Miracle #03 16 июля 1999

Самиздат

Room with laughter - Halo: The end of the story published in the second room.

              (End)


    Angel lifted his hand in the soothing
gesture.

    - Do not be afraid. I checked for you at our
Angel - archivist. You lead an exemplary life, and therefore 
you will leave this halo, a sign of holiness. 

    Scared Young jumped up, waving
hands.

    - But ... but ... but ...

    - Stay with the world - said the angel
and disappeared.


    Young collapsed on a chair, stroking his aching head. At 
that moment opened door, and on the threshold appeared Kipp. 
Fortunately, Young's hands were covered halo. 


    - Mr. Devlin had come, - the
chief.

    - Hmm ... Who is sitting in your closet?

    Young was too shocked to think of something, so he muttered:

    - Angel.

    Kipp nodded.

    - Yes, of course ... E. .. minute. You
said ? .. This angel?
My God! - He turned pale, and hastily
retired.


    Young plunged into the contemplation of his
hats on - still lying on the table.
Maybe it's better to wear a halo than
monster? ..

    He vehemently enough fist on the table.

    - I will not stand, can not stand! -
He suddenly fell silent, his eyes burning with joy
flashed.

    - Aha! I will not have to wear it
If we are able to unscrew the Lama ...
A sinner can not wear a halo. - Face
Yang distorted villainous smirk. -
So I am going to a sinner! I will trample
commandments.


    He thought, but no one commandment
occurred to him. Yeah, there is! <No
covet his neighbor's wife>.


    Young remembered the wife of his neighbor,
a certain Miss Clay, a monstrous woman years
fifty with a face like a dried pudding. Violate this 
commandment, perhaps not very nice. 


    Probably, one good, healthy
sin will here an angel, and he
immediately take away his halo. What
same offense to commit the easiest way?
Young thought, but the head did not
occurred, and he decided to go for a walk.
On the street - that would surely turn up
appropriate case. He forced himself to
pulled off his hat and was about to enter into
elevator, as it was hailed. Along the corridor
marched some - a fat man. Young learned
Mr. Devlin.


    Definition <thick> with respect
to Mr. Devlin sounded a euphemism.
This man looked like here -
burst. His feet, gasping in
- bright yellow shoes, at the ankles
flowed from them, recalling a full-blown flower. The figure of 
the gentleman prompted comparisons with pineapple,

seasick. Mass of flesh
flowed from the collar, forming a pale lump of the Vistula, on 
which Young, however, noticed a vague semblance of a human 
face. 


    That looked so Mr. Devlin,
kativshiysya the corridor as if the attacker
mammoth, and under his legs trembling earth.

    - You're Young? - He rasped. - Almost
missed, right? I waited in the office ...
Devlin stopped and stared in fascination at the
hat. Then he smiled stiffly and
turned away. - Well, come on, I'm ready.

    Young stood, torn by doubts.

    Otmahneshsya by Devlin - lose
position on the other hand halo crush
his throbbing temples like iron hoop. One thought took it 
without balance: we must get rid of

this damn overhead. As soon as the
This will be the end, he trusted his
good luck and diplomacy. Pick up your guest
Now with him would be madness. But
Is not it madness was walking around in this
unfortunate hat? - Excuse, - coughed
Young, - I have a thing, do not tolerate
otlogatelstva. I'll be back as soon as
be free.

    Gasping with laughter Devlin firmly grasped
his hand. - Nonsense. Show me the town!
And now, right now!

    Young caught a strong smell of alcohol and
quickly figured out what to do.

    - Well, - he admitted finally.
- Come on. At the bottom there is a bar, where you can drink.

    - Well you say - good-naturedly said Devlin, nearly 
knocking Yang with feet of a friendly slap on the back.


    - Oh, the elevator came!


    They squeezed into the cab. Young closed
eyes and swallowed, feeling his
hat draws curious glances. He
like went into hibernation and came only
first floor, where Devlin pulled him out
elevator and dragged to the bar.


    Yang plan was simple: pour a few
drinks a bottomless throat of his companion, and, seizing the 
opportune moment steal away. This cunning plan

had only one flaw: Devlin did not want
drink alone.


    - One for me and one for you -
he insisted. - And then another one.


    Young could not refuse. Worst
was the fact that alcohol is drunk Devlin
immediately absorbed by all cells it
huge body, and the resulting
resided in the endless euphoria, then
how poor Young soused in the insole.


    He sat quietly in his chair,
looking at Devlin's, and every time
The waiter came up, caught his eye,
addressed to the hat. This irritated more
more.


