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© Gleb Karpinsky, 2025
ISBN 978-5-0068-0753-2
Created with Ridero smart publishing system
1
That night he had a strange dream. Like a low, frightening thunder rumble, and the heavy, gloomy sky seems to be torn at the seams by lightning flashes. An ominous shadow creeps stealthily over the sleeping city. People are trying to escape, hiding wherever possible, rushing from side to side. You can hear lost children crying, cars honking at the exit, and everything quickly descends into chaos. And it goes against the flow of people. The animal horror of the maddened crowd is transmitted to him, he is pushed, knocked down, someone even pulls him into the shelter. A strong wind blows in your face, making it difficult to see. But he stubbornly goes forward to meet the unknown…Like a torch in the night, illuminating the way of a walking man, suddenly a sword lights up in his hand and, raising it high above his head, he accelerates his pace and longs for battle. My heart is beating hard in my chest. With a cold rapture, he realizes that this is his last battle, that he is the last of the last, and no one else can stop this something. And something already feels him, making him stand out from the crowd, and howls and growls, preparing to jump. Already the glass in the window frames is breaking, the last tile is being torn off by a whirlwind, the trees are bending to the ground, and the terrible creeping darkness looks at him with thousands of wolfish eyes.
Sasha swam slowly to the edge of the pool. There, on the wet tile, was a half-finished glass of wine waiting for him. After taking a small sip, he swam again, this time on his back, trying not to think about anything else. He thought he saw the pool lights blink, but he didn’t think much of it. Possibly a power surge. You never know. The water really calmed him down, relieved tension and fatigue after a long journey. Being in a depressed mood all these days, and even under the impression of sleep, he knew that there is nothing better than to swim in the deserted pool of a previously unknown hotel in an atmosphere of complete silence and mystery. He’d been dreaming about this for a long time.
Ten minutes ago, he was still noiselessly walking down the drizzly stairs with a glass of wine. Dinner with the owner of the hotel, a good-natured elderly woman, was a great success. Whether it inspired him, or he believed in his own strength, but the writer’s face, covered with three days of stubble, shone with joy, the subjects for the new book were drawn in his mind, the movements, despite the slight dizziness from the wine he drank at dinner, were confident and clear.
It was a good thing he’d come to this particular hotel. Here were all the conditions for a wonderful holiday. Sasha didn’t want to waste a minute, having decided long ago that he would take a dip in the pool at the first opportunity. Moreover, the owner of the hotel allowed to use it at any time, and even at night. She was so pleased with the rare guest that she gave him a delicious quail soup and a jug of fairly good home-made wine to pay for his arrival.
Now all the windows of the hotel were out, except for a flashlight in the courtyard. In its dim glow, you could see a heavy wrought-iron swing, a similar wrought-iron grill with soaked coals, clay figures of fairy-tale gnomes at the steps of the main entrance, and several decorative plants still unopened in tubs. In summer, it should have been very nice and cozy. Sasha skirted the puddle that had formed on the tile plinth and cautiously entered the atrium of the pool. He didn’t want to disturb the good-natured hostess with unnecessary troubles, so he turned on only the underwater lights. The entire atrium lit up with magical reflections.
Condensation trickled down the fogged windows. One of the windows was ajar, and fresh air came in freely from the street.
Almost like the sea, he thought.
The water beckoned the guest with a gentle azure glow and murmured softly. In a recess on the other side of the pool was a bas-relief of a dolphin jumping out of the water. Several plastic chairs were huddled together against the white columns that supported the atrium’s vaults, along the unglazed wall. There were also empty circles thrown in a chaotic order, inflatable children’s elbow pads for swimming and mattresses. The wide, patterned tiles in the room were heated, and it was pleasant to stand on them barefoot. After walking around it for a while, as if warming up for a swim, Sasha undressed and, finding himself in only his swimming trunks, thoughtfully put a glass of wine on the edge of the water. For a moment, he even admired the high-quality and skillful decoration, not without aesthetics, and thought, not without reason, that the hostess had invested a lot of money to make the guests happy. He especially liked the gentle lighting along the winding contour of the pool bowl itself, which gave the impression that the water surface has no border and merges with the tile.
The depth for Sasha started from the first step. He didn’t dare jump right away, but stood in the water up to his ankles, getting used to it in a puzzled way, peering into the alluring azure depths. The thermometer read only seventeen degrees. It was necessary to turn on the heating and wait until morning for the water to warm up, there were probably switches somewhere near the window, but the desire to quickly plunge headlong into this heavenly lake was stronger, and the guest crossed himself, still dived.
After making a couple of laps to the dolphin and back, Sasha felt that he was freezing with unaccustomed cold, and reached for a life-saving sip. What was his surprise when he found that the glass was already empty. Someone else, who must have entered the pool area through an unlocked door, drank it without the guest noticing. There was no other explanation.
