‘But, despite all that Patmos shares with Mount Athos, Abbot Christodoulos did not allow his monastery to share in its mistakes. Perhaps that’s because he’s a more astute politician or because his monastery exists in the midst of a cosmopolitan site filled with tourists, while Mount Athos remains virtually as it always has, accessible only by boat, and only to Eastern Orthodox men over eighteen given express permission to visit and the few non-Orthodox men approved for reasons of pilgrimage or study. Women are never allowed. And there’s no TV. I’m not even sure they have Internet yet.’

He shook his head. ‘Do I have to tell you what that sort of life can lead to? Especially the no women part. Why, even here-’

‘Time to go.’ Andreas pushed back his chair and stood up. No reason to let him get into that subject. ‘You’ve been great, and I really like your place. Thanks.’ Andreas reached into his pocket to pay.

Dimitri put up his hand and gestured stop. ‘Please, all you had was coffee. It’s on me.’

Andreas knew it was a waste of time to argue. ‘I owe you.’

‘Great, you can tell that abbot when you see him to stop holding up my building permit.’

Andreas smiled. ‘If he raises the subject I’ve got you covered.’

As soon as they were out of Dimitri’s sight Kouros started to laugh. ‘I think he was serious about us raising his building permit with the abbot.’

‘I’m sure he was. But I get the impression that’s not a subject likely to endear us to the abbot.’

They were on the far side of the piazza on steps leading up to a set of brown metal doors. ‘Yeah, like telling him we think one of his monks was assassinated will make us best buddies.’