[01 [02]

 
                        *    *    *

        Outside there was a darkness, both wind whistle, and stars in darkness. Black 
The stocky car stood, almost indiscernible, on a road roadside, and for some reason 
Anybody yet has not taken it to pieces or at least has not broken some glass as happens 
With any other unprotected wheelbarrow. But something, probably, protected it. 
Anyway, it was not visible even suspicious shades in gates and 
The importunate beggar by a nickname the Splinter In a Bum usually begging at 
Input in cafe. Blind it quite arranged. He did not like scandals, noise and 
Shout if only guitar strings did not shout about the broken love or not 
Squealed from contacts with a bottle neck. 
        The car has appeared is worthy the owner. So solid, 
Respectable and, by sight, the reliable. Blind has taken seat near to the driver, 
Having put a guitar on a back seat. He felt too dirty and 
Smelly for this soft leather salon illuminated by greenish light 
Devices. 
        – We will call in in motel, – mister Domino, – and more has warned 
Somewhere. 
        Blind was, in general, all the same. He enjoyed rest, knowing, 
What is good quickly comes to an end. He at all has not asked, where exactly should 
To take place a concert. In any case it took the deposit. 
        In the car there was a serviceable radio tape recorder, that in itself was big 
Rarity. Mister Domino has pressed a key, and shrill sounds were distributed 
Violins. Blind it pilikane irritated a little, and the Dominoes are obvious 
Enjoyed. In a pause between numbers he has noticed: 
        – Perfectly well, isn't that so? By the way, the performer of all 
Nineteen. 
        – Who it? – Has muttered Blind of politeness. 
        – One of my not taken place wards, – the mister has answered 
Dominoes as though though something explained it. 

                        *    *    *

        Small town on which southern suburb was «Judas Tree», 
Totaled about four thousand inhabitants and a little than differed from others 
The provincial holes scattered on desert. Two motels, three-four 
Restaurant, branch of capital bank, barracks of "forces of self-defence», prison, 
Church, school – that's all sights. Two last usually 
Were empty because of absence of clientele. 
        At motel in which mister Domino has stopped, they were late 
For a short while. Dominoes left the car only behind settling an account. The servant 
Has taken out its suitcases and has put them in a luggage carrier. Apparently, the impresario already 
For a long time travelled about after district, but also now, after sleepless night, managed 
To look so as if has just visited massage salon. 
        The following stop of Dominoes has made in the central street near 
"Eliziuma", and here it has already much surprised Blind. But he was surprised still 
More strongly, when the impresario who have directed to doors of restaurant with words 
«Wait, I will soon return», have indeed returned through pair minutes, but already 
Not one, and in the company of chirping and giggling sisters Mond. Having set both 
On a back seat (Blind it was necessary to take on hands unique 
The girlfriend), Dominoes udovletvorenno has muttered «Well here, now 
The complete set », has got the motor and has jerked on the north on direct road, 
Piercing a remote place through, as a destiny spear. 
        The blind did not differ special legibility in the musical 
Predilections, but from singing of its sisters toshnilo really. Quite 
Possibly, those would test the same, if their any wind suddenly 
Has brought in «Judas Tree». And he has heard them casually, when at the local 
Gangsters there was a whim to take it with itself in "Elizium", that brenchun 
Was constant near at hand and sang it prison blueses. However, at restaurant about him 
Have soon forgotten, and fairly typed Blind left in a toilet blevat twice: 
For the first time from unusual food, in the second – having been satiated with ten numbers 
«Grandiose, superpopular, terribly sexy» sisters Mond, whose 
False smiling muzzles were turned before its become drowsy sight, 
As if in a kaleidoscope. And here gangsters were delighted with them. Blind 
Assumed, that these smazlivenkie girls render not only vocal 
Services, and for much higher price. 
        Anyway, sisters fastidiously wrinkled nouses, having come to be 
With it in one car, also have in a pointed manner ignored the turncoat from slums, 
Seized the ridiculous guitar. Despite a heat, they muffled up in the pink 
And blue artificial furs as if those protected from a bad smell. 

