life-changing books. He read passages and whole chapters on hilltops, headlands and beaches. He made notes of his favourite passages, some from the books themselves, and others from the notes that Polychroni had placed perhaps as bookmarks of his own favourite passages. ‘Truth is a pathless land. There is no guide, no law, and no tradition which will lead you to it but your own constant and intelligent awareness,’ one read.
In just three days Alexander had devoured the first book loaned to him by Polychroni, titled ‘This Matter of Culture’. Immediately he began the next book. He’d not seen Polychroni for days. He’d now been on the island nearly a week. The realisation of the right book in the right frame of mind and in the right location became even more evident as he read page after page of this great writer’s thoughts. Upon reading the final page, Alexander again experienced that sublime contentment. His mind was racing with ideas and thoughts, but he was exceptionally relaxed.
Almost as if on cue, Polychroni arrived on Alexander’s doorstep less than an hour after Alexander had finished the second book. ‘How are you Alexander?’ he asked as he reached out and offered his hand.
‘I am particularly well,’ was his reply. ‘Have a seat.’
‘Have you enjoyed the books?’
‘I have just this morning finished the second one, and yes I’ve enjoyed them immensely.’
‘What have you learned?’
‘I’ve learned that I must keep reading so as to learn more.’
‘A very wise thing to say. What are your next plans?’
‘I will leave soon and travel to other islands. Has your wife returned yet?’
‘No, her mother has taken a turn for the worse. She feels she must stay in Athens for a while longer.’
‘That’s a shame. I probably won’t get to meet her.’
‘Perhaps next time Alexander. Most people who come to Tinos return one day.’
‘I certainly hope I do. But I think it’s time to move on. The world is a big place and I don’t just want to visit Greece.’
‘Where else would you like to travel?’
‘Having read a little of Krishnamurti, I think I’d like to go to India after here.’
‘But first Santorini, yes?’
‘Paros, then Santorini.’
‘I’ll give you some books to travel with. I’ll drop them by tomorrow. What day might you leave?’
‘Probably the day after tomorrow. There’s a ship leaving that day for Paros.’
‘Endaxi Alexander. Then we must have a farewell dinner tomorrow, yes?’
‘That would be great.’
‘I’ll see you first thing in the morning with the books. What time do you rise?’
‘Usually a little after the sun comes up.’
‘See you then, yassu.’
‘Yassu Polychroni, and thanks again.’
Alexander spent the rest of the day in contemplation. He certainly had plenty to think about. His biggest concern ever since he received his papers to go into the army, was war itself and the absolute insanity of the human species to involve itself in war. He thought long and hard while he was completing his high-school studies as to the best choice for a conscientious objector and in the end decided quite simply to hit the road. He didn’t think he was escaping. He just wanted to find his real self and somehow be of good to his fellow man. Always popular at school, his decision to travel was not looked upon favourably by his fellow students. Yet his closest friend, Thomas, supported him 100 percent. Now in this semi-remote Greek island, Alexander felt his decision was the right one.
Next morning shortly after sunrise Polychroni arrived with several books.
‘What have we got here?’ asked Alexander, keen to find out.
‘A few books this time. I know you’re travelling and books are heavy so what we have here is a very select group. Handing them to Alexander almost ceremoniously and one by one, he said, ‘Firstly a book called The Prophet by Khalil Gibran, then The Republic by Plato, and this one I’m sure you’ll like, Hesse’s Narcissus & Goldmund, George Orwell’s 1984, Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy and finally Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World. It gave me enormous pleasure to put together this handful of titles. Alexander I have literally thousands of good books, some of them quite exceptional as I’m sure you’ll agree after reading this second group. These are your books to keep or to pass on to whoever you think might be a worthy recipient.’
‘Efharisto a thousand times over, Polychroni. Again I can feel in my hands and my heart that what you have given me here is more than special. There is just so much,’ he said, almost shocked at the number.
‘Remember my friend, it’s not the quantity of books you read, but the quality.’
‘Of course.’
‘Now if you return to Tinos at any time, and I sincerely hope you do, I have many more books for you to read. So, back to normal things, where would you like to eat tonight?’
‘Your sister’s place,’ Alexander started, ‘but I want to pay,’ he added emphatically.
‘We’ll see. Now I must go and work. I have some private tutoring today.’
‘See you later then.’
‘Yassu Alexander.’
Again Alexander started to read as soon as Polychroni was out the door. As was often the case with Alexander and a pile of books, he would first read a few lines or flick through reading a little of each book before deciding which one he would start with. That was the case again with this group. In the end he chose Hesse’s Narcissus and Goldmund. He sat back on a wicker chair in the partial sunshine, a bottle of water beside him and began to read.
Hours later feeling the effects of the sun, he went inside to lie down. His mind was racing. His physics teacher in his final year of high school told him one very important fact and that was that the brain is the most complicated kilogram of matter in the universe. He was finally understanding what his teacher meant. His brain actually hurt from the input.
Alexander found it absolutely astonishing to be able to absorb all that he was reading, or at least most of what he was reading. He had never considered himself particularly intelligent but in his final two years of high school he’d received better results in his exams that he had in all the previous ten years of schooling. Clutching Hesse’s book to his chest as he lay on his bed, he felt confident that he had the personality as well as the intellect to comprehend almost anything which had been given to him by his Greek friend. He was excited to say the least at what lay ahead. This is my first week of travel, he thought to himself. ‘I have already read books by Hermann Hesse and Krishnamurti,’ he said to himself. ‘I have in my possession several others, all of which I presume are equally mind-expanding.’ With a plan to travel further within the cradle of civilisation and beyond to countries like India, he was sure his knowledge could even grow exponentially.
