ΑVGI’S WOODEN STEP
CHAPTER 1st
That June Sunday morning , Erietta woke up in a cold sweat, feeling her heart heavy. That dream she had first had , a few days after her grandfather’s death, had come back again to upset her sleep.
A dark dream , which sank her slowly and torturously into the turbulence of fear, and then into a real nightmare, as she was trying to discern the face of the man who was threatening her.
For a strange reason, she had connected that dream with the sudden and under strange circumstances death of her grandfather. And that was why, from the very first moment, she was convinced that this death wasn’t a suicide, but a murder, a rank one, which had to look like a suicide. She knew her grandfather rather well, quite well, actually. He could never do such a thing to himself, such a mystic and worshiper of life, as he was. That was against his character and his philosophy.
Unfortunately, though she shouted it as much as she could, nobody seemed to believe her. Everyone took it for granted that she was a lunatic, most of all Elias Mantakas, the police officer who every time she walked into his office asking him for further and deeper investigation into her grandfather’s causes of death, always found an excuse to get rid of her.
Until one day, Erietta couldn’t take it any longer and burst out. “ That’s enough, Mr. Mantakas, that’s enough! You are supposed to be a servant of public order and you have to listen to me. Well, once more I am asking you to search deeper into the causes of my grandfather’s death.
“Erietta, I won’t say it again”, he told her as he turned obviously nervous. “Vaios Loizos committed a suicide, and for your own good , it’s better if it sinks in at last”.
“Such a thing is never going to happen, Mr. Mantakas” she shouted as she was bumping her first heavily on his desk, “..are you listening to me, never!” she added as she was leaving slamming the door behind her.
Her one and only ally, her silent partner, was her grandfather’s friend, Periklis Danezis.
“My poor girl, I understand you “ , he used to tell her , “I don’t believe either that my friend committed a suicide. I give you my word, that I’ll do my best , I’ll turn everything upside down trying to find the edge to the mystery, which has covered his death.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t make it, because after a while he also died.
She tried to stand up, in vain, her heart was still beating wildly her temples throbbing.. She started taking deep breaths staring at the oak wardrobe, where her dress was hanging, the one she wore at her grandfather’s funeral. A long black classical dress with little white buttons on the bossom, breaking the darkness.
Ever since then, she refused to wear it , she had put it in the deepest part of her wardrobe among some old forgotten robes de chamber.
“Granddad, oh, granddad”, she said , sighing deeply.
Today was the annual memorial for him.
Oh , really, how much she missed his presence, his light air !
She tried once more to get up putting more strength on both hands. She sat up at the edge of the bed, looked for a while all around her, and then absent minded, took the crutches lying beside her sidetable, she walked onwards to the window and opened it widely to let the sun come in.
“Oh, blessed land”!, she muttered to herself as she saw the whole island lying in front of her as a wonderful painting.
Loizo’s house was lying upon the slope of Avgi hill. Constructed of stone , it seemed as a stately figure covered with the veil of the mysterious grace of gods, which was meeting the mystic beauty of antitheses (contrasts) along with the unpredictable sounds of times.
Beyond the inhevited bond with this house and this land, since it was there she first had seen daylight, had touched the ground and water , Erietta had also a relationship with it beyond the tangible world and that was because of her artistic nature.
A painter hershelf, just like her mother, she was inspired some times by her astral journeys, while sitting for many hours on starlit nights in front of the telescope, which Vaios Loizos had put on Avgi’s hill, staring at the sky, other times from her personal contact with nature, or from the daily scenes of life with all these human figures always in movement.
She had a unique way to illustrate on canvas the unbroken human affiliations with the universe and an admirable ability to captivate the essence of stealthy moments with live pulsive colours.
She confronted the dark side of life rather too early.
In particular, at the age of six, when she lost both her parents in a car accident. The shock was so strong that caused her a speechless period. And perhaps she would have never talked again, if she hadn’t had her grandfather next to her and granny Filomila, her only custodians. Both fought her a real battle until they could hear her talk again.
