Готовый перевод Крошка из Шанхая / Baby from Shanghai: 16 Блистательная Мадонна / 16 Brilliant Madonna

16 Brilliant Madonna

Never sit in a car with a stranger male, and remember that all men are unpredictable strangers.

Robin Morgan [61]

Give the girl a good pair of shoes and she will conquer the world.

Marilyn Monroe

I returned to Shanghai. Life is still chaotic, but is meant to be.

It seemed to me that I cringe and melt: the blood was turned into black ink, which flowed from the veins to the pen and drops seeped into every written word or phrase.

From the restaurant "the Babe of Sichuan" little Dean regularly brought me food. When I was in a good mood, I gave him books. One day he brought me a short article called "the voice of the heart", which was written for the published in the Shanghai newspaper "Xinmin evening news" column expatriate workers. I have read and was pleasantly surprised – the style was decent and the idea pretty original. He sheepishly admitted that he wants to write a book. Milan Kundera wrote that in the twenty-first century, any of us can become a writer. Everything you need to get a pen and describe on paper the real life. The desire to pour out his heart – a natural spiritual need of each person.

I wrote at night, sitting at the table in pajamas with disheveled hair. Waking up early in the morning, hardly raised from the top of the table weary head prints red ink on his forehead. The room was empty and quiet. Tian-Tian, and the phone did not ring (though I often pulled the plug, and then forgot to paste). I crawled onto the bed and lay down and fell asleep once again.

One day, about ten o'clock in the evening the door knocked sharply. I flinched in surprise, but was delighted with the sound: it came in very handy, awakening me from the nightmare. I dreamed of a vintage train with a steam engine, a wagon, filled with complete strangers, and among them is Tian-Tian. I watched helplessly as the train started, and began to gain speed, heavy cutting the air and striking steel sideways right in my face. Dressed in a military uniform and a metal helmet people jumped on the bandwagon, I hesitated for a fraction of a second, and with a roar swept past. Uttered a cry of unspeakable despair, I cursed myself for the fact that mixed up the departure time or forgot to reset the clock. And in the last, decisive moment I just didn't have the courage to jump into the departing train. For me, this dream meant that our Tian-Tian paths diverged in the darkness of night.

***

I opened the door. On the threshold stood the Madonna, dressed in black, from her lips dangled a cigarette. Dressed in black she seemed even more slender and long-legged.

I'm still not really awake, so at first did not notice in her appearance is nothing special. Looks like she drank too much perfume "Opium". Her hair was taken back old-fashioned, his eyes were feverishly bright. Something about her seemed strange to me.

Oh, Lord, you sit forever in this hole? All written without a break? – She stepped into the room.

– I just had a nightmare. – Saying this, I suddenly remembered that whole day did not eat. – Have you eaten? I asked her.

– Okay, let's get out somewhere and eat. I'm buying. Madonna put out the cigarette butt, took the coat off and sat on the sofa waiting until I get dressed.

Her white "VW Santana 2000" was parked nearby. She opened the car door and started the engine. I sat there, buckled up and the car pulled away, squeal the brakes. All the Windows were wide open. I like to smoke at full speed, when the wind with the smoke takes away all of your sorrow. Madonna entered the bridge. Since around Shanghai had built such bridges, there were gangs of desperate motorists, reckless drivers, driving on them at breakneck speed. From stereological came the sounds of popular love songs performed by famous Taiwanese singer Jeff Chang [62]:

"If you have another

Your heart to me open up,

Just go

And lean upon my breast."

Gradually I have become to realize that Madonna was not himself. Suddenly I remember being in the pub "Goya" I met ay dick's arm with her cousin Josey, and the picture is beginning to emerge.

Madonna was hardly an open book. She was somewhat careless, lighthearted, but fairly active life. Her past, present and future remained a mystery to me. It was impossible to determine how serious her feelings for ay dick. Judging by her tone and words such lovers she was a dime a dozen. So you can easily assume that he is not the last on her account.

– Well, what shall we eat? Anything Chinese, European or Japanese?

