Classics fantasy – 8

THE HEADS HAVE A GOOD TIME

It was even more difficult for Thomas and Brike’s heads to get used to the new existence, than Douel’s head. His brain was engaged now in the same scientific works which interested it earlier. Toma and Brike were people simple, and without body to live the sense was not it. No wonder that they began to miss soon.

– Unless it is life? – Thomas complained. – You stick out as a stub. Missed all walls to holes…

Oppressed mood of «captives of science» as joking their Core called, very much caused anxiety it. The heads could decay from melancholy before day of their demonstration comes.

And professor Kern took great pain to entertain them.

It got a movie camera, and Laurent with John organized in the evenings cinema sessions. As the screen served the white wall of laboratory.

Volumes especially were pleasant to the head comic pictures with Charlie Chaplin and Monty Banks’s participation. Looking at their tricks, Thomas forgot for a while about the poor existence. From his throat even something similar escaped on laughter, and on eyes tears navertyvatsya.

But here Banks otprygat, and on a white wall of the room the image of a farm appeared. The little girl feeds chickens. Crested chicken busy treats the baby birds. Against the background of a cowshed the young healthy woman milks a cow, driving away an elbow of a calf which tycht a muzzle in an udder. The shaggy dog ran, cheerfully waving a tail, and after her the farmer seemed. It conducted a horse on a string.

Thomas somehow croaked by extraordinary high pitched, false voice and suddenly shouted:

– It is not necessary! It is not necessary!.

John striving about the device understood not at once in what business.

– Stop demonstration! – shouted Laurent and hurried to turn on the light. The turned pale image still flashed some time and at last disappeared. John stopped operation of the projector.

Laurent looked at Thomas. In the face of it tears were seen, but it were no laughter tears any more. All his chubby face gathered in a grimace as at the offended child, the wry mouth was made.

– As at us… in the village … – complaining, he said. – Cow… chicken… Was gone, everything was gone now…

At the device already strove Laurent. Light was turned off soon, and on a white wall shadows started gleaming. Harold Lloyd bolted from the policemen pursuing him. But the mood at Thomas was already spoiled. Now the type of moving people began to make up on it still for great melancholy.

– See, rushes like mad – Thomas’s head grumbled. – To put him so, would not jump.

Laurent once again tried to change the program. The type of a ball of high society absolutely upset Brike. Beautiful women and their magnificent toilets irritated her.

– It is necessary… I want to watch how others live – she said.

Cinema was removed.

The radio receiver entertained them slightly longer.

Both of them were concerned by music, in particular dance tunes motives, dances.

– My God, as I danced this dance! – Brike exclaimed once, breaking into tears.

It was necessary to pass to other entertainments. Brike was capricious, demanded every minute a mirror, invented new hairstyles, asked to use her eye shadow a pencil, to bleach and rumyanit the person. It was irritated with stupidity Laurent which could not comprehend the mysteries of cosmetics in any way.

– Really you do not see – Brike’s head spoke with asperity – that the right eye is brought more darkly than left. Lift a mirror above.

She asked that brought it fashionable magazines and fabrics, and forced to drape a little table on which her head was strengthened.

She reached an eccentricity, having declared suddenly with overdue bashfulness that she cannot sleep in one room with the man.

– Fence off me for the night a screen or, at least, though the book.

And Laurent did «screen» of the big opened book, having established it on a glass board at Brike’s head.

Not less trouble was brought also by Thomas.

Once he demanded some wine. And professor Kern was forced to give it pleasure of intoxication, entering into the small doses of the intoxicating substances feeding solutions.

Sometimes Toma and Brike sung a duet. The weakened vocal chords did not obey. It was the awful duet.

– My poor voice… If you could hear how I sang earlier! – spoke to Brike, and her eyebrows sufferingly rose up.

In the evenings they were attacked by thought. Extraordinariness of existence forced even these simple natures to think of a matter of life and death.

Brike believed in immortality. Thomas was a materialist.

– Of course, we are immortal – Brike’s head said. – If soul died with a body, it would not return to the head.

– And where your soul sat: in the head or in a body? – maliciously Thomas asked.

– Of course, was obese… was everywhere … – Brike’s head uncertainly answered, suspecting some dirty trick of a question.

– So, soul of your body headless goes in the next world now?

– You headless – Brike took offense.