When she graduated from highschool she took entrance exams to the School of Fine Arts Sandro Boticelli
At the Academy she attented successfully a two-year program of studies in the art of Renaissance, participating at the same time in different common exhibitions. In one of them a Florentine sculptor, named Marcello Donetti , appeared all of a sudden. He came there as an official guest to see the students’ works of art.
Erietta , as she saw his black wet eyes, fell in love with him. This was the first time her heart beat for a man, the first time she met love. But Marcello Donetti , didn’t remain untouched in front of her plain and natural grace. When he set eyes on her, he bent, saying to her : “Tuo per sempre” which means “Yours for ever”.
That was it. That very night their love journey started, there on the Ponte delle Grazie, the most beautiful bridge of the city, which sometimes looks shiny at sunset.
Erietta stayed in Florence
It was Marcello, who many times urged her to take up painting again, but she was steady in her decision, saying every time that painting can wait, a child’s life never.
Four years of true comradely life had gone away. During all that time their relation wasn’t even once darkened by clouds. On the contrary, it rolled rapportly and creatively. Erietta was glad and felt proud, whenever Marcello exposed his works, following him with their daughter, to all his exhibitions, wherever they might take place. But he also, a fanatic admirer of her art, couldn’t stop encouraging her to have some exhibition or other.
Until one day, particularly on Alba’s birthday, - she was becoming three years old-, Erietta announced him her decision.
“You know Marcello, since Alba is no longer a baby, I’m thinking of presenting my first display, after Christmas holidays , here in the island.”
Marcello , almost cried with joy.
But life had other plans for them.
It was December, actually a week before Christmas, Erietta and Marcello, were in Florence
Without any desire for living, she returned back to the island.
Even her daughter’s presence couldn’t offer her a meaning or hope (for her life).She could stay endless hours above Avgi’s hill and languorously stare with vacant eyes over the horizon.
“Oh, there she seems to be getting mad old Vaio’s granddaughter”, it was heard maliciously in several circles where people were talking.
“She can manage , she has a strong soul , just like her grandfarther”,said some others with admiration, when they saw her, the few times she came downtown, as she was trying to cross the square without dragging her wooden leg too much.
Vaios Loizos was desperate. Granny Filomila also, who inspite her bad health got in charge little Alba, with Milio, their adopted daughter. They really didn’t know what to do to bring her back to life. Until one day, there came the unhoped for news which would offer Erietta again wings of joy.
The Mayor of the city of Florence , was officially inviting her to attend the inauguration of the new wing of Palazzo del Bartzello, of the National Sculpture Museum
At the beginning she had her objections, but in the end she was convinced to go.
The night of the ceremony was for her full of mixted feelings. Memories and images came up to her mind from her common life with Marcello. A little bit before the end of the ceremony, there was a big and pleasant surprise waiting for her. Just next to the new wing which had her beloved Marcello’s name, they were showing some of her paintings. Everything seemed to have been arranged with her grandfather’s help. She was so astonished, she could hardly say a word. Only a few minutes before she left , took up heart to say a breathless “thanks”.
Meanwhile, this unexpected fact in Florence
A new and creative period had already began for her.
At the beginning her work, because of its vanguard quality and ingenuity, didn’t have any effect on the artistic public of the island , and the result was, besides some friends and relatives, nobody attented her exhibitions. Of course, such event was the contribution of the social local system, which always tried to scorn and sabotage her art. It was as if someone was afraid of her subversive artistic nature.
In spite of all these, Erietta didn’t give in. She continued creating and exposing her paintings in the island, until one day the big bang happened. In particular, a gallerist wellknown in Athens Greece
In this way, more or less, they were trying to say she was almost crazy, and the very first who did it, was Sarantis Ploumbis, the great financial factor of the island and owner of the local radio station and newspaper, who among other things kept ranting she was an atheist and anti-christian, just like her grandfather was, trying this way to bring out the religious feelings, rooted deeply in the island’s population.
