"'AH, BUT IT IS GOOD TO BE WITH YOU AGAIN!'"
"I will tell you afterwards what you would have found," said Yanni, suddenly looking angry. "Go on, little Mitsos."
Mitsos grinned.
"Little, who is little? I have a cousin smaller than I. Well, for my story."
And Mitsos told him of his journey, of his expedition to Patras and the monastery, and of the coming of the soldiers to Panitza.
"And for the rest," he concluded, "we shall have to ask Uncle Nicholas and your father. There are not many things in the world of which I am certain, Yanni, but one is that we shall find them safe and sound on Taygetus."
Yanni pulled up a handful of sweet-smelling thyme and buried his face in it for a moment.
"Ah, but it is good to be on the hills again, Mitsos," he said, "and to be with you. I shall not forget the Mother of God. My story is very short; I am glad it has not been longer."
"Tell me," said Mitsos.