Lilia Cadette
The Island of Golden Zandolie

Main characters

Chapter 1
The hard landing. The quest has begun

A small passenger plane flew over the island of stunning beauty. The steep slopes of the emerald mountains with sparkling rivers and waterfalls amazed the eye. Some of the mountain peaks were piercing through the clouds. The endless play of sunlight and the shadow of the clouds seemed to divide the mountains into the teeth of a giant dragon.

But the beauty of nature, most likely, fully delighted only those who flew here for the first time. For many others, the Island was just a wild place, where it is difficult to land, where uncomfortable bays and inaccessible mountains, where it is difficult to build houses and grow crops…

A feeling of unreality and anxiety gradually seized all the passengers of the plane, which was flying too low, almost maneuvering between the mountains and tilting its wings.

The plane has already flown several times like this, swinging its wings, between the mountains and soared into the sun-blinding sky, circled over the sea and again returned to the Island. It was as if the crew were repeating an encore over and over again an air ride between these magical mountains and forests.

Denis, an angular, tall brown-haired man with a funny ponytail of sparse hair combed back, also began to worry. During long flights, he reviewed old films on a computer - and now the next in line was "Jurassic World". And when he looked out the window, he saw exactly the same mountains as in the film. The only thing missing was the flying dinosaurs.

“Something is wrong,” he thought. “We've been circling like this for about fifteen minutes. And too low for the mountains. Where is the airport!? It seems like it's high time for us to land!”

Denis totally forgot about his movie and was glued to airplane’s porthole, continuously fixing his glasses. You can see he was extremely excited. Then he finally remembered that he was flying with his childhood sweetheart and best friend Olga. And he watched to her direction. She was peacefully sleeping, totally exhausted after long series of flights.

Olga was blond petit young woman in yearly twenties, totally rapped in a blanket. All of a sudden little plane violently swinged and dropped, and Olga woke up. Denis showed to the porthole with strange enthusiasm.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” he shouted. “Olga, this is an amazing island in any sense! A unique microclimate with rare species of flora and fauna, a very interesting history and culture, so many mysterious legends and myths…”

Olga has long been in complete exhaustion, reclining in her chair in a small and stuffy airplane, looking around with unseeing eyes. This journey was too long and exciting. She and Denis no longer remembered, how many transfers from plane to plane they made and when they last ate or slept in the normal way…

Olga was already tired of worrying and just lay next to the always over-enthusiastic Denis in a semi-faint state. They flew to work on a contract on the other side of the world. And now they almost arrived at last, but could not land in any way… When will this ever end!?

A voice from the aircraft's speaker clarified the situation.

“Ladies and gentlemen! This is your captain speaking! Please accept our apologies for the delay in landing! We've been trying to do it for a quarter of an hour! But my pilot can’t learn to land on a short runway in the mountains!! When he finally learns, we will land right away!! Thank you for your patience!!!”

After this announcement there was a spectacular pause, then the small cabin of the plane exploded with shouts, weeping and prayers with singing. All the passengers were a very motley crowd of different races and religions, which added a dose of local flavor to this cacophony.

Yes, the Island promised an indescribable adventure, in advance, even before landing on it!

Suddenly the plane went low between the mountains again, leaning to the side without swaying, and somehow almost fell sideways at the beginning of the runway that suddenly appeared. The brakes screeched disgustingly, the smell of burnt rubber hung in the air, and the plane froze right in the middle of a short strip, which effectively went into the sparkling sea. Apparently, the novice pilot was so afraid to land his plane on the water that he stopped in the center of the already short runway.

After standing for half a minute, the plane timidly started off again and quietly and peacefully taxied to the airport building, or rather a low slate canopy - a little more than a bus stop. Under the shed were several coast guards, cargo carts with suitcases, and a multicolored crowd of passengers.

Denis was already twisting his head with delight, gleaming glasses in the bright sun. He was ready to accept any challenge of this new place of work and life - at last he stepped onto this legendary Island. The quest has begun!

Olga, in a rumpled summer suit, with a shapeless hat and huge sunglasses, obediently followed Denis, not looking around, thinking only about good shower and sleep. Denis took care of the of passport control and customs for both of them.