Sarantis Ploumbis though, knew very well his job. For so many years next to his politician father, had learned the game of intrique and mud throwing at people.
On the other hand, Erietta didn’t react. She let him expose himself and become a figure of fun.
“Erietta, Plumbis is in love with you”, her friend Niki told her with certainty one day, “...and just because you are something elusive for him, he does everything to challenge you”.
“Niki, are you completely out of your mind? I have known him since he was a little boy. A spoilt without feelings trashy boy, who whenever he didn’t get his own way, got stubborn, taking out malice, and not only that. Have you forgot the way he teased animals? This means a lot. Do you really remember madame Donina’s poor doggie? Hey, it was him who finished it. How is it possible for him to change by growing up? It isn’t. His bearing and attitude in life during all those years ensure us of the contrary”, she snapped back , really annoyed.
“Eri, allow me to know him better than you. I’m convinced that this bile taken out on you, is in a reality a latent eroticism…”.
“Niki, I really don’t have any appetite to analyze his inner world. This is a psychoanalyst’s job “, told her bluntly, closing thus her reference to this matter once and for all.
Niki Danezi, had worked for many years as a journalist , in his newspaper, so she knew him inside out. Especially, his behavior to women, each time they were in his power. By any chance, was the rumour of being a violent lover accidental? Of course not. Therefore, nobody dares bring the skeleton out of the cupboard. He was the ….Berlusconi , of the island. Who could ever stand up to him ? Nobody.
His followers and flatterers, a strong security zone around him, declared their presence at any time, closing many mouths this way.
The only obviously and substantially opposing families were those of Vaios Loizos and Periklis Danezis. These were the canker which was consuming his heart, his father’s also. That’s why they were trying to make sure that the financial and political situation almost of the whole island was their own business.
“Periklis, I can assure you that, the moment which will bring to light the skeleton out of the cupboard of Ploumbi’s family, isn't far away” Vaios Loizos, always farshighted, often said to his friend.
Vaios Loizos was a special man. From an old and stately family of the island, as opposed to the one of Ploumbis, he left at eighteen for the capital in order to study law.
When the drums of the second World War sounded, Vaios had already graduated from Law School
A sunny morning, at the beginning of summer of ’44, the bells from the churches all over the island, began chiming joyfully. Vaios Loizos and his team, after a lot of tough battles, had liberated the island from the conquerors by throwing them literally into the sea. The people had broken out into the streets and the alleys cheering for them and their co-fighters.
Unfortunately, the joy of liberation didn’t last long and that thanks to the bureaucrats and those who find a snug berth…….patriots, with first of all Sarantis Ploumbi’s grandfather, who had co-operated with the conqueror. After proclaiming thousands of lies about the querilla team, defaming Vaios and Periklis as traitors, they sent them on vacation to the desert islands to keep company with water snakes.
After three years of heavy exile, a cold night in winter they returned to the island, having as a unique medal of honor from homeland, their poor health.
However, Vaios Loizos didn’t even for a moment give up. A worshipper and deep scholar of ancient greek literature, he captivated the unique knowledge of how to shoot at creativity. As a combative lawyer, he called his job, a vocation, offering his knowledge and help to everyone wronged and victimized pro bono (free).
As an anxious and artistic spirit , in his spare time, he worked on woodcraft and dovecot constructions.
It was a skill known by his grandfather, Minoas. His own dovecot was built a few meters down Avgi’s hill. A stone built two level square building. The first level, in old times, was used as a tool shed and barn. Through a wooden stair and a trap door someone could step up to the main dovecot. Its walls had small square openings , which represented the pegion nests, where they would breed and hatch. What made it more interesting though, giving it a lively note, were the fine pieces of work, which covered the surfaces of the walls, except for the northern one. When someday he was asked by a friend from up town, to give reasons for such a rich and aesthetic decoration of the dovecot, he answered that his house didn’t need ornaments , just because inside it there were people who breathe and live . But in a building such as a dovecot with just a few holes in the walls, it would be rather dead and soulless without a little bit of beautifying.