I don't care – I replied.

– Oh, no, it will not work. I can't stand when people say they don't care. Let's think about it and decide!

– Well, let it be Japanese cuisine! I said.

In Shanghai love everything Japanese. The hearts of the locals for a long time and completely won Us songs Amuro [63], books Haruki Murakami [64], shows Takuya Kimura [65], as well as countless comic books and electrical appliances in Japan, literally flooded the city. I also like Japanese cuisine and cosmetics, fresh and fine.

Madonna stopped the car at the restaurant "Edo" in the street Donghu. We entered the hall. On top of tiled floors flowed with a soft amber light. Neat, like puppets, the waiters served traditional Japanese cuisine, chawan Mushi, sushi tuna, marinated pickles, dried shrimp, and soup with seaweed.

– You know that I broke up with ay Dick? asked Madonna with a scowl.

– Really? Why?

Of course, I didn't know all the details, but I didn't want to admit that I saw ay dick and Josu together in the pub, "Goya". Still Jusa – my cousin and the lady friend. So I tried to be impartial.

– Can you live like an ostrich, burying your head in the sand? This is your cousin Jose stole my man! sneered Madonna, gulp emptying his Cup of sake.

– Maybe it was his initiative? – I asked quietly.

Because Jose lady to the bone. In the morning, spotlessly nekrasovskii, it is sent to the office by taxi or bus, the interior is equipped with air conditioning. At noon, eats his usual business lunch in a European cafe or restaurant. And in the evening, only light street lamps and the lights, she, like many other young women, first slowly walking along the shop Windows "fashion House" on Huaihai road, where simply splendor adorn fashionable and expensive things for the most prestigious firms and then was a little tired but still fresh and happy, down the escalator into the subway from street Changsha.

Precisely because Shanghai inhabits so many women like Jose, exuberant and irrepressible cheerfulness of this city a few is balanced by the soft femininity. Just live here in the throes of aimless longing unmarried heroine of the novels of Eileen Chang, it is a subtle and melancholic, typical of the works of Chen Tribute-Yang [66]. Some people call Shanghai the "city of women", but it is rather out of the desire to oppose his rough manly cities in the North of the country.

I assumed that I know the dick ay that we can read his thoughts. But even could not imagine that so fast he get sick of me. I have a lot of money, but I'm ugly, right? – Madonna's lips creased in a smile. She touched my arm and gently turned his face to the light.

Her face, of course, could not be called beautiful, but memorable – perhaps. Delicate features, curved eyebrows, pale skin with slightly enlarged pores and mouth, thickly painted expensive lipstick that almost dripped from her lips. The once beautiful paintings left a memory – a delicate willow branches dried up, fluffy clouds melted away and the petals crumbled to the ground. This person left an indelible stamp of countless pleasures, games, passions and dashed hopes. His expression was strong-willed, but tired, shrewd but vulnerable.

She smiled, eyes moist. It was a walking encyclopedia of women's life, unique full collection of all women's feelings, misconceptions, values and instincts.

– You really care about ay dick? – I was surprised.

– I don't know... I Think that somewhere deep down, I just can't accept. In the end he left me, I was burned out, and now I don't need no man. Maybe more and do not have young people I'd interesting. – She sipped sake like water, and her face was as red as the sunflower of van Gogh in the orange rays of the midday sun. To my surprise she threw the Cup on the floor, and she shattered, like a delicate white jade.

We ran to the helpful waiter.

– Sorry, it was an accident! – I started to make excuses.

– You're lucky! Do you have Tian-Tian and mark to boot. You have everything. Isn't that happiness for women? – She was still holding my hand, the hand which was suddenly covered with cold sweat.

– What mark? I tried to look calm. Like a schoolboy waiter was watching us. Young women rapidly discuss my personal life on people, will inevitably attract the attention of others.

– Don't try to hold me, Coco! From my experienced old eyes don't miss a trick. I have the intuition, you know. No wonder so much time kept a brothel in the South.