– I with the head. Only one I also have it – Thomas was not appeased. – And here no shower of your head there was in the next world? On this rubber gut on the earth returned back? No – he said already seriously – we as the car. Started up steam – again earned. And it was smashed – no steam will help…

And everyone was soaked into the thoughts…

SKY AND EARTH

Thomas’s arguments did not convince Brike. Despite the careless way of life, she was an isty Catholic. Conducting quite stormy life, it had no time not only to think of existence beyond the grave, but even to go to church. However the religiousness imparted in the childhood strong kept in it. And now, appear, there came the most right moment in order that these seeds of religiousness gave shoots. Her real life was awful, but death – a possibility of the second death – its scarecrow is even more. At night she was tormented by afterlife nightmares.

Languages of an infernal flame seemed to it. She saw how her vile body was already roasted on a huge frying pan.

Brike in horror woke up, knocking teeth and choking. Yes, she definitely felt suffocation. Her excited brain demanded the strengthened oxygen inflow, but it was deprived of heart – that live engine which so ideally regulates delivery of the necessary amount of blood to all body organs. She tried to shout to wake John who was on duty in their room. But John was bothered by frequent calls, and he quietly to have a sleep though several hours, contrary to requirements of professor Kern, switched off sometimes at the heads air cranes. Brike opened a mouth as the fish taken from water and tried to shout, but its shout was not louder than agonal yawning of fish… And about the room black shadows of chimeras continued to wander, the infernal flame lit their faces. They approached her, stretched terrible sharp-clawed paws. Brike closed eyes, but it did not help: she continued to see them. And it is strange: it seemed to it that her heart fades and grows cold with horror.

– My God, My God, really you will not forgive to the slave yours, you are almighty – her lips were silently moved – your kindness is immense. I sinned much, but unless I am guilty? You know how all this left. I do not remember the mother, I could not be taught good… I starved. How many times I asked you to come to the rescue of me. Do not become angry, My God, I do not reproach you – it timidly continued the mute prayer – I want to tell that I am not so guilty. And on the mercy you, perhaps, will send me to a purgatory… Only not to hell! I will die of horror… What I silly, does not die there! – And it began the naive prayers again.

Also Thomas slept badly. But it was not pursued by hell nightmares. It was consumed by melancholy about terrestrial. Only several months ago it left the native village, having left there everything that was expensive to his heart, having taken with itself to the road only a small bag with flat cakes and the dreams – to raise money for purchase of a plot of land in the city. And then he marries red-cheeked, healthy Mari… Oh, then her father will not oppose to their marriage.

And here everything failed… On a white wall of the unexpected prison he saw a farm and saw the cheerful, healthy woman, so similar to Mari milking a cow. But instead of it, Thomas, some other man spent through the yard, by busy chicken with chickens, the horse who gradually was waving away a tail from flies. And it, Toma, is killed, destroyed, and his head is hitched up on a stake as the carrion crows frightened. Where his strong hands, sound body? In Thomas’s despair began to creak teeth. Then he quietly began to cry, and tears dripped on a glass support.

– What is it? – with astonishment asked Laurent during morning cleaning. – From where this water?

Though the air crane providently was already switched on by John, but Thomas did not answer. Gloomy and unfriendly he looked at Laurent and when she departed to Brike’s head, he quietly croaked it following:

– Murderer! – He already forgot about the driver who crushed it and transferred all the anger to the people surrounding it.

– What did you tell, Toma? – turned back Laurent, turning to him the head. But Thomas’s lips were already again strong compressed, and eyes looked at it with undisguised anger.

Laurent was surprised and wanted to ask John on the reason of bad mood, but Brike already captured her attention.

– Be so kind as to scratch to me a nose on the right side. This helplessness is awful… There is no heat-spot there? But why then so scratches? Give me, please, a mirror.

Laurent brought a mirror to Brike’s head.

– Turn to the right, I do not see. Still… Here so. The redness is. Perhaps, to spread with a cold cream?

Laurent patiently smeared with cream.

– Here so. Now I ask to powder. I thank you… Laurent, I wanted to ask you about one thing…

– Please.

– Tell me if… very guilty person confesses at the priest and will confess in the sins whether such person can receive an absolution and get to Heaven?

– Of course, maybe – seriously answered Laurent.

