The Secret Cave of Janina

The screams of Theodotos Politis’ eight daughters echo throughout the Politis’ house at the loss of their mother, Ostrou Politis. Theodotos had been warned that his wife would be in grave danger if she had another baby, but he wants a son so badly that Ostrou bears her husband a boy in spite of the danger to herself. She dies giving birth to their son.Fourteen-year-old Sperenza blames her father for her mother’s death and in a frenzy runs out of the house into the woods. In her anxiety, she pays no attention to the direction she is running and finds herself in unfamiliar territory high up in the mountain.On the edge of a cliff, she could feel herself lose her footing, as she goes tumbling down the steep hill. As she falls, she reaches out, grabs on to a small shrub, and lowers herself precariously onto a small ledge about 30 feet from the top, where she apprehensively awaits her fate.She was not alone in the woods. A group of young men would have to make a decision to come out of hiding and expose their identities to save the life of another. A choice has to be made. 3