My island in the sun Ch 02
A man finds his Greek roots and his dream island
This is part 2 of a series. You'll need to read Chapter 1, for the story to make sense. There will be no sex in this chapter, so scroll past if that's not what you're looking for. I would greatly appreciate honest feedback to help me improve my writing style.
This is self edited, so any mistakes are exactly where I want them to be!
As the plane swooped down over the bay on its final approach, the sea appeared a mere arms length away from the belly of the aircraft. AJ could see throngs of tourists gathered around the end of the runway watching as he waited in anticipation as the flaps opened as touchdown beckoned. Moments later, the wheels hit the ground and unlike many runways, the aircraft was suddenly travelling uphill as the spoilers and brakes slowed their speed more abruptly than AJ could have anticipated. Several hundred yards later the plane slowed and started to turn left and taxied towards the terminal where it was guided onto its' stand.
His fellow travellers were up and out of their seats as soon as the seatbelt lights went out. All of them, eager holidaymakers, heads swivelling like Meerkats on drugs, buzzing with excitement, then rushing like ants to disembark, collect all their luggage and race headlong into the adventures that awaited them.
AJ was not in a rush, he was here, not for a holiday, but had come to start a new chapter in the story of his life, in a new place, but with people he knew and had missed for the last year or two.
As he stepped out of the doorway onto the mobile stairs, the hot air hit him, instantly memories of Afghanistan rose unbidden into his mind. Where scorching heat, the burden of coping with a 50 pound Bergen along with upper body armour, all the while concentrating on your surroundings and surveiling the horizon for threats made sweat envelop your whole body, this resulted in dehydration being as big an enemy as the Taliban, what made it worse is the balance between carrying enough water, versus the exertion of any extra weight. When you're reduced to drinking your own dehydrated urine just to stay alive, it isn't exactly fine dining at the Ritz.
As they say on TV, "don't try this at home".
As he descended the steps, a feeling of calm descended over him, for the first time in a long while AJ felt at peace with himself. He slung his carry on over his shoulder, but as his left foot touched the tarmac, what felt like an electric shock coursed through his body, his knees buckled as he stumbled forward, confused at what was happening to him he barely managed to remain upright. Just as soon as the feeling had shot through him, it quickly dissipated, his equilibrium returning to normal. As he looked around it appeared that no-one had even noticed the incident, making him suddenly question his sanity, he decided it must have been a simple reaction to the temperature or the bright sunlight, what other explanation could there be!
AJ was soon in the baggage hall, having passed through passport control, bypassing non-EU citizens with his Greek passport, which he had applied for and received before leaving the UK. As he had waited until all the other passengers had alighted, there were no queues to slow his passage through the airport. As he approached the carousel, he could see that his luggage was now alone, slowly circling around, waiting for him to collect it, AJ quickly scooped up his case, making his way through to the arrivals area, and the exit to catch a taxi down to the port area. As he approached the doors to the outside, his uncle Dimitri was coming towards him with another man. It left him wondering how they happened to be there as he arrived, as far as he was aware no-one knew exactly when he was arriving.
"Ajax, I've waited a long time to meet you" exclaimed the stranger. Confused, AJ turned to Dimitri, "Ajax" AJ asked! "Come with us AJ, this is your uncle Kostas, there's a lot to explain and I'm sure you'd rather sit in comfort to do it, rather than loitering outside the airport frying in the afternoon sun."
As they reached the car park Kostas pressed the key fob in his hand and AJ heard a bleep, and then saw the lights flash on a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, a sparkling white soft top. "Nice" whistled AJ, "fishing pays well round here, obviously"
Dimitri chuckled to himself, "Yes, there's a lot to explain".
Kostas drove down towards Chora, the only town in Skiathos, As they reached the edge of the town AJ saw the new port stretching out before them, however they then turned right, away from the port, and AJ was left wondering where they were going as he was expecting to catch a ferry over to Alonissos, where his Greek roots lay.
They pulled up outside of a taverna, (Greek restaurant) Dimitri indicated to a table far over to one side, and called out to the waiter to bring coffees for them.
"Once we have our coffees brought over, we'll explain everything to you. I know you have questions, but please wait till I've finished as you may have your answers to a lot of your questions by then".
Another waiter approached the front of the taverna and put a stand with a sign on it, saying the restaurant was closed. "Won't we have to leave if they're closing?" Kostas answered AJ "they're closing so we won't be disturbed, we, or I should say you, own this taverna". AJ just had more questions bubble up into his head with this last statement. However, Dimitri and Kostas were going to blow his mind with all the information they would divulge in the next hour or two.
As they sat and drank coffee, the last remaining customers left the taverna, and the waiter came to deliver a further order of drinks, which included a bottle of Plomari Ouzo, an aniseed aperitif, along with a bucket of ice, and one of still water, which Kostas explained was a required accompaniment with all important Greek discussions, Dimitri popped ice into three glasses and topped them up with Ouzo from the bottle.
"You wondered how we knew you had arrived in Skiathos didn't you Ajax", AJ did, but interrupted, "why do you call me Ajax, Kostas" "That's your real name" Kostas stated, as if it was the most obvious answer. "Let us explain everything before you start slowing things down, with further interruptions" he chuckled.
"We are not your true Family AJ, Kostas and I have been your sworn protectors from the day you were born. Your father Leander, was a Lion of a man, he was not only strong and brave, he was also descended from the Demi-god Perseus, the son of the God Zeus and a mortal woman Danae"
Dimitri continued the explanation at this point, "Zeus had kept his eye on the descendants of Perseus, at the urging of Athena, after Megapenthes who was the son of Proteus King of Argos, killed Perseus in revenge for the death of his father, for which he lay the blame squarely on Perseus' shoulders.
"Leander, had inherited strength through the bloodline from Perseus, but had limited powers as every generation is diluted slightly more"
They all had some more Ouzo, sipping it gently whilst the conversation continued.
Kostas interjected at this point. "We know Polydectes, the king of Seriphus, was most envious of Perseus, who sent him on the dangerous mission to slay Medusa. It didn't turn out as Polydectes had hoped when Perseus returned with medusas' head and used it to turn Polydectes to stone eliminating the threats to him, once and for all"
"Whilst other gods didn't actively seek to harm Perseus or his descendants, Athena the Goddess of wisdom and warfare, saw it as her duty to protect the male line, Athena created the triumvirate, who are specifically, three guardians appointed for millennia as watchdogs of the dynasty, your Dynasty Ajax"
"So, do I now call myself Ajax, or what" AJ questioned" Dimitri laughed hysterically "out of all we've told you so far that's what you take from it"
"Well, no but why have I been called AJ all my life to now find out my name's Ajax"