While they were waiting in the queue at the immigration department, Denis learned that their plane had landed very oddly. Usually planes here land from the side of the sea strictly from the beginning of the takeoff run and then very quickly, but gradually slow down to the end of this very short strip. It's really hard to land here on this strange island. And there are no night landings – it is too dangerous because of the mountains and winds. Their young pilot did the absolute impossible – he landed the plane from the opposite end of the runway, from the mountains! How did they really survive!

Olga was not listening to the conversations of the crowd. She was so tired that she was already almost in a zombie state. And the local English was too specific for her understanding, already clouded by a long journey.

Finally, Denis and Olga came out onto a busy street on the other side of the airport. Here people and cars tried to squeeze through their destination in strange zigzags, not yielding to each other…

Denis was the first to notice a huge black guy with a wide smile, sparkling with sweat and cordiality. He shouted to them in English.

“Hey!!! Russians!!! It's me – Lindsay! I am here to pick you up! Where is your luggage? Here is my car! Yes! Here is my “white old lady”! Come in! Let’s go! We were waiting so long!”

Olga was finally started feeling some relief, getting into a car, cool from the air conditioner, with heavily tinted windows. But, all in vain! She barely had time to smile languidly in response to Denis's happy smile. Lindsay, beaming with exuberant hospitality, started the car and pulled away at third speed, skidding slightly in place with old tires.

Dexterously maneuvering through the crowd of people and cars, Lindsay jumped out onto a narrow and winding mountain road and raced, almost without slowing down at frequent turns.

The narrow road was built without any fancy – on one side a mountain wall, on the other an abyss without any fence. Sometimes there were small bridges over mountain gutters, sometimes rare posts or fences, where the turns were dead sharp.

Olga simply closed her eyes in horror and did not open them all the way.

And Denis stuck to the window, not noticing, that he was convulsively grabbing Olga's hand with one hand and the handle above the window with the other.

The roller coaster was child's play comparing to the island's roads and Lindsay's carefree driving!

After an hour and a half of desperate swinging in the car, they finally arrived at their destination – a picturesque chateau in a mountain valley. Electronic gates slid away soundlessly, wheels rustling on the fine gravel.

Finally, the car came to a standstill in the shadow of a covered garage. A side door opened inside the garage, and a strong red-haired guy jumped out, barely holding two huge dogs by the short leashes made of iron chains. He greeted everyone cheerfully in Russian and pointed into the house. He went in first and took the dogs away.

Lindsay, with the same enthusiasm and a big smile, helped to move the suitcases into the house and to find the allocated rooms.

“The Russian guy's name is Alex,” Lindsay explained. “And our mistress is now at her quarters. Rest, sleep as much as you like! Dinner will be brought to you. And tomorrow we will get to know the whole office and the island too. Bye-bye!"

Denis and Olga did not yet know what unusual adventures await them on this island. They will have to go through spiritual storms, mortal dangers, romantic discoveries and a complete reboot of their understanding of the reality…

In the meantime, it was time to unpack their bags and look around. A mountain valley, densely overgrown with untouched forest, clean humid air, the sound of a nearby river, joyful singing of invisible birds – the local nature was welcoming them.

Chapter 2
An emergency anchorage. Julia and Marley

The island was emerging above the sea like a military citadel. Inaccessible rocks, overgrown with scanty, bent by the wind bushes, and the mountains, so high that the peaks are lost in the clouds stuck. The names of those mountains were quite eloquent -"Peak of the Devil", "Gates of Hell", "Dragon's Tooth".

Many of the mountains were dormant volcanoes. There were also eternally smoking and seething, not-so-well-fragrant sulfuric springs, periodically exploding with a series of huge bubbles or a high column of boiling water and steam.

There was also a whole lake in an impregnable crater in the center of the Island, which is not for nothing called the "Boiling Lake", hidden from the eyes by clouds of steam.

This Island was fairly well inhabited. Tens of thousands of people of all races and religions lived here. Local aborigines, the descendants of the Indians, could be found in special reservation. There was a small trinkle of tourists here, but more of fans of ecotourism.

