Chapter 16. A dangerous adventure at sea. The sea

   Lech went about his business and I decided to take a refreshing swim in the sea. I felt rejected and, to be honest, somewhat humiliated by that arrogant person whom I had doted on in the past, but after all those stormy events ended in physical violence, as lawyers say, I have noticeably calmed down. Even though I began to feel proud of what I wear, dear, the world hasn't come together yet. Marinochka gave me another chance. She is so cool, determined and brave, even more than me. I talked to myself, warmed by Leshka's wine with three Sevens and beer with dried fish, and if such a girl fell for me after forgetting about her bullies, it means I'm worth something.
 
Reasoning in this way, I went in search for my sweet-voiced siren, Tanyusha, and Masha, putting on dark glasses, pulling down the visors of my light colored beach cap to hide the black eye. I decided to swim and find her on the beach, where they were fun to spend time with. Tanya, as usual chatted incessantly and although her friend, unlike her was more silent, listening to her was very interesting. She was well-read, a good story teller and could captivate an audience with her stories from books about famous historical figures, historical events from the past. We listened with great interest and then discussed what we heard, getting heated and arguing. Both my girlfriends were cute and pretty, but interestingly different. Tanya was lively, loved jokes and teased me and I teased her back. Masha on the other hand was more modest, but the girls liked me as well, greeting me joyously when I met on the beach especially Masha who tried to hide her feelings.
      Tanya knew about it and sometimes teased her about it. She blushed and prettily began to justify herself, getting angry at herself. I was interested in chatting with the girls and enjoyed spending time with them. While looking for girlfriends at the beach, I didn't find any. Apparently, none of them came today. I decided to go for a swim and went to sea. On the shore, guys from the boathouse were preparing to launch a motorboat. I offered to help them, as I knew them. They were friends of Lesha, whom I had met, and we sometimes played cards and drank beer with them. Probably, they were going fishing, as fishing rods stuck out of the boat - "Are you going fishing?" I asked. "Do you have room for me?" The senior of the group said uncertainly, "Actually, there's one place." "Come on, you can take my seat at the oar. I have a lot to do at the beach." The engine had just been dismantled and needed to be repaired and reassembled by evening. I agreed happily, "Tell me what. Come back in forty minutes while we sort things out here and you can go instead." "Good," I said. "I'll definitely come." After agreeing on fishing with the guys, I went to where my friends were usually staying and, to my surprise, found them there - "Hello, teachers. How are you?" I looked for you but couldn't find, thought you were already marked as absent. Why did you sleep in today? We have to take care of it. You're getting lazy." "So take it, don't worry. You can start with me," Tanya said, moving closer and smiling slyly. "Really, Masha?" Masha smiled and nodded. "You see, Masha is fine too. Where are we going to have it: here on the beach or somewhere more private?" I pretended not to understand her joke and said, "I haven't decided and I'm busy today. But tell me what happened today and why did you sleep late." We probably went until morning.
 — But no, we slept in because we were dreaming all night and could not sleep. — And what were you dreaming about, I wonder? If it's no secret? — What kind of secrets are there? Tanyusha asked sadly. — Everyone was thinking about me, my dear. "Is that how it is about me?" — Yes, dear. I broke your hearts. Masha wept all night. "Really, Masha?" Masha seemed to be in a good mood, and, surprisingly, she didn't get angry at such jokes as usual from Tanya, but this time she supported her friend and replied to her in a friendly tone: "Yes, Tanya, I was really sad, I couldn't sleep, I wept all night." And they couldn't but burst into laughter. — Oh, you mockers! I'll show you how I'm mocked. "What do you have to show us?", Tanya asked, smiling mischievously. "Tell me in my ear". — Yes, ladies, you can imagine what we will teach the children. I nodded my head. — We will teach you, do not worry, we will teach everything. Said Tanya. And both of them laughed happily. — Well, friends, today you put me on both sides, I surrender. — Yes. Well, in that case, then as the winner I will sit on you so that everyone can see that I am victorious and you are beaten by me and ask for mercy. Also, I am entitled to a reward. Tanya said and, without any embarrassment, busily sat on top of my lying back. Sits on top of it. — Now I have to think about what kind of reward I deserve, what would please me? "What would you want?" "I want..." she thought... — A chocolate bar. I suggested. — No, that's too cheap. — Two ice creams. "No, ice cream is not what I want." — Chocolate or cake. "I do not want cake." It's better to eat sweets. I thought of it. Desire, you have to promise me that you will do my wish. You don't have any choice. You lost and must do it. "What if you can't?" — You can. — Well I don't know. Maybe I won't even be able to do it after all? Promise me too that it will be real. I want something that I can actually do. Something affordable. — Why are you bargaining with me like a Jew at the market? Are you man or what? If you lose pay up. Not Julia. — All right, I accept. I give up." So what should I do? "I have not figured it out." Ha ha, Misha and I laughed loudly so people started to look back at us."You are such a comedian Tanya." She made us smile. "Don't be too excited." Yes yes. Once I think of something like this, you will not laugh. Misha and me will figure it out. You will dance with us again."Really Misha?
