Читать книгу Classics fantasy – 8 - A. Belyaev - Страница 11

It seemed to Brike’s head that the new body is as easy to pick up and sew to the head of the person how to try on and sew a new dress. The volume of a neck is removed, it is necessary only to pick up the same volume of a neck at a corpse.

However she was convinced soon that business is not so simple. In the morning in white dressing gowns to it professor Kern, Laurent and John were. Kern disposed that Brike’s head was carefully removed from a glass support and is put by the person up so that it was possible to see all cut of a neck. Head food the blood oxygenated did not stop. Kern went deep into studying and measurements.

– At all monotony of human anatomy – said the Core – each body of the person has the specific features. Sometimes difficult happens to distinguish whether the external or internal carotid predlezhit, for example. Also the artery thickness, windpipe width even at people is unequal to the identical volume of a neck. It is necessary to tinker also with nerves much.

– But how you will operate? – asked Laurent. – Having put a neck cut to a trunk cut, you thereby will close all surface of a cut at once.

– That’s just the point. We with Douel handled this issue. It is necessary to do a number of longitudinal sections – to go from the center to the periphery. It is very complex work. It is necessary to make fresh sections on a neck of the head and a corpse to reach not died off yet, active cages. But the main difficulty nevertheless not in it. The main thing – how to destroy products of the begun rotting or the place of infectious infection in a corpse body how to clear blood vessels of the turned blood, to fill them with fresh blood and to force to earn organism «motor» – heart… And spinal cord? The slightest touch to it causes the strongest reaction, often with the most serious consequences.

– And how you assume to overcome all these difficulties?

– Oh, it is my secret so far. When experience works well, I will publish all story of revival from the dead. Well, for today enough. Put the head into place. Start up an air stream. How do you feel, mademoiselle? – asked the Core, addressing Brike’s head.

– I thank you, well. But listen, mister professor, I am very concerned… You spoke about different unclear things here, but one I understood that you are going to cut to pieces my neck up and down. Same there will be a continuous disgrace. Where I will seem with such neck which will be similar to cutlet?

– I will try that hems were less noticeable. But, certainly, it will not be possible to hide absolutely operation traces. Do not do desperate eyes, mademoiselle, you can carry a velvet ribbon or even a necklace on a neck. Well, I will present it to you in day of your «birth». Yes, here still that. Now your head dried out a little. When you begin to live normal life, the head has to grow stout. To learn your normal volume of a neck, it is necessary «to fatten» you now, otherwise there can be troubles.

– But I cannot eat – the head plaintively answered.

– We will fatten you on a tubule. I prepared special structure – he addressed Laurent. – Besides, it is necessary to strengthen also supply of blood.

– You include fatty substances in nutritious liquid?

The core made uncertain gesture a hand.

– If the head also does not grow fat, then «will bulk up», and it and is necessary to us. So – it finished – there is a most important: you ask god, mademoiselle Brike that rather some beauty who will borrow you after death the fine body died.

– Do not speak so, it is awful! The person has to die that I received a body… And, the doctor, I am afraid. This body of the dead person. And suddenly it will come and will demand to give it the body?

– Who is she?

– Dead.

– But it will have no legs to come – laughing, the Core answered. – And if comes, then you will tell it that you gave to her body the head, but not it to you a body, and she, of course, will be grateful for this gift. I go to be on duty to a morgue. Wish me good luck!

Success of experience in many respects depended on finding perhaps fresh corpse and therefore the Core gave up all affairs and almost moved in a morgue, waiting for a happy occurence.

With a cigar in a mouth it went on the long building so quietly as though walked on boulevards. Opaque light fell from a ceiling on long lines of marble tables. On each table the corpse which is already washed by a stream of water and undressed lay.

Having stuffed up hands in coat pockets and popykhivy a cigar, the Core bypassed long lines of tables, looked into faces and from time to time lifted leather covers to examine a body.

