Текст книги "Into pieces"

Автор книги: Natalia Novikova

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Natalia Novikova
Into pieces

Good night, Moscow…

(Etude)

Moscow day and Moscow night are two opposite parts of one whole, moreover – of one soul… Do you know Alyona, who is a cocky waitress in a famous central bar, noisy and full of alcohol spirits? Every night after coming home she is sitting on the windowsill, writing romantic poems and dreaming of distant journeys. Maybe you have met Katya, who works as a lawyer in one prestigious firm, wears strict costumes and deals with serious man. Twice a week she is singing on the stage of Italian restaurant…shining dress, bright spotlights, cheerful music and crazy dancing. Her friend, Anya, is a budding model – slim, attractive and simply charming! One happy day she started this career with very difficult schedule: TV shows, movies, ads, interviews…and only nighttime – free to study English philology and imagine herself teaching Oxford students, discussing Oscar Wilde or Shakespeare and reading John Keats by heart. Another Moscow hero is Misha – a well-known choreographer with limitless dancing fantasy – you will need more than ten fingers on your hands to count the styles he is excellent in! Dancing is his life…except the weekend nights, when he goes to the countryside with his family to observe the stars and distant mysterious planets, to catch some meteors or satellites crossing the deep winter sky.

His friend, Artem is a seafarer, spending long months on board of the vessel, travelling all over the world. Watchkeeping, port services, sudden inspections and paper work – all this is really exhausting, but it doesn’t push him to break promises. So, sailing somewhere nearby the USA coast he comes to the deck at night to call his girlfriend, because it is afternoon in Moscow… Sometimes he takes a few beautiful sunrise photos from the ocean horizon and sent her with the message “Good night, Moscow” as in Moscow it has already been nighttime. Some of the people described above, can see each other, time to time: like Alyona can see Anya going home from the latest fashion show out of her window. Their eyes met: “Good night” whispers Anya, the same meant Alyona, nodding. Like Misha, having a family dinner with his wife in one Italian restaurant, can listen to Katya and her velvet voice. Leaving the restaurant, he says: “Good night”, and she is singing like echo: “Good night, Moscow”. And then he receives a message from Artem: “Have watched your last dancing competition, that’s really inspiring! Good night!”. And writes an answer: “Thanks a lot, returning from wedding anniversary celebration Good night!”. Artem receives a message from his girl: “Love, Good night”. And birds above the city, like birds above the ocean, like birds above the mountains and fields are singing after Katya in her restaurants, with millions of voices: “Good night, good night, good night, Moscow…”

Bibliophile banquet

(Fantastic story)

Have you ever heard, dear friend, that every three years there comes the special time for Bolsover castle, occupied in Derbyshire? On the day of spring equinox the abandoned building awakes from its eternal sleep and gathers the best writers, publishers, book heroes and even readers all over the world. All the guests take part in verbal duels, exciting debates, masquerade ball and the best performance competition. Each participant has an opportunity to try his luck in literature quiz, showing his knowledge of modern and ancient books, quotes, biographies and so on. Finally, there is only one winner, who is chosen by the magic book… This book seems to be totally empty at the first glance, but all the questions of quiz as well as the name of winner magically appear on its pages and then – vanish a few minutes later. The winner gets the right to hold this banquet next time. Among other activities there was pen-running (when you have to catch the flying magic pen faster than others), speedy letter-writing, rhyme and calligraphy contests, “Guess the hero” game and even hide and seek.

From the outside this event looks like Walpurgis Night – noisy, emotional, magic, a little bit frightening and always very attractive. Could you guess, what’s a great luck in twenty-first century to visit such a party? Just imagine: a small conversation, two or three useful acquaintances, a sudden glimpse of inspiration… and that’s it – you are famous, respectful and rich! What’s more? And afterwards, it doesn’t matter what are you writing about or what kind of style is it – simply keep on producing the paper materials! Write about yourself, speak about political figures, create new-born genres, you can even publish a collection of gossips, just because THEY have told you: “Deal!”. Enjoy your life, your shining Porsche, your luxurious house and young pretty wife… because everyone who knows about bibliophile banquet can join it without any difficulties. That’s your chance, my friend! Oh, just one small thing I have forgotten, but I suppose that’s a mere trifle for your fame and talent.

