"When there's no wind it's fine." "If the yearly winds begin nothing can keep you here." "Only your mother goes around on the rocks." "She's not my mother." "Then what?" "My fathers wife." "Your stepmother, then." "To us she's fine, anyway." "Is that it?" "That's all." "Only your stepmother lives here." "To us it's anchorage." "That's the house the lady stays in." " Thanks." " To God." "A handsome lad, long live." "The lady's been here 3 years but he never showed up." "Who knows?" "Who knows?" "His mother maybe alive and lives with her son." "Eh, these are for God to know." "So you did come!" "Yes." "How you've grown!" "I almost forgot you too, madam." "It's been 4 years." "Bu!" "please don't be so formal with me." "I'll try." "I got your card at Christmas." "Isn't he dead yet?" "Who?" "The cock." " It's only convulsions." " How could you?" "It's quite simple." "We have to cook him." "Of course." "I'm stupid." " Are you not hungry?" " No." "Then we'll have dinner together." "If you're bored while I do chores you can have a little walk." " Shall I help you, madam?" " Didn't I say no formalities?" "You're right, madam." " I'm right." " You're right." "Are we friends?" "Now we have to light a fire and boil water." "You know how to?" "So you live here all alone collecting stones?" "Noone forces me to." "It's a thing I love doing." "At school we talked about the caveman." "The Peking Man..." "The Neanderthals... the Cro-Magnon...." "I recall a bit of those." "Now with you I hope to enrich my learning." "For the time being, you'll get some sleep." "You're dead with exhaustion." "Okay, mom." "Goodnight. ...mom." "Don't go too far." "Waters are not quite safe here." "Okay, mom!" "I don't want you to call me that." "I have a name." "You have one?" "What is it?" "You're very mean." "Forgive me, will you?" "Don't think foolishly." "I count more years than you do." "I'm In a position to know your troubles and problems of your age." "You think it was my mother's fault?" "It was nobody's fault." "They simply didn't get along." "Was my father in love with you?" "No..." "With your father we became friends, we got married..." "We are friends." "Are you not in love?" "I love him..." "He loves me..." "I don't understand." "Being in love is a different thing." "Like It was with my first husband, your father and mother at the beginning." "You're very nice." "I've known your father for years in a profound relationship, but it's not eros." "Besides..." "Besides what?" "Ah, God..." "Exactly this." "Eros..." "Anyway, I have so much work to do and you're just distracting my schedule." "The exact same phrase." "Every time I asked something of her, "don't distract my schedule"..." "So I never spoke to her on the phone again" "She only came to see me on Sunday mornings." "Give me your hand." "You are a child." "Don't know what I am." "I just like holding your hand." "Why didn't you ever come to school?" "Your father did." "Father..." " We didn't know how..." " How I would react?" "Do you know..." "that I have a photo of you?" "I hope you've put It next to a naked starlet or a pop group." "If you get tired of the sea you'll find me at home." "What is this now?" "They're making a fire, it's a custom." "Meaning?" "The purifying role of fire." "Join them, you'll like it." "I'm off to bed." "What's going on?" "Will you stay here?" "I'm sleepy..." "And you won't escort me?" "Where?" "Down there." "There's a fest." "Did you hear?" "What fest?" "Didn't I say?" "A primeval custom that lives on to our times." "Come, get dressed." "Well, ok..." "Bend now, you'll be awakened." "You think you'd manage walking on fire?" "There are times I believe I would." "Why not try?" "Bu!" "that's no game." "It's an act of worship." "You speak of everyone with tenderness." "You think I don't know why?" "You'll say something foolish." "Poor boy, he misses tenderness..." "I don't like this." "That's a lie." "I like it but I don't want it." "I don't even know..." "You're a little fool..." "You know..." "At noon I went through the whole house." "I hadn't seen your things and books." "They're strange, will you explain them for me?" " Yes." "The best student in class is my friend." "He's my only companion." "When we have a leave he takes me to his home." "Most of my classmates have made love." "Have you?" "No." "But noone knows this." "I'm only telling you and my friend." "Has he?" "Only once." "But he didn't like it." "Is that bad?" "That's what happens to many boys their first time." "I should have, shouldn't I?" "Why "should"?" "Don't think about it." "Who said I do?" "Goodnight, now." "My boy..." "Don't think about anything." "Like in dreams..." "It's nothing, it's only natural." "I feel bad." "Feel good, as natural goes." "Boys have a word for this." " A nasty one." " But this is not your fault, it's mine." "No..." "Not you." "...Primer of fire Bitterness of solitude Rose of sunset Affair of doom With a twisted mind At the edge of time Boy, it's hurting me..." "...I forget you not Spring of thyme Breath of the ocean Blossom of darkness Primer of fire..." " ls the water drinkable?" " It is." "Can I drink some?" " Thanks." " To God." "Have you seen Eleni?" "Who, your mother?" "Heading towards the cave." "Bye!" "Looks like a scene from an ancient idyll." "What do you know about Pan?" "Haven't