Although Sasha’s creative nature was inclined to mysticism, he still looked around for reasonable explanations for this phenomenon. Due to the low light, he couldn’t view the entire atrium space. Was the joker hiding somewhere behind a pillar?
«Hey, who’s there?» – Stop it! «he shouted, but when there was no answer, he plunged headfirst into the water to wash away the delusion.
He didn’t like anyone laughing at him. The owner of the hotel promised him complete peace, that no one would disturb him unnecessarily. He will rightly demand an explanation. After all, this is a solid hotel, serious people rest here, and the reputation suffers. After holding on for as long as possible under the water, Sasha surfaced, greedily gulping air. The lights flashed again. All this was alarming and frightening with the unknown. The glass was already full to the brim.
«What the hell…» – flashed through the intoxicated head, and Sasha went back into the water.
There, under the water, he even thought that he heard a playful giggle above him, and when he surfaced, he saw a neat girl’s leg in front of him. The visitor looked up. Towering over him was a young, very beautiful girl wrapped in a white towel. Then she playfully wiggled her toes right in front of the man’s embarrassed nose, and he couldn’t help noticing the elaborate scarlet pedicure.
«Is the water cold?» – What is it? «the stranger asked him, as if nothing had happened, and shook her head like a wild mare.
A cloud of her black hair, loose almost to the water’s edge, covered him. Sasha had never seen such gorgeous long hair before. He wanted to wrap them around him, inhale their intoxicating smell.
«How did I not notice her earlier? Besides, the owner of the hotel assured me that I was the only guest here.»
He still couldn’t come up with a reasonable explanation for this mystical phenomenon in the pool and was silent, as if suddenly speechless. The towel suddenly slid to the floor, whether by accident or not, but it didn’t matter when her pubic hair, soft as a juicy peach, flashed before the guest’s eyes in a kind of slow-motion delusion. It was only when there was a splash of water behind his shoulders that he realized that he was awake, that this was real, that this naked beauty had just jumped right over him like a fish and gone under the water, disappearing in the azure glow of the backlight.
2
This year spring was delayed indefinitely. The snow continued to fall, the frosts grew stronger, and forecasters already recognized March as the coldest in the history of meteorological observations. Sasha sat in the adobe hut and looked out the window at the evening sky. A cold wind rattled the old shutters. Sometimes they beat on the window, and it seemed that someone was knocking and trying to enter the hut. Sasha thought about the fact that his wife and three children were waiting for him in the capital fifteen hundred kilometers away. How could he be so wrong as? To deliberately abandon the benefits of civilization, to settle on a farm far from home, and for what? To gain new sensations, get inspired for a new book, and what is the result? Chickens and rabbits didn’t inspire him, life in the country made him just a villager, nothing more. In addition, the family faced the hostility of the locals. One minute they didn’t like the sight of their wife planting strawberries and the kids running around barefoot on the ground, the paramedic in a dirty, greasy dressing gown with the look of a perpetually drunk queen was constantly knocking on the gate, demanding to get vaccinated and get registered. All this behind-the-scenes vulgarity and hypocritical smiles so tired the family that it was decided to return to Moscow.
They still had a large empty apartment there, but they still had to get to it. Sasha usually covered the distance in sixteen hours, but now the car was on summer wheels, winter tires remained in the capital. I didn’t want to take any chances.
Then Sasha decided to send his wife and children by train, and he began to wait for the heat, so that with the spring sun he could rush to Moscow for a reunion. And now he is sitting alone in longing and anxiety for his wife and children and, looking out of the window, thinks about the universe, about distant planets that may have all the conditions for a prosperous life. And how wonderful it is if there is no man on these planets yet, an evil, envious creature. It would be great to take your kids and your beloved wife with you and fly there in some magical way, to start the whole history of mankind from scratch. And don’t let there be those poor paramedics in dirty dressing gowns!
The moon was shining in the sky. Its mysterious radiance fell gently on the ground, enveloping and giving meaning to the silhouettes of the night. From the window I could see the snow-covered roofs of the rabbit-house, the bare vines creeping along the trellis towards the garden, some buckets and tools forgotten in the garden beds. No. Farming wasn’t for Sasha. And although he had made some progress in this business, it only irritated the locals. And they did not understand why a thoroughbred rabbit should cost more than a simple one.
A ray of moonlight fell on the pale silhouette of his car. She was standing in the shade of an old mulberry tree with a full tank of gas, ready to move at any moment at the behest of her master. One hundred and fifty horses were waiting for the soft push of the pedal.