…A huge cruise liner suddenly stopped and went into an emergency drift due to a minor accident in the engine room. The local ports were too small for this sea giant to anchor. The land could only send a coast guard boat to assist with repair of the ship. But the coast guards could only help with the delivery of the parts ordered by plane, which would arrive only the next day…

The ship's passengers showed no interest in the wild-looking Island, which lacked trendy restaurants with gardens and pools or boutiques. But several crew members were willing to go ashore, and the coast guards agreed to take them.

Julia was one of the enthusiasts for landing on the sparsely populated Island. Her work in the ship's gift shop was not full of adventure, and the girl was happy to break free from an endless series of boring shifts, tiresome inventories and monotonous glamorous ports of call.

This Island was just a “lost world”! As in that classic science fiction novel by Conan Doyle, which Julia re-read on her tablet while whiling away the long hours on board.

The coast guard boat dashingly flew on the crest of the wave, rapidly approaching the port. "The capital of the Island" – the corporal, the head of the boat, announced importantly.

The capital consisted of several rows of low buildings, similar to warehouses, and a couple of spiers of picturesque neo-Gothic churches with small gardens around. A couple of higher colonial-style buildings and a stretch of waterfront with stone benches set back to the sea view! As if the locals did not want to know what is beyond the horizon.

The feeling of unreality did not leave Julia. The corporal warned them, that he would be waiting for everyone to be back on the dock at four p.m. and advised all to stick together.

Julia was a pretty young girl of short height, about twenty-five years old, with a round face, round green eyes, a small round cherry-shaped mouth and a large rounded chest. This is where her round shapes ended. Julia was rather slender, with a small foot, with a short haircut of slightly curly dark red hair.

Julia went for a walk around the island in short shorts, a T-shirt, a thin shirt with long sleeves rolled up to the elbows and a funny hat with narrow brims. And, of course, shades and a backpack on the back. Remember her in this outlook – because she will not return on board the cruise ship ever again!

Julia, of course, did not know that she would remain on the Island forever. She and the other crew members enthusiastically agreed to the local taxi driver's offer to ride his minibus around the Island – it would only take a couple of hours! The spontaneous excursion was just super! A fat, cheerful black taxi driver, constantly wiping sweat from his neck with a small towel, chatted incessantly, seemingly in English. However only few words were understandable – such as "beautiful island!", "want to take a picture?"

Soon they turned off the main road along the sea onto a narrower road leading uphill to the dense center of the land. Almost immediately, trees and clouds completely obscured the sun. The air was noticeably thinner and colder. Everything around became dark and damp, as if they were all transported to Scotland or Canada. The road snaked upward. There were almost no oncoming cars.

All passengers of the minibus were simply mesmerized by the views of the sheer mountain wall on one side of the road and the bottomless abyss on the other. The careless speed, at which their local “shuttle” was rushing along the narrow winding road, was also straining. The bus often skidded at all bends, as the road was slippery from the damp mountain clouds.

The fog was thickening. The picturesque rainforest has been replaced by mossy stones and fern bushes. Low trees of bizarre shape sometimes came across on the way.

Suddenly the bus turned sharply right into the sky, someone shouted something, or rather howled. Or was it the wind? Or was it a lapse in time? Everything turned into a multi-colored funnel with a bright light in the center. And then there was silence and darkness…

… Julia was sleeping sweetly in a comfortable, soft bed. The singing of birds, the measured rhythm of the surf and the rustle of tree leaves in the breeze was a completely magical melody of the awakening morning somewhere in the south. It was like sweet, old, childhood memories of summer in the village, when you can sleep and sleep as much as you want… and long, careless days ahead, full of wild fruits and swimming on unfamiliar beaches.

In early years every day was full of amazing discoveries… Without fuss, without looking back at the time… In childhood, there were no plans for a summer vacation, the world was perceived in its original glory, without fear, without thoughts about the future or remorse about the past. The beautiful “today” breathed deeply and happily…

Julia stretched and opened her eyes. She was in a small house with a veranda opening directly to the sea. The veranda opened into the pier; a boat swayed at the pier. A house right on the water? No, Julia heard the singing of birds and the rustle of the leaves of the trees. It meant there was not an open sea around here, the coast was close. She tried to get up, but the darkness came over her eyes, and the nausea rose in her throat. The walls began to revolve, which was completely unbearable. Julia closed her eyes and lay there still, trying to breathe rhythmically…

Then there were an indistinct shadow and a slight sound – Julia immediately opened her eyes and involuntarily smiled. In the doorway against the background of the sea, silvery in the sun, an incredibly handsome young guy was standing. In any case, against the light, he looked very impressive. Tall, muscular, in a T-shirt and shorts, a smooth body of a caramel shade, a slightly rough, narrow face, with well-shaped nose, sensitive lips, huge black eyes and a heavy wave of long black braids-dreadlocks, a high, slightly slanted forehead (apparently, heavy hair pulled the skin back), black well-defined eyebrows. Mulatto Rasta man? Or just a wonderful dream?