seen before." "He was an ancient God, goat legged who lived..." "He lived in the forests of Arcadia." "Along with shepherds." "As if nothing is real." "Is this me?" "It's me alright." "Me..." "What worries me ls that I feel fine with this." "Alas!" "All knowledge..." "Nothing." "Let's see, what have we caught today?" "God blessed our nets today." "See what we caught, lady!" "Wish you luck for all days." "Our thanks." "Now, come see what we caught for Lady today!" "These are for me?" "A treat for you and your sonny." " Shall I come In?" " Come right up!" "Welcome." " They're alive!" " Right." "Can I throw one in the sea?" "If you want to, why not?" "Want a ride across and return at noon?" "You bet!" "He didn't even ask me..." "Well, they don't ask mothers." "Once they get outdoors, they're men they say..." "Shouldn't have left her alone." "Bye!" "The boy is nuts!" "Ha-ha!" "You saw him?" "Tired of fish already!" "Is that why you're sending me to the birds?" "I'm scared!" "That's it." "I now know the deepest meaning of this purification of Aphrodite." "What's that?" "It's an ancient myth which I couldn't understand all these years." "In the waters of River Pinios, Aphrodite bathed after every lovemaking of hers and every time she recovered her virginity." "I don't get any of this." "You're not 38 years old, that's why." "38 years old..." "And a woman..." "After preserving their crust for thousands of years ice floes started melting and subsiding." "While subsiding they left behind them screes of enormous width and height vast areas all covered In clay and thick sand, wide flat and smooth surfaces with fossils multiply shaped from the ice floe waste." "Good morning." "Did I frighten you?" "What are you doing here?" "Fishing, and you?" "Me too." "Can I come aboard?" "My father is nearby and he'll see us." "But I'm not going to hurt you." "You have no clothes on." "OK, close your eyes." "Stay right where you are!" "You'll spear me like an octopus?" "Take me aboard and let's go for my clothes." "They're in the cave." "What did you do in the cave?" "I was with Eleni." "She scrabbles about the rocks and finds some tiny little men." "What little men?" "Some little men drawn by the caveman." "Who?" "The prehistoric man." "You can't understand that stuff." " What's your name?" " Eleni." "You too?" "My name is Alexis." "You know, this other Eleni is my father's wife." " Are you getting along?" " Yes, fine." "Stop, it's here." "Eleni, are my clothes there?" "Are you crazy?" "Why are you in the boat stark naked?" "Come and get dressed quick!" " Not my fault, lady." "He rushed his way in." " Snitch!" "I know it's not your fault." "Now go to your father quickly." "He'll be looking for you." "And don't play with Alekos." "He's a crazy lad." "I'm old enough, lady." "I don't play." "Why do you go around all naked?" "Put some cloth on you!" "Alexis!" "If one told me before you came that I could possibly leave my work..." "Do you mind it?" "..." "My fault." "Not at all." "Also I have told you that this word must be erased from your vocabulary." "As for me or the others." ""Fault" means nothing." "My fault, your fault, his..." "Has no meaning." "Tell you the truth..." "It's as If nothing I've lived so far exists anymore." "I'm happy, are you?" "I had nothing before this." "I made a start with you." "I even have to try to remember something." "Affair of doom..." "Cold?" "No." "I don't know." "These songs bring me so close to death." "He's here!" " It's him." "He's here!" " Now?" "Now you must be careful how you talk to me." "He must not know." "Can you do it?" " Yes." "Try acting natural, as we said." "If you don't do well, just go to bed." "How about you?" "Me, what?" "Will you sleep with him?" "You're so childish!" "So you return home, now and then..." "I heard the helicopter and came as fast as I could." "I see you don't waste your time." "I didn't know when you'd be back so..." "You're like a horse tied to a paternoster pump." "At times I wonder If there's any meaning to all this." "To me at least, It's a way out." "Often becomes a passion." "My job's taught me about passions." "So you live with the strongest of them." "Nonsense." "It's a job like other jobs." "Perhaps a little dirtier..." "It's nice here." "Are you enjoying it?" "In my own way." "I've cut down on my needs." "And the boy has adapted himself." "Alexis!" "I almost forgot about him." "Where's he?" "Alexis!" "He was with me but looks like he tactfully left us two alone." "He'll show up any moment now." "Alexis!" "There he is." "He looks great." "A grown man!" "Do you like it here?" "It's fine." "We're searching In caves for traces of the prehistoric man but as things go we've become prehistoric ourselves." " If you're bored I'll take you with me." " I'm starting to learn." "It's Interesting, Sir." "You know about these things?" "No." "It must be a contagious case." "So, be careful." "Come." "Science has absorbed you eventually." "Even during the scarce hours we happen to be together." "We're always two very good friends, that's quite precious, isn't it?" " How are you getting along with the boy?" " Well." "Very well." " I thought he was bored." " Perhaps he is." " If he's a burden for your work..." " Nothing but..." "He's started helping me too." "I must prepare something to eat." "Perhaps