                        *    *    *

        The car flied through night, ripping up darkness two beams of headlights. 
Mister Domino continued to listen violin ekzertsitsii, from which both 
Mond, as well as Blind, apparently, too were delighted not. Little by little the soft 
The suspension bracket, smooth course, weariness and vodka have made the business – Blind 
At first has dozed off, and then and has fallen asleep, having dissolved in heat and rest. 
        To it has dreamt, that it caresses the woman without the person, from a vagina to a head 
By which strings have been tense whether hair, whether. For the first time for many years at 
It has happened erektsija. The female body is passionate and is pliable responded on it 
Caresses, and vibrations of strings generated inconceivable music, which it for what 
Would not manage to reproduce in reality. It was music from the world of sleepwalkers, 
Existing only on that party of dreams... 
        Gradually caresses became more and more rough, almost furious, but 
When business has reached a coition, it has appeared, that in hands at it not a female body, 
And the electroguitar, and it which already half have charred, costs on a scene, 
The shined time is only dazzling a flaring electric arch, and 
Has stopped, and short circuit has occurred not only in a power cable, but 
And in its brains, and it erektsija – something like an agonal spasm, and 
Music – only an electric current which kills. More slowly, than 
It would be desirable, but for certain. 

                        *    *    *

        When he has woken up, was already far for a midday. A solar beam, 
Having reflected from gold hours on a wrist of mister Domino, beat to it in eyes, 
And points did not help. Blind has blinked the eyes, hardly has turned a head and has looked narrowly 
To a dial. Arrows showed without fifteen two. 
        He has looked back. Sisters slept, having inclined the friend to the friend the 
The smoothed heads. On doll faces pochila the varnished emptiness. That, 
That sat on the right, has placed the fine legs, and Blind were visible 
Lacy shorts. 
        Dominoes the fresh appearance still had and drove the car, holding the steering 
Wheel one hand. In another there was a cigar, and the fragrant smoke casting 
Dreams and false memoirs, it was carried away in a window over the lowered glass. 
        He without words has stretched Blind a flask in which it has appeared pure 
Ice water. That needed to guess only where Dominoes it has got, 
Because around there was all a same desert burnt out by the sun. 
        Having won dry trees, Blind some time indulged in languid reflexions 
About what line it has appeared in one team with sisters. However, 
It was not difficult to find the suitable answer. Possibly, the impresario delivered 
The live goods on all tastes also have not missed a case to kill one shot of two 
Hares. 
        Then Blind has started to think of songs which will play at a concert, 
If the choice depends on it. He was ready to play anywhere, with whom 
It is necessary and for everybody, let even it will last twelve hours without 
Break. Also has put here not only in promised to it ten tons. Business, more likely, 
In a dead tree about which so the impresario poetically extended... 
        Road in any way it was impossible to name the recovered. For that time, while 
The blind was awake, it has counted only six lorries with jeeps 
Supports, yes ten military patrols. Dominoes stopped twice, and 
Men left on small need. Hot streams were absorbed by the heated 
Sand; in some seconds on a surface does not remain also signs 
Moisture. Standing under the scorching sun and watering the black shade, Blind thought, not 
Whether it makes a certain mystical suicide if the shade indeed concludes 
In itself it "ka". 
        After four sisters have woken up and too have asked "pi-pi". 
Then have begun to powder nouses and to plaster around an eye. From them smelt 
Something lusciously-sweet, as podnadoevshy a sin. Mister Domino behaved 
With them it is irreproachably polite, not allowing and a hint on familiarity or 
Irony. 
        Already in twilight they have driven in small protected settlement, where 
There was a filling station, and nearby – shop and a snackbar. About affinity 
Capitals testified more civilised customs and absence in streets 
Frank rabble. It seemed, metal here rusts more slowly and people 
Smile to a thicket, than in the homeland of Blind. In general a kind picture only 
A little spoilt burnt down school bus on a roadside. 
        While Dominoes and Blind had a drink coffee and smoked in a snackbar, sisters 
Have gone to shop where have bought any inutile trinkets, and 
Then have stopped to chat with the officer. Thus they shot eyes 
On the parties also broke, as dolls on hinges. And after all to the present glamour 
It was still far, as to the moon. Blind with melancholy has thought, that these whores precisely 
Will make mad success in capital, especially when with the provincial 
By heat will be started up in zagul and will oversleep with all on whom this success depends. 
        The person of mister Domino remains impenetrable. It was 
By the professional of the higher test and, quite possibly, did not do distinction between 
Blind and sisters, pushing in a distant corner personal tastes. As well as promised, 
He paid for meal and has filled the car at own expense. Besides, it at last 
Has ceased to torment the passengers with classical music and has condescended to 
National so on last piece of a way their hearing charmed any 
Shrill chorus. 
        But before they have sailed away from a happy place, where someone 
Has once roasted in the bus of children, Blind has dropped out strange and not 
To tell that a pleasant meeting which he has preferred to forget somewhat quicker, not 
Understanding, that it means. 
        To it was impatient, and he has glanced in a toilet behind a snackbar. There it 
Has seen the woman just resolved from burden. The is dirty-pink lump 
Hanged down at it between feet on a shaking umbilical cord. 
        – Bring down from here. It is occupied, – it has hissed, not understanding, that it able to see. 
        The blind stood as the idol, thinking, whom it is necessary to be to drown 
Own baby in nuzhnike. Even to measures «Judas Tree» it would be 
It is regarded as easy shiznja. She wished to tell still something, but has choked 
Pain also has writhed over a fetid hole. 
        And here Blind at last has made out that istorglo from itself its belly. 
It has hasty closed a door and has returned to the nature all eaten for last four 
Hour. 

