Although the Secret Bay seemed like a safe place, chosen by Marley himself!
If the trials would be successful, then he and Ray would build a real flying submarine, dozens of times larger and more powerful than the test model – and finally would be able to explore the seabed far around the island. And if you wish, even attack aliens! Then be aware, Big Eyes’ Dragon!
The test submarine stood on a platform on wheels, on a special trailer, like those on which yachts are transported. Black, shiny, predatory streamlined shape, it already looked like a real submarine. The very first model was small, with a remote control. Now Denis himself had to be at the control panel.
Ray unloaded oxygen tanks from his jeep, a wetsuit for Denis – like he seemed to be going into space. But the risk was great, like of a real astronaut. The sub could not be overloaded, the safety margin was still small. Therefore, not all safety measures were possible to follow …
“Den, what are you more afraid of, the dive or a UFO?”
“Ray, are you reading my mind again? To be honest, of a UFO! I'm sure about the sub – you and Scott have foreseen everything!”
“Thanks! Well, off you go! Good luck!”
Den got into his wetsuit and awkwardly climbed into the upper hatch of the sub. Ray closed the hatch and unhooked the fastening cables. The submarine slid smoothly into the water. The bay was deep, right from the very edge of the coast. Denis started submerging almost immediately.
The tightness and maneuverability trials have already been carried out. Today they had planned to test the impact of change in density of two media – from water to air and vice versa.
The sub turned out to be slightly flattened – not cigar-shaped, as usual. On the sides, small retractable wings were installed. The flat bottom had a whole series of small turbines….
It was necessary to understand the transition algorithm from the water and back and to program the operation of the wings and the turbines below. For now, everything depended on Denis' reaction. Oh, if only Ray or even Scott could be there – but they both weighed too much! Although, really, it had to be Denis, who would need to automate and program everything!
… How beautiful it was under the sea! The sun's rays were penetrated the aquamarine depths of the water far, far below. At the bottom, multicolored coral fish were scurrying about in small schools. It was not very deep, ten to twenty meters. Here and there were islets of coral of all colors. Stinging rays soared with their flat bodies just above the seabed, a strange needle fish hanged vertically almost at the very surface of the water. And here was the colorful and quite dangerous lionfish. Suddenly a flounder came alive off the sandy seabed! In some places, one could see spikes of dark sea urchins. A group of some marine life was crawling along the bottom, looking like crabs. And a curious turtle was swimming slowly by the very porthole! And what kind of flock was this one, of little octopi?! No way!…
That was enough, it was time to fly a little!
Over the past few weeks, Scott has tirelessly taught Denis how to operate different modes of transport, on water and air! Denis now was like James Bond – he could easily jump from yacht to helicopter and fly away into the sunset!
Today he would need to understand the optimal take-off trajectory. He and the guys seem to have done all the calculations. But live tests were not always perfect like clockwork!
So! He would turn on the lower turbo, extend the wings almost at the very water, change the angle of the wings this way and that! And up!
The bright sun blinded Denis for a couple of seconds. It would be necessary to provide dark glasses-chameleons for rapidly changing environments for the future! And the same glass for the windows…
He was flying! Flying!
How breathtakingly beautiful it was to soar over the sea! Denis felt like a flying fish!
Well! It was time to get back into the water. He would fold the wings, remove the lower turbo…
Damn, it didn't go so smoothly! The “flying ship” flopped sideways into the water and whirled. For a moment Denis did not understand where was the top and where the bottom. The on-board computer, quite small and basic, helped to stabilize the submarine at that critical moment, when Denis completely lost control.
Denis took off the wings too early, it was imperative to change the angle of inclination of the ailerons first…
They would be significant to modify the stabilizer further too …
Denis was very nervous and sweating terribly in his wetsuit. When they would build a real flying submarine in its projected dimensions, large, powerful and durable, then the wetsuit would not be needed all the time, but only to get out of the submarine into the sea itself.
Denis felt mortally tired – nervous tension easily consumed his last strength. But it was necessary to take off and plunge back several more times, at different angles, at different speeds and record all the measurements …
Then everything went well. After every test the stress level was gradually fading away, and the joy of the navigation was increasing!
When all the tests scheduled for today were over, happy and proud Denis moored to the shore, opened the upper hatch, and took off his wetsuit helmet. Ray's strong arms grabbed him and pulled him out.
From overexcitement Denis could not stand on his feet and could not speak, he just raised his thumb – everything went with a bang!
But Ray didn't look happy. He flashed amber eyes over his spectacles and barked contemptuously.
“Pure nonsense! We need a force field around the sub, a field that will help us with a smoother transition of environments and even in defense against UFOs.”
At this time, the mutant's displeased face has frowned even more. He tensed and pointed to Denis, who was standing with his back to the sea, in the direction to the water. Denis turned around and noticed what had alarmed Ray.
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 was found by Denis, in her bedroom, in bed, in a pool of blood. At first, Denis got scared, thinking of murder, but then he felt a weak pulse and called an ambulance.
Denis just saved her.
Olga had another miscarriage, this time of an unborn child from Dominic, the Indian consul … She almost died from the blood loss …
Olga woke up in the central hospital of the Island, where a nurse told her this sad news.
Denis was not allowed to see her, because he was not a relative. But he managed to visit her the next day.
“Olga, you are so pale, almost blue! You need to increase your hemoglobin; you have lost so much blood! I thought you were killed!!!”
“Who’d need to kill me …”
“What happened?”
“It's okay, just bleeding. It happens sometimes with me …”
“Did you have someone the day before? Have you been visited?
“By Sylvia, the wife of the Indian consul…”
“What for?!”
“She brought gifts …”
“Wait, the consul's wife… Is he married? So, she probably wanted to kill you!”
“No, not me, my child …”
“Wait, what!?!? … Well, yes, it's logical … it was Dominic's child, right? And you drank what his wife gave you…”
“It was just herbal tea …”
“Probably a traditional Indian remedy for abortion, or even a poison! … Oh, Olga, sorry, I made you tired. Get some sleep …”