there's some store nearby?" "We're self sufficient." "Don't tempt us." "There's the helicopter." "We could go somewhere..." "Civilized, right?" "Not what I meant." "Of course It's only a night." "It'll pass." "Isn't it so?" "It is, unfortunately." "Obviously, exhaust gas works like toxin in me." "I'm craving it." "Anyway." "I don't have a mother either." "She died at childbirth." "But father never got married again." "He takes you fishing with him." "Doesn't he?" "Sometimes." "But the nights when the sea ls rough I come here and light a fire." "Sort of a beacon light." "You love your father?" "What a question!" "Who doesn't?" "I hate mine!" "I don't believe you." "He's in there with her." "With your stepmother?" "And what's it to you?" "They're man and wife." "Man and wife..." "What does It mean?" "She doesn't love him." "She loves another." "Who does she love?" "Another." "Have you anything I could drink?" "Water." "Great." "You have something to tell me?" "No." "If you need any money for your work don't hesitate." "I've told you before." "I think you could hire someone to help you." "Thanks but... the problem Is strictly personal." "I can manage by myself, besides I'm on the right track." "As for expenses, the Institute takes care of them." "Although I fall to see the meaning of this research" "I still don't want to stop you." "I believe our relationship ls based on understanding." "I wouldn't leave my work for anything." "There's many things with you I don't approve of." "Many?" "Yes." "Many." "Want to make love?" "Is it an obligation?" "Not at all." "It's something that gives me pleasure, you know it." "I haven't been fortunate in life." "I was condemned to living alone, far from my own people." "I always wanted someone by my side." "I thought that would be my first wife." "Then... you... you left because of your work." "Alexis is hating me, also." "Alexis?" "Alexis is out there." " Alone?" " Alone." "That's not right." "Yes." "He's not here." "When the sea is rough they light a fire for the fishing boats." "You know anything about helicopters, Alexis?" " What's to know?" " How to pilot." "We'll go on a flight tomorrow the two of us and I'll show you." "It's easy." "Actually" "I may even give it to you" "If you first show me you can pilot the right way." "Why would you give it to me?" "I thought... of giving you a present you'll like." "Unless you prefer something else." "This thing's worth a load of money." "But my money, young man, is also yours." "Even more yours than mine, perhaps." "You'll have to take this in, sometime." "I'm not interested in your money." "Very well." "I still hope you'll join me for a flight over the island tomorrow." "Alright." "So you'll be able to travel here often and... relax..." "Really..." "Are you not tired of this life, yet?" "Alexis asked me that, too." "How could I regret a way of life I've chosen for myself?" "As you know, Andreas, besides my work I have no secular interests." "Yes, you're sort of a hermit." "This reminds me of a joke about three monks in the desert." "Know it, Alexis?" "No." "There were three hermits who had agreed to never exchange a word." "One day, a horseman passed from afar." "A year later, the first hermit spoke:" "Dear companions, a horseman passed by." "2 years later, the second one spoke too:" "He had a white horse!" "After another 5 years, the third one exclaimed in fury:" "If this gabble of yours continues, I'm leaving!" "Here we are..." "Step inside." "You're not scared, are you?" "Fine." "With helicopter, things are quite simple." "Buckle up?" "As In a car, we begin with the starter." "We have this lever here..." "You see?" "Not at all difficult." "In a couple of days you'll be flying on your own." "Fabulous scenery." "Indeed." "I never saw it like this." "It's the sense of height." "Everything changes, depending on your viewpoint." "Now we're up here." "We're looking from above." "The others... are down there." "Can you see Eleni?" "How minor she looks..." "They see us differently from down there, too." "They lift their heads and look up." "These all look like toys." "Exactly." "We're above things." "And these down there are the toys." "Our toys." "The sea is dreamlike." "We must see about developing it." "Has some caves where you go in by boat." "I reckon she's found some remains." "Such things attract tourists." "I must get some mechanics down here." "I believe you can undertake this job." " You're grown up now." " But I don't know these things." "Piece of cake!" "Get a couple of advisors and all you do is deciding." "You'll supervise things form above, OK?" "If there's a need I'll be here, agreed?" "Do they bite?" "They do a little." "Why are you here?" "Out." "Let go." "Out I said." "Let go!" "Don't touch me!" "Don't touch me!" "Let go of me." "Don't touch me I say..." "You disgust me!" "What happened?" "He tried to molest me." "Good!" "You've got the hang of it!" "Now the lever..." "Why did you come?" "But I had to help you." "As we said..." "if you're in trouble, I'm here!" "Besides, we two see the world from above." "Look down on it!" "Her fate is in your hands." "Go back if you want or we leave." "Let's leave!" "Primer of fire..." "Bitterness of solitude..." "Rose of sunset..." "Affair of doom..." "With a twisted mind..." "At the edge of time..."