I introduced myself and offered my hand. He shook it so vigorously I felt my knuckles pop.

The pleasant-looking youth with bare feet and unruly dark hair spoke to the mayor, his father. The men got to their feet and stared at me with embarrassing frankness. After a moment, the mayor said, ‘Ela, come.’

We walked back to the harbour, the rest of the men, about ten, followed in a procession behind us. I noticed Manno was mooring up. ‘Nurse!’ he yelled across the quay, waving an arm. I suppressed a grin. ‘Look, I have something for you!’ he yelled, raising a pair of crutches.

I beckoned him to come over. Manno strode around the curve of the harbour and thrust the crutches at me.

‘The doctor of Syros sent these for the sailor.’ He glanced at the crowd then back to me. ‘What’s your problem?’ He stared right into my eyes which, honestly, made me tingle.

Oddly breathless, yet also embarrassed, I couldn’t speak. I turned away to break the intimate look between us and noticed our bystanders nodding and smiling at each other.

Self-conscious and confused, I pulled myself together.

‘My parents will think I was killed on the Britannic, Manno. I need to send them an urgent message to say I’m all right. You see, my brother died in battle, and my sister, a nurse, has died recently too. I’m all they have left. They’ll be dreadfully anxious and heartbroken. I must inform them that I am unharmed as soon as possible.’

‘Virgin Mary! They must be crazy with the worry. If I have to glue wings of Icarus onto my own shoulders and fly to England myself, I will make sure they get your message, koukla mou.’

I recalled the picture on Yiayá’s wall and did my best to blank out certain bits of the drawing. Manno could not fly into England in such a blatant state of undress.

What? Oh, my goodness. Was I losing my mind – thinking such ridiculous things?

Yianni came scuttling over to Manno, waving his arms at his son, and then thrusting his hands towards the boat and its fish. A heated conversation took place until Manno held a hand towards me.

Yianni’s face softened. ‘Ahhh,’ he sighed knowingly.

The onlookers grinned and nodded at each other again.

I seemed to be centre stage of a Shakespearean play that I didn’t understand, and my cheeks burned with embarrassment. ‘What’s going on?’ I asked quietly.

‘No worries,’ Manno replied, lifting my chin and smiling into my eyes again. ‘Let’s go and prepare your message.’