Together with it also relatives or friends of the died people went. The core showed to them ill-will, being afraid, as if they did not pull out at it a suitable corpse from under hands. It was not so simple to receive a corpse for the Core. Before the expiration of three-day term relatives could raise a claim to each corpse, after three days the semi-decayed corpse was not of any interest to the Core. It needed absolutely fresh, whenever possible even not cooled down corpse.

The core did not stint bribes to have an opportunity to receive a fresh corpse immediately. Number of a corpse could be replaced, and some unlucky person eventually would be registered as «missing».

«However it is hard to find Diana to Brike’s taste» – the Core thought, examining wide a foot and calloused hands of corpses. The majority lying here belonged not to those who go by cars. The core passed from the end in the end. During this time several corpses were identified and carried away, and already dragged new on their places. But also among beginners the Core could not find material, suitable for operation. There were brainless corpses, but either improper build, or the having body wounds or, at last, beginning to decay already. Day was on an outcome. The core felt attacks of hunger and with pleasure imagined chicken cutlets in the smoking peas.

«Unsuccessful day» – the Core thought, taking out hours. And it went to an exit among the crowd full of a despair, melancholy and horror moving at corpses. Towards to it employees bore a corpse of the brainless woman. The washed young body shone as white marble.

«Oh, it something suitable» – he thought and went after watchmen. When the corpse was put, the Core fluently examined it and was even more convinced that it found what is necessary. The core already wanted to whisper to employees that they carried away a corpse as suddenly badly dressed old man with long ago not shaven moustaches and a beard approached a corpse.

– Here it, Marta! – he exclaimed and wiped a hand from a forehead sweat.

«The devil brought it!» – the Core swore and, having approached the old man, told:

– You identified a corpse? It brainless.

The old man showed on a big left shoulder birthmark.

– Perceptible – he answered.

The core was surprised that the old man tells so quietly.

– Who is she was? Your wife or daughter?

– God is mercy – the garrulous old man answered. – The niece it to me was and nonnative. From my cousin their three remained – the cousin died, and me them on a neck. At me the four. Need. But what you will make, the sir? Not kittens, under a fence you will not throw. And lived. And there was misfortune. We live in the old house, long ago moved us from it, but where you will get to? And here lived. The roof fell off. Other children got off with bruises, and this absolutely cut off the head. I with the old woman of the house was not, we with her fried chestnuts trade. I came home, and Marta to a morgue was already brought. And why in a morgue? They say, for the company, in other apartments suppressed people too, and some of them lonely were, here all of them here. I home came, to fyuit, and it is impossible to enter as if an earthquake.

«Business suitable» – the Core thought and, having taken the old man aside, told it:

– What happened, will not correct that. You see I am a doctor, and I need a corpse. I will directly speak. You want to receive hundred francs – and you can go home.

– You will clean? – The old man disapprovingly shook the head and thought. – To it, of course, all the same to vanish… We are people the poor… And all not someone else’s blood…

– Two hundred.

– And the need is high, kids hungry… but after all it is a pity… The good girl was, very good, very kind, and the person as a rose tree not that this stuff … – the Old man scornfully waved on tables with corpses.

«Well and old man! He, apparently, begins to praise highly the goods» – the Core thought and decided to change tactics.

– However, as you want – he carelessly told. – There is a lot of corpses, also is your niece is not worse at all. – And the Core departed from the old man.

– Well as so, let think … – the old man tripped behind it, obviously inclining to the transaction.

The core already triumphed, but situation unexpectedly changed once again.

– You already here? – the uneasy aged voice was heard.

The core turned back and saw quickly approaching tolstenky old woman in a clean white cap. The old man at the sight of it involuntarily grunted.

– Found? – the old woman asked, wildly looking around and whispering prayers.

The old man silently showed a hand on a corpse.

– Pigeon you ours, martyr unfortunate! – the old woman began to wail, approaching the beheaded corpse.

The core saw that it will be difficult to cope with the old woman.

– Listen, madam – he told friendly, addressing the old woman. – I talked to your husband here and learned that you very much need.

– We need or not, we do not ask from others – the old woman cut off not without pride.

