Anne Hampson Eternal Summer (pdf)

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wonderful happened to Nickolas? She felt sure it had, and the
knowledge set her wondering, with an almost ecstatic expectation,
when, and how, he would tell her about it.
It was two in the morning before Nicholas said, with obvious
reluctance, that it was time they were in their beds.
Back on the lower deck, they paused for a moment by the rail,
watching the lights of another cruise ship away in the distance.
'It's like something out of fairyland,' Marika said, rather huskily, and
then, 'Nothing seems real!'
'Nothing?' Gently he took her face between his hands, turning it up, to
kiss her soft, quivering lips. 'Nothing except this ' He kissed her
again, exulting as, after the first timid hesitancy, her lips grew
responsive under his own and he knew the sweet joy of their
freshness and warmth.
CHAPTER SEVEN
MARIKA was shocked by the change in Stephanos. She stood by the
bed for a long moment, unable to speak. More flesh seemed to have
wasted away from his cheeks, his eyes were paler than ever, and one
hand lay tightly clenched on the bed cover.
Ah, my daughter. ..His voice was slurred and scarcely audible.
'Where is Nickolas?'
'He's bringing in the luggage; he won't be long.' She sat down on the
bed, took up his hand and placed it against her face.
'We shouldn't have left you, Father. How do you feel?'
Stephanos did not answer that and she wondered if he had heard.
'You look well, little one. Tell me all about it - what have you seen?'
'So many things.' Even in her sadness the memories gave her eyes a
sparkle, and her voice an animation that brought a faint smile of
satisfaction to the old man's thin, colourless lips. 'Athens first - oh,
Athens!'
'Do not try to expound,' he said, letting his fingers caress her cheek.
'Others, more gifted, have failed.'
'Then the islands. Kostos told you about us going with Leon, of
course?'
He nodded weakly.
'The meeting was most opportune. Which islands did you see?'
She told him all that had happened, pausing now and then, anxious
lest she should tire him. But he seemed avid for a full account of what
they had done, and when she had finished speaking he sighed
contentedly, and as his hand again came to rest on the bed it lay there
lightly, and unclenched. Marika frowned, recalling Nickolas's remark
about noticing some element of doubt in his father's manner. Right at
the beginning Nickolas had stressed the need for care, had warned her
that his father, despite his illness, was still very acute.
'Nickolas has made you happy, my little one.' The old man smiled,
though his words came with an effort. Marika's heart lurched; she
knew he was dreadfully ill. 'There is love in your eyes now,' he
observed, looking at her intently. 'That was not so before you went
away ' Marika made as if to protest, willing to attempt a convincing
lie, but the old man found the strength to lift his hand. Yet he did not
immediately continue; he stared past her, appearing to be lost in
thought. CI do not know what has been happening, but it seems that
everything is all right now.'
So he had suspected, in spite of their caution! Marika dropped her
hands to her lap, clasping them together so he should not notice their
trembling. With a gasp of relief she heard the door open, and turned
to cast Nickolas a warning glance which only served to puzzle him.
His father lay with closed eyes, but roused himself and moved his
head on the pillow as Nickolas crossed the floor and stood by the bed,
staring down at the waxen face intently.
'Father. ...' He drew up a chair and sat down beside the bed facing
Marika. 'You seem rather tired. What have you been doing?' He
glanced at the pile of books on the table. Too much reading wearies
you; you mustn't do it.'
'I shan't have to now.' He looked with affection at Marika, who smiled
warmly in return. 'The little one will do it for me.'
'Yes, indeed, I will,' she promised, 'just whenever you wish me to.'
'Has the doctor been today?' asked Nickolas, smoothing the
bedclothes with an apparently careless gesture.
The ghost of a smile touched the old man's lips.
'He has, yes. But what can the doctor do, my son?'
Nickolas flinched; he looked across at Marika, saw her fighting tears
that threatened.
'What did he say?'
'What could he say? He has long since given up trying to hoax me.'
His eyes narrowed, searching his son's face intently. 'I may be done
for, Nickolas, but my brain's still active.'
'Indeed it is,' Nickolas calmly agreed. 'Dr. Moundanos would not be
so unwise as to try to deceive you ... nor would anyone else who was
acquainted with your almost uncanny ' He frowned, searching for
the English word, and casting an inquiring glance at Marika.
'Omniscience - is that right, darling?'
Marika nodded, her eyes tender, her face softly glowing.
The old man's lids came down; he smiled faintly to himself, as if
enjoying some secret joke. Then he said strangely,
'Queer how things turn out sometimes.' His head turned into the
pillow; he seemed exhausted. 'My only regret is that I shall not live to
see you married. Nickolas, there is a glass of water there on the table.
Give it to me, please, and tell Pitsa I do not wish for tea - I'll have
something later.'
Nickolas had to ease his father's head from the pillow, supporting it
with his arm. Marika blinked swiftly as she watched him put the glass
to the old man's lips. Stephanos had been more than capable of doing
little things like that for himself before they went away. How
different he had become - and in less than a week.
'Nickolas '- She turned to him and looked up into his face
searchingly. 'Is he - will he...?'
A flicker of emotion crossed his face as, with infinite gentleness, he
drew her closer to him.
'Could be a few weeks, I suppose,' he returned through tight lips. 'But,
my dear, we must be prepared to lose him any time now.'
Marika wept on his breast; he held her in silence, his face caressing
her hair. At last she pulled away, found a handkerchief and dried her
eyes.
'You grew to love him too much,' Nickolas said sadly. 'It is always [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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