                        *    *    *

        The moment when the car has climbed up hill top, and therefrom has come 
Unexpectedly for Blind the kind on the far city stretched on has opened 
Horizon. Painted by a decline in purple, a city seemed the old man the millionaire, 
Bathing in blood of virgins in vain attempts to return to a youth. 
Gold of electric fires sparkled all more brightly as were condensed 
Twilight. 
        The city was huge – by miracle the escaped piece of the past, a symbol 
Irrevocably past good times. Having seen it, Blind has decided, that 
Necessarily should finish a concert «time Fogs». And if there 
It has appeared also the keyboard player with "hemmondom" in addition... 
        But it could not get to capital and to learn a capital life 
From within. On either side of highway landscapes of suburbs, when already lasted 
Mister Domino has sharply curtailed under a stone arch on which the board hung 
With an inscription «Private possession». There was a prevention more low: «Attention! 
Armed security forces. The licence for murder N 13-562 ». 
        – That's all right, – the impresario has told, warning 
Inquiries. – the concert will take place on a country house of my employer. At it not 
Happens casual people. Only the selected circle of true judges. 
        The blind has seen numbers of live trees on either side of private road. 
Their crones intertwined above, forming the tunnel, through which openwork arch 
Still bloody light of a decline filtered. Dominoes has switched on headlights. Soon they 
Have snatched out from twilight a huge shod lattice of gate with a metal silhouette 
Angel. The lattice has been twined by any twisted plant (can be, wild 
Grapes – Blind has recollected, that someone told to it about wild grapes), 
Also have published it looked so as if the angel is captivated by snakes or hearts. 
        Despite the archaic kind, gate have opened without a rusty scratch, 
Almost silently, and the car has driven in avenue of old park which has seemed 
Blind dense wood. The house in the end of avenue was a match for park and collars. 
Same huge, majestic, gloomy, with indiscernible figures on 
Pediment, high narrow windows behind which only light here and there glimmered. 
        When the Dominoes were muffled by the engine, Blind has seemed, that he hears 
Any new, unfamiliar music, – but it is a wind it is disturbing rustled in 
Tops of trees. Blind has thought, what to lay in the house and to hear this 
Noise all night long. Then he has seen also protection – the people armed 
Automatic machines, and tupomordyh black dogs. Judging by a fountain peacefully murmuring on 
Outcome of evening exhausted from a heat, the owner of a country house really was very much 
The rich person. 
        Trailing lanterns were lighted, having shined a wide main ladder, marble 
Statues, stone plates by which the court yard has been paved. From park died a moisture, 
And Blind with neprivychki has suspected, that there there is a dustbin or something 
Worse. Strekot insects that abated, accrued, as surf noise. 
        Mister Domino has suggested invited to follow it. The servant in 
Dress coat and in white gloves has opened high swing doors with glasses, 
Reminding the church stained-glass windows strewn lightly with ashes. Visitors have appeared in 
Spacious hall. Floors have been carpeted; on the walls sheathed by the wooden 
Panels, pictures, generally the religious maintenance and hung, on 
To uneducated opinion Blind, not without a certain share of obscurantism: 
Continuous tortured flesh, blood, nails and flour; and only a hint – a crack 
In storm heavens, sanctity and the expiation supported unless the oral 
The promise. Apparently, at a devil at all times office-work was 
It is put much better, than in an office of heaven... 
        Two bent ladders with a carved handrail withdrew on a second floor, 
But mister Domino has specified in a door between them through which stay have got 