So, the point is that this banquet is arranged only for those who are dead. Doesn’t matter for how long – even if you die today, you may join tonight. Very convenient, isn’t it? And please, do not bring any presents – this is not welcome as well as the tendency of being extremely fashionable, note – nobody cares. And leave all your documents at home, no IDs are needed. Regarding friends and relatives – no problem, but do not forget that they all should be dead. Already feeling slightly nervous? Take it easy! There is an old legend that the castle was built upon the cemetery, and since then there are screams, creaks and howls heard from inside and ghosts can be seen from time to time. Especially after the period when the last host of the castle left it, there are more and more horrible stories… Really creepy place, if you are walking nearby at about midnight on your own. And really magnificent during our regular costume party.

It was long ago, but we, modern people, decided to honor the dignified building as well as the memory of literature talents, great plots and generous benefactors. So, we found our Bibliophile society – the only organization, where you don’t pay money, but use your brain instead. Cash or credit cards are not valuable for us; only the knowledge, wisdom and talent are worthy. The entry fee is a scientific work, dedicated to one of the literature problems of your choice; it is presented and discussed during our annual round table conference. You are accepted only on case that your work has been approved by most of members. If not – there is second attempt, but it should take place not earlier than five years after. One more point – each member has to write and publish at least one article, one interview and one review during the year in order not to be excluded from the club. Once you are out – you will never join again.

The only exception is the masquerade ball held every three years. Everyone interested in this event is welcome, if he knows the day, time and password. The only chance to get the pass – is to answer the secret question (every time it is different), but you may also show all your poetic talent to the guardian and he will let you…

– Well, that’s enough. Your imagination is truly limitless! – A middle aged professor was surprised by the inventiveness of this young and naive blue-eyed girl standing at the gates of the castle. – Welcome to the Bibliophile banquet, dear lady.

The Nightingale

Go through the wind, against the rain,

Revive the Earth with magic voice!

A holy nightingale, absorbing pain…

The blissful angel, bringing choice.

Upon the land of ancient curse

Low rivers flow with dirty crimes,

Enough, no more for bloody furs!

Revise the world for peaceful times.

Eternal dream can treat like nurse,

Remind them all of human primes.

My higher gift, white nightingale,

Enlarge the boarders of perception,

Destroying spell and rude deception…

Divide all things in equal parts

And render justice as it should;

Go on, my Hope, to reach the hearts,

Endure the worse for something good.

Now deep concerns are all your food.

Resist hard troubles, miss the grief,

One day will come, when Heaven starts…

You know, the winner takes all cards,

That's why the best defeats mischief.

Something untold

The moon is shining through the ice…

This priceless human gold

Makes equal both fool and wise,

Balance us, young and old.

The sky is roof for everyone,

And stars are bright enough

– To smile and have a hint of fun,

While life seems long and tough.

At night hard tears quickly hide,

Dark sorrows sink in bed;

All dreams become the tender light

With Hope above your head…

Atlantis sinking

We're like Atlantis, ancient ruins,

All slipping down in the ocean;

Now, dams and dikes are pretty useless,

Against huge waves – just strong emotion.

So long ago life started off in sea,

And outstanding debts are coming near;

If it is happiness or grief – you cannot see,

Extremely mixed – the roles of wolf and deer.

Cold ice is melting under poles' hat,

All structures sink, both shelty and chateau,

While cities slowly getting dull and black,

Earths blood is flowing vainly like Merlot.

New mountains grow with uranium pieces,

Among mainlands there's war for bread,

While goods are converted to misses,

Greybeard stands still and shakes his head.

Too much ambitions – for rescue drakkar,

No helpful hand, appearing from skies;

Though slave has rights, he'll never be a tsar,

No matter, how far the progress flies.

Events press cruelly on consonant concord,

From edge of horizon keep moving off the reel;

When it's the time for evolutional effort

To be destroyed like crum with sharpest heel?

The new hero

Welcome, the new type of hero!

Outstanding modern portrait:

Cool equipment number two-zero,

Belonging to label «Egghead».

Low level of braking distance,

Full drive and medical tap;

He leads so virtual existence,

This gentleman in black velvet.