– Yes, but… you see I am a member of charitable funeral society. I can host a funeral of your niece into the account of society and I will undertake all efforts. If you want, you can charge it to me, and go to the affairs, you are waited by your children and orphans.

– You what here talked a lot of? – the old woman on the husband snatched. And, having turned back to the Core, she told: – I thank you, mister, but I have to execute everything as it is necessary. Somehow we will cope also without your charitable society. What eyes you move? – it passed to usual tone in a conversation with the husband. – Take away the dead woman. Let’s go. I also brought a wheelbarrow.

All this was told by such resolute tone that the Core chilly bowed and departed.

«Annoyingly! No, resolutely today unsuccessful day».

He went to an exit and, having taken the gatekeeper aside, said to it in low tones:

– So you look if there is something suitable, immediately you call to me by telephone.

– About the sir, by all means – the gatekeeper who received a good jackpot from the Core began to nod the head.

The core has densely dinner at restaurant and returned to itself.

When it came into Brike’s room, she met him by a question usual recently:

– Found?

– It found and is unsuccessful, oh, damn! – he answered. – Suffer.

– But really really nothing suitable was? – Brike was not appeased.

– There were such bandy-legged cuttlefishes. If you want, then I…

– Ah not, better I will suffer. I do not want to be a cuttlefish.

The core decided to go to bed before ordinary a bit earlier to rise and again to go to a morgue. But he did not manage to fall asleep as phone at a bed cracked. The core swore and took the call.

– Hallo! I listen. Yes, professor Kern. What is? Train wreck at the station? Mass of corpses? Well, of course, immediately. I thank you.

The core began to put on quickly, Jonah caused and shouted:

– To Mashin!

In fifteen minutes it already rushed on night streets, hastily.

The gatekeeper did not deceive. This night death reaped a big crop. Corpses were dragged continuously. All tables were filled up. It was necessary to put them on a floor soon. The core was delighted. He blessed destiny for the fact that this accident did not happen in the afternoon. The message about it probably did not extend in the city yet. Strangers in a morgue were not yet. The core considered yet not undressed and not washed corpses. All of them were absolutely fresh. Exclusively successful case. One is bad, as this beneficial case not really reckoned with special requirements

Core. The majority of bodies was crushed or injured in many places. But the Core did not lose hope as corpses everything arrived.

– Show me this – he addressed the employee bearing the girl’s corpse in a gray suit. The skull was injured from a nape. Hair are blood-stained, a dress too. But the dress is not crumpled. «Probably, injuries of a body are not big… Goes. The constitution is quite plebeian – it is probable, any lady’s maid, but is better such body, than nothing» – the Core thought. – And it? – The core indicated other stretcher. – Yes it is the whole find! Treasure! Devil take it, annoyingly after all, that such woman died!

On a floor lowered a corpse of the young woman with extraordinary beautiful aristocratic face on which only one deep surprise stiffened. It broke a skull above the right ear. Obviously, death came instantly. On a white neck the pearl necklace was seen. The graceful black silk dress was only a little torn in the bottom of and from a collar to a shoulder. On the bared shoulder the birthmark was seen.

«As at that – the Core thought. – But it… what beauty! – The core hastily measured a neck. – As by request».

The core broke expensive necklace from the real large pearls, threw it the employee and told:

– I take this corpse. But as I have no time to make here careful survey of corpses, just in case I take also this – he pointed to the first corpse of the girl. – More likely, rather. Wrap up them a canvas and you take out. You hear? The crowd gathers. You should open a morgue, and in a few minutes there will be the real chaos.

Corpses were carried away, laid on the car and quickly delivered to the house of the Core.

All necessary for operation was already in advance prepared. Day, is more right – night of revival of Brike came. The core did not want to lose any minute.

Both corpses were washed and brought to Brike’s room wrapped in sheet and laid on the operating table.

Brike’s head burned with impatience to look at the new body, but the Core deliberately put a table so that the head did not see corpses, all preparations will not be finished yet.

The core quickly made the section of the heads of corpses. These heads were wrapped in a canvas and taken out by John, edges of a cut and a table are washed up, bodies are put in order.

