‘Okay,’ said Rubria eventually, ‘No point in waiting any longer.’ She sat on the edge and lowered herself into the tunnel. The ceiling was a few inches above her head and made from concrete lintels and she could reach both walls of baked clay bricks if she outstretched her arms. Rubria stood ankle deep in slow moving sewage as Rose risked the stench to lean into the opening above.
‘Follow the flow downstream, Miss,’ she said. ‘I will make all haste to meet you the other end.’
‘Thank you, Rose,’ said Rubria.
‘May the Gods be with you, Miss,’ said Rose and lowered the trapdoor to seal the sewer.
Rubria heard the rug being drawn over the access trap and stood for a few moments in abject fear as she tried to summon the courage to move. The blackness was absolute and she couldn’t see as far as a hand in front of her face. Finally she took a single step forwards, followed by a nervous second. Her outstretched hand dragged against one wall, a slim comfort in the total darkness, and soon she was walking as fast as she dared, without the risk of slipping on the slime and disgusting mess beneath her feet.
Soon she felt the floor of the sewer start to slope downwards and Rubria realised that it must be starting to descend towards the base of the hill. The sound of the trickling water became louder and she realised it must be flowing over an obstacle of some sort. Treading carefully she tested the ground before her with her feet, and was soon rewarded with the first potential hazard. Instead of solid ground, her foot dangled in space and she carefully lowered it down until it again met the sewer floor. It was obviously the first of many steps down to the base of the hill. Over and over again she took a step downwards until she lost all track of how many steps she had taken.
Suddenly a breath of fresh air wafted past he nostrils and her head lifted automatically to gulp in the welcome relief from the stench of the sewer. For a moment she thought she was at her journey’s end but was soon disappointed to see a small circle of light far above her head at the top of a narrow air shaft designed to release the build up of gases. Rubria stood for a long time beneath the shaft, gulping in the air and gazing longingly at the inaccessible light above. For an age she couldn’t bring herself to continue her journey and she sat on pile of collapsed masonry, staring upwards and crying quietly in despair.
Suddenly something ran over her foot and she screamed in fright as the biggest rat she had ever seen was momentarily caught in the circle of light shining down from above. She caught her breath and continued her journey down the subterranean stairway.
Rubria lost all track of time but eventually realised that something was changing. The sound of trickling water had always been with her but now it was getting louder the further she walked. Finally it had become quite loud indeed and Rubria realised it sounded like a waterfall.
‘Oh no,’ she groaned as she realised the implications and though the tunnel was still in total darkness she soon realised her worst fears when she couldn’t find the next step down with her feet.
The steady flow of water that had accompanied her for the last hour or so, now fell from beneath her into a pool below. She had no way of knowing how far below the pool was, or how deep it was. Rubria stopped in despair. She didn’t want to take the last step into the unknown as she had no idea what awaited her below but it was pointless going back as there was no way out that way. She removed one sandal, and, holding it over the edge, dropped it into the darkness, counting as it fell.
‘One, Two, Thr…’ She heard a splash above the sound of the falling water and repeated the exercise with the other sandal.
One, Two, Thr…’ Splash! There it was again. There was no other option, and Rubria realised she had to go on. Already filthy, she sat on the edge of the drop, dangling her legs into the darkness.
‘Holy Mother protect me,’ she prayed and pushed herself forward into the unknown.
Chapter 14
Samothrace 2010
India and Brandon walked from the quay side and up onto the main road running through the island’s one port, Kariamiotisa. Behind them, rows of blue fishing boats bobbed on the swell in the manmade harbour. They waited for the light traffic to pass before crossing and made their way towards the rows of red tiled houses. Brandon consulted a sketched diagram he had been given by the Captain before leading the way up a side street. He stopped before a small tavern with a couple of wooden benches outside.
‘Looks like this is the place,’ he said and knocked on the door before entering the cool darkness within. ‘Hello,’ he called, ‘Anyone home?’
‘Hello,’ came the answer from a rear room, ‘Just a second.’
They waited patiently and eventually an elderly lady came out, wiping her flour covered hands in her apron.
‘Hello,’ she smiled, ‘English yes?’
‘Yes,’ said Brandon, ‘We have been given your name by Helios. He said you can give us a room for a couple of nights.’
‘Helios? Yes, such a good boy.’ She looked at India, and smiled. ‘Honeymoons, yes?’
Before India could answer, Brandon answered for her.
‘Yes,’ he said quickly, ‘We are very much in love.’ He put his arm around India as if to prove the point.
‘Aaah,’ said the woman, ‘Very goods, I am Agatha and this is my homes. I will put you up in the best room I have overlooking the seas. She turned to India. ‘Veryromantics,’ she said.
‘Thank you,’ smiled India, but as soon as Agatha turned away, she kicked Brandon in the ankle.
‘Is this all your luggages?’ asked Agatha.
‘Yes,’ answered Brandon, ‘It was all very last minute, you understand.’
‘Aaah, young loves,’ said Agatha. ‘I was in loves once, with two brothers from Athens.’
India glanced at Brandon and hid a smile.
‘Come with me and I will show you to your room.’ They followed her up a narrow stone staircase onto a gloomy landing. Agatha opened a door and they filed into a surprisingly spacious and clean bedroom.
‘Lovely views, yes?’ Asked Agatha.
‘Beautiful,’ agreed India, looking out of the window.
Agatha sat on the bed and bounced up and down, making it squeak loudly.
‘Very strong springs,’ she said proudly, ‘Very new, only ten years old. The shower is downstairs and hot water is only available in the morninks. Toilet rolls is here,’ she said, opening a side cupboard. The first one is free. Extra rolls are one euro each. You are happy. Yes?’
‘This will do fine,’ said Brandon, pulling out his wallet, ‘How much do we owe you?’
‘Thirty Euros every night,’ she said, ‘Very cheaps.’
He counted out a hundred and fifty.
‘Five nights should do it,’ he said, ‘Is that okay?’
This is good,’ she said, putting the notes down the neckline of her blouse. She turned to India. ‘Five nights,’ she said with a wink, ‘Much luvvinks, yes?’
India bit her tongue and just smiled
‘Aaah,’ she said, ‘Very romantics. I will leave you in peaces.’ Agatha left the room and India closed the door gently before spinning around with fire in her eyes.
‘Honeymoon,’ she snarled, ‘What on earth made you say that? Why can’t I have my own room?’
‘Calm down,’ said Brandon, ‘I have my reasons.’
‘If you think I am sleeping with you then you are sadly mistaken, mister,’ she said, folding her arms in defiance.