Organic whole of brain and phone

Is rushing deeply through wi-fi,

His dreams, concerned on iron throne,

Can see no heaven since we die.

Running up to career heights,

Just found – his soul was sold;

By crossing out rest of candidates,

One day he'll occupy the world!

His life – with glass – is much more deep,

White magic powder – out of trend.

The sweetest nicotinic strip

Will finally destroy the lucky end.

Angel’s Factory

(Short science fiction story)

It was 2198 in the United Human Society (UHS). Working day started as usual – the Soul Space Lab (SSL) was full of scientists, strange machines and volunteers, balancing between life and death. One brilliant method was used for the last years: when a person was put into induce coma, so that his conscious became autonomous. Then through special wires and mind lenses the conscious was collected and reflected – like a narrow ray of specific radiation it was sent to the objects of deep space. This was a type of space research, relatively cheap and safe, and at the same time – the human inner core tutorial. Some people, who used to like computer games about 150 years ago, who still needed escapism and alternative way of life, found the incarnation of their dreams here. There also were those left alone, without relatives and friends, injured physically or mentally, moneyless beggars and adventurers. A kind of shelter and university, job and hobby for those mentioned above. The unchained conscious of volunteers was called by scientists “soul birds” and inhabited a few hundred planets, basing settlements and carrying out various experiments. Soul birds were transformed to the invulnerable form during their journey, so no heat or frost, gravity or weightlessness could cause harm for those creatures. Really convenient, despite the fact that soul’s success was still depended on the body’s state.

This meant that if something wrong occurred with the body, the soul’s existence was modified immediately – more for the worse than for the better. In such case the main aim of the scientists on Earth was to control the body and its stability during all the space journeys. One more thing that had been discovered just few months ago – the so-called «angel’s process». When the body on Earth died, while his soul bird was in the deep space, it became…an angel. The way how it happened was rather clear: to exist and to travel every soul needed a kind of body, through which it may be controlled and had the strong connection with. When the body on Earth died during the soul’s journey to the space or back, it tried to find any other object for incarnation. More likely it was a bird, because they were the only living creatures flying and spending their lives in the higher layers of atmosphere. So, after a short evolution these spirits acquired wings and the ability to become visible and physically tangible. Finally, they became those we called Angels. Sometimes there were strange (from the first opinion) requests from the people taking part in experiments. They asked a doctor to kill their body during his soul travelling. They wanted to rise and shine as an angel…often because they wanted to endure difficulties of life on the planet no more. If this would have been 150 years ago, more likely that there would occur religious movements with some mysterious leaders, gathering money rather than Heaven’s bliss. In our days people passionate about the idea to become an angel, that could be easily found everywhere, constituted almost a kind of social class.

But…they did not know the very truth. They did not know how many attempts were needed for all those souls to retrieve body. The did not know how many of them fell down and totally disappear; or – got a spill, changed the polarity and found out themselves no more spirits of light, but dark and nasty creatures. They were standing at the beginning of evolution, demanding more than usual set of features, but extraordinary abilities and talents to jump – and reach the top you had been searching for. That’s why SSL was often called “Angel’s Factory” – just like music competition held about 200 years ago (Star Factory, X-Factor), and of course because this lab was a full time “producer” of angels at a good pace. There was one story, the funny one, connected with the lab. One day a shy woman called Alina came in with the strong intention to become an angel. She was depressed by everything around – stupid and stanning work, boyfriend betrayal, father’s death and misunderstanding with relatives. She wanted to die, or…to do it beautifully, bringing more benefits to the UHS. There was one extremely handsome doctor, Roman, famous for his almost opera singing and deep psychological knowledge.

– Please, Roman, do your best. We need this girl to stay alive, or her mother will chase me, – the lab boss asked.

And Roman really tried, but the girl seemed to be like a dense forest – the more he was persuading her, the more she was keeping distance. He was really handsome. She thought: “Oh, such a pretty doc…what if he had been my boyfriend…Yes, it’s really better to die than to stay here – with him physically, but not mentally”. The last session started – after a few training “trips” Alina was ready to make an attempt, to jump into eternity, to tempt her fate. All the wires were plugged in, hungry machines – ready to get new spiritual food, and Alina was slowly losing her memory, mind and soul forever. Roman looked sad, in such cases he was always singing. Suddenly one very old song crossed his mind. It was about the last day on Earth, about love, sorrow… and time for miracles. Straight after – one miracle happened. Alina, almost felt asleep, woke up, opened her eyes and stood up from the bed. Wires, droppers, plasters – all this scrub scattered on the floor.