– I so am afraid of infernal tortures … – Brike admitted. – I ask you, invite to me the cure… I want to die the Christian…

And Brike’s head with a type of the dying martyr rolled up eyes up. Then she lowered them and exclaimed:

– What interesting style of your dress! It is the latest fashion? You did not bring me fashionable magazines long ago.

Brike’s thoughts returned to terrestrial interests.

– Short hem… Beautiful legs are very much won at short skirts. My legs! My unfortunate legs! You saw them? Oh, when I danced, these legs demented men!

The room was entered by professor Kern.

– How are you doing? – he cheerfully asked.

– Listen, mister professor – addressed it Brike – I not can so… you have to attach to me someone’s body… I already asked you about it once and now I ask still. I very much ask you. I am sure that if only you want, then you will be able to make it…

«Devil take it, and why is also not present?» – professor Kern thought. Though he appropriated all honor of revival of the human head separated from a body, but in soul understood that this successful experience is entirely a merit of professor Douel. But why not to go further Douel? To make one live of two died people – it would be grandiose! And all honor at good luck of experiment by the right would belong to one Kern. However, some advice of the head of Douel nevertheless could take. Yes, over it resolutely it is necessary to think.

– And you very much want to dance still? – the Core smiled and started up a stream of cigar smoke in Brike’s head.

– Would I like? I will dance day and night. I will wave a hand as I a windmill, will flit as a butterfly… Give me a body, a young, beautiful female body!

– But why by all means women’s? – playfully asked the Core. – If you only want, I can give you and a male body.

Brike looked at it with surprise and horror.

– Male body? The female head on a male body! No, no, it will be an awful disgrace! It is difficult even to think up a suit…

– But you then will not be a woman any more. You turn into the man. At you moustaches and a beard will grow, also the voice will change. Unless you do not want to turn into the man? Many women regret that they were not born the man.

– These are, probably, such women to whom men did not pay any attention. Such, of course, would benefit from transformation into the man. But I… I do not need it. – And of Brike it is proud hitched up the beautiful eyebrows.

– Well, let will be in your opinion. You will remain a woman. I will try to find to you a suitable body.

– Oh, professor, I will be infinitely grateful to you. It is possible to make it today? I represent what I will have effect when again I return in Shanuar…

– It so does not become soon.

Brike continued to stir, but the Core already departed from her and addressed Thomas:

– How are you, friend?

Thomas did not hear professor’s conversation with Brike. Occupied with the thoughts, he gloomy looked on the Core and answered nothing.

Since professor Kern promised Brike to give a new body, her mood abruptly changed. Infernal nightmares did not pursue it any more. She did not think of existence beyond the grave any more. All her thoughts were absorbed by cares of the forthcoming new mortal life. Looking in a mirror, she worried that her face became thin, and skin got a yellowish shade. It exhausted Laurent, forcing to twist itself hair, to do a hair and to direct a make-up at the person.

– Professor, really I will remain such thin and yellow? – with concern she asked the Core.

– You will become more beautiful, than were – it calmed her.

– No, paints you will not help here, it is self-deception – she said after departure of professor. – Mademoiselle Loran, we will do cold washings and massage. Eyes and from a nose to lips at me had new wrinkles. I think if it is good to mass, they will be destroyed. One my friend… Ah yes, I also forgot you to ask whether you found gray to silk on a dress? Gray color very much goes to me. And fashionable magazines brought? Perfectly! What a pity that else it is impossible to do fittings. I do not know what I will have a body. It is good that it got higher than growth, with narrow hips… Develop the magazine.

And it went deep into the mysteries of beauty of dresses. Laurent did not forget about the head of professor Douel. She still looked after the head and in the mornings was engaged in reading, but on a talk there was no time left, and Laurent about much wanted to talk over with Douel. She more and more overtired and was nervous. Brike’s head haunted it minutes. Sometimes Laurent interrupted reading and was forced to run on Brike’s shout only to correct the gone-down ringlet or to answer whether there was Laurent in linen shop.

– But you do not know the sizes of your body – constraining irritation, Laurent said, hastily corrected a ringlet on Brike’s head and hurried to Douel’s head.

The thought of production of courageous operation took the Core.

Kern strenuously worked, being prepared for this difficult operation. He was for a long time locked from-headed professor Douel and talked to her. At all desire could not do without Douel Kern’s council. Douel pointed to him to a number of difficulties of which Kern did not think and which could affect the result of experience, advised to do several preliminary animal experiments and directed these experiences. And – such is there was force of intelligence of Douel – he extremely became interested in the forthcoming experience. Douel’s head as though even freshened up. His thought worked with extraordinary clarity.

