Meanwhile the one policeman was busy taking the man from the boat, breathless and dripping, into custody, while shouting down his phone to the station to summon reinforcements. He bundled the prisoner into the police car with the help of the strong, silent fishermen, and drove off.

Stelios and Karl looked at each other, and then at Nikos. ‘What are we going to do with the statue?’

Nikos shrugged. ‘That is a good question. If she goes to the police, they will just hand her over to the authorities.’

Stelios grinned. ‘We have the van and the manpower. Let’s take her to where she ought to be.’

‘Where’s that?’

‘Where the people of Kyri can appreciate her! In the square in front of the hotel, as Dora suggested. She can be like the Statue of Liberty, greeting everyone who arrives on the island.’

‘Except that she’s lying down with a tempting smile, rather than extending an arm of welcome,’ pointed out Karl.

‘Well, she is the goddess of love. Maybe Kyri can become famous for sex rather than food or sunsets.’

‘I’m not sure about that,’ Nikos said doubtfully. ‘Anyway, let’s take her before the policeman comes back.’ He turned to the assembled fishermen. ‘Come on, friends – we are going to bring the statue from the boat. Can one of you bring the speedboat and drive it up on the beach? As far as possible without damaging it? Hey, what the hell – the boat belongs to Georgiades. You can damage it as much as you want!’

With not a shred of argument, two of the old men calmly dived into the sea and swam out towards the boat.

‘That’s Andreas for you,’ one of the others commented proudly. ‘Eighty-three, and he swims every day of the year, even Christmas. He’s stronger than men half his age.’

‘Particularly me,’ admitted Karl ruefully.

‘I thought you Cambridge men were always stripping off and waving your bits at ladies from the river bank?’

‘You mean Parson’s Pleasure in Oxford. That was banned years ago, and a good thing too!’

They all watched as the impressive Andreas and his companion climbed easily aboard the boat, tinkered with the engine, then turned it round and drove it back towards the shore.

‘Bravo, Andreas!’ called Stelios, hugely enjoying himself.

At that moment, Nell, who had retreated to the van for fear she would be in the way of any arrests, appeared back on the beach – directly in the path of the speedboat. Without hesitation, Stelios threw himself on top of her and rolled them both out of the way.

‘Are you all right?’ he asked, with so much emotion in his voice that Karl’s suspicions were confirmed: Stelios was in love with Nell.

‘I’m fine,’ Nell replied. ‘Have you hurt yourself at all?’

‘Only my dignity,’ Stelios smiled.