Once again having critically examined bodies, the Core anxiously shook the head. The body with shoulder birthmark was perfect beauty of forms and especially won in comparison with a body of «lady’s maid» – shirokokostny, angular, wrongly cut out, but strong sewed. Brike, of course, will choose this aristocratic Diana’s body. However at careful survey of a body the Core noticed at Diana as he called her, some defect: on a foot of the right leg there was a small wound caused by some scrap of iron. It did not constitute big danger. The core прижег a wound, blood poisoning to be afraid there were no bases yet. But nevertheless for success of operation with a body of «lady’s maid» it was quieter.

– Turn Brike’s head – told the Core, addressing Laurent. That Brike did not interfere with the garrulity during preparatory work, it shut a mouth, that is the cylinder with compressed air is switched off. – Now it is possible to start up an air stream.

When Brike’s head uvidat corpses, she screamed as if unexpectedly burned. Her eyes extended for horror. One of these corpses has to become her own body. For the first time sharply, to pain she felt all extraordinariness of this operation and began to hesitate.

– Well that you? How it are pleasant to you I rub… these bodies?

– I… am afraid … – the head croaked. – No, no, I did not think that it is so terrible… I do not want…

– You do not want? In that case I will sew the head to a corpse

Volumes. Toma will become the woman. You want, Toma, now to receive a body?

– No, wait – Brike’s head was frightened. – I agree. I want to have here that body… with shoulder birthmark.

– And I advise you to choose this. It is not so beautiful, but without uniform scratch.

– I am not a laundress, and the actress – is proud Brike’s head noticed. – I want to have a beautiful body. And shoulder birthmark… It so is pleasant to men.

– Let will be in your opinion – the Core answered. – Mademoiselle Loran, transfer the head mademoiselle Brike to the operating table. Make it carefully, artificial blood circulation of the head has to continue till the last moment.

Laurent pottered with the last preparations of the head of Brike. On Brike’s face the extreme tension and nervousness were written. When the head was postponed for a table, Brike did not sustain and suddenly cried as she never before shouted:

– I do not want! I do not want! It is not necessary! Kill me better! I am afraid! And – and – and-and!.

Core, without interrupting the work, Laurent sharply shouted:

– Close rather air crane! Enter into nutritious solution gedonat, and she will fall asleep.

– No, no, no!

The crane was closed, the head became silent, but continued to move lips and to look with expression of horror and entreaty.

– Mister professor, whether we can make operation against its will? – asked Laurent.

– Now not time to deal with ethical problems – the Core chilly answered. – She will thank us then. Do the part or you leave and do not disturb me.

But Laurent knew that she cannot leave – without her help the result of operation would be even more doubtful. And it, having overcome itself, continued to help the Core. Brike’s head so fought that tubes nearly left blood vessels. John came to the rescue and held the head with hands. Gradually twitchings of the head stopped, eyes were closed: gedonat made the action.

Professor Kern started operation.

The silence was interrupted only by short orders of the Core demanding this or that surgical instrument. From tension at the Core even veins on a forehead were blown up. It started all the brilliant surgical technique, connecting speed to extraordinary care and care. At all the hatred to the Core Laurent could not but admire it this minute. It worked as the inspired actor. His dexterous sensitive fingers made miracles.

Operation continued hour fifty five minutes.

– It is over – at last told the Core, becoming straight – from now on Brike stopped being the head from a body. It is necessary only to blow it life: to force to be clogged heart, to excite blood circulation. But I will cope with it one. You can have a rest, mademoiselle Loran.

– I still can work – she answered.

Despite fatigue, she very much wanted to look at the last act of this extraordinary operation. But the Core, obviously, did not want to let her into a revival secret. He once again persistently suggested it to have a rest, and Laurent obeyed.

The core caused it in an hour again. It looked even more tired, but his face expressed deep self-satisfaction.

– Try pulse – it offered Laurent.

The girl not without internal shudder took by hand

Brike; by that hand which belonged to a cold corpse only three hours ago. The hand was already warm, and pulsation was probed. The core put a mirror to Brike’s face. The surface of a mirror misted over.