  "Sure, we'll figure it out," Masha agreed.
  — What can I tell you. It's just useless to compete with you in wit, girls.
  "Is there such a word?" I haven't seen anything. It sounds kind of illiterate. Don't you think, Masha? "Yes, it's very clumsy," Masha replied.

  — How is there no such word? Wit and wit are synonymous.
  "Look, he even knows those words!" We didn't even know that. Thanks for the tip. The girls laughed.
  "Oh, come on! I waved my hand, realizing that they were kidding me again.
  —Wait, wait, what have you got there?" Take off your glasses. What's under your eye? Tatiana suddenly asked.
  "It's nothing. We had a little too much with Lech yesterday, and I hit the door in the dark at night in the dark.
  "The legend is fresh, but it's hard to believe,— Tatiana sang. — Come on, admit it, who did you fight with? They probably didn't share something with their Lyoshka. When are you going to introduce us to him? We'll find out everything about you from him. What kind of fruit are you?
  — You're saying everything right, Tanyusha. I made an appointment with the guys today and I'm going fishing with them now. And if it's successful, you and I will eat fried fish in the evening, and I will introduce you to my friend. Let's play cards at the same time. And Lech will also play the guitar for us, and we will sing. I'll find you on the beach, and let's go to our place. How do you like my suggestion?
  "And I want to go fishing," Tanya whined. "Take me with you."
  — No, Tanyusha, I would love to, but there is no room in the boat. I asked for it myself, I'm filling in for one guy, I'm going instead. But I promise to take you for a ride another time, and we can go fishing. Don't you agree?
  —We agree," they replied at once. After chatting with the girls a little more, I told them, "Well, we're not saying goodbye. See you tonight." And I went to the guys.

 They had everything ready to set sail. "Our superiors had decided to go fishing," the senior team member grumbled, "although the weather was not very good." The wind was getting stronger and the waves might get bigger. But they hadn't received any storm warnings yet. We couldn't argue with our boss. We had to go fish today. So what could we do? Let's go! I loved fishing and started pushing a large, spacious and heavy boat along with the others. The waves were really big. The roar of the surf was loud. Gentle waves came from afar and rolled rhythmically on the shore. Flickering flashes of lightening were visible in the distance. When we reached the shallow waters, the waves grew into a tall vertical wall with swirling foam on top. They fell off and crashed violently onto the shore flooding the beach with a hissing whirlpool of foam. Then they rolled back to greet new waves. The cool breeze from the sea cooled my hot body. Out of the corner of my eyes, I noticed a yellow flag fluttering on the pole of the rescue team. It meant that the waves weren't too big and we could swim and go to sea. If the waves got too big, the beach would be closed and a red flag would be raised as a warning. At that point, it would be impossible to swim or go out. I thought about it. But fishing is better than being stuck. Nothing else matters. Our director was there too. He watched us lower the boat into the water while he was dressed in light clothes, including a jacket, pants, shoes and most importantly a shirt and a tie. I wondered why he was so dressed up for fishing. "Why are you wearing a tie?" I asked him. "He often does," he replied. "He always has a busy schedule during the season and he loves fishing." Today he had to go to town on business but decided to take a few hours for fishing anyway. A car was waiting for him and he wanted to get to town right after fishing so he dressed like that. "Okay," I said, pushing the boat. We dragged it to the water and called for the director. He climbed in. One of the guys sat on the oars, and the motorist and I, along with several other volunteer helpers from vacationers on the beach, tried to accelerate the boat more strongly in order to overcome the oncoming wave. And then they quickly climbed into it themselves. When I jumped into the boat, its nose was thrown up hard on a steep wave, and we were all well doused with spray and sea water, but soon we came out on a gentle wave, and the motorist started the engine. The boat, picking up speed, rocked smoothly, raced across the bright surface of the sea.
