The sea was shimmering with an inner glow, so bright, that it was noticeable even on this sunny day.
Ray grabbed Denis by the arm and pulled him towards the cave, for cover. And just in time – the sea seemed to bend, and a huge silver flying saucer with a row of bright white lights hovered silently right in front of them. It blinded them with its beams. Then an explosion was heard.
But Denis and Ray were no longer looking in the direction of the UFO. They huddled into the depths of the cave, behind the storage shed where Marley himself once was hiding.
Time passed, it was quiet, only something seemed to be burning – humming and crackling …
Finally, Ray and Denis dared to leave the cave. Their submarine was burning down on the shore at the edge of the sea …
Ray looked furiously towards the sea, his eyes flashed with blue lightning, his dreadlocks reared and covered with small light-blue discharges, like bare tree branches with frost on a frosty night …
“Den, we won't tell anyone about this attack from the Big Eyes' Dragon. Unnecessary worries must be avoided! We shall find these aliens! Challenge accepted!”
Denis just nodded silently, unable to find words. He was already too tired and stressed for today. And he was really scared, around the aliens and around the mutant Ray …
Chapter 2
The gifts from the Indian village
A beautiful tropical island is everyone's dream! How many people crave to visit such a piece of paradise, lie under the sun on golden sand, bathe in clear aquamarine water, drink freshly squeezed juice of some exotic fruit or maybe something stronger like rum or tequila.
And living in such a place is just the top of dreams! Sea every day! Sunrises, sunsets – the day begins and ends with a riot of colors, breathtaking views! Every day you can dive into the warm sea or walk on the soft cool sand. One paradisaic delight!
… Well, not quite like that.
The sand on the Island of Golden Zandolie is black, volcanic, heavy and sticky, often heating up too quickly in the sun to some hellish temperatures. And there are very few beaches and mostly mountains and rocks. Not everywhere on the tropical islands are affordable and pleasant places to relax. There are some of those where you don't want to stay for a long time!
It was on such a beautiful, but not entirely hospitable island that all our heroes lived – people, aliens and mutants …
Olga was one of those Russian newcomers, who did not like the Island from the first sight. She was living here for a while, but never getting used to the local flavor.
Now she was staying in a rented small apartment in a complex, specially built for small government employees right on the outskirts of the island's capital. The capital was also just a small town with little houses on one or two floors …
Olga was almost happy with her home – it was quite decent. She had everything she needed there, and she didn't need much. She was working as a secretary and accountant for a corporation for the exploration and extraction of minerals (gold).
Olga was hardly leaving the apartment, since almost all the work was done online. She didn’t want to communicate with anyone in person, so this kind of work suited her perfectly.
After Olga's boss Vladimir left for London, she almost stopped communicating with the rest of the Russians who remained on the Island. There were way too many unpleasant memories. Work was all that was keeping her here. She had to work off her debt and hold out until the end of the contract.
… One fine sunny morning Olga woke up and felt that she could not get up. It seemed to her that she was glued to the bed. The whole world pressed down on her, as if a giant kitchen rolling pin had rolled her out, flattening her body over the bed.
With a huge effort, Olga groped for the phone and dialed the first number that came to mind.
“Denis … Help …”
“Olga! You? Speak louder!”
“Denis … Denis … Come … I feel bad …”
“Olga! I can’t hear you! Call back!”
Olga dropped the phone and closed her eyes in exhaustion. What happened to her? Got poisoned? Maybe sick? Dengue fever? She heard, Dengue was a terrible disease, when you feel chills and nausea. And one can add to this also miserable weakness and cold sweat. Everything about Dengue fever was very unpleasant and quite dangerous.
Well! There were no sweat and high fever.
Olga! You are a complete wimp. Get up!
Olga came out of the bed slowly, went to the kitchen and drank some water. Then she went out onto the balcony for the fresh air.
There was a grand view from there! The city was all visible like on the palm of her hand! And right below of the complex there were also a shimmering mountain river and a sea harbor! Olga breathed a little fresh morning air, looked at the waking city, at the fishing vessels and coast guard boats heading out to sea ….
Well, that's a bit better! She could go on now, her energy was coming back. Now she needed to make coffee and check her mail.
No. She didn't feel like drinking coffee at all, feeling sick again! Okay, let's drink some juice and get to work.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Olga was not expecting any visitors. Olga avoided any contact with old friends, and she never made new acquaintances from locals. She communicated only for work, mainly with Scott and with Vladimir – with two bosses, a local and a remote one.
Today it was necessary to draw up a monthly report on financial transactions. She didn't want to work at all.
Who was knocking at the door so persistently? Maybe annoying neighbors? Or a postman?
Olga opened the door and even screamed a little in surprise. On the doorsteps was standing Sylvia, the wife of the Indian consul Dominic. The good-natured round face was smiling. In the hands of Sylvia was a huge basket with fruits, vegetables, herbs …
Olga could not say exactly what was there, since everything was local, unknown to her. Olga was on very simple diet, not willing to try anything new or exotic.
“Good morning, miss Olga! I'm so glad I found you! My husband and I arrived in the city today, and while he is in the ministry, I decided to visit you! We haven’t seen each other since you were staying in our village with your friend …”
“Yes, Sylvia, thank you again for your hospitality, come in! Tea, coffee, water?”
“Just water please! And you are so pale! Are you okay? You know, there is a Dengue fever epidemic all over the region now.”
“Yes, you know, just this morning I felt nausea and chills …”
“You need to take more liquids, vitamins. This tea herbs are very good, take it. It's so good that I stopped by! And fruit! Here are pink grapefruits! Here is a sugar apple, here is a golden apple – don't laugh, these are not the apples that you are used to, but no worse! You need to eat better; you are so thin and pale! Well, I must go! I will say hello to Dominic from you!”
“Thank you, Sylvia. You are very kind!”
“It's my pleasure! We are always glad to see you with friends in our village.”
The stout Indian woman drank some water, wiped off the sweat with a large hanky and said goodbye.
Fruit and tea herbs with the scent of basil remained on the table. Olga inhaled in the sweet aromas of the Indian gifts in deep breaths – how wonderful!
Indeed, this local herbal tea should be brewed!
Half an hour later, Olga was already working at full speed on the report, sitting in front of a laptop with a huge mug of steaming pale tea with a basil aroma. And then she felt sick again, she barely made it to bed and passed out.
… Olga