Memories of his childhood in Smyrna returned. When he was ten and his father was shot by a Turkish soldier in the front yard of their home. Next to his dead father, Nikolas had lay, faking death in order to survive.
He shifted the bodies with difficulty because of his wounded arm. He struggled to lift them on his shoulder and out of the underground bunker. Dust, sweat, and the dead men's blood formed a sticky film over his clothes, skin, and hair.
Upon finding a field shovel and pick, he dug into the hard ground. Nikolas placed the bodies in the makeshift graves and said a short prayer: "Lord, let them rest in the bosom of Abraham, in a place where there is no pain or sorrow. Forgive their inequities and give them life everlasting."
He tore some cloth and covered their faces. His hand stopped for a moment as he noticed the strikingly handsome features of one dead man. He resembled a Grecian hero who had returned home after a long journey. "May your memory be eternal," Nikolas murmured, covering them with earth.
He tied sticks together to make two crosses and placed them on the graves, adding a handful of wildflowers. Nikolas reluctantly took a knapsack and filled it with canteens of water, a bottle of whiskey, canned food, a flashlight, and the emergency medical kit. The large knapsack contained the survival gear they would need to cross the Pelagos and reach Crete on a raft. He wanted to leave quickly to return to Anna. He proceeded to immerse himself in the cleansing water of the sea to wash himself and his blood-drenched clothes. The sun and the warmth of his body dried his clothes as he walked back to Anna.
When he returned, Anna was clearly agitated:
"Are you all right? What took you so long, Niko? I was terrified!"
Nikolas dropped the heavy duffel bag and wearily said:
"I am here, Agape." He pulled her close to him and held her there for a long time. "I have supplies for us," he whispered finally.
She eased out from his embrace and opened up the knapsack, producing a canteen of water and a dented can of corned beef. "Where did you find all of this, Niko?" Anna asked, astonished. When he did not answer, she left the question alone.
***
Now Nikolas was ready to gather the necessary materials to build a raft. He found poles and bamboo matting, previously used for shade by summer dwellers on the island. He collected more scraps of torn clothing and rope as he explored further inland. Then Nikolas cut long pieces of wild hemp, which he threw into the sea to soak, making them more flexible and useful for binding. Early in the morning he started construction of the raft.