park was full of obstacles. The whole town seemed to be on the move. People blocked her path, scrambling to avoid the unsafe buildings lining every street. Children cried as they hung on to their mothers’ skirts for fear of getting lost in the chaos; women dragged bags of bedding; men with spades shovelled rubble at every house she passed. In the town, large bulldozers attacked the piles of debris in order for the carts of medical supplies to get through to Maitland Square and the Red Cross centre. The cacophony of noise unsettled Cassia. She thought of Sophia and how the chaos would be affecting the old woman. She decided to check on her first before offering her services to the Red Cross.
The shelters now teemed with more people than when she’d left earlier, and for a moment, Cassia was disorientated, not remembering where their shelter was. She knew it was next to a row of cypress trees edging the side next to the road and rushed in that direction. She found the family who’d been kind to them. But Sophia was nowhere to be seen. Cassia’s heart raced.
‘Have you seen my friend?’ she asked. ‘I told her I’d be back. She’s too frail. She won’t cope on her own. Please.’ Cassia heard the panic in her voice.
The mother looked up from trying to occupy her children. ‘She left. I told her to wait for you, but she insisted she had to go. Something about an Eléni?’
‘Oh, no.’
After thanking the woman, Cassia turned and hurried away. She knew exactly where she’d find her friend. Some of the streets had been cleared of a lot of the rubble, but groups of men were tackling piles of debris in front of houses where it was suspected there were people still trapped. Cassia passed through the hordes congregated around them and reached the street where her home had once stood. A large crowd still stood in front of the house Sophia had told her belonged to Eléni’s family. Further along the street was a donkey and cart on which two bodies wrapped in sheets were laid. Cassia’s heart sank, but she thanked God there was no tiny body among them. She searched for Sophia in the crowd. Standing on tiptoe, she could see her at the front, wringing her hands and quietly sobbing.
Pushing through the rows of bystanders, Cassia reached the old lady and pulled her into her arms. ‘Sophia. What are you doing here? I was so afraid you were lost or injured. You should have stayed where it was safe.’
‘I couldn’t stay. I needed to see for myself they hadn’t given up on her.’
Cassia knew to whom she referred.
‘They’ve found two more bodies this morning. So it means Eléni is the last one to find. Her mamá, baba, yiayiá and pappoúare all dead.’ Sophia began crying. ‘I’m praying for her. She’s an orphan now.’
As Cassia comforted her friend, she looked up at the men desperately digging away the debris. Their white vests were grimy with dirt and dust, and their skin glistened with sweat. One stood out from the rest with his thick blond hair and fair skin. It was Tom Beynon. He and his fellow sailors were partof the rescue teams here to relieve the local men who had been working all night. He walked over to her.
‘Cassia, I thought you were going to help with the Red Cross.’
‘I was, but I check on my friend first. She is missing. I find her here. She waits for Eléni.’
Sophia looked puzzled, unable to understand what they were saying.
‘Sophia, this is Tom. He is from the ship and he’s here to help us.’ Cassia smiled. She turned back to Tom. ‘She does not leave. She waits for you to find the little girl who lives in the house. Everyone is dead, I think. I do not want Sophia to see.’
Tom nodded. ‘If there is anyone alive in there, we are digging very carefully. We will get her out if we can. Now I must get back to my mates.’
‘Mates?’
‘My friends. The other sailors.’
‘Silence!’ One of the men stopped digging. ‘I heard something.’
A hush descended on the crowd. People strained to see what was happening.
‘There it is again,’ said Tom. ‘It’s faint, but it sounds like a cry.’
Sophia grabbed Cassia. ‘Perhaps it’s Eléni. She’s alive.’
