"Officer Nikolas, you must prepare to leave soon. No later than tomorrow," he said, a serious tone in his voice. "We have news of your unit. You must get ready right away."
"And Anna? I can't leave Anna behind."
"If you love her, you will have to. It would be impossible for both of you to travel together. Besides, her leg must heal more before she can continue."
"I am just reluctant to leave her, Father," Nikolas confessed.
"This is not the time to be lightheaded. Have faith that God will show you the way.
Here, take this," Father Gregorios offered Nikolas the handgun. "I am sure that you know how to use it."
"Anna has suffered so much already and is not well. I'm afraid she will suffer more."
"I know, Officer Nikolas," said the Father. "I will see that she is well taken care of."
Nikolas lowered his head. "I love Anna more than anything in the world."
"I know, my son," the priest said reassuringly. "When you love someone so much and you know she is suffering, you suffer a thousand times more."
"You are right, Father. Thank you for helping us."
"Just thank God, Officer Nikolas."
"Father," Nikolas blurted out, as he looked at Father Gregorios in the eye and continued, "We are very much in love and plan to get married as soon as the war is over."
"The war … " Father Gregorios said, "the cursed war. I hope that with God's help, it will be over soon."
***
With the assistance of two women, Anna was walking slowly. Nikolas got up and met her halfway.
"I am so proud to see you up and walking!" Nikolas exclaimed and threw his arms around her.
"Thank you, Niko," Anna replied and leaned her head on Nikolas's cheek.
"Good to see you again, Miss Bouras. Yes, indeed, it is very good to see you."
"Thank you Father," she replied.
"Please sit down," the priest said, pointing to a wooden bench carved from a log. "We don't have much time. The Germans are going to land anytime now. Miss Bouras, I have already talked to Officer Nikolas and we have decided that he must leave tomorrow. I have another group of men going to Heraklion through the mountains. From there, they will go on to Chania, Souda Bay, and to the airfield at Maleme. If my informants are correct, a large German offensive is to be expected." "Father, I meant to ask you," Nikolas interrupted.
"Officer Nikolas, please do not ask. If you are captured you will deny everything you have seen or will see before you leave," the priest continued. "I am a man of God and right now my God is telling me that I must fight the evil forces that are threatening my country, my church, my traditions, and our freedom."