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           Andstoodinsilentgroups,waiting.

           Whenthelaunchcameinaburlymastersergeantsprangoutontothesand,turnedbacktoreceiveablanket-drapedformintohisarms.Hemarchedafewfeetupthebeachbeyondthewaterline,andwiththehelpofanothermanlaidhisburdendown.Theblanketfellapart;therewasahigh,rustlingwhisperfromtheCretans.Theycamecrowdingaround,pressingcrucifixestoweather-beatenlips,thewomensoftlykeening,awordlessohhhh-hhhh!thathadalmostamelodyinit,mournful,patient,earth-bound,female.

           Itwasaboutfiveintheafternoon;thebarredsunwasslidingwestwardbehindthefrowningcliff,butwasstillhighenoughtolightupthelittledarkclusteronthebeach,thelong,stillformonthesandwithitsgoldenskin,itsclosedeyeswhoselasheswerespikyfromdryingsalt,thefaintsmileonthebluedlips.Astretcherwasbroughtforward,thenalltogetherCretansandAmericanservicemenboreDaneaway.

           Athenswasinturmoil,riotingcrowdsoverturningallorder,buttheUSAFcolonelgotthroughtohissuperiorsonaspecialfrequencyband,Dane’sblueAustralianpassportinhishand.Itsaid,assuchdocumentsdo,nothingabouthim.Hisprofessionwassimplymarked"Student,"andinthebackundernextofkinJustine’snamewaslisted,withherLondonaddress.Unconcernedbythelegalmeaningoftheterm,hehadputhernamebecauseLondonwasfarclosertoRomethanDrogheda.