"Tonight the three of us are going to town. My treat."
"Okay, sir. I'll get Adoni," replied Yanni.
"On second thought, why don't I meet you at Manolis' Tavern in a couple of hours," said Nikolas.
The Captain gazed at the mountains behind him, that looked as if an artist's fine brush had changed the sky from light blue to dusky deep red above them. He scattered the happy thoughts of the past with a shake of his head and left the boat. Feeling lonely, he wandered the narrow streets of the town. His heart was empty.
He recalled how he and Anna had visited the island a long time ago, walking the same narrow, deserted streets, holding hands. He had stolen kisses from her and she had smiled with happiness, her eyes filled with radiant light. "I love you so much, Niko, I will love you forever," she had whispered softly.
Now uncontrollable tears ran down his cheeks. Nikolas wiped them off quickly with the back of his hand. He straightened up and kept moving along, as though guided by an invisible force. He found himself in front of a whitewashed chapel where he and Anna had strolled a long time ago. He felt compelled to enter. He pushed the heavy cedar door -- dark with time, opened it slowly, and peeked inside.
The handcrafted hinges of the old door squeaked grudgingly as he pushed in and entered. Nikolas looked at the penetrating eyes of the saints and felt small and insignificant. He lit a candle, illuminating the faces of the icons. He walked up to the icon of the Virgin Mary, looking straight into her eyes as his own filled with tears. He crossed himself and then gazed at the icon of Christ the King, crucified and standing tall above the sacrificial altar. A sense of humbleness overwhelmed him as he fell to his knees and prayed.
Feelings of guilt surfaced in his consciousness. "Why didn't I marry Anna?" Nikolas thought. "I should have said to hell with this war and stayed with her. Maybe I should have loved her more."
The Virgin Mary and John, the youngest beloved disciple, too looked at Jesus; the pain of their loss showed all over their faces. Christ's face was dripping blood from the thorns that had pierced his forehead. Nikolas wondered, "Did Jesus feel pain?" He couldn't come up with an answer. In a supplicating voice, he pleaded:
"Please Lord, help me to find Anna. I will do anything you ask of me. Just help me find her. I understand that she is married to you now, but she was told I was dead. But I am alive and I need her more than you do. I have read that when you were alive, your work was more important to you than women. Forgive me for being so disrespectful, but you have thousands of other women and men pledged to you. I am thankful for all of the times that you spared my life, as a child and when my ship got sunk. But my life has no meaning without Anna. I have a feeling that you are listening. Who else can understand love better than you?"