The guy was holding a coconut in one hand, a machete in the other. He noticed that Julia woke up and smiled broadly. Then he spoke in a slightly hoarse, low voice (in English, like all the inhabitants of the Island).

“Hello! Woke up? Excellent! That's what you need most!”

He held out a tall glass full of coconut water. Julia tried to get up again, but the room was spinning again, and nausea came right away…

The guy nodded, poured coconut water into an empty plastic bottle and handed it to Julia. He also went to the head of the bed and slowly lifted Julia's pillow, pushing some kind of towel or sheet to make it easier for Julia to drink… Despite her poor health, Julia admired every movement of this human tropical beauty. What bottomless eyes, what an affectionate smile, how much smoothness in every move!

“My name is Marley,” handsome fellow said. “This is my home. I need to leave for a while. Don't worry, just rest. Try to sleep. The toilet is right here, behind this door. Here is a water cooler. The rest is all later. You are still very weak. You just need some time. Everything will be fine. Rest, sleep!”

Julia wanted to say something, but she opened and closed her mouth like a fish! But that’s not a problem. It's very nice here, peaceful, she will sleep, and everything will pass.

“Tomorrow everything will be even better,” she thought. “Everything bad in life has already ended, forever… There is nothing more to worry about, and only happiness ahead… What am I thinking about!? I guess I hit my head pretty hard! No, I don't have to think about anything, everything will be fine! How wonderful… “

A faint feeling of fear, of surreal intake of all events, a cold wave passed down her back and disappeared. Julia plunged into a sweet dream, similar to hypnosis or drug intoxication.

Do you know this feeling when everything is too good and what's the catch?

Chapter 3
Den and Zin. The stars aligned

The morning was rainy and gloomy. Although in this mountain valley it was a normal morning. It rained almost every night and morning, and sometimes it drizzled non-stop for several days in a row. Pretty often a front of clouds from the sea just was stocking in this valley and turning into lingering rains, feeding the many streams and waterfalls around. The Russian home-office was well hidden in this inclement place. Only one road led there, and there were no trespassers.

Denis woke up with a headache and a heavy mood – just like in the morning following a stormy New Year's party, when you want to start a new life and everything will be different, but not today!

The soft sound of the rain was soothing, the sun delicately disappeared behind the clouds.

On a day of arrival, the island instantly charmed Denis, surpassing all expectations. He heard and read a lot about the mysterious islands, where ancient civilizations or artifacts were hidden deep in the jungle, and strange things were happening.

Perhaps even aliens from other worlds once visited local mountain peaks, helped to build temples and shared their knowledge… And even nowadays they follow us and come with visits, live next to us! According to the theory of fans of conspiracy and alternative sciences, these places with living aliens exist, somewhere on the semi-wild islands in Oceania, Polynesia, New Zealand or even the Caribbean.

The theory that aliens not only visited us in the distant past, but never left us, had thrilled Denis since childhood. He loved to draw flying saucers and triangles, the faces of aliens with huge eyes, constellations and ancient temples – sites for UFOs.

Denis grew up and became a programmer. But all his free time he constantly hung in chats and blogs, eagerly catching any news about extraterrestrial civilizations and connections with the development of earthly sciences.

He got a job as an IT specialist on a distant Caribbean island almost by accident, on the recommendation of a friend. And, probably, he would not have gone that far (he could easily work remotely). But when he read in detail about the Island where he was invited, he immediately agreed. Information was scarce, the Island was not a popular tourist destination.

There were more secrets than facts – and Denis liked that very much. And when he found out that a secretary was urgently needed in the office, since the local girl suddenly quit her job and went home, he quickly persuaded his former classmate and first love Olga to go with him. For both of them, it was the first trip abroad and the first job in an offshore office.

