Cloak of Silence (Jake Harding Adventures Book 1)

Jake groaned, reaching for his bedside clock.

He stopped the buzzer and lay there, eyes wide open, trying not to go back to sleep.

The message…that’s why I set it so ridiculously early.

After a few minutes the sound of a vehicle driving slowly into the courtyard floated in through the window. He was up at once and pulling the curtains open. Across the courtyard light spilled out of the open kitchen door. Below his window Alesandro was walking to the back of his van. Jake pulled on jeans and a shirt and went downstairs quietly so as not to wake his parents.

As he crossed the courtyard with the crunch of gravel under his trainers, the greengrocer emerged from the kitchen.

‘Kalimera, Alesandro,’ Jake called out.

‘Ya soo, Jake.’ Alesandro didn’t appear surprised to see him up so early. They shook hands formally. Jake had forgotten what a ruddy complexion Alesandro had, contrasting with his snow-white hair and moustache. He had only ever seen him wearing a blue long-sleeved shirt and blue linen trousers. To match his van, Jake wondered.

‘Ehete ghramata ya mena?’ he asked, never sure whether or not to try out his Greek.

‘A letter for you?’ Alesandro asked in reply. ‘From your young friend, like before?’ He shook his head sadly. ‘No, and I not see him today, but listen,’ he put a meaty hand on Jake’s shoulder. ‘I am very sorry about your sister. If there is anything I can do…’

‘Thanks, Alesandro. Tell us if you hear anything.’

‘Sure, sure. I ask many peoples, but nothing.’

Jake held up an envelope of his own and Alesandro smiled. ‘No problem, my friend,’ he said more cheerfully. ‘But I should make a charge for postage; I would be a rich man.’ He closed the door of his van. ‘Taki will only get it tomorrow but I will not forget.’

In the kitchen Efi was bustling around, putting away the fruit while Dimitris had his breakfast at a small table at the back. She smiled at Jake and pointed towards the table – breakfast was on the way.

‘Not so usual that a young man from a wealthy family decides to join a monastery.’ Dimitris had obviously overheard his conversation with Alesandro.

‘And now a silent monk,’ Efi sounded disapproving.

‘Do you know anything about them?’ Jake asked.

‘In all my forty-nine years here I have not heard of silent monks at Agios Petros.’

‘Fifty-five,’ Efi corrected him. ‘You were born in Zengounas, remember?’

‘Women! They drive you crazy,’ Dimitris complained, rolling his eyes, but with a smile playing on his lips.

‘What about Father Theo?’ Jake asked.

Dimitris paused to consider his reply. ‘He came here as a novice, maybe twenty, twenty-five years ago. He’s a good man and works hard for the monastery. There are some stories, but that is in the past.’

‘Stories? C’mon Dimitris, I like stories,’ Jake said encouragingly.

Efi appeared with mugs of coffee. Jake noticed her fixing her husband with what one of his friends would call ‘the evil eye’.  He sat back in his chair and looked from one to the other.

‘Some things are best forgotten,’ Dimitris replied. ‘Leave the past alone.’

‘And the village people are going to search again today,’ Efi said quickly. ‘They love your family and are sorry for what has happened.’

‘They never really understand you, but they like you,’ Dimitris echoed, but he went on with a sad note in his voice. ‘But maybe after today they will stop looking because…’ His voice tailed off and he looked away with a tiny shrug of his shoulders.

Jake ate the muesli that Efi brought him in silence. He wondered if Dimitris would tell him any more about Father Theo if he got him on his own. As he finished his coffee the door opened and his dad came into the kitchen.

‘Morning, Efi, all okay?’ Jake could tell he was trying to sound normal but there was a hard edge to his voice. ‘Oh, and Dimitris, I didn’t see you over there. And Jake, I’d like a word with you in a minute.’

Jake thanked Efi for breakfast and waited in the courtyard.

‘You were late back again last night, Jake,’ Richard said as he stepped outside, his eyes on his son.

‘Yeah, Dad, I was with Taki at the monastery,’ he replied casually.

