excerpt
A few days later, Demetre and Hermes departed for Athens. As
they got in the taxi for the trip to the port of Souda, Hermes Dragakis
looked at the village, at the square with the puddles where children
played. When the taxi drove farther away, he turned and looked again
from afar and suddenly had an inexplicable fear for his people. He
was leaving behind a part of his soul, here, in this village where he
was born, with all the rocks and ruggedness, the simple people, the
brandy and mushrooms, and Uncle Gerry’s openhearted warmth.
Hermes promised himself that one day he would return to stay
longer; to live with them, to be reborn among them, just as every
living being is reborn. Then again, this fear overtook his heart, and
he turned to look at Demetre, who was absorbed in his own thoughts.
Manolis Aligizakis 