   The weather was wonderful. The sun shone brightly and small clouds floated in the clear blue sky. Gulls flew over the sea screaming. They were sitting on the water - there would be no storm. I remembered the neighbor's words, and if it was on the shore - wait for the storm. Good, I thought. But I didn't really notice the gulls swimming. Thirty minutes later, we were there. Guys said there was a shallow here, a beach, as they call it. A large bull usually comes here well, and horse mackarel comes across. We lowered the anchor into the water, unpacked the fishing rods and started fishing. I cast the fishing line and after a minute, the float went sharply down. Hooked the fish, felt strong resistance and pulled out a big black bull, Knut. That's what fishermen call him for some reason. All our fishing team had a good bite too. There were also big red bulls and mackerels, sometimes two at a time, because there were several hooks in the tackle. Great, I thought happy, feeling fishing excitement. Far from us, there was a buoy similar to fishing float or, as sailors call it, buoy. With strong flashing lights that shine at night, bobbing on waves, making a long mournful noise. Uh oh. Warning vessels of danger, it had a piston that compressed air and made this sad sound that echoed across the sea and was heard far away. The time flew by and we had a decent catch. Didn't share it among us, but put it in plastic buckets the guys brought. Director didn't want it anyway, knew the guys would bring the fish to kitchen and girls cook it and some salt and dry. Meanwhile, wind didn't subside but even increased, we passionate about fishing didn't noticed it. White foam appeared on sea and boat started rocking harder. Decided to finish fishing go to shore. Collected gear, lifted anchor and started engine headed for shore. Motorman tried to steer boat across waves. Already noticeably tossed by waves and we were doused by water spray. Couldn't go fast. Finally reached coastal strip, waves crashed loudly onto shore. Motormen slowed down and boat rocked hard, tossed side to side then helmsmen steered towards shore. Rocked violently then thrown into depths of sea and when fell into deep depression between waves, shore disappeared and only sky and steep mountains of water were visible. No life jackets so had to prepare worst. Closer to shore more water flooded and we scooped a lot. Splashed and shimmers on bottom of boat. Bucket of fish overturned and fish swimming between legs. All looking at shore dancing ahead with growing alarm. Things were bad, huge waves towered above us and barely steerable boats inexorably towards shore. Breakers crashed against shore with noise and force, bubbled and raised clouds spray. Huge wave covered us completely, boat spun sideways, tilt heavily and capsized. Before I knew it I was in water sinking to bottom. Wave that covered dragged under water and strong current began pulling inexplicable, twisting me and preventing floating to surface. Lost bearings couldn't find where to go to come up, air was running out. Drowning thought flashed mind and grew fear and horror gripped me. End thought, with great effort losing last strength worked arms and legs mightily. Adrenalin jumped from stress apparently gave strength began paddling with hands and kicking legs violently suddenly jumped out water. Sunlight hit eyes gasped for air with water spray began coughing painfully spitting muddy water mixed sand silt choked on but soon regained senses rowed hard towards shore which was carried incoming wave fortunately very close soon felt bottom under me tried get up but knocked off feet wave dragged back sea. Main thing breathe right remembered instructions rescuers swimming water rescue training people drown near shore if knocked down large wave spun gasping air choke water lungs suffocate weaken unable swim go underwater lose consciousness drown swept sea can't save even desperate dive swirling abyssal help pull ashore. Daredevil recklessly plunges water desperation little chance escape may drown too unable withstand raging elements sea not trifled. Knocked waves several times got ashore collapsed sand caught breath sat up looked anxiously for comrades what wrong them got ashore suddenly saw director almost got shore took last steps water. Amazed walked briskly clutching folder documents didn't release water. Should have seen. A man in a jacket and shirt with a tie, trousers and shoes was coming out of the water. He looked like Father Chernomor, only in modern clothes and without a spear, but with a folder that he still hadn't released into the water and was clutching to himself with his hand. As I later learned from conversations with my friends, who also swam out, he and another motorist fell into the water, grabbed onto the boat, and they were washed ashore with it. A crowd of vacationers gathered on the shore, watching our shipwreck with interest. Some of them, who saw how I disappeared under the water and did not appear on the surface for a long time, asked sympathetically how I was feeling, if I needed help, and even offered to take me to the hospital. I thanked them and, recovering a little, went to my guys, who, with the help of numerous assistants, were already pulling the boat out of the water, which had washed ashore quite far from the place where we had capsized. She was rocked and buffeted by the waves on the shore. When I approached them, the boat had already been pulled onto dry land. Everything in it, the gear and all our catch, was carried out to sea, along with my shirt, cap, glasses and flip-flops.