‘Look, it’s irresponsible of you to stay out late without telling me where you’re going and when you expect to be back.’

‘Jenny knew where I was,’ Jake said defensively.

‘She looked pretty worried about you herself, but…look, maybe I’m being over protective at the moment.’

‘Dad, I’ll make sure someone knows where I am.’

‘Yes, and when you’ll be back. Now, what’s all this you were telling Jenny?’

Jake quickly recounted what he had found out. He had hoped for a fresh message from Taki to help explain things, but sleeping on it had firmed up his opinion.

‘I just know those monks have abducted Zoë,’ he concluded.

‘But why on earth would they do that?’

‘They were doing something outside last night, maybe some crazy ceremony. It could be they were out there the night Zoë was at the bench and she saw them…’

‘What, so they took her prisoner?’

‘I don’t know why, Dad, but it has to be them.’

‘Listen, Jake I’m already late for breakfast with the groups. Go and explain all this to Mum before she goes out. Oh, and stay out of bother, okay?’

Jake was walking disconsolately across the courtyard when Rob and Matt appeared, also heading for breakfast with the groups.

‘Hey, Matt,’ Jake called. ‘What’s ‘blitzing’ mean?’

‘Blitz is lightning,’ Matt replied at once.

‘Yeah, but if you say ‘blitzing someone’?’

Matt looked at Rob for help, but he shook his head. ‘Not a clue – it doesn’t sound very pleasant, whatever it is.’

‘Where did you get that from, Jake?’ Rob was looking at him curiously.

‘Taki told me yesterday he had heard two monks talking about blitzing someone.’

‘That’s surreal. Anything else?’

‘They’re supposed to be silent order monks, but Taki heard them talking about some sort of problem. Two are from Africa, one with a big tattoo of a scorpion on his arm. And a whole bunch of them were outside in the garden after dark. That’s it, really.’

‘Hectic monks, hey?’ Matt remarked.

‘I’m going to see if Mum can get the police to take that place apart.’

Jake found her having a hurried breakfast in the kitchen and sat down across the table from her. She listened carefully as he told her everything that he knew and suspected, interrupting only once or twice to ask questions.

‘Right,’ she said with determination. ‘I’ll get straight on to the Chief of Police.’

Jake heard her half of the telephone call. ‘I see. When will he be back? He’s with the minister? Can he phone me urgently? There is a matter he must follow up vigorously. Yes, it’s Mrs Harding.’

She shook her head as she put down the phone. ‘They’re a nightmare, they really are.’

Jake put his head around the door of the admin office. Jenny was engrossed in paperwork, but at last sensed his presence, looked up and smiled.

‘Jen, just want to say thanks again.’

She winked at him and then looked serious. ‘These monks,’ she said. ‘Could they have abducted Zoë?’

‘I reckon that’s exactly what’s happened.’

‘But why?’ she asked fiercely.

‘Maybe they caught her watching something they didn’t want anyone to see.’

‘But they’re holy men.’

‘Taki’s not sure how holy they are. They’re supposed to be silent order monks but they talk, which seems wrong for a start. They talk about hunting in Africa and about blitzing someone. Not really what you’d expect.’

‘So what do we do?’

‘Mum’s trying to get hold of the police to get them to check over the monastery properly.’

‘And Taki? Is he okay, d’you think?’

‘No, they are working him like a slave and now he’s suddenly also a silent monk and not supposed to talk to anyone.’

She grimaced. ‘And you, Jake? How are you… really?’

‘Okay, I suppose,’ his voice was dull.

‘Well, it’s early days…’

‘Sorry, Jen, that’s rubbish. If it takes much longer, there’s no chance the police’ll find her.’

‘I wish there was more we could do,’ the frustration gave her voice a bitter edge.

‘Well, I’m going to do more. I don’t know what, but I’ll think of something.’

Jenny sat quietly at the desk after Jake had gone. He was right; there had been no progress. But it was hard to imagine that the monks were involved. Maybe Barbara’s chasing the police would bring results, but there was nothing tangible to hang their hopes on.