– Come on, I do not intend to speak of Tian-Tian, she smiled. Is it overpowering. He is too weak and naive. And you did absolutely nothing wrong. I know what you mean.

I put a hand to his forehead: treacherous-harmless sake hit in the head. Before the eyes of all floated and swirled, the ground went from under his feet.

– I'm drunk, ' I muttered.

– Go to a beauty salon, here, nearby, is suggested Madonna.

She paid the bill, took my hand, brought from the restaurant and took me to the beauty salon do nearby. It was a small room. On the walls hung paintings – copies and originals. The owner had an art education. Occasionally looked here men. Not to gawk at women and to buy good paintings in the spirit of Lin Fanmania [67].

Nice music. Light aroma of fruit. Gentle and young women's faces.

We Madonna was lying on adjacent couches. My eyes were covered with cucumber slices svezhenanesennogo. The young woman gently tapping with fingertips on the face. The music lulled. Madonna admitted that very often fall asleep during treatments. At such moments, between women born sense of intimacy and mutual sympathy. Stroking sensitive female fingers on the face is much nicer than the touch of man.

In the salon of vital subtle lesbian vibe. Someone did a tattoo on eyebrows, was audible weakly discernible scratching of metal on skin. From the sound it gave me chills through the body. But then I succumbed to the sleepy bliss and fell asleep happily anticipating a revival in the guise of a younger Elizabeth Taylor.

***

White "Volkswagen Santana" raced along the deserted road faster than the wind. We listened to the radio, smoked and enjoyed the moment of serene calm.

– I don't want to come home to this huge apartment. There so empty and silent. Without a man she looked like a grave. Can we go to your place. – suggested Madonna.

I nodded in agreement.

She spent a long time in the bathroom. I managed to call the hotel to Tian-Tian, but he had a sleepy voice (for some reason he's always like that on the phone). To my ears through the telephone wire from a distance came the familiar breath.

– Are you in bed already? I'll call you later, ' I said.

– M-m-m, okay... I'm good. I must have dozed off and I dreamt of you. And there birds were singing. I would eat a plate of Russian borscht... But in Shanghai it's cold? – He was talking nasal voice. Must have caught a cold.

– No, not really. Spend the night Madonna. She's in a bad mood. At ay dick with Josei novel. And how do you feel as a Feather?

– The Feather was diarrhea. I wore her to the vet. She was given an injection and told me to give medicine. And I'm a little fluey after swim in the ocean. But nothing serious. I watched the film Hitchcock. Style a bit like the novels of GU Moon [68] about martial arts. By the way, wanted to tell you. Saw with my own eyes. Yesterday, when I boarded the bus, in the salon jumped up a young punk, in appearance no older than fourteen, fifteen years old. And right in front of everyone tore from the neck of an elderly woman of a gold necklace. Nobody even tried to stop him. He jumped off the footboard and disappeared.

The horror! I said. – Be careful. I really miss you.

– I also. Well, when there's someone who can be bored.

– And when you return to Shanghai? – I asked.

– Once I read a couple of books and do some more sketches. The local people are not at all similar to Shanghai. There is more atmosphere in South-East Asia.

– OK! Kiss you!

We sent each other a resounding kiss on "one, two, three" at the same time hung up the phone.

Madonna called out to me from the bathroom:

– Honey, bring me a Bathrobe.

I opened the closet and pulled out one of Terry cotton bathrobes Tian-Tian. She opened the door and dried them, shrouded in clouds of steam.

I threw her a Bathrobe and she took a playfully seductive a pose a La Marilyn Monroe.

– Do you like my figure? Thumbs?

I folded my arms on his chest, looked at her appraisingly and told him to turn back to me. She obediently turned sideways, and then it seemed from all sides.

– Well, how? – She looked at me with enthusiasm.

To tell the truth?

– Well, of course.

– Your body contains traces of too many men, no less than hundreds.

– What do you mean?

She continued to stand in front of me without the robe.

– Breasts good. Not very big, but there is something to hold onto. Legs slender. Neck best. This neck is only a European aristocrat. But your body is weak from exhaustion, he knew too many men.