It was going to snow again in Moscow, and he had a great idea: wait out a week by the sea and return to Moscow with the first thaw, rested and a little tanned. My wife supported this idea, and they promised to call often. And spring had already come to the sea, apricots were about to bloom, and, most importantly, at this time there would be few people on the beach. There, walking along the pebbles along the sea, he will be able to distract himself a little, collect beautiful shells for the kids and be sure to think out the plot for his new novel. It all seemed like a perfect solution.
After closing the hut, he drove through Goryachy Klyuch to Dzhubga, then turned left. There, winding along narrow mountain roads that were being repaired for the summer, and dragging a loaded truck for a long time, Sasha met the evening on the way, and, already poorly oriented in the dark, he was looking forward to the first normal settlement where he could stop and rent a room. It was long enough before he entered the city, exhausted and hungry, with its beautiful white-stone embankment and the distant lights of ships and yachts moored in the roadstead. It was Gelendzhik. Turning into a narrow street with some cosmic name, he searched for a parking spot for a long time, until the car itself did not rest its bumper on the high wrought-iron gates of a three-story hotel, like an ancient Gothic castle with a tin rooster wing on the highest tower. The lights were on on the first floor, and Sasha pressed the horn.
3
The hostess, a warm old woman, came out to meet him. He didn’t even have time to ask the price before she slid the gate aside with amazing ease.
«Welcome,» she smiled. – We’ve been waiting for you.» You won’t regret coming to us.
She knew her job very well, talking about the advantages of the hotel and not asking the guest any unnecessary questions. Indeed, it seemed that he was expected here. Nature struck with its pristine beauty. The air was divinely clear. The proximity to the sea was particularly noticeable. A light rain began to fall in the late afternoon, but even through the gray curtain, Sasha could see the mountains looming over the hotel. They were so close that I couldn’t help but want to touch them with my hand. The car itself was perfectly positioned in the shade of a Pitsunda pine tree. Sasha bent down a fluffy twig and inhaled the pleasant smell of pine needles.
«Nice place,» he agreed.
In the Kuban steppes, he was not used to the normal forest, from all this civilized comfort that the hospitable hostess promised. Pulling a travel bag out of the trunk, the guest looked around. He was wearing a well-fitting suit, tie, polished shoes, and clean socks. All this inspired confidence in success. Working clothes, soiled with manure and clay, were finally a thing of the past. He hardly recognized himself in this image.
«You’re so personable,» the hostess admired, justly. – I’ll give you the best room on the second floor.
«I’ll have something simpler,» Sasha managed to object, limited in funds. – I’m an aspiring writer, I need some peace.
«A writer, really? How wonderful it is! You are an invaluable guest in my home. Come, follow me – " she said, taking his arm gently. – No one will disturb you at my place. The hotel is as empty as a beggar’s pocket.
The unfortunate reminder of an empty pocket saddened him a little, but he pretended it was none of his business and just straightened his tie. When he writes his novel, he will be very rich. Prominent publishers will still compete for its exclusive edition.
«You must be tired from your journey,«the elderly woman continued to lull me to sleep. – I’ll meet you in the dining room.» The treat is on me. You’ve had enough of some interesting story. Do you like the sauna? It can be flooded. And by all means, by all means, appreciate the pool under the atrium, today only the water was filled in, we have a wonderful heated pool with hydro massage.
They headed for the second floor. Two strangers who had never met before. He, so tall, in a stylish gallant suit, just a handsome man from the cover of a model magazine, and she, so short, dry, slightly stooped, with a bare gray head, the owner of the hotel, dressed in a heavy dress.
– How are you with the weather? I haven’t been to the sea in ages, «he said, ushering the compassionate woman up the spiral staircase.
– In general, we have spring for a long time, only today it was overcast. You have come to the very fairy tale. Be careful not to slip. This way, please.»
The room turned out to have two rooms and a separate bathroom. It was obvious that the owner of the hotel wanted to recreate the atmosphere of home comfort here. She almost succeeded. There were soft carpets on the floor, and everything was neat and tidy. The windows were curtained. There was no economy in the world. Chandeliers, lamps, sconces. There was a refrigerator in the hallway, a small table by the window, and two armchairs flanked it. Along the wall, decorated under the «lining», on the sofa lay a pile of children’s toys. Above it hung a large painting in the best traditions of Impressionism. A wide canvas was placed in a wooden frame and connected to it by an intertwining cord. All this gave the impression of an original sublime style. On the canvas itself, a white-stone embankment was depicted in vivid rich colors, surrounded by green pine trees and pink flowers of either lilac or sakura. Two 19th-century ladies strolled arm-in-arm along the cobblestones: one elderly in a hat, the other young with a long-legged umbrella. These women were dressed in long, equally elegant dresses, accompanied by two curly lapdogs running after them without a leash. In the background was the familiar Gelendzhik Bay, where sailboats glided in the early sun.