– Breathes. Now it is necessary to swaddle our newborn well. Several days it should lie absolutely not movably.

Over bandage the Core imposed a plaster popular print on Brike’s neck. All body was спеленато, and the mouth is strong tied.

– That she did not take in head to speak – explained the Core. – The first days we will keep it in somnolence if heart allows.

Brike was transferred to the room adjacent to the room Laurent, carefully put to bed and subjected to an electroanaesthesia.

– We will feed it artificially, yet there will be no union of seams. You should flirt behind it.

Only for the third day the Core allowed Brike «to recover».

There were four o’clock in the afternoon. The slanting beam of the sun cut through the room and lit Brike’s face. She easily moved eyebrows and opened eyes. Still vaguely thinking, looked at the lit window, then translated a view of Laurent and at last looked down down. There was no emptiness any more. She saw poorly waving breast and a body, her body covered with a sheet. The weak smile lit her face.

– Do not try to speak and you lie quietly – Laurent told. – Operation took place very well, and now everything depends on how you will behave. The more quietly you will lie, rather will rise to the feet. So far we with you will speak a mimicry. If you lower eyelids down, it will mean «yes», up – «no». You feel pain somewhere? Here. Neck and leg. It will pass. You want to drink? Is?

Brike did not feel hunger, but wanted to drink. Laurent called the Core. It immediately came from the office.

– Well, how the newborn feels? – He examined it and was satisfied. – Everything is safe. Patience, mademoiselle, and you will dance soon. – He made several orders and left.

Days of «recovery» hung for Brike very heavy. She was an approximate patient: constrained the impatience, lay quietly and carried out all orders. Day when it was raspelenat at last came, but did not allow to speak yet.

– Whether you feel the body? – with some nervousness asked the Core.

Brike lowered eyelids.

– Try to move very carefully fingers standing.

Brike, obviously, tried as on her face tension was expressed, but fingers did not move.

– Obviously, functions of the central nervous system were not quite restored – authoritatively told the Core – but I hope that they will be restored soon, and together with them also the movement will be restored. – About himself thought: «As if Brike did not limp really on both legs».

«It will be restored – as this word strange sounds» – Laurent thought, having remembered a cold corpse on the operating table.

Brike had a new care. Now she for hours was engaged in the fact that she tried to move with fingers standing. Laurent nearly with smaller interest watched it.

And once Laurent joyfully screamed:

– Moves! The thumb on the left leg moves.

Further business went quicker. Also other fingers on hands and legs began to move. Brike could already raise a little hands and legs soon.

Laurent was struck. In the face of it the miracle was made.

«How the Core was criminal – she thought – it is an unusual person. However, brainless Douel it would not manage this double revival of the dead. But nevertheless and the Core the talented person – it was approved also by Douel’s head. Oh, if the Core revived also it! But is not present, he will not make it».

In several days allowed to speak to Brike. It had quite pleasant voice, but a little breaking timbre.

– It will be corrected – assured the Core. – You will sing still.

And Brike tried to sing soon. Laurent was very struck with this singing. Brike sang the top notes by quite squeaky and not really pleasant voice, on average the register the voice sounded very dimly and even got hoarse. But the lower notes were charming. It was an excellent chest contralto.

«Throat sheaves lie above the place of a cut of a neck and belong to Brike – Laurent thought – from where this double voice, different timbres of the upper and lower case? Physiological riddle. Whether it depends on process of rejuvenation of the head of Brike which is more senior than her new body? Or, perhaps, it is somehow connected with violation of functions of the central nervous system? Absolutely it is unclear… It is interesting to know whose this young, graceful body, to what unfortunate head it belonged…»

Laurent, without telling anything to Brike, began to look through issues of newspapers in which lists of the dead at train wreck were published. Soon a note that the famous Italian actress Anjelica Guy following in the train which crashed disappeared completely got to it. Its corpse was not found, and over permission of this riddle newspaper correspondents exercised the wit. Laurent was almost sure that Brike’s head received a body of the died actress.