– We were dancing, listening to this song with my ex-boyfriend, who left me, – she told slowly, – So, in the beginning I wanted to die… But your voice… I can listen to this song gor ages, if you sing it.

– Pretty wonderful, – he exclaimed, – Probably, your ex-boyfriend wanted to take your place?

– I don’t know. And don’t mind any more… – after this notice she fainted.

– Oh, sheet, – Roman sighed, but it was too late to take any action.

Next day he saw a new angel, shining brighter than others. He saw her often since then and noticed that she was the first spirit singing. Fortunately, Alina pushed the evolution forward, starting a new kind of air creatures – unlike ordinary angels with white wings, hers were golden. The best graduate of Angel’s Factory. Oh, as I told this story was funny… and it really was. The point was that the same day Roman got the first government order – one thousand of golden angels – for the special kind of job: to represent the society in the Universe and to protect its boarders. One more accident was leading to one more stupid inquiry.

– Government order… – he repeated and started laughing, – The humanity is so funny: one step forward, one hundred of steps back, really!

Then he asked for a few hours to think, closed the door and made himself the injection of slow-acting poison. Very quickly he inserted the complicated combination in the machine controlling program, cut most of wires, increase the electrical tension and laid down on the bed. In just ten minutes all the machines exploded, destructing ambitious human plans. The same time one more golden angel appeared, the second – and the last one. Since then he was always trying to catch up the first one, but no success. Like perpetuum mobile they were moving one by one, non-stop, and soon – to see them “dancing” this way became the good omen for every creature. They were reminding the humanity of its most stupid mistakes and at the same time bringing hope and joy to this multifaceted world…

Thirteen Fallen Snowflakes

Prologue

Many years ago there was a warm climate on our planet; so that people didn’t celebrate winter holidays, because snow never flew. A bright constellation, consisted of thirteen cold stars, was seen high in the sky every night. In a small European village there lived a nice curious girl called Alice. During many years she had been dreaming of winter times that would come soon to the Earth, and composed poems devoted to the Snowflake constellation. This girl was so different from the others, and her songs were so wonderful that even the cold stars slowly began to melt down. One ordinary December day the whole constellation disappeared and only thirteen miniature snow-flakes fell down to the surface of the Earth. They found Alice and told her thirteen Christmas stories before the last snowflake died in the warm air. Since then every December a lot of snowflakes cover the Earth, and in honor of fallen therteen Snowflakes every spring they melt down. Alice collected all the stories, but she didn’t have children, and then this manuscript was lost. Some pieces of mysterious thirteen stories passed from generation to generation and had been kept for us in this book.

Short story #1. The Christmas cake.

It was 22nd of December and Lina, as usual in the evening, was sitting in old brown armchair near the large window. This girl was twenty-two years old and, while studying in technical institute, she had to live in squalid hostel in the outskirts of Hamburg. Lina’s parents, although they were divorced, lived in Elmshorn, where the girl spent her happy and carefree childhood. One day her strict parents decided that their daughter needed good technical education, so they sent her to a big modern city, against girl's will. But it was ordinary for Lina to trust her parents; so she flew to Hamburg and studied technology there. It was the last year of her education and Lina was thinking of better life in another city and in different conditions. This evening was a rare moment, when the girl was alone in the whole room, so she could dream and write something in her small diary. By the way, Lina was drawing on the pages of a notebook much more often than writing lines of poem. She was the great dreamer, and her dreams, broken by reality, found their embodiment on the sheet of paper.