    In addition, Yang on - still bothered by a halo. He thought 
about the sins of: arson, looting, sabotage and assassination 
flashed before his eyes, as if in a kaleidoscope. He even tried 
to steal your waiter trifle, but he was too attentive.

He just smiled and made friendly
Yang before the next glass.


   Anyone with disgust stared at him,
Then, taking a decision, stood up and
walked to the door. Devlin caught up with him just
on the street.


    - What happened? Let's skip all
one by one!

    - I have a case - "Young said with a pained indifference. 
He snatched the stick from a - a passer-by and started waving 
it so fiercely that the protesters victim in panic and fled.

Raising his cane, Young gloomily reflected.

    - What are you doing? - Probed
Devlin. - Show me the town.

    Young carefully examined the boy, who was standing at the 
edge of the sidewalk and had never taken his eyes off him. Boy 
vividly reminded him vile milksop of the bus. 

    - So do you have such an emergency? -
demanded explanations Devlin. - What are the important things?

    - Soak a couple of punk - said
Young and lunged at a terrified boy,
brandishing a cane. He frightened
scream, rushed to escape. Young chased
him until he ran into a lamp. Column
behaved discourteous and blast blocked
road. Young protested, and began to argue, but in vain.

    The boy ran away. Letting go at
lantern a few sarcastic remarks, Young turned back.

    - What do you get up? - Asked Devlin. - Come here, and that 
Pharaoh had already glancing at you.


    He picked up Yang's arm and led him to
sidewalk, swaying.

    - What gets up? - Asked Young.
Very simple: I want to sin!

    - How? .. Sin?

    - Sin.

    - But why?

    Young pointedly tapped
his hat, but Devlin saw his gesture
privratno.

    - So are you crazy?

    - Shut up! - Young flew into a rage and
suddenly thrust his stick between his legs
held the Director of the bank, which
know in person. Hard unhappy collapsed on
sidewalk, but got up without damage, even
with dignity.

    - Excuse me! - He apologized.

    Young, meanwhile, was doing strange
manipulation: running to one of the shops of
He began to tinker with his hat,
obviously trying to look at it, but
This is not allowed to do it who
then another. Finally, he swore loudly,
turned around and dragged behind a surprised Devlin, like a 
ball on a string. 

    He walked on, muttering under his breath.

    - Need a sin ... this sin. That
anything scary ... Burn orphanage
shelter. Kill teschyu. Kill ... anyone!

    He stared at Devlin, and
he backed away. Young displeased snort.

    - No. Too large. Gun and knife
do not fit. Need to blow up ... Wait! -
he squeezed her hand Devlin. - Theft, too,
sin? Is not it?

    - Of course! - Fervently agreed Devlin. - But you do not ...

    Young shook his head.

    - No, too many witnesses. No
sense to sit in jail. Come on.

    He briskly walked down the street, Devlin for
him. As promised, Young showed
his visitors, although none of them
could not remember exactly what they did.
Soon after Devlin stayed to replenish
stock in the store and left it with
bottles in all pockets.


    Hours merged in alcoholic haze.
For the unfortunate Devlin's life became
ghostly - unreal, he fell into a state of hibernation, barely 
noticing the numerous events that followed one after another 
until the night he finally came to

down enough to realize that
stands together with Yang before the wood
Indian figure at the tobacco shop.
Perhaps it was the last of the wooden
Indians. This shabby relic of past days, seemed staring her
dull glassy eyes in a handful of
wooden cigar, which he held in his outstretched hand.


    Young where - then lost his hat, and
Devlin suddenly noticed his companion
that - something unusual.

    - You have an aura - carefully observed
he said.

    Young started.

    - Yes, - he said - a halo. This
Injun ...

    He paused.

    Devlin looked at the figure in disgust. Wooden Indian 
produced at it more impressive than

what - the halo. He even had goose
ran back. He turned away.

    - Theft - it is a sin, - whispered the Young
and then with a joyous exclamation, started
to raise the Indian. Barely making it, he
immediately fell under its weight, but
then, vomiting curses attempted
bump monster.

    - Heavy - complained he had finished. - Help me.

    Devlin had long stopped looking for
logic in the actions of a madman, although the halo
few bothered him. Young was full
committed sin. In the end, both
men marched down the street, carrying Indian.


    Master tobacco shop on the left
the street and looked after them, rubbing
hands. His face expressed joy.


    - Ten years I've been trying to get rid of
this monster - he whispered admiringly.
And now, finally! ..


    Upon entering the shop, he lit a cigar,
to celebrate their liberation.


    Meanwhile, Young, and Devlin found
parked taxi on it there was any - that
machine and its driver was listening to the radio. Young
waved to him.


    - Taxi? - The driver perked up, jumped out and opened the 
door. In the next moment he froze in a half bow, his eyes 
nearly bulged. 


