Carolyn Keene - Greek Odyssey

“George and I will keep an eye on him,” Kevin volunteered. “You guys go ahead.”

Nancy started to object, but Bess interrupted. “Great! We’ll see you later.” Nancy looked at Bess quizzically but said nothing.

“No problem,” George said.

They arranged to meet for a late lunch in a popular taverna in the village. Then Bess, Zoe, Nancy, and Mick headed back toward their mopeds.

“Didn’t you get it?” Bess said to Nancy. “They want to be alone,” she went on dreamily, “to squeeze every bit of romance out of their last days together.”

Nancy laughed. “I should have guessed you’d pick up on that.”

“Too bad Kevin has to fly off to Madrid on Sunday,” Zoe said.

As Nancy climbed on the moped and wrapped her arms around Mick’s waist, she wondered again what the future held for Mick and her. Did they belong together—forever?

The rest of the morning passed quickly as they rode along the twisting roads of Naxos, passing sparkling white churches and crumbled ruins at every turn. They even saw a goat farmer who was moving his herd, the metallic clang of the goats’ bells filling the air.

Just outside town they pulled off the road at a scenic overlook. Bess and Zoe sat down on a bench as Nancy walked to the edge of the cliff. Pushing back the brim of her orange cap, Nancy took in the view of silvery green olive trees stretching in rows along the hills next to the clustered white buildings of the village.

“Isn’t it beautiful?” Mick asked, coming up next to her.

“It really is,” Nancy said, and leaned contentedly against him.

The moment was broken soon after by the buzz of a moped. Turning, Nancy saw a silver moped with two people on it round the curve of the road.

The sun glinted off the chrome of the bike, blinding Nancy for a moment. She blinked, then gasped as she saw the face of the driver. An angry red scar ran from his chin to his ear.

It’s the man from Dragonisi! Nancy thought, recoiling. There was no telling what he would do if he recognized them!

Chapter Eleven

“It’s them!” Nancy exclaimed.

In the next instant she ducked behind the trunk of an olive tree, pulling Mick along with her. She winced as bark scraped against her bare arm, but she had to stay hidden.

“What’s going on?” Mick asked, looking at Nancy as if she had lost her mind.

“The man from the cave is driving that moped,” Nancy said breathlessly. “But I think we ducked out of sight before he saw us.”

Hearing the sound of the motor fade, Nancy dared a look. The moped was just disappearing down the hillside in the direction of town. “I’d love to know where he’s off to in such a hurry,” she said, rubbing the chafed skin on her arm.

“Are you okay?” Bess asked, rushing over with Zoe. “What’s going on?”

Nancy told them about the driver of the silver moped. She felt so helpless. How could she let those guys just ride on by?

“What about the man on the back?” Zoe asked.

“I don’t know who he is,” Nancy said, “but I can’t stand to stay here when they might lead us to some answers. What if they’re on their way to pick up the passports from Dimitri?”

Mick was already striding to their moped. “It’s a long shot,” he said, “but it’s worth checking out.”

“Don’t be crazy!” Zoe protested, grabbing Nancy by the hand. “It’s too dangerous.”

“I don’t think he recognized us,” Nancy said. “But just to be safe, we’d better take off our hats—they’re the same ones we had on at Dragonisi.” She tossed her orange hat to Bess, while Mick gave his to Zoe. Then Nancy hopped onto the moped and slid her arms around Mick’s waist.

“Don’t worry,” Mick said. “We’ll stay out of sight. We’re just going to observe.” Before Zoe and Bess could say another word, he revved the moped’s engine and steered onto the road.

“We’ll meet you at the taverna!” Bess called after them. “And be careful!”

Nancy held on tight as Mick maneuvered the moped around a series of snaking curves. With these treacherous roads, she was afraid that they would never catch up with the two men. Then the moped’s engine whirred as they reached a straight stretch of road, and Mick shifted into high gear.

Nancy’s heart raced as she spotted the silver moped ahead on the road. “There they are!” she shouted.

“Let’s drop back,” Mick said, shifting into low gear to slow their bike.

To Nancy’s relief, the men never glanced back. “I don’t think they’re even aware of us,” she told Mick.

It was an easy drive over the open road, but Nancy’s nerves were tense with anticipation. What if the two men met with Dimitri—or Theo? If she and Mick interfered, the results could be deadly.

Once they reached the outskirts of town, the chase became complicated by the narrow, zigzagging streets scattered with people, carts, and animals.

“We’re losing them,” Nancy said, wincing as a young girl with a basket darted in front of their bike, forcing Mick to veer away.

Mick drove with caution, but it cost them. “I can’t keep up with them in these congested streets.” He rolled to a stop as a pair of burros hauled a wagon into the center of the street, blocking the way.

Disappointed, Nancy pushed her hair out of her eyes and frowned. “Oh, well. Better safe than sorry.”

At last the donkeys moved on, and Mick steered the moped onto a wider street. They were back at Naxos’s main square now, Nancy realized, near the ferry terminal. The square was filled with tourists and merchants rushing to do business before the afternoon siesta. It was like a crazed obstacle course.

“Let’s get away from this traffic,” Mick said, taking a sharp turn down a narrow alley.

Neither he nor Nancy saw the silver moped careening toward them until the last second. “Look out!” Nancy screamed, bracing herself for the impact.

Mick managed to steer away from the silver moped, but the motion sent their bike skidding to the side. It nearly slid out from under them as the silver moped zoomed off.

A cloud of dust rose around them as Nancy and Mick struggled to regain their balance and finally wobbled to a stop. “You okay?” Mick asked, turning back toward Nancy.

“Fine,” she said. But a moment later her nerves twanged as she looked up into the eyes of the man with the scar. The silver moped had circled back, Nancy saw, and it was just a few yards away. The man with the scar was standing next to the bike, staring at Nancy and Mick. Nancy caught a quick glimpse of the man on the bike. He was thin, with dark hair and a full beard.

Oh, no! Nancy thought. The man with the scar had recognized them from Dragonisi!

“What now?” Mick muttered through clenched teeth.

Before Nancy could answer, the man hopped back on the moped and revved the engine. The silver bike sped away into the square.

“Come on,” Nancy said, getting off the bike and following on foot. She had gone only a few steps when the bike disappeared around a corner. With all of the activity in the square, there was no way she and Mick could follow them now.

Nancy let out a frustrated sigh. Not only had the crooks lost her and Mick before they could find out where they were going, but two very dangerous people knew who she and Mick were. “This case is definitely heating up,” Nancy said under her breath. “I just hope we don’t get burned!”

Lunch was a loud affair. The taverna Zoe had suggested was filled with a spirited crowd of students and tourists. Nancy tried a dish of lamb and vegetables wrapped in crispy pastry leaves called filo . While everyone ate, she and Mick filled them in on the commotion in the market square.