   The guys suggested that I go to them to dry off. We went to their boat station. The director took off his wet clothes and hung them up to dry, and then began to lay out the soaked documents on the sun-baked bottom of one of the motorboats lying on the shore not far from us. We began to discuss what had happened animatedly and speculated about why we had turned upside down. Although no one could really explain anything. It all happened so suddenly. We were covered by a big wave and overturned. We seemed to be doing everything right: we were riding the wave at low speed and paddling so that it wouldn't turn around. But the wave at the shore was too big, and it just overwhelmed us, so we couldn't jump ashore when the mechanic turned off the engine and lifted it so as not to smash the propeller on the bottom. It's good that it ended this way, no one was injured, and the boat with the engine remained intact. And the director saved his documents.
   After talking with the guys for a while longer, I headed back to my room. On the veranda, I saw Vasya leaning against the railing, smoking. I took a cigarette from him, mine were floating with my shirt somewhere in the sea, and I began excitedly telling him what had just happened to me, still under a strong impression of what had happened.
"Well, well," he shook his head. "Wow," I said. You could have easily drowned. Do you hear, Nadia? Vlad almost drowned just now. Their boat capsized. She left the room, and I began to animatedly retell this story to her, apparently, I needed to talk myself out after the stress I had experienced.
"You need to get away from stress, you're kind of overexcited," he said. — Nadyusha, I'll pour it for him. He needs to get better and recover. To my surprise, she didn't object and graciously agreed, even saying that she would make a salad and figure out something to eat. 
- How come you're going fishing in a light boat with such a wave? What were you thinking about? They seem to be experienced guys at the boat station. I saw their boats. I went to those. This type of boat is not designed for such a wave. Well, it's good that it all ended well.
  You'll be smarter next time. They don't mess with the sea, I'll tell you. He's not to be trifled with. You got off well. What's wrong with your eye? Got into a fight with someone?
 "It's nothing. It just happened out of a misunderstanding. It's just stupid. It's nothing serious. She shook her head and went to make us something to eat. Soon we were all sitting at the table. Nadia joined us too, and we raised our glasses to my rescue.
- Wow, but he could have easily drowned, Nadezhda lamented. What would it be like for parents? He's gone on vacation, and on you.
- My father and I are alone, my mother has been gone for two years. The wine went to my head, and I felt that I was slowly getting drunk. She looked at me sympathetically and shook her head pityingly. I did not know. What a disaster. "Let's eat, or you'll get drunk." And you don't know where you're going. She shouted at Vasily. For some reason, I didn't feel like eating, and I silently picked at the ham glaze that Nadia had carefully prepared with a fork.
- You're a good guy, as I see it, well-mannered, friendly. And I studied and got an education. A little untidy, though, because he's still young, the wind is in his head, but this will pass over the years. Not some kind of scamp. Unlike your neighbor. He seems to be a good guy too, polite, sociable, but he reaches for a glass, as I noticed. And he loves girls. And they're happy and they're hanging around him. He's such a good-looking guy. Yes, and the military is studying to be an officer.