    He never believed in ghosts, more
that have always considered myself a cynic. However,
Faced with a bossy
vampire and a fallen angel, taschivshimi
Wooden Indian, suddenly believed
that outside of life opens
dark abyss, full of unimaginable
evil. Howl of terror, the driver dove into the
his car and flew away like smoke on
wind.

    Young with Devlin grimly at each other.

    - Now what? - Asked Devlin.

    - I live nearby - said Young,
Two blocks from here. Come on!


    The time was late, almost pedestrian
was not. Several people, whom they
met, for the sake of sanity chose to ignore the strange
porters and go their separate ways. Here
so Young, Devlin and wooden Indian
reached the goal.


    House door was closed, and Young did
could not find the key. He felt a strange
not wanting to wake Jill, and in addition
felt that he needed a wooden Indian - hide something. Basement 
appeared him a suitable shelter, he pulled two companions to 
the basement window and broke it and shoved it idol. 


    - Do you really live here? - Suspiciously asked Devlin.

    - Quiet! - Cut him off Young. - Come on!

    He followed the Indian and the noise
landed on a pile of coal. Devlin, wheezing and
swearing, soon joined him. In
basement was light enough: halo
totally went for dvadtsativoltnuyu bulb. Young gave Devlin deal 
bruised, and he began to look Indian. 


    Statuevina somewhere zapropastilas.
Finally he found her in a barrel, pulled out and
put. Then he stepped NZ move
staggered and stared.


    - There is a sin, - enthusiastically inkul it.
Stealing! Problem is not that stealing,
and in principle. Wooden Indian just as
no worse than a million dollars, although Devlin?

    - I wish I could chop that Indian
on the wood, - said Devlin. - You made me drag it about five 
kilometers. - He paused, listening. - What's this?



    The sound came nearer. Filth, often taught in its duty to 
protect House decided vosplzovatsya case. From

the basement came the noise - surely thieves
- And tough terrier ran briskly
down the stairs to the accompaniment
terrible threats and curses from the basement.
Loudly announcing their desire to expel
uninvited guests, he rushed for Yang,
who quickly smacked trying
appease the angry dog. However,
Filth was your opinion on this issue,
and he spun like a mad dervish
bloodthirsty. Young waved his hands,
unsuccessfully trying to keep his balance,
then fell flat on the floor. So he
remained, but a foolish Filth, seeing halo
pounced on him, scratching his head master.


    Feeling like a drunk rises to
throat, Young tried to grab the dog, but
stumbled to his feet wooden Indian.
The figure staggered. Filth timely notice
danger and sprawled next to the master, but then remembered 
about their responsibilities and with a snarl grabbed the 
nearest Yang of the body, trying to deprive the unfortunate 
pants. Young, on the - still buried face to the floor, 
desperately clutching his leg wooden Indian. 


    They heard a deafening roar,
basement flooded a bright white light, and there was
Angel.


    For Devlin it was too much. He
collapsed on a pile of coal, he closed his eyes and that
then he muttered. Filth barked at the stranger tried - though 
unsuccessfully, bite one hanging to the floor of the wings, and 
then froze, hoarsely potyavkivaya. The wing was annoyingly 
intangible. 


    Angel stood over Yang with burning
eyes, in the pose of expressing a kind of celebration.


    - So let it be for you character
good work, - he said softly, and ending
wing pointed to the wooden figure
Injun, who immediately disappeared. - You
gladdened the heart of passing, although this
require from you a lot of effort. You
the whole day trying to free him,
not expecting the award, but only on
inescapable concern.


    Since the same ridge, Kenneth Young. Let it be
halo reward you and let you save
from all sins.


    The younger angel quietly disappeared, for which Young
he was extremely grateful. Y
He has already started, headache, and he
afraid of loud noises.


    Filth and barked nervously resumed
attack on the halo. In this situation, Young
decided it was best to return to the upright position is true, 
it caused the walls whirl in a tarantella, but Filth stop 
attacks on his head ... 


    Waking up perfectly sober, Young
felt remorse. It lay between
piles of coal, looking at the sun,
peeping through the broken window, and
trying to remember the events of yesterday
day. His stomach is constantly trying to jump through a parched 
throat. 


    Along with the awakening came the realization of three 
factors: the inescapable concern indeed waiting for him, an 
aura remains reflected in the mirror over the sink, and

also remembered the parting words
Angel.


    Young mentally groaned. Hangover
but halo will remain. Only sinning
He could become unworthy of it, but
This glowing ring sets him apart from
all other mortals. All his actions
from now on will be good, all that he
will do, will serve as the neighbor.


      He could not have sinned!