– How are you going to travel across the ocean!? – he asked with a bit of contempt. – Why do you need that?
– I feel sad, – answered the girl sincerely.
– But why? – the boy asked and his blue eyes got dark.
– Because I am absolutely lonely here, – she replied.
The boy got surprised and then asked her:
– So, there is no one on this island, right?
– No one except me. And also you now.
– That’s fine! – the boy exclaimed. – I have decided: I am staying here. I am sick of wandering, to be honest.
The girl was about to clap her hands with joy, but suddenly she heard him asking:
– When are you leaving for the ocean?
– I am not leaving! – she laughed. – Why do I have to look for a friend at the ocean, if he himself found me here? We will be friend with you!
– Friends? – the boy winced. – And live together on the same island? And see each other all the time, and talk to each other… And all things like that? All that, meanwhile I want to be alone and think to myself. No way! Not for this purpose I’ve traveled such a long distance to get into the world of conventions again. I want freedom and loneliness… By the way, you promised that you would leave!
– Well, – a girl signed sadly and a tear of disappointment, the first in her life appeared on her cheek. – I promised and I will leave. Just help me to set a mast and I’ll learn controlling a sail myself.
– Sure, the boy agreed and this time his glance wasn’t severe. – The cover of my air balloon will perfectly suit for the sail. We can find some big pieces of cloth and connect them together with the vines. The sail will be patched, but silk is durable and reliable fabric. You won’t regret, believe me.
– I believe you, – she said sadly.
So, they started working. They had just to set a mast and attach a sail to it. However, no matter how much they tried to finish the work, as soon as possible, not being distracted by idle talks, the raft was ready for departure only at dusk, when even flying fishes floating over the water to enjoy the sunset were invisible. The girl who has never sailed on a raft couldn’t go to the ocean at night. And she decided to ask:
–
Let me stay on the island until morning.
The boy reckoned, that they had been working for the whole day and the girl must have been tired as he was. So, she really needed some rest before the long journey. Besides, she is not talkative, she had hardly said a couple of words for this time.
