As Tolis Zaxos entered the hall, he stopped stunned on the threshold. For one second he stopped stunned on the threshold. For one second he even thought that he had stepped into a fairy-tale. Surprised, he looked around.
The grey evening light lit the enormous hall. From the French windows Tolis saw the sea. It was steel-blue and calm. The pillars reflected deep shadows on the white marble floor. The huge chandelier was watching the guest with wonder. Its crystal pendants jingled each time the breeze flew into the room.
As Tolis’ eyes got used to the twilight, he noticed a scene at the end of the room. The kind of scene, which used to be found in the Middle Ages in castles for theatrical performances. Only this one was smaller.
On the scene there was an enormously big bed with red curtains. On the bed a nude girl was lying. Tolis looked at her with hungry eyes. The girl returned him an indifferent glance. God knows what could have happened…only this very moment somebody spoke behind Tolis’ back.
-   What can I do for you?
-   E-e-e…Let me introduce myself, - murmured poor Tolis. – The fact is that I’m the chief of the port, - saying that, he kept looking at the girl. – And…I thought it would be right to make some visits. To get along with local society, I mean… - He couldn’t follow his thoughts, - I mean to make some fiends. It’s so boring to be alone!
At the end of the sentence Tolis managed to turn towards his host. He was handsome and tall man of a certain age. His dark-blue, nearly violet eyes were looking at Tolis with curiousness.
-    Nobody must be alone, - he agreed. – I’m glad you came straight to me. Sure, we’ll go along quite well. I adore young people. They bring into our life new style, new language, and new ideas.
And he showed the guest the place to be seated.
-    Not really me… - Tolis murmured.
He felt uncomfortable. Sat down on the sofa sideways, lifted his leg, flashed.  Put his foot down again. Tried to comfort his hands, but failed…
-   You are modest! – The host said, pleased. – I adore modest people.
Tolis felt ashamed. He tried to say something, but couldn’t. He got used to simple conversation: about the weather and the quality of the food. Fortunately while he tried to collect his thoughts, the alarm clock became to ring.
- Oh! – Cried out a host. – Nine o’clock! It’s time for supper. Make yourself comfortable. I’ll be back in a minute.
And he stood up. His clothes were quite exotic. His trousers were of an oriental style with a red band around his waist. His embroidered robe was long, opened at his chest.
As his host left Tolis’ behavior became like that of schoolboy’s, when a teacher leaves a classroom. He looked around, examining the interior. For some time he watched the door and the portraits on the wall.
He touched the cover of the sofa, dropped his nose in the vase on the small table…All of a sudden the hall drew in the darkness, as if somebody had switched off the lights. The whole room plunged into warm darkness.
Tolis froze: still, wordless he was thinking about the girl on the bed - so, near to him and so far away. He was not sure if she was alive. He tried to turn backwards in order to examine the other end of a room. But saw nothing. There were only mild shadows everywhere. Tolis decided to go near to the scene, but he wouldn’t dare.
At last his host returned back and cut Tolis’ researches.
-  You do have a beautiful house, - Tolis said, - And the sculptures are beautiful too…Anyway, who… carved them?
-  The sculptures are not carved, my dear boy, - The host said mildly, as if he spoke to a child, -   The sculptures are created. I created those sculptures!
-   You? It was really you?!
-   It was me, all right, me, Stavros Stavridis.
-   Well done!
-   Do you really think so? – The host looked pleased.
-   Oh, yes! – Tolis cried out with enthusiasm.   
He wanted to ask maitre about the girl on the bed, but he didn’t.
-    I’m afraid, I have to leave, - he said instead.
-    You’re welcomed here any time, - the maitre said.
-    May I invite you for a dinner one day? What about the Saturday night?
-    It’s very kind of you, my dear boy, but on Saturday I have a party for my friends. And I’ll be pleased, if you can come.
-   Oh, I will, - major promised and moved towards the entrance.
As Tolis passed the scene, he dropped an eye on it. It seemed that the girl was still there. So, he decided to come again, to make an acquaintance with her by all means.“On Saturday, then!” – He thought, as he went down the stairs.
At last Saturday came. Tolis put on his grey suit of Gucci, tied red tie and walk towards the villa of Stavridis. What the maitre called “just a party for my friends” in reality happened to be a big event.
One could feel the festival everywhere: in lighting of the villa, in the design of the garden. The candles were flickering in the light breeze. The flowers smiled at guests, greeting them. The small round tables were served under the white tents. The guests gathered around them, chattering. All this seemed like a decoration established by the maitre. Tolis had never seen a party like that.   
He looked around, trying to find the maitre. But Stavridis was not in the garden. So, Tolis went up the stairs, gave a small present to the cute little maid and stepped into the hall. People were crowded everywhere: by the pillars, by the French windows, on the balcony and even next to the scene. Tolis took a glass of raki from the maid and looked around. Stavridis appeared suddenly.
-   My dear boy, - he said in a theatrical way, - I’m so happy you came! To say the truth, I got bored. So many celebrities and not one pretty woman  -  in here.
