The Angry Hills - Leon Uris [66]
As he glanced across the farm he heard a strange sound coming from the lemon grove. He saw a shadowy figure flitting among the trees. Then—a crack of light from the pump house.
Mike stood frozen... Ten minutes—fifteen...
A look of rage came into his face. His hand was on his pistol. He walked slowly down the rise toward the pump house.
His foot kicked against the door and it flew open.
“Vassili! Thank God!”
“Don’t thank God me, you bitch!”
Lisa fell against him sobbing. He shoved her away and she fell on a cot. He closed the door.
“You fool! You wretched fool!” she sobbed. “Nico was picked up by the Gestapo. He is in Averof Prison—Dr. Thackery is in hiding....”
She stopped, arose and came close to Mike. He leveled the pistol at her. She raised her hand and smacked his cheek. Mike smacked her back.
They glared at each other in hatred....
“The Gestapo may know of this place now,” she said. “We have another place for you.”
Mike remained motionless, his pale-blue eyes piercing her.
She stepped around him and walked to the door.
He spun around, seized her arm and pulled her close to him.
“What are you up to now?” he said, shaking her violently.
“Vassili! Vassili! I almost lost my mind!”
“Oh, Lisa... Lisa...”
Her fingers tore at his hair and she pulled his face to her lips....
“Lisa... Lisa... Lisa...”
“No, darling... No—we can’t—we can’t... It’s not safe here... The Gestapo may come....”
He scooped her into his arms and walked toward the cot “To hell with the Gestapo....”
Mike knelt beside the cot and traced the lines of her satiny body. She smiled and kissed him.
Lisa was at peace for the first time since she had known him. As for Mike, she had fulfilled his every dream and answered every unanswered question.
But it was Mike, not Lisa who showed remorse. He knew he had sentenced himself to another term of haunting loneliness. He had fallen desperately, hopelessly in love. It was all too unreal, a fantasy...
“Vassili,” she whispered, “this is shameless. It would be terribly embarrassing if the Gestapo were to pay us a visit.”
“Yes, I suppose we’d better leave.”
He helped her to her feet and their bodies pressed together.
“Are you sorry?”
“Of course not, Vassili. I love you.”
Mike and Lisa entered a brick mansion at Satovriandou, 125, in Athens. The place was empty, unfurnished and felt haunted. He followed her up three flights of a circular stairway guarded by a massive mahogany rail. The house echoed its emptiness.
On the third floor they walked down a dusty hall to a door. Lisa unlocked the door which led to another flight of stairs. The steps creaked under their weight.
She ushered him into a meagerly furnished garret.
“I must leave now.”
They embraced and kissed.
“Ill hurry back as soon as I can,” she whispered.
TWELVE
HIS LAST CIGARETTE WAS gone. He lay on the bed beside the slanting garret window and looked out at the hills of Athens. It was turning dark and lights began to come on.
In a way it reminded him of San Francisco.
It was very quiet in the garret. He remembered another time—the day he was in the hills looking down at Kalámai. Athens was stricken and suffering but now she looked peaceful, as though she was ready to fall into an untroubled slumber.
He closed his eyes and waited for Lisa’s return. He thought about the morning in the pump house. He was tense with wanting her...
Night.
An echo thundered through the empty house. He opened his eyes and saw the aura of lights around the city. He heard Lisa’s footsteps moving up the long circular stair. His blood boiled as they neared. The door clicked open and he felt her presence in the dark room.
“Vassili?” her half-frightened voice called.
“Here—by the window.”
A bluish light filtered over the room. Her shadow preceded her toward him. She stood over the bed and their hands touched.
He watched as she raised her arms and whisked off her dress, and his breath deepened unevenly as she stood