In a long wide corridor. Blind has understood, that the owner not only the judge, but 
And the collector. Both walls have been covered by original curiosities – gold, 
Silver, platinum disks of celebrities of last years, that, as Blind 
Heard, meant any inconceivable circulations. There and then were available big, in 
Expensive frames, photos of musicians with autographs. Their names and persons of anything 
Did not speak to the one who all life played to a foul place under the name «the Tree 
Judas ». 
        And here mister Domino with theatrical solemnity has opened 
Before it and sisters the next doors, and Blind has entered in big, perfectly 
The equipped concert hall. Now illumination was minimum, but it 
Only gave to a local interior a cosy kind, and a cigarette smoke and 
Vocal murmurs condensed atmosphere to some pleasant mysteriousness. 
        On slightly inclined to a floor stood about hundred soft armchairs. Blind 
The scene in the heart of a hall has amazed. He never saw before such riches, 
Such abundance. Amplifiers, acoustic systems, microphonic racks, 
Drums, keyboard and, of course, guitars. One only tools cost, 
Probably, the whole condition. People in overalls connected equipment; 
In the middle of a hall the panel near which sound technicians conjured has been established. 
        After Blind has noticed in a magic cave and those who looked not less 
Lost, than it. The bald elderly person held a case, in which, judging by 
To the form, there was a saxophone. Four more in monastic clothes, appear, not 
Concerned an event, but mister Domino has cleared up, 
Confidentially having whispered Blind on an ear: «It is eunuchs. Devils sing so, that 
Start to pray ». At blind, the truth, has flashed myslishka, and than 
The impresario has enticed here the monks giving a vow of poverty, however to think about 
It was rather late. In the third number people with violins modestly sat and 
Violoncellos. One more stood on a scene before a grand piano, looking in the opened 
Black-and-white mouth, as on an altar. 
        Mister Domino has told Blind and to sisters: "Settle down", – 
And itself has gone to sound technicians and about something talked to them during 
Minutes. When it has returned, in hands at it already was extremely flat 
Leather case. The impresario has asked Blind to depart away, that, as it 
It was expressed, to settle formalities. 
        They have taken seat in extreme armchairs under the fixture. The dominoes were opened by a case 
Also has stretched Blind the form of the contract printed on a bluish paper with 
Watermarks. 
        – As I also thought, they wish to write down you "alive". My employer 
Invariably prefers concert job of the studio. 
        The blind has run eyes the contract text. How much he could judge, 
Conditions were more than acceptable. Having won back a concert, having received the fee and 
Single payment for record, it is more than anything should to nobody. 
He was excited a little with that in the contract was not words about percent from sales 
(He did not believe in any sales), and also presence of point with a strange condition 
«Not to execute the next thirty years the identical program». However, as 
Time is a condition to ridiculous it was easy to bypass, having thrown out or having added any 
Song. 
        Mister Domino has got the handle with a gold feather and has entered in the contract 
The sum in figures and in brackets in words. If not propis, Blind still for a long time 
Would recalculate zero, not believing the eyes. Eventually it has signed both 
The form, one of which, combined four times, has laid down in its breast pocket 
Torn jeans jacket, and mister Domino happy with self and how go 
Affairs, has gone to sisters Mond – most likely, with similar 
The offer. 
        Then there was a music. 
        A lot of different music. 
        So it is a lot of, that could seem, as if the tree is still live... 

