Read Online Villa Pacifica by Kapka Kassabova - Free Book Online

started, but Mikel’s voice boomed behind him.
    â€œYou’re not allowed to see the animals, because it’s going to be dark,” he said. He was standing in the doorway between the veranda and the lounge. His right hand twitched at the chain on which his glasses hung. “We only allow visitors two times per day. You can go tomorrow morning. OK?”
    Everybody knew this was directed at Max.
    â€œAll right,” Max nodded. “No problem. I’ve already seen the animals, it’s for these guys, I wanted to go and show them.”
    â€œNo, you don’t show anybody anything round here,” Mikel said. “Carlos will be there tomorrow morning. He’ll show them.” He patted the collie, which was standing next to him now. Mikel exuded a sort of flaky authority, in his worn-out flip-flops and preposterous Hawaiian shirt. His legs were as furry as the dog’s.
    â€œThat’s cool with me,” Max said. “You’re the boss.”
    Mikel lit a cigarette and leant against the door frame. He looked at his guests, as if waiting to be asked a question. He was the boss.
    â€œHow long have you been in this place?” Alejandro asked.
    â€œFifteen years,” Mikel exhaled.
    â€œHow you gonna sell this place one day? Who’s gonna buy it?” Max asked.
    â€œWe won’t sell it,” Mikel said in English. “We’ll stay here.”
    â€œYou’re kidding me,” Max snorted.
    â€œYou’re kidding yourself,” Mikel grimaced, his eyes ironic slits. “We came here because we searched for the perfect place. We created the perfect place. We live here and we’ll die here.”
    â€œBut this place isn’t making money,” Max declared.
    â€œWe make some money.”
    â€œHow much do you make, come on, what’s your turnover?”
    â€œIt’s not your business. We make a living.”
    Ute liked Mikel, despite his rants. She was prepared to like anyone who could stand up to Max.
    â€œNo no, buddy, you don’t get it,” Max said. “You could be making heaps out of this place. You could be running the animal refuge like a zoo – charging, say, five bucks per visitor. Bring in busloads of kids from the cities to see endangered species and all that – ecological stuff, educational visits. You rent out the cabins to school groups, pack in the kids, four per double cabin, fifteen dollars a head, ten kids per family cabin, eight dollars a head…”
    â€œWhat are you talking about?” Mikel’s mocking snort interrupted him. “We don’t want school kids here…”
    Lucía came up behind Mikel and put a calm hand on his shoulder. He visibly relaxed at her touch, took a drag on his cigarette and went quiet for a moment.
    â€œAnd you need to change the name,” Max rattled on. “You can’t go on calling yourself Villa Pacifica, that’s just… wrong, it’s… neither here nor there. No buddy, you need something snappier. Like Paradiso , Los Tigres , something sexier like that.”
    Mikel kept shaking his head.
    â€œListen, pal,” Max went on, “we can strike a deal here. Let’s talk about it later, but here’s my offer, go and think about it. If you give me fifty per cent of this place, I’ll take it off your hands and turn it around. I’ll get my guys to build more chalets, bigger ones, luxury ones, expand. I won’t touch the animals, just make it more, you know, attractive to visitors. No school kids. Put some signs along the road. And don’t get me wrong, it’ll stay eco-friendly, green and clean and all that, no two ways about it, cos that’s the way of the future, that’s what people want these days. ‘Exclusive eco-resort Los Tigres … See the Galápagos without leaving land…’ Get the local community to make snorkelling products. Hell, get them to make ice cream.