Nikolas quickly gave the instructions to sail away from the rocky island. "Let's sail for Samos, men," Captain Nikolas ordered in a heavy voice, disappointed once more by failing to locate Anna. "We will return to this island another time. We must not leave any stone unturned."
He wrapped his arms around the mast as the ship rocked heavily. When Adoni brought him his sturdy solid oak chair, Nikolas sat down, relieved. Although he was tired, the strong raki had done its job. His eyelids felt heavy as he became hypnotized from staring at the wide-open sea. Sleep overcame him in the comfortable captain's chair.
In low tones, the ship's radio played music from Anatolia, melodies that combined Byzantine chanting with echoes of exotic India. Nikolas's fatigued face relaxed and even brightened a bit, and a wide smile appeared on his lips, like a child. The melodies brought back memories of undulating belly dancers and his childhood in lovely Smyrna on the pristine shores of Asia Minor. However, his pleasant reverie lasted only a short moment.
Suddenly his expression changed and he resembled the tortured sea beneath the boat. His eyes moved rapidly under his closed eyelids, his body quivered violently, and his powerful hands clenched the wooden arms of the chair. This reaction lasted awhile. Just as the concerned Yanni and Adoni hurried toward the captain to release him from his agony, Nikolas woke up. He looked around, felt himself, stood up, and walked to the stern. The sun was fading behind the rocky island and the eternal Grecian sea. How many more wasted sunsets, he wondered? How many more broken hearts? How many more lost dreams? If the sea could only speak, it would be the best storyteller in all of Greece.
"Full sail for Samos, men," Captain Nikolas ordered loudly.
"Aye-aye, sir!" the men replied heartily.
Nikolas took another unfiltered Greek cigarette and placed it between his lips. Young Adoni ran to light it for him. Afterwards, the handsome sailor brought coffee and sat down next to Captain Nikolas, while Yanni was at the wheel.
"It was quite an experience to watch you -" Adoni began to say.
"Yes, my God, I thought you would break the arms of your chair, sir," Yanni interrupted. "You looked like you were …" he said, bringing his fist up to show a boxing position.
"Were you fighting with somebody?" asked Adoni.
"Yeah, I'd hate to see what the other guy looked like after you were done with him," said Yanni, smiling in admiration.
Inhaling heavily, Nikolas sighed and took a big sip of coffee. After a moment of deep thought, he replied: