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Show 80 you say that was my fault, Darcy? Would you say that?" He turned from her and was again rushing down the steps. Roped to the pier he could see one of the launches being loaded with luggage and beside it, standing at the edge of the concrete where the black water rose and fell, he recognized the six well-dressed young men. He was taking the steps as fast as he could. Several times he nearly slipped on the soft splotches of greasy excrement left behind by the donkeys. Darcy fell further and further behind but it hardly mattered now, as long as he could reach the launch before it left he could make it wait. One by one the Germans were getting into the boat. As David climbed lower he could see puffs of white smoke rising from its back and realized that the inboard engine was already running. The third German, a bottle clasped to his breast, had to be helped into the launch. The fourth and fifth jumped from the pier at the same time, the boat rocked, their balance was lost. Like a Vaudeville act they fell toward each other and embraced awkwardly, settling together on a wooden seat. A donkey loaded with crates started up the steps toward David. A boy ran alongside beating its flanks with a stick. Darcy had disappeared above, behind the last turn. David lost his feet and found himself sitting on cold damp stone. The last German climbed into the launch. On the pier an old Greek bent low to uncoil a line and tossed it to the floor of the boat. The donkey clamored past and the boy called out: "Athio, athio, athio." Goodbye. |