Noticing Sasha’s curious glance at the painting, the hostess proudly boasted that the artist was some relative of hers.
«A very talented girl. You will definitely need to be introduced to Veronica.
Sasha went into the bedroom and, satisfied, put the bag on the floor. He liked the layout of the furniture, the atmosphere was quite comfortable: a large double bed with feather beds, large mirrors, an antique wooden wardrobe, equally beautiful nightstands, and, opposite, on the wall, hung a wide screen with a video player.
«Make yourself comfortable, I just changed your bed today. If you have any questions, please call the internal number. We also have Wi-Fi here. The password is in the booklet on the table. In general, whatever you want. I’ll meet you in the dining room in half an hour.»
She tactfully left, leaving the guest to his own thoughts. He was overwhelmed with emotion. Such comfort, such a respectful attitude, nature, the sea… He immediately called his wife.
«How did you get there, honey?» I miss you terribly, «he heard his own voice say over the phone. «The kids are already asleep. It’s winter, and it keeps snowing…
4
In the dining room, cheerful songs from Russian movies were played. The atmosphere was festive, like New Year’s Eve. Obviously, this holiday was celebrated here with special style about two months ago. The tinsel had not yet been removed from the walls, and in the corner stood the gleaming silver staff of Santa Claus. The tree was gone, but the golden-painted natural cones were in a cardboard box by the door. Sasha sat down at a large long table and waited for the promised dinner, looking curiously at the decor of the room.
At first, he was interested in the bamboo-framed canvas hanging on the wall. Streets, the bay itself, the lighthouse were drawn on it, and terrain was displayed. The approximate location of the hotel was also marked with a red cross. Then Sasha paid attention to the decoration of the hall and the decor of the walls near the tables for guests. They were laid out with an interesting ornament resembling rock limestone. All this was illuminated by the rather intimate glow of antique brass candlesticks. Thanks to all this, the spirit of noble antiquity, some kind of chivalry, was felt. The tables themselves were covered with a rough linen tablecloth. On one of them, the guest noticed an antique chess set. The pieces were handmade, most likely carved from rare wood, and stood on an open chessboard decorated with gold wires and rare stones. Sasha had once been a good chess player, and now he suddenly wanted to get a taste of the game. He walked over to them and carefully picked up one of the pieces. At that moment, the old lady brought in a jug of wine and went back to the kitchen.
«What a wonderful chess game! – he managed to say, paying a compliment to the hotel. «It’s just a rarity.
All these past days, he had felt beaten by life, shipwrecked in an unfair way. Now it’s your turn to save yourself, but let it be beautiful and with music. Coming to this fabulous hotel, he regarded as a gift of fate. He only regretted that the idea of going to the sea came to him too late, when his wife and children were already in Moscow.
«Sit down at the table!» The hostess came in again, carrying two plates of soup on a tray. – You will definitely not try this anywhere!
The soup of wild quail, sweet mountain herbs, and red lentils was divine. Sasha swallowed it all in an instant, almost licking his plate. He even forgot about the bread. The hostess smiled contentedly and offered me another drink.
– Are you visiting our region for the first time? – What is it? «she asked.
– No, I was here about ten years ago, but the city has changed a lot.
«For the better, I hope?»
«Oh, yes! I even got lost without recognizing him right away. So many beautiful new hotels, cleanliness in the city. I will certainly walk along the embankment tomorrow…
They drank wine for their arrival and a good rest. The next toast was to the hostess of the hotel. As the glasses clattered together, Sasha got a better look at the good-natured woman. She looked to be about sixty-five years old. When she was young, she was obviously very beautiful. Even now, there was a certain grace about her, and it was easy to guess the noble movements of some born lady-in-waiting or ballerina. All that well-bred airiness still lingered in her large carnelian eyes. Sasha looked at his hostess with gratitude and even a kind of regret, seeing how time did not spare her kind face, how treacherously the second chin appeared, how her intelligent high forehead was covered with wrinkles when she smiled or was surprised at something. Her once elegant hands, with their slender fingers decorated with rings and rings, were now tinged with gout-evidence of a once carefree, fun-loving life. Although the hostess continued to watch herself, Sasha noted that this was more inertia or habit for her than the natural female desire to please a man. She paid a lot of attention to her hairstyle, although she did not dye her hair. The gray hair suited her, accentuating a certain nobility of soul.
– As you get older, you start to appreciate good male company – " she smiled, leaving traces of lipstick on her sipped glass.
Also, the hostess skillfully used shadows and other barely noticeable cosmetics. Her long, loose dresses of coarse linen were very becoming, as were the tablecloths on the tables in the hall. It was as if this woman was a landmark of her own hotel and fit in well with the overall style of a long-gone era.
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