 "So these are his sister's girlfriends.
 - I know these girlfriends. Don't take an example from him. And if he takes a sip, he'll disappear. They'll kick you out of school, and you'll be lost. Well, he'll come to his senses, go back to school, and there won't be much going on with it. And then he felt free and allowed himself too much without control. Oddly enough, he smells like wine. I didn't see him drunk, though. So he knows the measure. So don't take an example from him. Well, about that, why condemn him behind his back. And you guys are here  Don 't get me drunk. If you finish playing with me, I'll raise your whole vagina, even if it has already turned sour there. She looked menacingly at Vasya. And don't go along with your friend, get less carried away with this potion. Apparently, our neighbor liked me in some way, and she motherly mentored me, and condemned Lech for his addiction to alcohol.
 - To tell you the truth, I'm not really attracted to wine. When I was doing sports, I didn't drink at all. And now it's just for company. — Well done, that's right.
 Then Nadia began to talk about her life, about her parents. It turns out that she also lost her mother early. And their father started drinking after that. But then he sort of came to his senses and got married again. The stepmother turned out to be a good woman. Nadia spoke well of her. It was for her and the children that her father stopped drinking. My stepmother also had two of her own, and my brother and I, Nadia told us, remembering her childhood years. Where could he take us alone, she complained. Then she started telling us different stories from her childhood. How she got into a storm with her father and almost drowned too. It was interesting to listen to her. She had a peculiar singsong accent, and she was able to captivate the listener with her imaginative, beautiful language. She exuded maternal care and feminine wisdom. Vasya and I, silent, listened to her with interest. After sitting with us for a while longer, she went to her room, saying, "Don't get too carried away here," she looked sternly at Vasily. "No, we're just a little bit. We know the measure." "Especially you," she told him mockingly. "The trouble is with you guys," she shook her head and went to the children.
After she left, our conversation became lively. Flushed with wine, Vasya eagerly told me about his adventures, sometimes squinting at the door and lowering his voice almost to a whisper, sharing his secrets with me in a fit of drunken frankness. Something that his Nadia shouldn't have known about. I too, having already forgotten about my adventure today over a glass, enthusiastically recalled my exploits, the determination and courage I showed in various difficult situations, and my romantic adventures, forgetting that I had already told Vasya and Lech about them before. I repeated them to him again, since I didn't really have any special victories over women, and I preferred to keep silent about Lena, especially since she just turned me down very easily and simply, as an unnecessary thing. Which was unpleasant for me to remember, and even more so to tell him. We smoked so much in the room that we decided to go out on the veranda to air out.
   And then Vasya suddenly said to me: "Listen, I completely forgot. When you weren't there, a woman came by and asked for you. Two or three hours ago. She's so cute. All of myself. Fashionably dressed. He was wearing a big-brimmed summer hat so that his face wouldn't tan, and dark glasses. She was interested in you." I looked at him dumbfounded and even sobered up a little. "No, she didn't say anything, she just asked you and that's it." "Well, what did she look like?" "Well, I told you, she's such a gorgeous lady. Young." "And she didn't say anything, who was she, what did she want?" "Oh, yeah. She left her phone number." "So why are you silent? That was the place to start. "Where is he?" "Right now," Vasily said and went to his room. When he returned, he handed me a piece of paper with a phone number. 
Overjoyed, I told him, "Come on. Bye, be healthy, I need to make a phone call." "Since that's the case, let's take the last one." I wasn't up to it anymore. But when I saw Vasya's distressed face, I couldn't refuse him. Marina, she thought. "Why was she looking for me? Oh, that's right. Maybe she decided to leave her boyfriend after an argument with him? Gee, that's it." I couldn't wait to call her. After having a last drink with Vasya and saying goodbye to him, I called Marina. 
She didn't answer for a long time. I was about to hang up, when I suddenly heard a woman's voice: "Hello." "Hello Marina. You were looking for me." "How are you?" "Did everything work out?" There was a silence on the other end of the line, and then I heard a painfully familiar voice: "This isn't Marina. You must have made a mistake. I'm sorry." I almost dropped my phone in surprise.
               
                Continuation.  Chapter 17.