She wiped away a tear and looked at her watch. Ten o’clock. The monastery would be open now and she could spare an hour. Would she be allowed to see Taki and ask him first hand what these strange stories were about? Perhaps he could nod or shake his head if he wasn’t allowed to speak. She had grown fond of him on the course last year and hated the thought of him being unhappy.

It was early for tourists and, apart from the monk behind the ticket desk, Jenny had the entrance hall to herself. She had asked to see Brother Taki and sat waiting on the pew enjoying the peaceful tranquillity of the space and studying the painted panel on the wall opposite. She remembered from a previous visit that it was called the Scala Paradisi or Ladder of Divine Ascent. Monks were shown climbing a long ladder up to heaven and being beset by winged demons and evil spirits firing arrows. But angels were in attendance to help the pilgrims on their way. Jenny felt that a guardian angel was exactly what she needed at that moment.

The bell was chiming the half hour as a tall robed figure approached, floating across the cool stone flagstones.

‘Good morning, my dear.’ Father Theo’s sonorous voice was perfectly in harmony with the serene atmosphere of the building. She took his proffered hand as he introduced himself.

They sat together on the pew and Jenny explained who she was and that she hoped to see Brother Taki. The abbot sounded calm but Jenny’s intuition told her that there was something troubling the tall bearded man next to her in that peaceful space.

‘I am sorry, my dear, but Taki has gone away for a while.’

‘Where has he gone, Father?’

‘He is undergoing some training. Church business, you understand.’ The voice remained calm and soothing.

‘He didn’t mention that he was going away when Jake spoke to him yesterday.’

‘Yesterday?’

Jenny nodded.

‘Taki is not supposed to speak to anybody,’ Father Theo replied evenly.

‘I’m sorry, but he did speak to Jake and I’m sure he’d have said if he was going off somewhere.’

‘Well, my dear, these things happen,’ the abbot’s reply had a finality to it. ‘A place on a course comes up and there is perhaps a telephone call. We have to be agile when we are called.’

Jenny smiled graciously, realising that her questioning was not taking her anywhere. She was certain Father Theo was not telling the truth or certainly not all the truth. But she didn’t feel able to accuse him of that to his face.

She became aware of the peace of the entrance hall being disturbed by a sound, growing rapidly closer. Father Theo had heard it too and cocked his head on one side, listening. The sound became a roar as a blue and white helicopter flashed past the building and they both heard it turn and prepare to land nearby.

The abbot was on his feet. ‘You must excuse me,’ he said. ‘I think I have an important visitor.’

Jake was in the rescue boat keeping a watchful eye on the flotilla of twelve kayaks when the helicopter made a low pass over the bay before landing in the monastery car park.

Taki’s dad’s back again. Good for Spyros.

A police car, blue lights ablaze, raced through the village and pulled up in the car park with a screech of brakes that he could hear from the middle of the bay. Two men emerged from the helicopter and got into the car which was driven to the front door of the monastery.

‘A courtesy call. That’s what Nikolai said last time,’ Jake mused.

He focussed on the kayaks again and thought nothing more about the ministerial visit until the walkie-talkie in the boat squawked into life.

‘Jake? Dad. Return to the beach and hand over to Matt. Then come up to the house. The Chief of Police and the minister are here.’

Matt was waiting on the beach. ‘Something’s happening,’ he remarked, as Jake jumped down onto the sand.

‘At last,’ Jake called over his shoulder.

The two men had cups of coffee and were sitting with his parents on the terrace.

‘Good to meet you again,’ Nikolai Andreadis told him suavely.

Jake shook his hand and then the hand of the Chief of Police. He had never seen so much gold braid on a single uniform.

His dad spoke. ‘I’ve tried to explain but can you tell the two gentlemen what you know?’

The minister’s sunglasses were lying on the table in front of him and his dark eyes bored into Jake’s. This was Taki’s dad and he was supposed to repeat what Taki had told him? Had Taki and his dad talked at the monastery or did the cloak of silence stop that too? Weird or what?

