Chapter 6 #2
The group of men he was standing with were looking her up and down in fascination, obviously wondering how they knew each other.
‘Yes, I’m fine, just waiting for my friend.’
‘If you’re sure.’
She’d never been so happy to see Suzie, who took in the situation immediately and whisked her away, giving Alex a little wave as she went.
A few steps on, Vicky pulled her friend into a side street, thankfully devoid of people.
‘Stop a moment.’
Her encounter with Alex had left her hot with embarrassment. Already clammy, her forehead was now running with sweat.
Suzie handed her a tissue and gave her a proper once-over as Vicky took a few deep breaths while holding onto the wall.
‘What the hell are you wearing?’
‘Don’t. Just don’t.’
Suzie held her arms out in front of her, folded them and took a few steps one way and then the other.
‘If I were a rich man…’
‘Stop it, please don’t sing.’
The laughter that had bubbled up inside Vicky threatened to spill over, and she could see Suzie was fighting it as well.
A woman passing by on the other side of the street gave them both a frown.
Suzie smoothed down her close-fitting little black dress and nipped-in jacket, make-up and hair immaculate for once.
‘Right, we need to pull ourselves together and join the procession from the church to the square. I live here, remember. I’ll be in a lot more trouble than you if we’re caught sniggering on the street.’
They slotted into the long line heading for the church at the top of the hill.
The narrow cobbled streets were full of people, who crowded several abreast onto the pavements once they reached their destination.
Vicky gasped when the epitáfio was finally brought out from the church, a glass coffin with a shroud inside to represent Christ’s tomb.
The sheer majesty of the gold-embossed bier, adorned with hundreds of flowers and held high on poles on the shoulders of a group of men dressed in special regalia, silenced her.
Priests in flowing gold robes followed directly behind, along with altar boys in purple and green robes and schoolchildren in guide and scout uniforms. The lit candles everywhere showed faces wreathed in sadness.
Bystanders crossed themselves as the procession passed, and Vicky was glad she’d made the effort to dress appropriately, however outlandish she looked.
The few tourists in jeans and T-shirts or summer dresses stuck out like a sore thumb.
But this wasn’t about her, or them. She was witnessing tradition and faith in real time, and it was a sight to behold.
Retracing its steps back down the hill, the solemn snake of people made its way along the seafront, the wind catching at the sashes of the official party, only to meet another spectacular bier and its followers coming in the other direction.
Vicky whispered in Suzie’s ear, ‘There are two of them?’
‘Yes, it’s the custom here. The two main churches each provide an epitáfio, and we meet in the town square for the service.’
People moved through the streets quietly and efficiently towards the large main square, where steep marble steps up to the huge wooden doors of the majestic town hall took centre stage.
The entire front of the building was bathed in a purple light, and a large video screen showed the whole square and the two processions slowly converging.
The feeling that swept through Vicky shook her to the core. She wouldn’t describe herself as religious, but there was something spiritual here that couldn’t be denied.
‘Wow, it’s incredible. So stunning.’
It was a whole other world. She’d never seen anything like it. And if she hadn’t taken that first step and agreed to work at the animal sanctuary, she never would have.
Suzie grabbed her hand and pulled her to the side.
‘It’s a bit packed for my liking. Let’s nip in here and get out of this crowd.’
Sticking close to Suzie, Vicky walked quickly up a side street, which exited onto the square. They found themselves right next to the epitáfio, only just behind the robed priests, which isn’t what they’d intended at all, but they were now wedged in and had no option but to carry on walking.
A glance up at the wide-screen TV showed the two friends centre stage, projected across the square for everyone to see, Vicky’s blonde hair shining under the bright lights. Everyone else was intoning words in Greek as led by the priest. It made it even more obvious she wasn’t a native.
Vicky nudged Suzie and tried to lower her head to her chest.
‘What? What is it?’
Her friend obviously hadn’t noticed.
‘Look up.’
They were still in the top spot, the cameras following every step.
After a glance, Suzie put her head down.
‘Blimey. How did that happen?’
For the next few minutes, staring at her prison-style shoes while walking helped take Vicky’s mind off their awkward turn in the spotlight. When the procession finally stopped, and she spotted a quieter street off to their right, she pulled at Suzie’s arm.
‘Quick. That way.’
Suzie nodded as they made good their escape.
Just as they reached the sanctuary of the little side street, Vicky raised her eyes for the first time in what seemed like hours but could only have been a couple of minutes.
No, not him again! Standing on the corner of the road with his mates was Alex. She was surprised he had any. She and Suzie scuttled off down the road as fast as they could, but not before he’d raised his eyebrows at her. She’d put money on him laughing behind her back.