The Oracle Read Free Page A

mask and show who they really are. Students at the universities of Salonika and Patras are going to rise up with us. We’ll make such a racket that they’ll hear us all over Europe!’
    ‘Oh, Christ. Now she wants a revolution. “Darling, there’s a revolution tomorrow.” What time? Have you decided what time it’s going to be?’
    ‘Stop that. You’re Italian, you’re going to finish your thesis and go back home. You’ll find a job. It’s hell here. Those pigs are strangling this country. They’re selling it piece by piece, they’re prostituting it. You know how many of my friends have suddenly dropped out of circulation because they took part in a protest or because they signed up for a political party—’
    ‘Heleni, love, it’ll never work, there’s no hope. It’s like South America here; the US don’t want to run any risks, so they back the military and squash the left. There’s no way out. It’s useless, believe me.’
    ‘Probably. Anyway, it’s been decided. At least we can say we tried.’
    ‘I suppose that the revolution can’t do without you.’
    ‘Claudio, what’s wrong with you? Where have all your fine speeches about freedom and democracy gone? The inheritance of the ancient Greeks, Socrates and Pericles and all that other shit? You sound like you’re on the state payroll, for God’s sake!’ She was excited. Claudio looked at her for a moment without speaking: God, she was as beautiful as Helen of Troy, scornful and proud. Small, slender hands and eyes as deep and black as the night sky, her T-shirt draped on her breasts like a sculpture by Phidias. He’d rather take her prisoner than let her be exposed to any danger.
    ‘Heleni, what would I do if something happened to you? You know . . . you know I feel the same way you do . . . but I can’t stand the thought of you risking your life in there. You’ve been occupying the University for three days now; the prime minister won’t be able to keep the military out of it for much longer, even if he wanted to. They’re going to strike hard, and fast, and the people won’t be backing you up. They’re too afraid, they have jobs and families to worry about, a long past and not much of a future . . .’
    The girl smiled: ‘Come on. There’s nothing they can do to us. It’s not like they’re animals; they’re not going to tear us to pieces! I told you, it’s going to be a peaceful demonstration. No one will be carrying weapons.’
    A street musician entered just then and started to play his bouzouki. Some of the regulars joined in to sing ‘ Aspra, kòchina, kìtrina . . . ’, a melody that Claudio and Heleni had sung many times with their friends and which seemed very touching to them just then. Heleni’s eyes glistened: ‘How often we’ve sung this one! It’s still lovely, isn’t it?’
    ‘Heleni, listen, come away with me. We’ll leave everything behind and go to Italy. We’ll get married, find work, anything will do . . .’
    The girl shook her head and her hair shaded her eyes, tossed lightly on her cheeks and neck. ‘I’ve got a more exciting idea. Let’s go to my house. Maria’s at the movies with her boyfriend, they won’t be back till after midnight. Let’s make love, Claudio, and then you’ll take me to the University. I can’t miss tomorrow. It will be a great day, all the young people of this country rising up together. And I know our people are behind us; I haven’t lost hope.’
    They walked out on to the street and Heleni raised her eyes to the starry sky: ‘It’s going to be a beautiful day tomorrow.’
    S HE STRIPPED IN front of him without hesitation and with none of the innate modesty she’d always shown. She let him look at her and desire her, proud of her beauty and her courage, sitting on the edge of the bed, illuminated by the soft light of the table lamp. Claudio knelt, nude and trembling, at her feet. He kissed her knees and lay his head on her lap as he caressed her hips. He leaned