Наталья Андреева - Islanders

“I am sure I will find the decision.” Ivan addressed to everybody falling to the armchair. “That's not time to panic.”

“Agree.” Arthur was calm. “It is necessary to search for variants. The lift will be not eternally off!

“And if for that time while it is off, the murderer will kill us?” Zhanna asked.

“We are all together.” Ivan reminded. “And I do not see aggression in anybody.”

“Wow, you're the psychologist! “ Angelica sniffed flopping herself in the armchair. “I am sure your science is a fiction. And you are kidding us!”

“Sergey is killed!” Vera reminded falling into the armchair. “Whether is it an aggression sign?”

“But the murderer won’t show off.” Ivan answered. “So, he is an excellent actor. That’s so smart to hide the chisel in the basket of paint after the murder.”

“By the way, why did he kill?” Zhanna asked.

“It's easy to find out.” Ivan answered.

“And how?” Angelica asked with astonishment. Everybody were sitting and waiting for the explanations from Ivan. He looked at "the totem" which was in the centre of the table and said.

“What was the reason? That’s Sergey's story. I saw that it was hurtful to everybody. Without an exception, no need to say anything. But it touched everyone. After that we had gone to write notes. By the way, how could I forget!”

Suddenly he slapped himself on the forehead and jumped.

“What is the matter?” the islanders started to exchange glances.

“I have a mobile phone! And I did not put it in the box! It is in the room!”

“Well, thanks God.” Lida exclaimed.

“Too early to joke.” Angelica grinned looking as Ivan was running for the phone.

And she was right. A minute later he returned and said.

“My phone disappeared. From my table.”

“And what did you expect?” asked Angelica.” If the murderer climbed down through the hatch he would forget about your mobile phone… Do not make me laugh!”

“But I do remember.” rubbing his forehead Ivan said. “When I brought the totem box in the room I put the phone on the table.”

“And I do remember.” Seva supported Ivan. “I have paid attention because I thought to buy the same model. It is the new one with a lot of functions.”

“But I remember nothing.” Arthur declared. “I haven't seen any phones. Seva, were you the last to see the phone?”

“What do you mean?” worried Seva.

“I did not pay attention.” Zhanna complained. “If there was phone on the table or not.”

“I didn’t either.” Vera nodded.

“We are like all women absent-minded.” Angelica complained pulling out from the pack a cigarette.

“And I say that there was the phone!” Vera declared. “I wrote my fear on a sheet of paper the same time!”

“You are telling that because of Angelica, aren't you?” Ivan said softly.

“On the contrary!”

“We won't find the ends.” Vera began to smoke. “It's easy to open the totem box and…”

She was afraid of her words.

“What is it, darling?” Angelica asked. “Are you afraid? What have you written?”

“I am against opening the box.” Zhanna said. “We didn't agree to do that!”

“Wow …” Arthur was astonished. “I would never think you said it!”

“So, as far as I understood you are for the reading of the contents, aren’t you?” Vera asked looking straight to him.

“And who is against?”

“I am.” Seva answered. “Handwriting is different, of course, but …”

“But suddenly the others will know the truth, won’t they?” Arthur asked. “Will then the note with the obvious motive of Sergey's murder appears yours? By the exception principle. And despite the changed handwriting the unattractive truth will appear. Do not worry: judging by a look of our beauty.” and he nodded towards Zhanna.” Angelica was offended – such note will be not the single one. Open the box!”

“And why are you telling for the rest?” Vera protested. “I for example can see that Lida is against.”

“I?” Lida was frightened a little and became red. “In general, I am again in minority …”

“We haven't got the other variants.” Ivan summed up. “We should know who had made it. Or the murderer himself stands up?”

Death silence was the answer.

“I am going to open the box.” Ivan said taking the box.

Then he pressed on a tiny latch and "the totem" bottom leant back. The white envelopes fell down on the table. All of them have not been sealed.

“Oh! What a surprise!” Arthur moved forward.

“Look!” Lida opened her mouth.

“There are eight …” counted Vera.

“Well and what's from that?” Angelica was calm.

“You are bad at mathematics, darling.” Lida told her. “We are seven.”

“Then has anybody thrown two envelopes?” Zhanna asked. “But why?”

“To be sure.” with a smile Arthur said. “Well? Shall we read them?”

Ivan took the first envelope. Everybody looked at him. The first note dropped out. The letters seemed small. Ivan took the note in his hands and read.

«I love Sergey».

“Oh!” Arthur was surprised. “That's the brave woman!”

“And why do you think that it was written by the woman?” Ivan looked at him.

“But who else?”

“It could write the man, too.”

“Do you want to tell that I or Seva … Or someone from us can be the gay? The gay? Do not make me laugh!”

“It can be.” Lida said.”I am not the gay!” Arthur shouted.

“We do not need proofs.” Ivan noticed. “But it could write both the man and the woman.”

“I am not the gay! Did you hear?” Arthur did not stop.

“And why are you shouting?” Seva noticed.

“Who could think …” Angelica said sarcastically. “Such a pleasant young man … Though …”

“Are you deaf? I am not the gay!”

“Okay, calm down already.” Lida became angry. “You’re not the gay…Well.”

“Stop talking about that!” Arthur returned back to his arm chair. At that time Ivan unpacked the other envelope and read.

“«I envy Sergey». Will you say again that it was written by the woman, Arthur?”

“Why? It was just written by the man.”

“And why cannot the woman envy Sergey?” Zhanna asked.

“Well.”

“May be she envies his professional career. May be, his money at last.”

“I accept.” Ivan agreed. “As well as it can be the motive for the murder. It’s a strong feeling.”

“I doubt.” Seva said.

“Was it written by you?” Arthur looked at him. “Am I right?” “If you wrote the first note…”

“I am not the gay!”

“Silence!”

“Shut up!”

Ivan opened the third envelope and the absolutely clean paper dropped out. Everybody looked at it with astonishment.

“Did someone fake?” Zhanna asked.” And forgot to write the fear?”

“I will confess.” Ivan signed. “I did it. I put the clean envelope in the box.”

“But why? “ they looked at him with the surprise.

“I would like to take part in the game too. But I am neutral. That's why I sealed the clean paper. I have already burnt all my fears.”

“At least, one problem is gone.” Arthur shrugged his shoulders.

“Let's continue.” Vera nodded.

And Ivan opened the next envelope.

«I want Sergey» he read.

“Wow! You are very brave!” Angelica burst out laughing.

“It's not.” Lida frowned.

“Darling, have you written it?”

“What?”

“You are not married. And you want the big strong man …”

“Are you mad? I could not write it.” Lida became red.

“Among us there is the loving woman.” Arthur said watching the women sitting in armchairs. “It is interesting, who is she?”