Book: The Treasure of Crete
Basic Information:
Author: Donald K Anderson
Edition: Paperback
Publisher: Self
ISBN: 979-8-9860547-0-4
Start Date: August 29, 2022
Read Date: September 10, 2022
189 pages
Genre: Fiction, Outdoor, Crete
Language Warning: None
Rated Overall: 3½ out of 5
Fiction-Tells a good story: 4 out of 5
Fiction-Character development: 4 out of 5
Synopsis:
A young Navy man is going to be stationed on Crete. On his way to Athens, he gets seated by an older man. The man finds out he is going to be stationed at Crete and starts to tell his story of being stationed there. This included a group of friends who get involved in finding a local treasure which was hidden from the Nazi’s during World War II. Their adventure takes them down ravines, looking for a cave where the treasure is hidden. Along the way, they bond as friends, enough so that the older man is on his way to spread the ashes of one of his friend. But do they find the treasure? Read the story.
Cast of Characters:
- (Andy) Andrew Erikson-Passenger on plane who is telling the story. Second Class Petty Officer.Explored island
- Jake (Jacob) Alexander Young-Petty Officer, First Class. Runs all of supply. Explored island
- Lt Carter-
- Harry Murray-Petty Officer, First class. Good friends with Jake. Explored island
- Rosie (Guadalupe Rosa) Gutierrez-Erikson’s love interest. Worked in the post office, Second Class Petty Officer. Explored island
- Sean Fitzpatrick-Petty Officer, First Class. Andy would become close friends with him.
- Katrina Hoffman-Fitzpatrick’s somewhat girlfriend. German
- Emma Strickland-assistant to Rosie
- Steven Dillard-Perry Officer, First Class.
- Brian Simmons-Erikson’s roommate. Minor character
- Seth McAlister-another roommate. Minor character
- John Stevens-another Second Class Petty Officer
- Pedro Ramos-Third Class Petty Officer, hard working Filipino
- Dave Wilmer-Seaman, drank too much
- Sarah Drake, Executive Officer (XO), strict, compassionate
- Charles Simpson-Commanding Officer (CO)
- Maurice Lafayette Boudraeux-cook
- Tobias Bauer-Austrian researcher on the Gouverneto Monastery
- Father Petrakis-Abbot of Gouverneto Monastery
- Sister Helena-niece of Sister Alexa
- Sister Alexa-drove the daughter of the shepherd to her place of refuge
- Effie Sfakianaki-Cousin of the shepherd’s daughter
- Recommendation: Don Anderson, the author
- When: August 2022
- Date Became Aware of Book: Mid-2021 as he was writing it.
- How come do I want to read this book: The author is a friend and I am interested in seeing what he writes in a fictional setting.
- What do I think I will get out of it? A good story.
Thoughts:
If you want to keep the suspense on “do they find” the treasure, do not read the final few chapters of my thoughts. Actually, it is a bit of a misnomer as these are more summaries of the chapters than anything else.
Also, I have created a Google Earth kmz file of the places mentioned in this book. You can access it by clicking on this link. Most of the places Anderson mentions is in this file. Each chapter which they travel has a separate folder. Some of the trips also have the route plotted as well. Note: this is a fictional book, so there may be some improbability associated with the actual routes, even though I suspect the author did visit many of these places.
Places Talked about
As you read through the story, part of the interest of this story is the segways Anderson goes on when there is a reference to something of interest. Such as Charles Young or the Minoanian culture. In that sense, there is a hidden educational value to this story.
I wonder if the “Andy” part of Andrew is a hidden Easter egg to the author’s name.
It is hard to evaluate a book which your friend wrote. I kept on hearing Don’s voice talking, which is a plus and some of Don’s stories parallel the stories in the book. So I cannot differentiate between what I am hearing in my head and what I am reading. I suppose that is a good thing. If I was disappointed in the story, that would be one thing. Or if I thought this ranked up there with The Lord of the Rings I would be rather suspicious of my evaluation. Instead, this is a good story, told by someone who can tell good stories with some pretty solid writing.
Anderson has a tendency to slip into trite sayings, such as pursing a wild goose chase. If you think of the book more as a story, you can see how a character could say that. But sometimes it does seem a bit forced.