                        *    *    *

        The six-hour concert has just ended (Blind closed it 
«Time fogs», and the guy on body was simply ulet. And all this time 
Coils of multichannel tape recorders continuously turned, saving for 
Eternity unique sounding of "last runaways»). The shaken public 
Has left a hall. Musicians asked not to disperse. The company it has made 
Armed security forces. 
        In some minutes after an applause, the mister has abated 
Dominoes has risen a floor above. The impresario has entered into an office of the owner of a country house, 
Before which even he tested reverential trembling, and gauging in the respectful 
Silence. 
        The swarty person sat at an antiquarian table from valuable breeds of a tree 
In irreproachably white suit underlining blackness of its hair and an eye. 
The person was huge. The nailfile for nails in his hands seemed steel 
Toothpick, and nails – bluish claws. 
        Dominoes its sight could not maintain several seconds longer and 
Preferred to look above a head of the owner – at the turned crucifixion at that 
Behind the back. And still the office has been forced by the bookcases filled on 
Ten tenth, but at all books. The owner did not require at all books. 
        – They are magnificent. You have perfectly consulted, – the person has praised in 
White the person in the black. – I Hope, it really last? – Has specified 
It with a thin smile in which deadly threat nevertheless appeared and 
Which froze, as shine of an open razor though Dominoes and could not tell, 
Why actually. 
        – If is not present, I am ready to go on heavens there to look 
Remained, – he has answered, not taking away eyes from the turned crucifixion. 
        – Well, – the person in the white has nodded. – but on your place I there 
Did not hurry up. At first you should go down under the earth. Me has reached 
The whisper, that in caves of Judea was got one brenchun... 
        With these words it was straightened in full growth, and in an office at once 
It became close and as if even it is stuffy. Dominoes has necessarily met the owner 
Sight also has seen something intolerable – crimson stars pulsed in 
To depth of black pupils, as if far fires of an underworld. 
        The person in white and the impresario divided a table and more at least two 
Step, but the owner has stretched a hand and, having said «Go now, a way not 
Close », has incentively patted Dominoes shoulder, and then has left the 
Office to listen to that unique music which liked really. 
        It has come downstairs and has passed on a corridor adjoining to 
To concert hall. The corridor came to an end with the deadlock which has been taken away by a frequent lattice, 
Behind which any dreadful shades exhaling a smell of carrion were guessed. 
At its approach of a shade were stirred up and moved, as if the dogs who have scented 
The owner. And the owner, as if utihomirivaja the dogs the promise of feeding, 
Has said a guttural phrase in a classic language. 
        Here, at deadlock, there was the deep convenient armchair fitted 
Pink human skin. Black candles burnt around, forming a ring 
Flame. The person in the white has stepped through them, has taken seat in an armchair, has lighted 
Cigar also took a glass to cognac from a tray which held before it bared 
The slave. All was as during old kind times. Well, almost so. 
        It has allowed a sign to begin. And a second later its liked music was distributed, 
Which lasted all some seconds, but these seconds have incorporated 
Sacrament of a life and death. 
        Automatic turns have sounded a crescendo, and then have abated. Some 
Time weak groans of wounded musicians were audible only. 
        And kodoj there were claps of control shots. 

[01 [02]