Chapter Three
Interior. Bathhouse for ghosts. It is still night.
The manager hesitantly knocks on the door of the booth.
Manager
Sorry, I thought I heard a voice from here.
Someone was singing very beautifully. And I really liked the song. Was that you singing?
No one answers the manager. After a
short pause, he speaks again:
We are looking for a singer. Millions of ghost fans will
adore your voice. Tours, performances, photo shoots - all this will be at your
service if you agree to cooperate with our concert agency.
Madam, do you understand what I am talking about?
Suddenly, a high-pitched female voice comes from behind the booth door.
Female voice
What is the name of your concert agency?
Manager
We don't have a name. Jiniba, our owner, calls us "Concert Agency Number Two". We specialize in finding talented ghosts who knew how to sing and dance in their past lives. Your voice touched me to the depths of my soul. You have the opportunity to perform tomorrow.
Have you ever sung with an orchestra?
Female voice
I must have been a singer in my past life. Although, I'm not sure about that. But for some reason, I always want to sing. The lines of songs are constantly spinning in my head.
Manager
Your face is probably as beautiful as your voice. Could you please get dressed and come out of the booth so we can get acquainted?
Female Voice
What will I get if I agree to your offer?
Manager
Anything you want, including a separate house in the ghost park. However, if you wish, you can live in a house that is made in a rustic style, similar to the house that Mrs. Jiniba has at the Bottom of the Swamp station.
However, we are already looking too far ahead. Let's start with introductions.
Female Voice
I'm not ready yet. I just entered this booth recently. I need a good steam bath to get myself in order. Could you come see me in half an hour?
Manager
Mistress, in my case, time is ghost money. Concert t will take place tomorrow night. If you meet all our requirements, then there are still many formalities to be sorted out. In addition, we will need to choose a style for you, adjust the equipment to your voice, and, of course, choose a concert outfit.
Female voice
This all sounds wonderful, but, as I have already told you, I need to get myself in order. In addition, I need meditation. And you are knocking me off the right wave.
Manager
I feel that you are a subtle creative person. Okay, madam. I will leave now, but I will be back in half an hour.
As soon as the manager left, a dark shadow moved out from around the corner. The shadow did not ask permission, but simply darted into the crack between the door and the jamb of the booth.
The manager returned, as promised, in half an hour. To his surprise, the woman with the beautiful voice responded immediately as soon as he asked the question: "Madam, are you ready? I have already notified the administrator, and he is looking forward to meeting you."
Female voice
Yes. I'm leaving.
The beauty of the woman who came out of the booth exceeded all the manager's expectations. Clouds of steam rushed after the slender silhouette, a bright light came from the woman's eyes, her lips were so red that you wanted to kiss them. There was nothing special about the woman, but the charm came from within. Coming out of the booth, the woman staggered. It even seemed to the manager that she had split into two. The two shadows of the woman, light and dark, moved away from each other, and then intertwined again.
Woman
Oh, what's wrong with me, I feel like I'm in a dream, as if I'm not myself, as if I'm two people. I need to lower my blood pressure!
Manager
What?
Woman
I'm saying that the infusion in the bath today was amazing! I feel so light.
Manager
Madam, if you're ready, then let's go to the office of our agency. It's in the next building, not far from here.
Woman
But after the bath, you can't go out into the cold street.
Manager
What are you saying, madam, you don't need to go outside. The elevator will take us up to the tunnel, and another elevator will take us down to the desired floor of another building.