11Lena was in tears as she entered the house on the first day of March, with the news that Bulgaria had granted Hitler use of its territory. Neither Maria Christina nor Panorea could speak for a moment. Disaster was once again quickly approaching, and all they could do was wait. And pray. Maria Christina picked up Zoitsa and led Panorea to Agios Demetrius to tell Papa Yiorgos and join him in prayer.
Eight days later, the BBC announced that the Italians had opened an offensive on the entire Albanian front, using all their divisions supported by several hundred fighters and bombers, and every other resource they could provide. Mussolini had assumed command of the campaign himself and was watching from an observation post at the front. No one spoke at Stahoulis’, even when ordering an ouzo o
