Читать книгу The Island of Golden Zandolie - Лилия Кадет - Страница 4

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?”