Alessandra turned to me and spoke, 'Godfrey, it's time to bring you inside, to explain to you the power of Pallas Athena. Afterwards, if you feel it's all beyond you, please tell me right away, for our sake if not for yours.'
I listened without comment, staring at the ground beneath my feet as Alessandra spoke,
'Unlike humans, most creatures manage their lot. They don't assume dominance over everything as we do. And up to now they are as perfect as their species will allow. We humans used to be content like them until we began to accept some other human's theory of man's superiority over nature, and that's when we lost the plot. Today, there are some who still believe we control everything while they choose to ignore it is nature that makes the final decision.
In mythology, the forces of the living earth were given human names by simple people long before our arrogance and egos flew out of control. But we were blinded by technology and our own self-importance, and these names fell more and more out of use. Athena was one such name and over time she withdrew from the knowledge of mankind until she was forgotten by the masses. But if we go back to when she defeated Poseidon and won the honour of becoming protector and deity of the city that sat upon the Acropolis rock, we are told she became the greatest Olympian goddess in Greek mythology. We hear of her courage and victories, of how she became celebrated by the ancients as the goddess of battle-skill and heroism, but to many ordinary people of today she has come to mean so much more. It is she in whom they confide. It is she who delivers the children. It is she who guides the workers in pottery and sculpture, in weaving and meditation, in cultivating the olive-trees and producing the oil, but she stands in defence of our people and their home life whenever they are threatened and vulnerable. It is Athena who brings us peace of mind.
During the Dark Age when our seas were under siege from pirates and pillagers, our people would look with absolute confidence to their goddess Athena and believe she would vanquish the pirates and deliver their village from intruders. This is why our homage will always thrive.'
My heart was pounding. It sent the truth racing through my veins. ‘You believe Athena is the natural energy - the essence of the universe.'
'You saw the festival? The homage to Athena and the church. Athena lives in our lives. It has always been like this,' she said.
'I used to think cults were for crazies and belonged in the past,' I said.
'Any individual belief system is regarded as just another cult and its followers seen as heretics and therefore rejected by the establishment. Even in Britain, you have old Celtic traditions with great spiritual, symbolic and mythological importance, just like any religion, and they suffer too. Our cult has thrived for thousands of years,' said Alessandra.
'But have you ever come across any local writings or something tangible, or is it all word of mouth?' All eyes were on me. Had I rung the bell?
'There was a flurry of renewed interest some time ago when a group of amateur archaeologists were digging near Dorini and they unearthed what they thought was positive evidence of a temple to Pallas Athena. They dated it to sometime in the fifth century BC, almost two thousand years before the basilica was built in the fourteenth century. They were ridiculed by the professionals and gradually they lost support.' The others nodded their agreement as she spoke.
'Does anyone know the actual site of the temple?' I asked.
'They said the basilica was almost definitely built over the same site. With the popularity of Christianity it became customary to build new churches over alternative temples of worship in an attempt to obliterate earlier influences. In fact, the archaeologist said that considering there is so much evidence to show Dorini was an established Minoan settlement, it's surprising there has never been an official dig. He said no evidence has been revealed yet, although he would not be surprised to find a cache or perhaps another temple to Athena or at least a statue or fresco in the vicinity,' she said.
'The fresco!' I cried.
At that they exchanged glances.
'I'll have to explain,' Alessandra gathered her thoughts. 'Look, these days antiquity thieves zone in on a target and use highly sophisticated strategies to gain possession and then they sell to the highest bidder irrespective of the damage they inflict. Our response so far has been simple. Whenever artefacts are revealed in this area, and they appear almost daily, we keep them underground, hidden in a safe place, because as soon as discoveries are registered, the authorities might as well run up a flag and invite the plunderers to try their luck.'
'The crypt at Dorini!' I exclaimed.
'You wanted to know why I took you to Dorini? There were several reasons. First, I wanted you to find our cache. I thought that might convince you there was nothing to fear, but you were so intent on escaping into the fresh air, you walked straight past the answer in the gloom. Poor Godfrey, I even pretended we were locked in. Second, and more important, I wanted to show you the mural of Athena. Not just because it is so unique but because to us it represents the energy we can harness to defend ourselves from the interlopers.'