Right about the time that I read this book, I heard on Mars Hill Audio someone talking about a storytelling technique which Dostoiévski used. It was for the author to tell a story through another storyteller's words. That is how Anderson tells this story. He is a passenger on a plane and a random passenger seated next to him tells him a story of Crete.
Places on Crete
The Gentleman on the Plane
Background of the Navy person flying to Greece, then on to Crete. He catches an evening commercial flight out of New York to Athens. He is seated next to a man also going to Crete who is ex-Navy and was stationed in Crete. They talk about the Minoan culture. The man on the plane offers to tell his story of his time on Crete. So on with the story.
A Fortunate Turn of Events
Erikson talks about his assignment to Souda Bay
First Impressions
The base in Crete services and supplies the Sixth Fleet. When the Fleet is not in or the supply cargo planes are not needing to be unloaded, then there is a lot of time to relax. When either of those two are in, it is busy.
Conversation with Lt Carter who told him about the various places to relax. Also responsibilities-such as being the duty officer a couple times a month.
Meets Petty Officer Jake Young, who would become a good friend as they explored the island.
A Conversation under the Stars
Describes the routine of being in supply, particularly when a large amount of supplies comes in and the Sixth Fleet arrives.
Erikson approaches Young about his exploration of the island. A trip is planned for the next weekend with Rosie and then the weekend after with the gang.
Talks about Young being a black and how so few are out in the wild. Talks about Charles Young-I think Anderson got this in to bring up how Blacks were an integral part of exploring and getting the West under control. This leads into how there is less overt racism, but now lots of small “paper” cuts. Anderson does this a lot throughout the story. He knows a lot about the background of places and fits the story line to bring this out.
Then about grace and forgiveness-don’t they always go together?
Lots of talk in the book about the ancient Minoan culture.
The Walk to the Monastery
Walking with Rosie to the Gouverneto Monastery. Erikson learns more about Rosie. Also the beginnings of interest in her. Places:
Aviaki Gorge
Monastery Katholiko-where St John the Hermit resided. I think this is John Xenos.
The Trip to Zakros
Weekend trip to Knossos-about the middle of Crete. Then Zakros, on the eastern end of the island. They hike the Gorge of the Dead.
A Night on the Town
Erikson and the group will be touring Chania, then meet up with Fitz to meet his girlfriend, Katrina, a German temporarily working on Crete. Katrina becomes part of the group. Made plans for a new adventure as well as helping at an orphanage.
The Cemetery
Volunteering for the orphanage. Wilmer is a no show after taking a load to the dump-he was sleeping off a hangover. Fritz talks about the cemetery which overlooks Chana. He tells the story of the boxer Max Schmeling.
The Ruins at Delphi
Three day/two night trip to Delphi with Harry, Jake and the Erikson. Went to the Archaeological Museum first.Next day visited the ruins/Oracle, then climbed Mount Parnassus. Harry talks about Oedipus and King Midas. I think this and the last chapter is so that Anderson can talk about the myths and Schmeling.
They went to Athens and wandered around the area before catching a flight back.
Upon arrival, Rosie wants to see Jake. She said the Fleet is coming next week. Also that a man named Tobias who is at the monastery is passing himself off as Austrian, but Katrina says that the accent is German.
Sarchos
One of the supply people got injured in a car accident. Fleet kept everybody busy for four weeks. The Abbot wants to see Jake. Planning to go to Sarchos for a day hike. Sarchos is a cave which they explored. They went about four miles in-did not get to the end of the cave. The villagers treated them to dinner.
The Abbot’s Tale
The Abbot talked with Jake and Harry about a lost treasure. When the Nazi’s occupied Crete they were intent on finding and taking treasures. The Monastery had a shepherd who hid its treasure. But the shepherd died without telling anyone where it was hidden. The shepherd’s daughter was put into an orphanage. The Abbot knows that this group likes a good challenge, so he is telling them about it. Also there are some Germans who are trying to find Cretian treasures.
Can We Trust a German
Dissecting the words of the shepherd’s daughter about where the treasure could possibly be. The Abbot had warned against trusting the Germans. Could they trust Katrina? They would go into the area where the clues said that the treasure could be on their next day off. They formed a plan.
