Zoë sees Efi sometimes, always with her German Army medic’s bag. These days she follows Kosti and his team of ELAS fighters who ambush the patrols of British paratroopers that dare to venture between the gasometers and burnt-out factories of Gazi. Sólon is leading his own group in the alleys and shopping arcades around Omonia. One day when they are both sheltering from a sniper, in the alley next to Aghia Kiriaki church, Zoë sees that her friend is agitated.

‘What’s wrong?’ she asks. Efi takes a deep breath. ‘You should stay away from our group.’

‘Why?’

‘Evangelos has gone a bit crazy, I think. He says things. Now he’s carrying an axe around and says it’s for the neck of any traitor he captures. It’s all shit, probably, but … he doesn’t like you. He says you’re a reactionary.’

‘Because I won’t fight?’

‘Well, that. And … I’m just saying what I’ve heard, Zoë.’

‘Oh, for God’s sake. You’re like a sister to me, Efi. Whatever it is, just tell me.’

‘He’s saying that you didn’t go out to fight because you love the British. There.’

‘But that’s …’

‘Someone – one of those EPON kids – saw you playing with your lucky charm at the demonstration in Syntagma. You know, your cap badge. So now some of them are saying you have a British boyfriend, that you’re bringing him information.’

‘My God! They can’t really believe that!’

‘No one who knew you from before – that’s me, and Sólon, now – they know the story. My darling Kosti understands. But the others, they’re kids. It all happened such a long time ago, and for them, the world began last year. And Evangelos … he used to be so sweet, but now he terrifies me. So please, Zozo mou, just stay away.’

‘Christ.’ Zoë presses her face into her hands.

‘Aman. Forget about it. Hey, listen, this’ll take your mind off Comrade Evangelos. You know Feathers?’

‘What about her?’

‘She’s only gone and joined the X!’

‘Now you are joking!’

‘One of Sólon’s team saw her riding in one of those little British things – Bren carrier? – with one of their commanders.’

‘Maybe she was a prisoner.’

‘She was wearing an X armband.’

‘Well, she was always rotten, right down to her soul. It’s a terrible, terrible thing to say.’ Zoë crosses herself. ‘But I’m glad Pavlo didn’t live to see all this.’

‘He killed himself, didn’t he?’ Efi says gently. When Zoë doesn’t answer, she puts her hand on her friend’s arm. ‘I guessed a long time ago. He knew his dose, down to the molecule. He’d never have overdosed by accident.’