The core was happy and dissatisfied with so broad help of Douel. The further work moved, the Core was convinced more that without Douel it would not cope with it.

And it needed to amuse the vanity only with the fact that implementation of this new experience will be made by it.

– You the worthy successor of the late professor Douel – Douel’s head with hardly noticeable ironical smile somehow told him. – Ah, if I could take more active part in this work!

It was not either a request, or a hint. Douel’s head too well knew that the Core will not want, will not decide to give it a new body.

The core frowned, but pretended that it did not hear this exclamation.

So, experiences with animals were crowned with success – he told. – I operated two dogs. Having beheaded them, sewed the head of one to a trunk another. Both are well, seams on a neck grow together.

– Food? – the head asked.

– Still artificial. Through a mouth I give only disinfecting solution with iodine. But I will pass to normal food soon.

In several days the Core announced:

– Dogs eat normally. Bandagings are removed, and, I think, in a day or two they will be able to run.

– Wait for about a week – the head advised. – Young dogs do the sharp movements by the head, and seams can disperse. Do not force. – «You will manage to reap monasteries» – the head wanted to add, but kept. – And one more: you keep dogs in different rooms. Together they will lift fuss and can damage to themselves.

At last day when professor Kern with a solemn air entered into the room of the head of Douel a dog with the black head and a white trunk came. The dog, probably, felt well. Her eyes were live, she cheerfully wagged a tail. Having seen the head of professor Douel, the dog suddenly tousled wool, grumbled and began a bark by a wild voice. The extraordinary show, probably, struck and frightened her.

– Spend a dog about the room – the head told.

The core walked about the room, leading a dog. Nothing escaped the swept together, sharp-sighted eye of Douel.

– And it that? – Douel asked. – The dog drops to a hind left leg a little. And voice not as it should be.

The core was confused.

– The dog limped also before operation – he told – the leg is overcome.

– Approximately it is not visible to deformation, and I can probe, alas. You could not find couple of healthy dogs? – with doubt in a voice the head asked. – I think, with me it is possible to be quite frank, dear colleague. Likely, long pottered with revival operation and too detained «a mortal pause» of a stop of warm activity and breath, and it as you have to know from my experiences, quite often leads to disorder of functions of nervous system. But calm down, such phenomena can disappear. Try only that your Brike did not limp on both legs.

The core was enraged, but tried not to give a sign. He learned in the head of former professor Douel – direct, exacting and self-confident.

«Shockingly! – the Core thought. – This hissing as the punctured tire, the head continues to teach me and to scoff at my mistakes, and I am forced, precisely the school student, to listen to its lectures… The turn of the crane, and spirit will take off from this rotten pumpkin…» However instead the Core, nothing without giving the mood, with attention listened to some more councils.

– I thank for your instructions – told the Core and, having nodded, left the room. Behind doors it became cheerful again. «No – the Core consoled itself – work is carried out perfectly. It is not so easy to please Douel. The dropping leg and a wild voice of a dog – trifles as compared it is made».

Passing through the room where Brike’s head was located, he stopped and, showing on a dog, told:

– Mademoiselle Brike, your desire will be granted soon. You see this doggie? It as well as you, was the head without body, and, look, she lives and runs indifferently.

– I am not a doggie – Brike’s head with insult answered.

– But same necessary experience. If the doggie in a new body recovered, then also you will recover.

– I do not understand at what here the doggie – stubborn went on Brike. – I do not care about a doggie. You tell better when I am recovered. Instead of it is recovering rather me, you potter with some dogs.

The core hopelessly waved a hand and, continuing to smile cheerfully, told:

– Now soon. It is only necessary to find a suitable corpse… that is a body, and you will be in a full form, as they say.

Having taken away a dog, the Core returned with centimeter in hands and carefully measured a circle of a neck of the head of Brike.

– Thirty six centimeters – he told.

– My God, really I so lost weight? – Brike’s head exclaimed. – At me was thirty eight. And I carry the size of shoes…

But the Core, without listening to it, quickly left to itself. He did not manage to take seat at the table in an office as at a door were knocked.

– Enter.

The door opened. Entered Laurent. She tried to keep quietly, but her face was with emotion.