Hiking Down the Gorge
Benefit basketball game is scheduled between base personnel and a local Greek team. Jake, Pedro and Andy Erikson volunteered.
Most of the chapter is about the search. They went to the village of Omalos to scout around. But there was not really anything there, except for a good cheese. None of the signs the daughter mentioned were found.
The next weekend they went down the Samaria Gorge. Anderson talks about a church called the Church of Saint Nikolas. On Google Earth there is a place there for Saint George-wondering if this is the same place. There seems to be a lot of places dedicated to Saint Nikolas on the island. They walked down the gorge, did not see any caves. Enjoyed their time out.. Took a ferry back.
The Big Game
Basketball game. They lost to the Greeks, badly.
A Haunted Place
Katrina has a clue when a made up book called Myths and Curses of the Caves of Crete comes into her bookshop. The book mentions a cave between Omalos and the Samaria Gorge. They found a cave. They explore the cave. It is bigger and longer than the one at Sarchos. They go down, and meet a side cave which they travel into-dead end. Then going down the main cave further, they come to a dead end, but find a hole which goes further. The first person has to be belayed. The rest follows. Who belayed the last person? They come across a large underground lake. Jake wades into the lake. A loud thumping noise starts in. Stops when he retreats.
Apparently these folks are pretty amateur spelunkers/rock climbers as the technique is not what even beginner mountainers would use.
Planning a Second Visit
Discussion on what the sound was. Then what to do next-more equipment, including a raft. They will return in two weeks. They informed Father Petrakis of their plans in case they had an issue and needed reducing.
Katrina is organizing a four day Greek cruise.
Don’t Pay the Ferryman
They returned to the cave and made it down to the lake. Before going out, Jake led them in prayer-some were Christians in the group and some were not. There was a rockslide, which gave a scare, but no injury. Cave went on beyond the lake. Raft only held two people, so they had to shuttle across the lake-hence the joke about “Don’t Pay the Ferryman.” More of the cave. Then they exited the cave. There were some men with what looked like car trouble by the road. When the group came out of the cave they left quickly.
They decided to intersperse the search for treasure with other adventures.
Song: Don't Pay The Ferryman by Chris de Burgh
A Casualty of the Cold War
Tobias is found to not be an Austrian, but a German. The Abbot reveals that the group were being spied on. Back story about Tobias. Abbott knows the last name of the daughter. The group is going on a cruise.
Song: Living on an Island by Chris de Burgh
Cruising the Islands
Island Cruise
They go on a four day cruise, leaving at sunset from Chania. First stop is Santorini: Ruins at Akrotiri, Red Sand Beach, White Sand beach, Vlychada Beach. Walked it with a taxi ride back to Vlychada Beach.
Then the next day to Mykonos. Visited the Church of Paraportiani, Aegean Maritime Museum, Manto Mavrogenous city square.
Third day was Rhodes. Visited Lindos (acropolis), St Paul’s Bay, Anthony Quinn Bay, then shopping and swimming.
There would be some exploring of Crete for the treasure, but they would also explore for other purposes as well.
The Dog Days of Summer
Back to the grind of supplying the 6th Fleet. Katrina’s German friends arrived for a couple of weeks before going to Italy. They explored areas together. It ends with Fritz thinking that Katrina’s friends may take her back to Germany. Fritz has grown attached to her.
A New Clue
More work, but there is a clue about the treasure from Fritz working at the orphanage. Fritz met a woman who knew the daughter of the shepherd. Father Petrakis will look into the advisability of meeting with the daughter. Rosie plans a trip to Patmos.
How Can You Mend a Broken Heart
Fritz got into a fight and was arrested. It started when he heard that Katrina was going back to Germany. Andy talks with Rosie about his feelings towards her. Rosie does not want a relationship.
Captain’s Mast
Fritz being confined to quarters puts a crimp in Rosie’s plans for Patmos. Katrina is shook up over the effect she had on him. Fritz goes before the Captain’s Mast. His punishment is reduction in pay for two months and being confined to base for 45 days. He was still able to meet with his friends on base, even Katrina.
The Plot Thickens
The gang goes to Chania and have lunch. Rosie and Katrina go shopping. The rest have a meeting with the Abbot. Two Sisters were with the Abbot who could tell them something about the daughter.
