Zorba the Greek

The narrator sees a light in his hut from a distance, which means Zorba has returned. The narrator tries to be angry at Zorba for his delay but finds it difficult. Zorba shows him presents that he has brought for Hortense. He disapproves of the narrator telling her Zorba will marry her as a joke. The narrator himself feels chastised and regrets it. Zorba has brought everything he needs for the cable railway, and he has also settled the question on whether women are human beings, saying that they are.

For the cable railway, all that’s missing is some paperwork about the use of the forest signed by officials at the monastery. Zorba seems fearful, and the narrator consoles him, asking him to play the santuri. The workers come to listen to Zorba sing, and all their worries melt away. The next day, Zorba resumes leading the men as the narrator watches. Mimithos, the errand boy, comes, but Zorba shoos him off.

When the narrator says that Zorba and the workers should break for lunch, Zorba disagrees, telling him they are making up for lost time. The narrator goes to read about ascetics who bathe in freezing water and use their minds to boil water for tea.