-   Not one? – Tolis repeated, turning his sight to the bed.
He wanted to ask: “And what about the one on the bed? Isn’t she pretty?” But it seemed, nobody notices the nude girl. So he kept silence.    
He was looking for convenient words, when Stavridis saw his new guest and hurried towards him, with the same theatrical enthusiasm. Thou, Tolis looked around like a thief, researching the field of battle. In his poor head crowded different plans.
At last he realized how stupid it was to stay here like a statue and stare at the girl. H was the chief of the port – that’s what he had to remember. The strategically plan suitable to his position had to be adventured.
So, smiling at one guest and speaking to another, Tolis reached to the bed. The girl was there. Her eyes were closed. Her breast moved rhythmically. One could think that she’s one of the maitre’s statues. Tolis’ instant glance woke her up. She looked at him indifferently. He felt confused…and all of a sudden run away to the balcony.
The fresh air wouldn’t help him. The sweet fragrance of flowers fulfills his lungs. His head was heavy. His body trembled. There, on the horizon the moon drew the silver zigzag on the blue-black surface of the sea, inviting Tolis to take place in this diavoliada.
At the door Stavridis appeared with a young girl.
-   Here you are, my young friend! – He said. – Watching the moon?
-   I…e-e-e…I’m-m- m..., - answered Tolis, if these sounds could be counted like an answer.
-   How very romantic! The girl cried.
Tolis stared at her surprised.
-   Are you a poet?
-    I’m not a poet! – He said in a rage. – I’m the chief of the port.
-    Oh, how wonderful! – She repeated, paying no attention to his rage. – Let’s dance!
She took him by his sleeve and pulled him towards the orchestra. In meanwhile, she was speaking continuously, was smoking a ling black cigarette and waddling. Probably, she thought that she was irresistible.
Tolis got angrier and angrier. When they reached the dancing floor, the girl became to dance like crazy. Tolis only twisted his head, instead of twisting his legs.
All the guests became tipsy. They spoke all together and sometimes without meaning anything.
-   New art takes their roots from today’s life, - somebody was saying next to Tolis.
-   How bright the stars are! – The second one admitted.
-   So, I’ve bought some securities of OTE and save a good profit, - the third one was saying with enthusiasm. 
Listening to all this intellectual chattering, Tolis moved towards the cherished bed. The girl (did she mention that her name was Lula, or it only seemed to him?) followed him like a tail. When they reached the place, Tolis asked her:
-   What kind of statue is that? – And he pointed the nude girl on the bed. – Was it…created by our host?
Lula (if only she happened to be Lula indeed) giggled and said:
-   It’s not a statue. She is real. A human being.
-  Is she? – Tolis pretended to be surprised. – I thought she’s a statue. But then, why is she nude?
-   Oh, it’s maitre’s fantasy. He has rather a strange sense of humor. He calls her “my pet”.
-   Something like a bird, which lives in a cage?
-   Isn’t he wonderful?
-   And original also, - Tolis murmured, furious.
-  Indeed! – The girl felt happy that made his speak out. – The maitre hates everything common. He lives all alone. I don’t take in account his servants. And I understand his wish to have a pet: a cat or a dog. Oh, I adore dogs!
She was very pleased with herself: Tolis listened to her at last!  So, she spoke and she spoke. And she smoked and she smoked,
‘’When did manage to lit a cigarette, - Tolis thought, wondering, - if the she’d cliff from my sleeve?”
-   Instead of a cat he took a girl, - Lula continued, - because he thought it was original. A toy.
She stopped for a second to watch his reaction. But major couldn’t take his eyes off the girl on the bed. Trying to get his attention, Lula said in his ear:
-  Speaking between us: what does he need a girl for? He’s seventy seven and she is nearly seventeen. It’s pity to waste such a youth!
-   A toy, you say? -  He suddenly reminded her words. – A pet?!
And all of a sudden he turned and run away from the house. Lula only watched his back wordless.
The end of the night he spent wandering about the streets of Hora. It was morning, when he finally went to bed. His nerves were tight. He closed his eyes and remembered Lula’s words: “It’s pity to waste such a youth!”
-   You, devil!!! – Tolis cried out, maybe, meaning maitre.
All Sunday he spent in bed, making plans. On Monday he woke up early and went out for shopping. Soon after in his window’s opening appeared a telescope.
-   Ho-ho-ho! What will you say about that? – He asked the sight of Stavridis, seemed in the telescope’s eye.
So, it happened! Now he could shadow maitre day and night! All his spare time from now and on Tolis spent here. The very first evening of his new career of a spy brought a rich harvest.
The evening was warm and windless. On the balcony of Stavridis’ villa appeared a maid. She was serving the table in quite a messy way. At last she decided that the table was ready. The sun fall down in a violet sea and free the Night. Steel-blue light spread around.
Stavridis came out from the French window. He was escorting the girl. Next a young man with violin stepped out.