The story: the elder Sister had transported the daughter to the Valley of Amari. It involved the British who were aiding the Resistance against the Germans. Sir Patrick Michael Leigh Fermor was on the island, aiding the Resistance-this guy looks interesting enough in real life, let along in fiction. The part with Fermor is interesting, but a bit non-sequitur to the story. There is a reference to a massacre of Kedros in the Valley of Amari.
The Sister had dropped the daughter off with a monk. There was an aunt with a daughter who knew of the daughter. They would meet with the men a week from then.
A Visit with the Cousin
Andy’s roommate’s last day. They go to Kissamos with the Sisters to meet with the daughter’s cousin. They met with her and she tried to share as much as she could about her cousin. Effie feels like she can now talk about it, even though it is troubling to her. It is decided to try to travel to the Valley of Amari. The men and women have dinner in Kissamos and discuss plans, both when Katrina leaves as well as for the trip to Amari.
The Long Goodbye
Effie’s family will be going to Rethymno in two weekends. So the group is planning on going to Amiri Valley then. Katrina leaving countdown. Rosie is not as enamored with finding the treasure as the guys are. Emotions are many as Katrina’s date draws near. The XO arranged for Fritz to say one last goodbye to Katrina.
Amari Valley
Trip to Rethymno to meet with Effie and her family, including people who might have known about the daughter. They stop at Ano Meros for the monument about the massacre in the Amari Valley. Rethymno is by the northern shore of Crete, about 15 miles away from Ano Meros. While Ano Meros is directly south, closer to the southern shoreline, about five miles. The Sisters and Effie’s family would make some inquiries about the daughter while the Americans sightseed and hiked.
The friends are realizing that their time on Crete is limited. Some of the tours of duty will be ending in just a few months.
There were no breakthroughs to the families inquiries. They updated the Abbot. The Abbot notes that maybe the shepherd was not calling out the name of his wife or daughter, but a gorge called Agia Irini.
There are several names of villages which are not locatable on Google: Thonos and Platania.
An Unexpected Discovery
This new twist perks the American’s interest as many of the clues line up. Similar terrain as the Samaria Gorge. They enter midway-there is a trailhead there. They went down the gorge for a couple of miles and did not find anything. They found another clue in the upper canyon: an old cypress tree. There was a small opening which they crawled through.
There they found the remains of the treasure: three panels with three crosses. But there were signs that other treasures had been drug off. They decide to leave this here and let the Abbot decide what to do.
The Real Treasure
Perhaps some mysteries are meant to remain just that. Or maybe a mystery whose time is not yet come to be revealed. Either way, this is a good line as there are sometimes which it is proper for not everything to be revealed in real time or even after a period of years. We as a society are in the midst of demanding transparency. Sometimes transparency must wait and we must trust the people who hold the secrets. That is why it is imperative that we have honorable people in positions of power. Those positions used to be called positions of trust.
This chapter sums up what happened to each of the characters:
- Fritz: Left Crete within a month. Got stationed in Southern California. Saw Katrina once, but it was not the same. He went in and out of alcohol and relationships. Worked as a mechanic.
- Katrina: Married and that is the extent.
- Jake: Married, daughter named Rosie. Career Navy.
- Harry: Married, son named Jake. Career Navy.
Jake and Harry will be meeting Andy in Crete. The reason: Rosie wanted her ashes spread across Crete. Rosie got married, but could not conceive. Her husband divorced her. Andy kept his relationship with her. She got cancer. She died with her wish to be spread across Crete.
The journey that matters most, not the destination. This is something which I talk with fellow hikers about: do you hike for the journey or for the location? As I have gotten older, it is more the journey. But a lot of times the destination is fabulous as well, and maybe not in the way I envisioned it.
An Invitation
The narrator is invited to meet Jake and Harry at the El Mondo bar. He continues on to Athens for a couple of days before going to Crete. And when he arrives, he makes sure to get to El Mondo to meet Andy and his friends.
