EYE OF THE HYDRA (complete)

CHAPTER FIVE

The picturesque island, dotted with mountain ranges, appeared on the horizon like a barren gem, covered with some trees and few bushes. I watched as the city, dominated by grey and white houses, embedded in the mountains like an amphitheatre, surrounding the natural bay of the harbour. Fishing vessels and yachts rocked the waves. The sunbeams were reflected back from the windows of charming cafeterias, churches and bazaars.

"Inspiring sight, isn't it?" Said to me a female voice, and as I turned a real beauty caught my eyes. She was sitting on a bench, wearing a white blouse. Her long black hair looked alive as the strong wind started playing with it. With slender fingers, the woman set her sunglasses right on her flackered nose, while she stood up and walked next to me with a flirty smile. For a second, it was like a Greek Goddess coming alive before my eyes. The short skirt pointed out the tempting line of her long legs.

"Breath... taking," I moaned, making her laugh with that jingling voice, which was music to my ears.

"Me or the island? Don't look at me like you haven't seen a woman before!"

"Hydra is beautiful but not as much as you," I complimented. "My name is Ron Wyatt."

"Anna Tanakis." She took my hand, and I almost felt an electric shock when I touched her fingers.

"Do you often make the first step to meet with strangers?"

"Only if I no longer want them to be strangers," she said, flashing her white teeth.

At least fifteen minutes remained until the ship made port, so I invited her for a soft drink at the bar. Responding to my interest, Anna revealed that she was a teacher at the University of Athens and was currently on holiday. She was staying in Tolo for two days. Before she arrived, she had already called the cruise agency to tell them that she was interested in the voyage.

"This is your first time on the island?" she asked.

"Exactly. What about you?"

"For me this is the umpteenth visit, Mr. Wyatt. I have spent many holidays here with my parents, until I became ten years old. We rented a tiny bungalow. Unfortunately, after their divorce, I didn't come back here for a long time," she said, glancing at the empty cup.

"My parents also divorced, so I understand how you feel," I said, trying to comfort her a bit clumsily, which she noticed and smiled.

"What do you do for a living?"

"I'm working as a private detective. I have my own office."

"Wow! Isn't it dangerous?"

"Occasionally. Maybe that's the reason why most of the women don't stay with me for long." I don't know why but I felt an irresistible wave of honesty inside me. For many years I considered this issue a painful subject, but now it broke out of me. "Three years ago I divorced my wife. Fortunately, we didn't have any children. I was enraged when I learned that she left me for a bookkeeper, though I gave her everything. She said, she couldn't continue to live with me because of my insecure life. Yet... my work is far from being so dangerous. Usually the cases I get are busting cheaters or finding a missing person. So it's very rare if I accept a dangerous case. So God has a weird sense of humour."

"I'm sorry! Not everyone is able to endure the hardships. Fortunately, there are some women who aren't afraid to escape the boredom of every day and take a risk," she winked, making me smile like a kid under the Christmas tree, surrounded with presents.

"What do you teach exactly at the University?"

"Ancient literature and mythology. Why?"

"I'm just curious about something. Are there any myths related to the island?"

"I guess, you ask because of the name of the place, right?"

"Exactly."

"Well... the locals connect one of the twelve labours of Heracles to the island, the defeating of the monster called Hydra, although the location in the story doesn't match with the island. However, the shape of the island is longish so it could be seen as a snake. Human imagination has no limits."

"Tell me a bit more about this!"

"Alright. The monster had more than one head. It is said that the central head was immortal and had a poisonous breath. If one of the heads were cut down, two new ones would grow to replace it. Heracles and his armour-bearer, his nephew Iolaus, figured out how to kill the creature. They burned out the wounds after a head was cut down, so new ones couldn't grow to replace it. To connect this victory to the island, some explain it with the draining of the swamps."

"I see."

The victorious Heracles. Now I had an idea what could Sicard's intact painting depict. When the ship left Tolo, I checked the Internet with my cell phone to search for some information. About Sicard I found that his pictures were worth at least five hundred thousand dollars, and the price of them went up even more after his death. A speculation rumoured that a Sicard collection could be worth a few million dollars also. Then I realized that this game was played in big money, so I better act with caution!

"I feel that you have a business on the island," said Anna and looked into my eyes.

"Indeed. I have to find someone. Do you know a person called Giannis Pavlis?"

"Pavlis? Sounds familiar..." she started thinking, then her eyes lit up. "The one you are looking for is at least ninety years old! He lives in the North part of the island as far as I remember. If he is still alive, of course. But you better ask the locals for guidance. What do you want with the old man?"

"Only he can answer a few questions about an old case."

"Clear. I'd rather not want to know what's going on," she laughed. "When you finish we should go to a tavern. Call my number if you have the time! Here it is. I'm going to buy some souvenirs only."

I was surprised how pushy she can be and I found it suspicious actually, but I still accepted the offer because she was so attractive. I could never say no to a woman.

Suddenly the ship's horn signalled that we had arrived and the crew was preparing to land. I was hoping that everything would go well with the old Pavlis!