'And the great archaeologist, Doctor Schliemann? He believed in the literal truth of Homer - that the myths were based on fact and look what he unearthed.' 'Well, why not? He held on to his beliefs when everyone said he was just a naive parson's son. Nowadays the established religions patronise us because they have lost so much of their power, but people are people and they believe what suits them,' said Alessandra.
'Including me,' Alexis smiled. 'Some of us join together and make offerings to Athena on the first day of the new moon.'
'We do indeed,' Alessandra looked across at him and smiled.
'Boss, we have something we want you to think about. Have some more tea and listen. During the finding of the temple your father unearthed an amphora containing an early Greek manuscript and he hid it in his villa until the archaeologists went away. With the help of Alessandra, he translated the manuscript and discovered in it the exact details of the ritual to Athena. Every year between the moons of the birthday of Athena it is known her followers may ask her for help, for her energy. On this next birthday of Athena, with our guardian we were going to try and perform the ceremony of supplication and ask her to help us get rid of these vultures on Faria. But now he is gone and the second moon will soon be here so there is not much time - and before you sniff, remember, we have nothing left to lose. Boss, we believe it just might work and if you agree we will teach you the ceremony tonight but please, you have to be sure.'
'Of course I am sure. What do I have to do?'
'Leave that to me and who knows, by morning, you could be one of us crazies.'
My aunt came into the yard and put her arms round my waist, 'Irene and I will be going soon. Take care of yourself and don't stay up too late. You need your rest.'
'Have you seen Manolis and Maria?'
'Yes, they're in my room. Do you know, they came to see me as though they were guests in my house? I tried to comfort my Maria and explain as best I could that it is over now, but because she's who she is it'll take a long time for her to come through this. I'd leave her in peace for the time being, she's inconsolable in her shame.'
'You're a noble lady, Auntie. No wonder they all love you.'
'I presume you know about our plan?'
'Plan? What plan?'
'Don't give me that or I'll slap your legs. The writing on the vase! Irene! The big museum in Athens! Come on, lad! You're driving me mad!'
'All right, yes, I know about the plan. Maria told me.'
'Pani's errand, I call it. I will do it just for Pani's island. I'm sorry I couldn't say anything, but I was sworn to secrecy for my own good. And you know my mouth.'
'As long as you're safe. Now before I get on, do you know where you're going in Athens? It's a big place.'
She gave me a warning look. 'Irene is Greek, remember? Knowing you as I do, I am beginning to think you'll forget to put the house on the market and be too scared to tell me the whole venture was a flop, so you'll dream up some story and come home and carry on just as before except with a healthier skin tone.'
'I've never been a sun worshipper.'
'Ha! Have I ever told you you're so pale you look like you've been breeding bats?' She laughed and kissed my cheek, 'Pani used to say that about me. But you know Godfrey, as much as I'll enjoy having Irene and the cottage to myself without you to worry about for a few days, I have to say you've made me proud. In fact, I was about to suggest we don't sell the house at all. We could leave Alexis in charge and you could come here for holidays. Maybe start a bed and breakfast. The future's knocking at the door.'
'Wait and see, Auntie. There's a few things to sort out first.'
'Dear me, to think when you were a toddler, I'd watch you in the garden, lost in your fantasy world, running wild on your thin little legs and I'd wait for you to fall. Or you'd find some just-born, half-blind, near-naked chicks and bring them indoors and they'd remind me of you. But not now lad, you've got the bit between your teeth.'
'You're amazing, still impossible to second guess.'
'Good. That's the way of women. One last thing before I go.' She held out her hand, fist clenched, for me to take something. It was the wedding ring worn by my father. 'Goodbye Godfrey, see you whenever.'
'A week, Auntie.'
Irene Valeska stepped into the yard and I knew by her warmth that she would take care of my aunt, 'I'll be there for her. It'll be an honour.' She held out her hand, 'And don't stay too long in Sophia. This mountain can change you forever,' she laughed. 'Except, although it does nothing for me anymore, somehow I think maybe it does it for you.'
Auntie waved and waved as the van coughed and farted down the mountain to the airport for the second time that day.