And now there was the first morning on the Island. Denis is trying to wake up. Whether a time difference, or a long journey with inconvenient connections of four flights, or a different climate – probably everything immediately piled on and pressed down on the bony shoulders of the IT specialist.

Denis finally stopped daydreaming about the incredible secrets of interplanetary civilizations, climbed out of the bedroom and almost crawled along a long corridor into a huge open kitchen-dining room.

In the kitchen, he saw a giant girl. Broad sloping shoulders, huge breasts, thick muscular legs. The face was also quite impressive – an overhanging forehead, deep-set eyes, a heavy chin. Black, curly long hair is casually pulled back with an elastic band.

The funny thing was that the giantess had headphones in her ears danced very groovy to her music. She even hummed slightly, rather melodiously. The girl was preparing breakfast for herself and did not immediately notice Denis. Denis decided to say hello in English just in case, but she suddenly laughed and waved her hands at him.

“Hi! Hi! I am Russian! My name is Zina, and you are probably Denis! We were expecting you! I am a programmer too, just like you! I really need an assistant. I'll tell you everything later, while you eat! By the way, I made pancakes, you want some? Can I fry some more sausages or an omelet? Where is your Olga? Still sleeping? Well, Olga will go to our madam to assist, and we will have our own party! Let's have breakfast and start working – duty call!”

Zina quickly and dexterously set the table and sat down opposite Denis. She already cooked an omelet with sausages – Denis did not even have time to open his mouth. Everything smelled wonderful. How hungry he was! Of course, he hadn't eaten normally in days!

Denis chewed in silence for a long time – everything was so tasty! Zina made some kind of fragrant tea for him, which he also sipped with pleasure, although he usually started the morning with coffee.

Zina also ate a lot and with pleasure! There was laughter in her slits-eyes.

“Look how you are munching your breakfast – I think we'll work well together. You know, the Nazis in Germany were feeding the prisoners and watching how they ate. That’s how they were choosing their workers. Now tell me why did you really come here!?”

Denis almost choked on the suddenness of the question.

“Really?!… This is a very interesting place! A wild and mysterious land where there are more questions than answers.”

Denis himself was surprised by his words. Zina looked at him intently from under her brows, grinning slightly.

“Aha! Clear! I say – we will come along! Have you heard about the Golden Zandolie? No? This is the local leader of the black mafia. He is the real owner of the island, and not the local government or police. “Zandolie” is a very interesting nickname. This is what the locals call a small lizard, but literally translated from the Creole language as “wild”. This Zandolie is very ferocious, although small in stature and looks like a reptile. He's all covered with tattoos and golden piercings, even his teeth are golden! There are rumors, that the Golden Zandolie is not a person at all, but some kind of mutant or an alien! His power over the whole island is very incomprehensible! And his invulnerability! And his more than strange appearance!!!”

Zina finally finished her emotional speech and looked triumphantly at Denis. What an island – even its very own freak and mythology!

Denis could not believe his luck! For the first time in his life, he met a living person who was delighted with the same “otherworldly delirium” as he was! Who believed in the “all mysterious” and was looking for answers to the most daring questions! And who could see through him, Denis, and from the first meeting not only fed his hungry body, but also his brain!

It was quite possible that this particular Island was one of those many places where aliens were still living among people and influencing the course of the history and the future!”

“Good morning!”

It was Olga who appeared on the kitchen entry. She looked refreshed – shiny, soft, slightly curly blonde hair neatly set into a high bun “a la ballerina”. Clear blue eyes looked at both with a slight surprise and boredom. Obviously, she heard their conversation and regretted that she had come in that time.

Olga was terribly tired of aliens and artifacts during the endless flights. It was not only quite hard and long to fly to this godforsaken nook of the world! It was simply unbearable time passing with all this constant chatter of her eccentric childhood friend! Any topic seemed like an overflowing conspiracy! And there was nothing more to talk to Denis about.

Olga was just going to earn good money and relax well in her free time in this tropical island. And Denis looked like he was going on a scientific expedition!