Evaluation:
First the disclaimer. Don Anderson is a friend of mine. When I have read books written by people whom I know, it is hard to be objective, both ways. First, I read the book through the lens of the person rather than the more imagining voice. Also there is a tendency to look at a book through the lens of friendship rather than examining it for quality. Third, you are likely to want to rate it both higher and lower than it deserves. The higher because you enjoyed hearing his voice in the book, but maybe lower, because it is not what you expect. On with my evaluation.
I want to get rid of the “negatives” first. If you are looking for a book which gives you great and memorable sentences. This is not it. If you are looking for a pure adventure book-well there is adventure and seeking of lost treasure, but you might be better off with another book. But if you are looking for a story told by a person who knows how to tell a story, this is a book for you.
Anderson was in the US Navy, stationed in Crete. While the story is not autobiographical, there are elements in the book which reflect his life experiences. This allows him to talk about places realistically and in detail. This drew me in as a reader. Having served on Crete, he also brings out life on a naval base. He creates personalities which work within how people in the service work.
The story is retold from the perspective of a passenger on a long flight to his next assignment: the naval base in Crete. His seatmate was once stationed there. For the flight from the States to Athens the passenger gets to listen to his seatmate's tale, this story.
I enjoyed the story. It was easy to read. Maybe a bit more of how the Naval ranks are structured and the bases operate than I cared for, but those are incidentals. The story flowed nicely and I was entertained. Pick up the book and enjoy a good afternoon read.
Notes from my book group:
As the author went through various places on Crete, which place sounded of most interest to you?
The group took in Katrina into their confidence, even though there is suspicion and downright hostility towards Germans on Crete. How can you tell if a person is trustworthy?
Jake is a Black, but that does not seem to make much difference in how either the characters of the story relate to him, nor the natives of Crete. Is this a reflection on how the author relates to people rather than actuality? Are relations in the Navy more colorblind than in civilian life? Why do you think the author portrays relations this way?
When Jake enters the water, a thumping noise starts to happen. Any speculation about the source of the noise?
Both Fritz and Dave Wilmar have an alcohol problem. Is there any resolution presented? Why do you think the author talks about their problem? How does it affect the story?
What was the Treasure of Crete? Would it matter who you asked this question of?
When you know the author, what is a good way to evaluate a story?
How do you want your life to change because you read this book?
Many of these questions are either from or adapted from LitLovers.
Why the title of Treasure of Crete?
Does this story work as a mystery?
Did the ending seem fitting? Satisfying? Predictable?
Which character was the most convincing? Least?
Which character did you identify with?
Which one did you dislike?
Every story has a world view. Were you able to identify this story’s world view? What was it? How did it affect the story?
In what context was religion talked about in this book?
Was there anybody you would consider religious?
How did they show it?
Was the book overtly religious?
How did it affect the book's story?
Why do you think the author wrote this book?
What would you ask the author if you had a chance?
What “takeaways” did you have from this book?
Describe the culture talked about in the book.
How is the culture described in this book different than where we live?
How did this book affect your view of the world?
Of how God is viewed?
What questions did you ask yourself after reading this book?
Talk about specific passages that struck you as significant—or interesting, profound, amusing, illuminating, disturbing, sad...?
What was memorable?
Reading Groups General Fiction Guide
Good Quotes:
- First Line:My grandfather was a real storyteller.
- Last Line: After all, who doesn’t love to hear a great story
- Perhaps some mysteries are meant to remain just that.. Chp The Real Treasure
1. The Gentleman on the Plan
2. A Fortunate Turn of Events
3. First Impressions
4. A Conversation under the Stars
5. The Walk to the Monastery
6. The Trip to Zakros
7. A Night on the Town
8. The Cemetery
9. The Ruins at Delphi
10. Sarchos
11. The Abbot’s Tale
12. Can We Trust a German
13. Hiking Down the Gorge
14. The Big Game
15. A Haunted Place
16. Planning a Second Visit
17. Don’t Pay the Ferryman
18. A Casualty of the Cold War
19. Cruising the Islands
20. The Dog Days of Summer
21. A New Clue
22. How Can You Mend a Broken Heart
23. Captain’s Mast
24. The Plot Thickens
25. A Visit with the Cousin
26. The Long Goodbye
27. Amari Valley
28. An Unexpected Discovery
29. The Real Treasure
30. An Invitation
References:
- Amazon-Book
- Barnes and Noble
- GoodReads-Book
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