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

And what to say about air conditioners! – I found only an ancient fan in the room, but the electricity in the network had disappeared somewhere.

And more! I double-checked, including the reception, there was still no Internet there.

However, perhaps the charm of the lost in the Ocean Island, the riddle of which I had to solve, was precisely in such wildness and complete isolation from civilization…

Planning my vacation, I decided to explore Camotes thoroughly, because the first time we had had to escape from the Island the very next morning for having no cash.

I stepped out of the hut into the deep darkness and wandered towards the light of a torch burning at the reception like an eternal flame.

In fact, several torches were always available there so that any tourist could take one out if felt like walking around the Island at night.

I got the opportunity to light my path and stepped out the gates to a dirty road, on both sides of which long-legged palm trees towered, piercing the black-book Sky.

Turning to the left, I walked towards the pier, getting used to the darkness. Suddenly a boy jumped out of unknown to me species of the tropical thickets. He seemed to be about seven years old and looked like a homeless grimy beggar, easily found along the streets of big cities. The Boy grabbed my hand and began to beg, shouting out the same word in almost all languages of the world.

«Lantern!»

Understanding nothing, I took a couple of coins out of my pocket and handed them to the Boy.

However, to my greatest surprise, having seen the coins, the beggar squeamishly threw them into the thickets, twisted his finger at his temple giggling, and then he shouted out again,

«LANTERN!!!»

1.4. Старик с чёрными птицами

Мне стало не по себе, но в тот же момент послышались чьи-то шаги, – слева, со стороны пристани, к нам приближалась сгорбленная мужская фигура, и вскоре около меня остановился босой седовласый Старик в холщовых одеждах, держащий в одной руке посох, а в другой – клетку с чёрными птицами.

– Добрый вечер, – произнесла я, чтобы разбавить гнетущую тишину. – Я могу Вам чем-то помочь?

Старик усмехнулся, продолжая меня сканировать, а мальчик снова захихикал.

Внезапно, откуда ни возьмись, появилась женщина, судя по всему, мать мальчика.