Self-pitying, she stroked his chest, touching it gently, as if to a small treasure. Then she gently held the legs, and touched the slender neck.

– I love myself. The more I get and the more fatigue, the more I like myself. You think I'm attractive? she repeated his question.

I passed and came out of the bathroom. I couldn't stand to see her pleasuring herself. Neither man nor woman could bear to look at it.

– And your apartment even more comfortable than mine, – he heard her loud voice behind me.

She wanted to talk, so we dived in one bed, lay down side by side under a fluffy duvet and turned off the light. When I was studying at Fudan University, roommate often for a long time talking, lying in the same bed. To tell each other about their secrets, passions, desires and grievances better place was not found. No man can understand the secret of dreams, a trusting and intimate friendship, and latent fears. She told me about the past, and I shared with her my memories, of course, not as bright and interesting as hers.

Her life was similar to the ornate Chinese character – crazy drunken stroke of a calligrapher. The figure of my fate was more smooth and serene: pain, sadness, happiness, unfairness is not turned me into a pariah. I was still intelligent, sensitive girl, at least from the point of view of some people.

Madonna grew up in a squalid district of Shanghai Jaba and from early childhood dreamed of becoming an artist (perhaps that is why almost all of her lovers were artists). At sixteen she ran away from home. Her father and older brother were drunkards and drunk as a skunk, threw it into her bottles. Later, their violence has become sexual in nature, they are increasingly squeezed and kicked her, extinguished cigarette butts on her chest. Weak and timid mother was unable to protect her.

Once Madonna broke down and caught the first train to Guangzhou. Her choice was poor. She got a job in a bar to entertain the customers while they drank. At the time of the city in the South of the country sprang up like mushrooms after the rain, everywhere there were many wealthy people, and some were just fabulously wealthy. In contrast girls who come from other provinces every movement Madonnas were distinguished by grace and elegance. She liked the clients she had compliments for her was ready for anything. Her situation quickly became stronger. It took not much time, and she's already got his own business and now she hired girls.

It was called "foreign doll". This affectionate nickname in Shanghai usually give pretty girls with soft skin. She sported long black dresses and spaghetti straps in a diamond ring, donated by the fans. Black-haired and white-skinned, she looked like a Queen living in a secluded Palace, sheltered from prying eyes by a thick curtain. Huge thanks to the personal connections she enjoyed great influence.

– Recalling that period of my life, and it can be called "Beauty and the beast", I think about the incarnation: then I was a different creature. I mastered the art of taming men. Maybe in old age I will write a book specifically for women, will teach them how to understand the way of thinking men, how to understand the motives of his worst actions. Snake can kill with one strong and well-aimed blow below the head but above the abdomen. Men have vulnerable spots that can push. Modern girls probably grow up faster, they are stronger and braver than us, but in many ways, women are still at a disadvantage.

She adjusted the pillow, looked at me and asked:

– Isn't it?

– If we are to be honest, the society continues to ignore the needs of women and does not support their desire to feel self-respect, ' I replied. – Those who posltlve and relaxed manner, are called rude and vulgar. And well-bred are treated as empty-headed vases for flowers.

In any case, women need to develop the mind. A little brain never hurt! Madonna paused and asked again whether I agree with it.

I nodded in the affirmative. I don't want to look like uncompromising fighter for women's rights, but much of what she said was true. With these words I suddenly opened a new, hitherto unknown Madonna – profound and Mature.

– How did you meet your late husband? – I asked.

– Some events in my life convinced me that, regardless of my influence and the many relationships I was only a beautiful but defenseless flower that can break at any moment. At that time I became friends with a girl from Chengdu [69]. She studied management at the University of Sichuan province, was very well read and could talk to me about art. Maybe I'm mean person, but always loved art. Then some of my lovers was a graduate of the Art Institute of Guangzhou, who wrote the surrealist paintings like ay dick.

