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