“I am Olga! Zina? Very nice! Smells so good! Have you already had breakfast? Can I have some tea? No, no pancakes, yes, yogurt is great! And what has this madman already told you? Are there any living myths again? Denis!!! Have you found a new prey?! Don't listen to him! But, of course, Denis is a genius and wonderful being! If not for him, I would never have come to this wilderness! It's so beautiful here! But, probably, everything is monotonous, right? It hurts my eyes from this endless greenery around!”

…Suddenly, a middle-aged lady, in a hoodie and leggings, with a short dark hair, and a cigarette in her thin well-groomed fingers, stormed into the kitchen-dining room. Pale, with dark circles under the eyes and a double chin – the lady clearly did not differ in health or beauty. And, as not even trying to look any better, she was smoking and making herself the strongest coffee – the first, but obviously not the last cup of the day.

She cast a critical glance over the top of her glasses across the entire company, her dark, intelligent eyes glittering with either anger or laughter.

“Hello everybody!” she pronounced in commanding voice. “For the newcomers, I am Marina! Your director! Usually, I wake up late! And the kitchen is already free by that time! Well, I forgive you today, after all, you are strait from the plane! Why are you still here, Zin!!? And you are Denis and Olga, I know! Zina, take Denis and bring him up to date. New video surveillance equipment has arrived. We need to install nine cameras around the perimeter with direct output to the monitor in my office and in the game room as well! Two outputs! With remote control on my computer and phone! With the recording mode for a month! So! Olga! Let's go to the balcony to drink coffee, I'll explain to you what our office is about. Do you smoke? Excellent! We will get along just fine! Probably…”

Olga put down Zina's tea, grabbed a fresh cup of coffee and trotted after Marina.

Zina and Denis looked at each other conspiratorially. They were talking about current project, but their faces were glowing like in childhood, in constant expectation of a miracle.

Chapter 4
The lost world. Julia comes back to her senses

The next morning, Julia woke up and felt so much better… Although it may not have been the next morning. It was difficult for her to understand – how much time had passed, where she was and what had happened at all. But she didn't want to think about it now. She felt very good and calm in a little house by the sea.

She kept gazing on the owner of the house, Marley, with admiration, savoring his every move. He was big and even heavy, but moving with feline grace. And he smiled a lot – a wide white-toothed smile with dimples on his cheeks. Only huge black eyes sometimes looked too intently, without blinking. This look somehow did not fit with the smile and kind words, which Marley did not skimp on.

Julia was fascinated by the look of his dreadlocks. They snaked down the back to the buttocks. Sometimes Marley tied them at the back of his head with a bandana or wide elastic band.

With dreadlocks and massive figure, Marley suddenly reminded her of “The Predator” – an alien from the famous fantastic blockbuster of the eighties. Julia felt funny – well, Marley was not an ugly evil alien with horrible tentacles in his mouth. He was handsome young man, and her savior, and was not going to take off her skin alive. Why does she even think about aliens!?

No, the Island was really very reminiscent of “The Lost World” by Conan Doyle, Julia thought for the umpteenth time – as of a special place, a gap in time, where rare species of flora and fauna still lived, which had become extinct long ago in other parts of the Earth.

And there were no such men like Marley left in present world either – strong, kind, handsome and mysterious.

Julia could not even recall how THIS happened. She just woke up in Marley's arms one morning. Her whole body ached. But at the same time, the feeling of weightlessness and ecstasy overwhelmed her.

Julia stared at the sleeping lover, the lines of his mouth and eyebrows, dreadlocks scattered over his muscular shoulders and chest. She wanted to kiss him everywhere, but as soon as she touched him, he immediately woke up and opened his eyes wide.

This intense gaze of black eyes, where even the pupil was not visible, stopped her.

A sweet smile immediately reassured Julia. He called her in the English manner lovingly "Julie", which she really liked. Just as often said “beauty”, “sweetie”, although in the local culture this is probably a common appeal to all women. From these words spoken by the giant Marley, Julia's heart melted.

“Julia! Good morning! Do you want me to show you the island? You are already strong enough.”

Julia had already swum in the sea several times and sailed on a boat with Marley, but it was not very far from their house. All that Julia has seen so far was a small deserted beach with coconut trees hanging low above the water, and a small fishing village in the distance at the other end of the bay.