The maid served the supper. Two men ate with appetite. The girl sat still, wordless. When they finished with the meal, the young became to play the violin. The major heard nothing. So, he went to his pickup to put some music on. When he returned the scene on the balcony was as the following: the young man was still playing and the maitre was dancing with the girl. She was passionless, nude and moved with difficulty.
-   You!!! – Tolis cried out, showing his fist to the maitre. – You, old scoundrel!
Stavridis couldn’t see his fist, or listen to his words. Neither saw he the telescope. Of course, if he did, he surely wouldn’t be confused. If he really wanted to hide, he had to avoid the glances of his neighbors first.
Speaking about the neighbors… Don’t you know what neighbors are like? As for maitre’s neighbors, they simply leaned over their balconies, climbed out of their windows, trying to see him better. But the same time, pretending, that they didn’t notice him at all. Some of them watered their flowers. Some hang out their underwear… And the modest ones were watching the show behind drawn curtains.
Meanwhile the maitre finished with his strange dance, grabbed the girl by her nape and dragged her along the table. Then it happened… Something in that very scene struck major. He fixed his telescope towards the girl’s face. But as he saw it, he felt dizzy.
-   You, dirty swine! – He said to maitre’s sight.
An enormous moon showed itself on the sky, pouring its mild light down and silvering everything around: the white houses of the town, the telescope of the major and the face of the girl.
-   It’s not her! – Tolis understood. – What the hell is going on?
Really, the girl on the balcony was not alive, a doll, perhaps. The maitre had supper with a doll, danced with a doll. But then, where was the other? Where was the real one? Tolis turned his telescope, trying to find the light in the house. There was light only in the servants’ rooms. Furious, Tolis throw the telescope on the bed. And then fell down next to it.
-    Never ever will I look at this house again! – He said to telescope.
-    I don’t believe you, - the telescope replied.
Or it only seemed to poor major?
As the morning came, Tolis run to his position at the window. You will ask: what about his promise? But who cares about promises?
What he saw was the girl (the real one!) posed for maitre. The maitre was angry and cried at her. She was silent, only looked at him with disgust…
-   It was then, - Tolis explained to his new friend some time later, - when I understood that I had fallen in love with her.
Stamatis was the new chief of the police. He was just like Tolis: young, lonely and a total stranger in Tinos.
-  She looked like a princess from the fairy tale, - Tolis continued, - prisoner in a magic castle against her will.
-   Maybe it’s early to come to the conclusion like that? – Stamatis supposed.
-   I ‘m sure, Stavridis charmed her with some kind of magic filter!
-   I need proof. Do you have any proof?
-   You’re speaking like a policeman,
-   Actually, I’m a policeman.
-   And I’m a man in love, madly in love. And I don’t know what kind of extremes I may run to.
-   I’m only hope, it wouldn’t be murder.
-  You had to see the indifference of those snobs, when they were standing next to her bed, pretended she was not there!
-   I see nothing criminal in being a snob.
-  You don’t want to see, - Tolis corrected him. – But if you don’t want to save her, I would. Actually, I have a plan.
-    I only hope it’s not a dangerous one!
It was not lie. Tolis had a plan. While spying on the maitre, he learned all the habits of Stavridis. So, when one morning he saw maitre walking towards the harbor, to  cafe “Epilecto” for his morning coffee, Tolis run to the house of Stavridis, climbed up the stairs and said to the maid:
-   Maitre is expecting me at ten…
-   Please, enter, - she replied.
So he did and immediately run to d. The girl was there. Long wished. Beautiful.
And then it happened. Tolis couldn’t stand against his longing any more. The passion broke him. He took off his clothes and lay down next to her. Embraced her and whispered:
-   I love you! I love you so much! -  And kissed her on her tender lips.
She woke up, not quite understanding what is going on. For a second she stared at major’s long nose, the drops of sweat under his upper lip, at his crazy eyes…
-   Don’t be afraid< - he said. – I’ll make you happy! I’ll take you from this jail! Let me hold you.
After this speech he waited that she will tell him: “Oh, my loving savior!” But she only looked at him with disgust.
-   I’ll save you! – He said, slowly losing his hope, - I’ll make you happy!
No more he count himself a hero.
-   But I’m happy, you fool! Maitre offers me a luxurious life. So, I need no more. What can you offer me?
And she looked around like she was counting her own worth with the luxurious subjects that she was surrounded by.
-  Me? – Tolis was surprised. He never expected to have this conversation in bed. – I’ll give you anything I own.
-   Get lost! – She offered him with indifference, threw his pans in his face and turned lacily away.
Deafened, stunned, Tolis slipped from the bed. But tangled in netting of the bed-curtains and fell down. Trembling all over with anger, he tore the netting and freed himself.
When he went out of the house, he felt lose. So, he walked down the street, murmuring something all the time.
-   Why did I think that she wanted to be saved? – He asked himself.
There was no answer. He looked at the moon, waiting for an answer. But the moon was silent. So, he continued the conversation with himself…
Nobody paid any attention to him. Maybe they thought that he was a regular crazy.