Besides caring for the dovecot, he also liked to sit and study pegion flying and reactions. By giving them ancient greek names, he trained them to fly , especially long distances. Hermes and Fivos were his favorites. Of course, he loved them all, but these two were the only ones which knew their role of messenger. He fastened a white thread in their little legs and let them fly away. It was the nicest moment to see them come back realizing that someone got his messages. That was his favorite game. A game he taught Erietta next.
That was Vaios Loizos. An extremely interesting figure, who had inside him a fiery and childish soul.
“Good morning “, cried from up there, while the smell of the steamy coffee tickled her nose sensually.
In the garden and around the big stone table were having breakfast a friend of hers, Niki and Milio, the adopted daughter.
“Good morning , Eri, dear”, answered Niki, “I’m coming to help you”.
“I’m coming also “, said Milio, leaving a very desirable cookie halfeaten.
Both women entered the bedroom the moment Erietta was trying to unhook her dress from the wardrobe.
“Leave it to me”, said Niki and put it down for her.
“Where is Alba? Hasn’t she woken up yet?” turned asking Milio.
“No, let her sleep, a little more”.
“Please , Milio, go and wake her up. I don’t want us to be late for the memorial service”.
“We are not going to be late mother”, Alba’s voice was heard , reassuring her from the half-opened door. “I’m almost ready” she kept saying entering the room.
“Bravo, my noble lady” said Milio and put her arms around her,”.. I’m going to fix your breakfast”.
”Thank you Milio, but you don’t have to, I fixed it myself”.
“Oh, what a girl do we have! What a girl!”said Milio proudly stroking her hair.
“The best girl of the world”, papped in and said Niki smiling.
“Mam,after grandfather’s memorial, shall we go to the dovecot to stick messages to pigeon's legs?”
“We’ll go my Alba, we will”, promised her Erietta. She didn’t want to spoil her sport. She knew well how much she liked this game.
She put on her wooden leg, wore her dress, and then sat in front of her dressing table to brush her hair. “Oh, really, how fast a whole year passed, didn't it?” said with sorrow as she was brushing her long pitch-black hair.
“Surely, it did, Eri dear, although it seems unbelievable to all of us, it did”, said
Niki sighing .
“Thank God granny Filomila passed away before him. She couldn’t stand in any way his outrageous death. I think you get me Niki, don't you ?”
Niki, pretended she didn’t hear her last words.
“I asked you something Niki, why don’t you answer?” Erietta asked really annoyed.
“Okey, I understand you”, she answered as if she wanted to get rid of her.
“You don’t believe me, I can feel it, you don’t believe me”, said she misty-eyed.
“But, ……what are you saying Eri, dear, what are you saying, I don’t believe you...!”
“Yes, I can see it in your eyes. You don't believe me, just like your brother Loukis doesn’t”.
“ I think now that you are wrong to us”, tried to apologize Niki.
“ Do I wrong you or you me, as motto grosso you think I’m a lunatic, just because I still believe that my grandfather’s death wasn’t a suicide but a murder?”
“ Oh, Lord and Virgin Mary” cried Milio, crossing herself, “...are you both mad? Are these things to be said in front of a child?”
Erietta and Niki looked at each other. Milio was right. This talk should be started when they would be alone.
Anyway, Alba didn't like at all such behavior towards Erietta by Milio. “ Milio, please don’t talk to my mam this way”, said with anger the little one and ran towards Erietta. “Mammy, let Milio say whatever she likes. I do understand you and I do believe you, don’t worry”, she said and embraced her.
“There you are”, Milio turned back really annoyed.“ Are you satisfied now?”
Erietta without saying anything else, kept brushing her hair thoughtfully.
“ I’m ready “, said in a moment , “we may go now”…......
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