“Great, Marley! Can we go to a store? I need some clothes for a change…”

“Of course, sweetie, everything you need!”

The Marley boat was simple in appearance, but with a fairly powerful engine. They quickly reached a small town with a dock.

And then memories flooded into Julia: a cruise ship, a taxi ride…

How could she forget all this! They are probably looking for her for a long time! How long is she on the island?! Julia looked anxiously at Marley, he turned her to face him and looked into her eyes as if into the very soul. It seemed to Julia that she was drowning in his bottomless eyes…

Julia woke up already in the house by the sea, in bed, but Marley was not around. She walked out of the house onto an open veranda overlooking the sea, then onto the dock and sat down with her feet in the cool water. It was sunset time. But how the day passed, Julia could not recall at all. Something had to be remembered, she rubbed her temple. But attempts to remember were overpowered by a cold wave of growing fear. She looked around, but all she was seen there, were just wonderful colors of the sea sunset.

So, when she was not thinking hard, then everything was fine, at ease.

And when she was trying to analyze the present or remember the past, a sense of panic was overflowing instantly. A very unpleasant feeling – everything was turning cold and shrinking inside and a terrible headache creeping in…

Where was Marley? Maybe he gave her some drugs? Again, a wave of nervous tingling went through her body. Julia shivered and turned to the sunset, carefully watching the change of colors. How beautiful! Whether Julia will stay alive or disappear, the sunset will be just as beautiful.

Suddenly, light steps were heard behind Julia. Marley smoothly sat down onto the pier next to her. Same sweet smile, tender touch…

“Marley, tell me about yourself,” Julie said gently.

Marley had never asked personal questions and never talked about himself. During her entire stay with Marley, Julia did not meet anyone either in his house or nearby. She also did not see any means of communication or television in the house. Although there was electricity. There was something in the corner that looked like an old bulky radio set, looking more like a nightstand, but no one ever turned it on.

In another corner of the house there was a small bookshelf with large geographical atlas, a couple of encyclopedias and scientific journals. Julia sometimes, out of boredom, would read something from Marley's “library”.

Marley was often not at home. He came and went by boat. There was definitely no road to the house from land. Julia felt safe with Marley, but so much was completely inexplicable. But she didn’t dare to ask questions. The words seemed to get stuck in her throat.

“Julie, what do you want to know?” Marley asked in low voice.

“Why do you live alone? And not just alone in the house, but in complete isolation. Not a single road nearby. Even if I wanted to, I would not run anywhere. Behind the beach, there are solid impenetrable forest and mountains, and swimming to the nearest fishing village is too far. It only seems that the village is close…”

Marley looked Julia in the face, but she quickly averted her eyes. He hugged her, but she pulled away and kept asking questions.

“Do you have relatives or friends? Do you work somewhere? After all, food and things are coming from somewhere.”

Marley’s eyes got even bigger.

“Julia, if you want to leave, I'll take you.”

Julia turned to him and looked into his eyes.

“I love you, Marley, and I want to know everything about you!”

It was said so calmly and confidently! A petit Julia, whose only large in size were breasts, looked upwards at the mountain of muscles of bronze Marley. He appeared like an ancient demigod, who decided to sit down and rest after numerous exploits.

Julia suddenly felt her strength and power over him. She herself was amazed at her declaration of love and sudden self-confidence.

Marley stared at her for a long time, wide-eyed. Then he somehow went limp and turned his face to the sea. From him poured a long story, which he uttered almost in a whisper, never once glancing at Julia.

“I don't know where I am from. I was picked up and brought up by an old fisherman, he found me in a garbage can one early morning… Some girl just left the newborn in the garbage and ran away. The fisherman was going to sea, the sun was just beginning to emerge… And he took me as his son. His whole family died a long time ago at sea… And we were both alone. He was a Rasta man and loved Bob Marley very much, and named me after him. He was an old man and died long ago… But he managed to raise me and teach me to fish. I never went to school. I spoke with a nun at the public library who taught me how to read. I even donated a couple of books there. My father could neither read nor write… I think he never had any papers either. We built this house together, away from the village. I do communicate with other people, but out of necessity. I feel good alone, I'm used to it. And now I feel good with you. I thought I'd help you get better and then take you home. But I feel good with you – we feel good together, right?”

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