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 thats 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. Thats 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.
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. Thats 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.