He mustn’t drop Taki in it by revealing their secret meeting. So he launched into a cut-down version of the story, telling them that Taki had mentioned his suspicions of Father John and Brother Warren because they had been talking of blitzing someone. He told them about the procession of monks in the garden after dark at around the time of day that Zoë had disappeared. He finished by saying he had no hard evidence but a lot of things made him suspicious of the monks.

‘Thank you,’ the minister said and turned to the policeman. ‘Please, this needs to be fully investigated. Interview all the people concerned, especially the two men the boy has mentioned.’

‘But they are silent order monks, minister…’ the policeman began but was silenced by a wave of the minister’s hand.

‘That should settle whether that place is involved one way or the other.’ Richard said after they had left, looking across the bay towards the monastery. It was the most peaceful and timeless sight. The deep honey coloured walls and dusty red roofs with the tall trees standing guard around the building gave the impression of tranquil serenity where nothing could possibly be wrong.

His mum put an arm around his shoulder. ‘Let’s hope and pray that they find her.’

‘Mental!’ Jake exclaimed.  ‘He’d’ve told me if he was going away, I’m sure of that.’

‘I looked into his eyes,’ Jenny said. ‘And I knew that Father Theo wasn’t being totally open. There is something strange with him, but what I can’t tell.’

‘Bill Blizzard thinks the monastery is involved with Zoë. I’m going to watch the place as much as I can.’

‘What does he know about it?’ Jenny asked.

‘Not really sure. I’ll see what he’ll tell me when I see him again tomorrow.’

‘Jake, do be careful. And tell me what you’re doing, otherwise I can’t help you.’

‘Or cover for me,’ he grinned as Rob and Red Group joined them on the beach. There was a gentle breeze and the bay was calm; perfect conditions for novice board sailors.

They split the class into two as last time, with Rob going across the bay with Doug, Liv, Cath and Jamal between the orange buoys. Jenny coached Ruby and Jake stayed with Sam closer inshore.

Sam had been reluctant to get back into the sea but after some more practice on the simulator, he let Jake take him out into the shallows close to the beach. He was surprisingly well coordinated and balanced and, once he was on the water, seemed to shrug aside his fear and make good progress.

‘You’ll be with the advanced class next time,’ Jake told him after they had sailed down the bay together, tacked and come back to the beach.

Sam grinned and, as they packed the boards away later, told Jake he was sorry that Doug and Tyler were giving him a hard time.

‘They like to be the hard guys,’ he commented.

Jake stayed on after the others had left and checked the boards and rigging. As he worked he thought back to his meeting with the minister and police chief. They were going to investigate the monastery, hopefully thoroughly, but that wouldn’t stop him trying to find out more. He was looking forward to seeing Bill Blizzard again and seeing what he could find out from the watchful journalist.

‘Where is she, Jake?’ The tone was mocking.

It was Doug, in blue baggy swimmers, a towel over his shoulder. Tyler stood behind him. His baggies were green with yellow sunflowers.

The two hard guys, looking for trouble.

His dad had impressed on him the need to treat the grommets fairly and with respect at all times and never to sound impatient. But he found himself saying, ‘Get lost, Doug.’

‘What did you say?’ Doug took a step towards him and Tyler sniggered.

Jake put down the rigging and got to his feet. Doug was staring at him, his fists bunched, Tyler a step behind. Bullies liked to hunt in packs.

Two girls from green group, also on their way for a swim in the free hour before supper, stopped to watch.

‘I said get lost,’ Jake said, meeting his eyes, knowing what was likely to follow.

Doug snarled and swung his bunched fist at Jake’s face. Jake ducked out of the way and in the same movement threw the handful of dry sand that he had scooped up straight at Doug.

Doug howled, his hands to his eyes.

‘Don’t rub them,’ Tyler shouted. ‘Wash it out in the sea.’ He shot a furious look at Jake as he helped his friend down to the water.

‘Everything okay?’ A voice floated down from the terrace above.

‘Yeah, Rob,’ Jake replied. ‘Just a bit of sand in someone’s eyes.’

The girls giggled and walked on down the beach.