Остров Харона. The Island of Charon. Премия им. А. де Сент-Экзюпери / A. de Saint-Exupery Award (Билингва: Rus / Eng)

The Ocean comes silently

…Water… all around me is water… I can’t float up… I have no strength to…

«Damn! This dream has already tortured me!»

I vaguely remembered that always in that dream, in its last frame, I saw a man’s face, although waking up I couldn’t restore it in my memory.

I woke up on the Ocean shore just in time. High tide. Still, it was strange, there were no waves at all there, and the Sun used to fall into the water instantly, giving way to Mrs. Warlock, named Night.

I sat down at a table in Yanis’ cafe.

«How are you, Alice?» he asked. «Have you got enough sleep?»

«Yes, thank you. It’s good you walked me home at night. To be honest, I was a little bit scary. Do black magicians really live here?»

«Yes, all kind of sorcerers, and stargazers, and healers, and alchemists… It’s easier to tell who is not here!» Yanis chuckled.

«And that Old Man with black birds… Who is he?»

«The owner of the Island,» Yanis replied reluctantly.

«The owner?! I would have never thought! Just like a beggar… Does he have a villa here? Or is he content with a hut in your Paradise, too?»

«He lives in the cemetery,» Yanis replied without showing any emotion.

«Where?! Yanis, you’re kidding! Although on the Island of black magic, there is probably no way to exist without black humor… Well, but what about sightseeing here? Tell me, you do know Camotes better than me.»

«It depends on what you want to see.»

«Does everyone see one’s own?» I laughed.

«Why not! However, like everywhere else. What does your tender soul prefer for dinner today? Shrimps, mussels or…?»

«No, no… Only coffee with milk, please!»

Yanis left and was back a couple of minutes later with a cup of cappuccino and a glass of water, and I decided to continue our sweet talk.

«How long have you been here, Yanis?»

«Time is a relative concept,» he answered evasively. «It depends on the way you measure it.»

«So, what would you recommend me to see?»

«Everything!» Yanis smiled.

Suddenly, someone pulled my arm. I turned around and saw… the yesterday’s Boy! The one who looked like a beggar. He dived into my soul with a plaintive look, held out his hand and said the cherished word… «LANTERN!»

I looked at Yanis. He said something in an unknown language to the Boy, and the Boy went away.

«But why „lantern“?!» I exclaimed, because such a strange request had sent my mind into a stupor.