Lina was drawing for half an hour, and her last picture was almost finished. On the twenty-second page of her diary there was the sketch of young and handsome man. He had bright hazel eyes, straight nose and curly fair hair. Every touch of this portrait was so realistic, that the man even seemed to breath and move, smile and whisper, while Lina was looking at him. Finally, the masterpiece was ready, and Lina sighed heavily. Once she used to know this boy; they grew up in Elmshorn together, and their houses stood side by side. Lina was only five, when she was spending time with thirteen-year old Garz, her neighbor. Lina’s parents were busy those days, earning money to live on. So they often left their small daughter with Garz, who had some spare time after ballet school lessons. Garz was usually dancing and rehearsing one of his performances, while Lina was sitting and looking at him with admiration. He didn’t seem to be handsome or attractive at this age; he was a little bit funny and odd like many schoolboys. But there had always been a shade of unforgettable charm in his words and movements. Sometimes Garz tried to teach Lina several steps or took her to the dancing class, and she was really happy with her “elder brother” as Lina mentally called him.

After two years, Lina went to school, and Garz, the best pupil in the ballet class, began to take part in his first serious performances. Soon his family moved to another city, and he even wrote her rare friendly letters. However, Garz was very talented dancer; so he had a lot of work, and soon he got a million of offers from worldwide theaters and famous shows. Gradually, he forgot about casual little girl, because of new admirers. Meanwhile, Lina was studying at school and didn’t hear any news about Garz. She didn’t even know his whereabouts and activities. A few years passed and one day, sitting in the cinema and watching one of the most popular modern films, Lina saw familiar face on the screen. Some minutes later she understood that it was Garz, but no longer simple-hearted and insignificant boy. It was twenty-two year attractive man with shining smile, hypnotic eyes and fantastic appearance. Lina fell in love with this man from the first sight, like many fifteen-years old girls, and every minute she was thinking about Garz. As she understood from the TV news he was living in New York, blinded by the rays of fame, and was not going to return to Germany. A few times Lina tried to find his address or any other contact, but it was a secret information; so all that she could do was just to write letters to his official Fan Club. Certainly she wrote not once and not twice; Lina sent her letters almost every month, but there was no reply. Only cold silence…

Thus, being at the age of twenty-two, Lina was studying in Hamburg and she had almost forgotten about the love of her youth. Passing by the bookstall in the morning, she accidentally saw one of glamorous magazines with Garz’s face on its cover. The headline was: “Garz Herzlosen is flying to Hamburg for the premiere of his new movie”. Lina was amused, and during the day she carefully read the article, devoted to this event. In the evening, when her roommates, who worked in the bar downstairs, came out to earn some money, Lina finally had some spare time to dream. “He is arriving tomorrow…So soon,” she thought, “We haven’t seen each other for so many years! And I don’t have enough money to take part in the presentation. But maybe I can visit him at the hotel? There was the name of his hotel in the magazine. I hope, he would be glad to meet me here, in Hamburg…But would I have time to do this? I should try to…No, not try to – I must visit him, because it might be the last chance for me to meet my friend of childhood!”.

It was her final decision, but the problem was that Lina had to study and work the next day. Two years ago Lina’s father refused to help his former wife and daughter, because he didn’t have spare money in the budget of his new family. Then Lina started to work as a shop assistant after studies, to pay for the hostel and education. Two months ago the situation got worse; girl’s mother fractured her leg and couldn’t go to work. So, Lina had to find the second job; since then she had been working as a night receptionist of a shabby inn, to send some money to her mother several times a week. In the morning Lina was studying, and in spare hours she was preparing for exams or drawing. At that moment she was looking at Garz, depicted on the page of her diary. Suddenly the phone rang.

– Hallo, – Lina answered.

– Hi, – her colleague from the inn said, – Are you busy tonight?

– Well, I think I don’t have any urgent affairs. What’s the matter?

– Oh, that’s great! – the colleague rejoiced, – The point is that my child is ill, so I can’t work tonight. Can I ask you to work instead of me, if you don’t mind?

– Okay, – Lina said, – I understand your situation. No problems. Would arrive in one hour.

– Thank you so much! See you soon.

– Bye, – Lina hung up the receiver.

Then the girl put on her warm grey dress, and prepared all necessary things for work, like a pair of bananas to eat, shoes to change her foot-wear and worn textbook to learn some rules before the exams. Lina packed them in her bag, and was ready to get out. At the same time her marry roommates returned from the bar. They looked at Lina, hanging her bag in one hand and high winter boots in another one, with great surprise.