The girl had nowhere to live, and I let her to his apartment. One evening we've been broken into three men ferocious, who was looking for her. It turned out they were from her hometown in Sichuan province. They collected a large amount of cash and gave it to her before leaving for Guangzhou, so she put them in a future. But almost overnight she lost all the money, and it was about one hundred thousand yuan. Left without a penny in his pocket, and she had to get to work in a bar. She tried not to meet with fellow countrymen and investors did not say anything about the loss. But in the end, these guys spotted it and came to confront her, armed with knives.

When they showed up, I took a shower. At the same time with it they decided to grab me. It was awful. Everyone in the room turned upside down, stole my jewelry and thirty thousand yuan. I tried to explain to them that you do not have to it any relation, but they still would not let me. Just put the gag in my mouth. I was scared that they were going to sell us to slave traders in Thailand or Malaysia.

We were locked in the closet. From hopelessness and despair I'm completely confused. Just imagine, just few hours ago I was basking in luxury, now turned into a piece of meat which here-here will chop! What a terrible luck! Then they came back and got the crap kicked out that girl was screaming that she was only good in whores. When they pulled the gag out of my mouth, I decided in that whatever was to save his own skin, and burn it all with fire! And I began to call all cones known to me and the important people on both sides of the law from the chief of police to the gangsters who controlled every street in the city. It has shaken their resolve for some time, and they went out to confer. The meeting dragged on, I heard them whispering to each other. Then the one that was taller, came back and said, "it Seems to me, you're the famous "Foreign doll". An error has occurred. We will immediately release you."

Telling the story, Madonna frantically clung to me, cold sweaty hands. Her fingers trembled with excitement.

– And you decided to marry? – I asked.

– Yes to quit the business, ' she replied. At that time one old miser – multimillionaire and all that – wanted to marry me. It was sickening to think that you have to sleep with this wrinkled mummy. But I overcame the revulsion and accepted. I was hoping that he would not last long, and she was right. Now I am rich and free, much happier many women. I may be stupid like a cork, but the money I have more than some virtuous unemployed seamstress. – My neighbor on the floor is unemployed. But things are not so bad. She continues to be preparing vegetables with rice for dinner at the old man waiting when he and the boy came back, ' I said. – The three of them sit at the dinner table, eat with appetite and happy life. God is just. Taking one, he gives something else in return. So sometimes I think my neighbors were lucky.

– Okay, let's assume that you spoke. Time and on the side! – peace concluded Madonna. She was fast asleep, hugging me by the shoulders and loudly sniffing my neck.

I couldn't sleep. Madonna told the story of a splinter lodged in the brain. Her body pressed against mine, and I inherited her warmth, her sadness and her dreams. She lived in no-man's land between faith and unbelief. Her body was frightening in its sensuality (as a woman, I felt it was the stronger), he emanated a feeling of latent threat. She had experienced what most people have no idea. It was felt that she might lose her composure at any moment and be as cold as an executioner's ax.

I tried to break free from her tight embrace, because I could not fall asleep until we were lying so close. But she clutched me to her harder. She groaned in her sleep and showered my face with passionate kisses, sinking into the skin of prey, wet lips. But I was not ay the Wild, nor someone else of her lovers. I tried desperately to escape, but Madonna didn't Wake up. Like poison ivy, she tenaciously wrapped around my body without moving his arms. I was hot, I panicked.

Suddenly she woke up, opened his eyes, flinging his wet eyelashes.

– What grabbed me? similar to Madonna. But it was obvious that she was pleased.

– It's you I keep, ' I answered in a whisper.

– Oh, I must have had a dream, ' she sighed. I dreamt about ay dick. I guess I really have a crush on him. I feel so alone.

She got out of bed, pulled on her Bathrobe Tian-Tian, smoothed his hair.

– It's better I'll sleep in the other room.

Leaving the bedroom, she suddenly smiled, and his face appeared strange expression.

– And admit it, it's been in my arms?

– Oh, God! – I grimaced, staring at the ceiling.

– I think I really like. No kidding. We could get close. This is probably because our Zodiac signs match each other, and with a gesture of dismissing any objections, he added: – That is, I want to say that would be your agent and arrange advertising for your new wonderful books.

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