Island Has Ghosts

Chapter 2

"Well, let's get acquainted. I'm Elvira."

She ran her hand through her short-cropped blond hair, as if shaking off invisible drops, and proudly added:

"And I have my own travel agency."

Elvira shot an interested glance in the direction of the redhead, but he did not even turn his head, continuing to watch the raging elements with his arms crossed on his chest.

Now, looking closely at the ruddy and smooth face of the owner of the agency, Violet realized that she was no more than thirty-two to thirty-three years old. Elvira was certainly pretty - with pleasant features, a button nose and girlishly plump lips. But her age was added by a soft fullness, a noticeably bloated face, and a jagged haircut that would have suited an energetic businesswoman with angular features or a stylish young girl with the thinness of Twiggy.

The redhead didn't turn around when Rina introduced herself either. But a young man named Kostya became visibly animated when he learned that the future star was in their company. He loudly expressed his approval and asked her to sing. Rina snorted catlike, making it clear that she was going to sing not in a cave, but from a big stage, and proudly raised her head. She was flattered by Kostya's attention: he was young, about twenty years old, and, though he was not tall, he was handsome. His blond hair was dry and falling on his forehead, Kostya tossed it back every now and then with a careless gesture, which Violet suspected had been rehearsed. Impressed and his white-toothed smile, and the obvious similarity in appearance to the actor DiCaprio at times filming in 'Titanic'. Rina furtively looked at Kostya and smiled a little - not at him, but at her own thoughts.

"Call me Kostya. I'm a designer. Business cards, logos... If you need anything, you can contact me."

They responded to the last phrase, which sounded like a joke, with smiles. Kostya was charming and open - unlike the redhead, who kept aloof. When it was Violet's turn to tell her about herself, the redhead suddenly jerked his shoulder as if he had been bitten in the neck by a mosquito, but did not look back. Violet introduced herself and, following the example of the others, named her profession: microbiologist.

"What a beautiful name!" Kostya marveled loudly. Rina jealousy shot a glance - her name was also beautiful, but, however, remained without comment!

"What's it short for? Vi? Leta?" Kostya continued to ask. Red suddenly looked back and with a venomous grin said:

"Letta! Violet is Violetta in our way. That means Letta."

"I don't like it when they twist my name," Violet answered him with a voice trembling with indignation. "Would you introduce yourself? So that we can mock you too?"

"Vi, don't be angry!" Reconciliatory muttered Kostya, interceding for his savior. But neither Violet nor the redhead paid any attention to him, glaring at each other in silent combat. The redhead was the first to surrender, dropping his name like a sword:

"Vsevolod."

And grinned:

"Go ahead! Mock me."

"Beautiful name," hastily intervened Elvira, "our, native... And what do you do?"

"What's the difference?" Vsevolod shrugged his shoulders. "What good are our professions here? Who are you going to sell trips to? Or why do we need business cards? Unless Violet will conduct a biological analysis of water, and even then it is doubtful - without reagents and a microscope! Or Rina will sing for us - to raise morale."

"And yet?" Elvira asked sternly, clearly hurt by his tone.

"Freelancer," he answered reluctantly, just to get away.