– Where are you going, Lina? – one of the girls asked, – Would you like to join us in the bar?

– No, thank you. I’m going to the inn, because one of my colleagues can’t work tonight.

– Oh, that’s pity, – the second girl noticed, – We’ve bought a delicious Christmas cake!

– Really? – Lana was surprised, – But it was very expensive! Have you robbed somebody?

– Certainly not, – the girls laughed, – There was a great discount in the supermarket. Moreover, we have heard that your friend Garz is arriving tomorrow, so we should celebrate this day. You have been waiting for this moment for so long. And, finally we are working on Christmas day, so it’s better to change the date of holiday supper.

– You are so careful, – Lina smiled, – Thank you for your kindness, but I think we can’t celebrate now. I have promised to work tonight.

– Well, we will keep the cake for you, so you can eat it in the morning, – the girls suggested, – And we are going to sleep, because it’s boring to have supper without you.

– Okay, – Lina said, – But I’m working tomorrow. So, we can gather together on 24^th of December. Do you agree?

– Well, you have changed our plans, but we don’t have any objections, – the girls answered, – By the way, you’d better go now or you’ll be late for work.

– Yes, you’re right. Wish you good evening!

– Thanks, you too!

After this short, but pleasant conversation Lina put her boots on and went downstairs. It was late, so all the streets were dark and lonely, and it was a little bit sad for Lina to make her way to the bus station. Although the sky was cloudless and the snow was crackling under her feet, the wind was strong and piercing. The trees around were swinging, and pieces of rubbish were flying above the street. “The weather is conductive to work,” Lina thought with smile, “But I think it’s not so dangerous…And I just have to get to the station and then, nearby the inn I should pass only several buildings”. By chance, Lina didn’t have to wait for the bus; she managed to enter it before leaving, as usual. So she was joyful, sitting in warm transport and looking in the window. During her trip Lina thought about tomorrow that seemed to be the best day in her life. She imagined the piece of beautiful Christmas cake, decorated with sugar powder, nuts and peels, on the kitchen table. She even felt its delicious taste, sweet and spicy. Then Lina thought about her meeting with Garz, who, as she expected, would be very happy to see her. She dreamt of sitting in a small café with him and talking about everything, about all the past years…

Then, there was the right station, and Lina had to alight. She didn’t want to leave this warm and comfortable bus, but there was no choice. So, Lina took her bag and walked along the street in the direction of inn. There was a high grey building in front of the girl, and it seemed to be even ominous from the opposite end of the street. But Lina didn’t pay any attention to this fact, because she was immersed in her thoughts as before. When Lina was passing this strange building, which was under reconstruction, the sudden gust of wind blew, and several bricks fell from the surface of the building straight on her head… Lina’s colleague, working in the inn, was waiting for the girl during two hours, because Lina was often late for work, but then she began to worry. Lina didn’t answer the mobile phone and there was no telephone in the hostel, where the girl lived with her roommates…

Everything became clear later …When the first aid arrived, the doctors understood that they couldn’t do anything…Two roommates were quietly sleeping in their beds and the promised piece of cake was waiting for Lina on the kitchen table… It was early morning, and Garz was sitting in the taxi, driving to the hotel with his young pretty girlfriend. While the car was passing the dark grey building, Garz suddenly saw the small open diary, lying in the mud of the lawn and some pencil drawings flying above the pavement. But there were no memories in his head

Short story #2. Le macaron.

There was a small bakery on the crossing of two winding Parisian streets. The windows of this cafe looked out at the wonderful park with the pond, covered with December snow, and several regular alleys of straight trees. There were only five round tables in the bakery and only three workers: one cook, one cleaner and one good-natured elderly woman, who carried out the duties of house-keeper, manager and waitress at the same time. By the way, July had been living in Paris for three years, after her leaving from Canada. She was fond of French culture and art, that’s why she started working as an arts critic in a small museum, and published one scandalous book about Claude Lorrain, in which July changed her real name for pseudonym. It was the right decision, because no one paid attention to this book, and only the members of Writers’ Union at regular intervals criticize her amazing manuscript. However, such consequences hadn’t changed July’s plans to publish the trilogy devoted to oil painting. So, every evening after her work the girl was sitting in the cozy bakery near the park and writing her next book.