The grandmother
Heathrow airport on the eve of Christmas resembled a hell kromeshnyj. People, carts, suitcases, bags. And again people, people, people. And here still this devil's fog because of which all flights were postponed, and now it was not clear, whether the passengers who have turned pale from a nervous tension will have time to reach the family in time. Around stood, sat, slept – on not numerous benches, on own belongings – on a floor.
Lajza worked for proof registration the fifth hour without change. Even a toilet there was no time to reach. The personnel did not suffice, and it taking into account that have called also additional employees. Now the fog has started to dissipate and, like, all is fast should to go on a harmony. But while at racks such turns were built what to look at them it was terrible. And the end-edge it was not visible to it. Lajza has brushed away from a forehead cold sweat and as learnt, with a smile has looked at the reached passengers new, at last, it. The emaciated kind of the Pakistan family said what to defend in turn it it was necessary not one hour. Moreover with children, a heap of luggage and the old grandmother who has fallen asleep for weariness in an invalid carriage. Babulja, according to custom, it has been rolled up in black attires. Only the strip of the person with eyes remained opened. All the rest – even brushes of hands – hid in uncountable, similar to the dark sea, clothes.
Lajza has wearily looked in the monitor — at the breadboard model of passenger salon consisting of red and green squares. Red colour – already occupied armchairs – hurt the eyes. Green stains remains very little, and they have appeared are scattered on all salon. Lajza has heaved a deep sigh – it is necessary to explain to a family, that it cannot plant all of them together. Usually in such cases people start to be indignant, on what light costs, and to abuse the company. And that is correct – under group the reservation, moreover and with the invalid, places are usually reserved in advance that did not leave as now. But in a today's fussing bottom when the board for any reasons varied already some times to make it it was not possible.
Trying to look as more as possible benevolently, Lajza has greeted passengers, and has started unpleasant procedure of explanations. Strangely enough, the family was not indignant. Have asked only that mum have placed near to the small son, and the daddy – with the grandmother-invalid. The others it is possible randomly. Lajza was surprised, has sighed with simplification and has started check of electronic tickets and passports. According to the instruction to each passenger questions were set. But to awake grandmother Lajza has not dared – the old lady and so naterpelas in this crush and vanity, let will have a sleep. For it the son has answered. Lajza has checked up boarding passes, has verified data with a picture on the monitor, has pasted backs of luggage labels on passports and has wished passengers of pleasant flight. If in today's conditions it in general was possible.
The head of family has gloomy smiled in the answer and began to make the way hasty through crowd to an exit from a registration zone, carrying before itself mum on an invalid carriage. They still should defend zmeistuju turn to personal inspection and passport control point. After the summer statement of terrorists for intention to blow up planes taking off from London, the control has become tougher and occupied now much more time, than earlier. So ahead of pleasant was a little.
William – it is strange, that parents have named its English name, probably, in gratitude for successful moving and good luck on the British earth – accurately maneuvering a carriage made the way through dense wood of human bodies. At it looked disapprovingly when it necessarily touched somebody, but having noticed an invalid armchair, respectfully and sympathetically parted. How much it was physically possible. In a shower William was deeply grateful to them. Without the help and a step on which Englishmen are generous, it and has gloomily got stuck for a long time. The family in single file made the way behind it.
In turn on examination they have defended even two hours. But safety, as they say, first of all. Nobody was indignant. The people informed on an interdiction to carry by with self a liquid through a zone of examination, reasonably threw out in garbage tanks of a bottle with water at once after registration. And now stood, swallowing of the dried up mouths, stuffy air. Children cried, and, having got tired, fell asleep at adults on hands. That are more senior stoically maintained the hardship which has comprehended them. William on the five did not turn around at all – the wife was engaged in them. The grandmother was its care now only.
At last, sweated and with a pain in feet, they have reached frameworks. It was necessary to remove boots and proshlepat on nothing to the covered floor through a framework on one. Children have passed. There has passed the wife with the younger son on hands. There was William and the grandmother. He knew what go it cannot. To take through a framework in a carriage, by itself, it is impossible. The carriage should pass through the scanner for hand luggage. Personal inspection, passing a framework, has been temporarily forbidden in connection with terror threat. William has sighed hard. Has fallen before the grandmother on knees, has taken off from it shoes. Has then pulled down boots from itself and has put them together with its shoes in a special plastic box. It was necessary to contrive and carry by somehow mum through a framework on hands. Other exit is not present. William has very much strained and, having squeezed under it hands, has extended the grandmother from an armchair. From sharp movement it has not frowned and has not woken up at all. Eyes and remained are closed. And the head was not kept at the son on a shoulder and has overhung downwards, as at a weak-willed rag doll. William has grown cold. Mortally was frightened. He has tried to correct a head, to force it to accept natural position, but hands have been occupied, and clumsy movements by all body did not bring any results.
The lady of average years sitting in front of the monitor behind a framework, has stared at it and has taken alarm. Has seized a portable radio set. Began to speak in it quietly, but accurately and intensively – so that those to whom it is addressed have heard and those who costs in expectation of the turn in crowd have not understood. William amazed with a thunder, in the shirt which has got wet through from sweat, stood as the idol with the grandmother on hands and small shivered. To it have approached. Have persuaded to put the old lady back – in a carriage and to depart while, not to detain turn. Have explained, that have called the doctor. Sympathised: no wonder, that in such hell to the poor thing it became absolutely thin. William grievously was silent.
Hospital attendants were. Them hasty, any special secret passages, spent in a first-aid post. The wife and children remained on that party of a framework. In twenty minutes planting will be declared, William with the grandmother will not be in time, and then all. The end.
They have stayed in a first-aid post absolutely not for long – the doctor instantly verified death. Hardly took the grandmother for a wrist and has there and then released. Has called by somewhere to phone. The foamy representative of airline on which tickets have been bought has come running. The tousled chief of service of passenger transportations of the airport has rushed. The representative has straight off rushed to calm William, to condole, apologise, console. The chief has measured by spiteful steps an office. The doctor turned before the dead old woman – twisted it before itself more precisely. That is closer to light – to glance, having raised an eyelid, in pupils hardly far away, to estimate a complexion. Then something has written down, sowing for a desk. Has loudly apologised, has called up to itself the representative. That has approached. William furtively, from under the lowered eyelids, behind them observed. At first the representative has turned pale. Has then flushed. Has then compressed fists and if the doctor has not had time to seize it by folds of a uniform jacket, would snatch on William and has beaten. The doctor continued to whisper it something on an ear. Gradually he began to breathe measuredly and deeply. Fists were unclenched. The doctor has released.
The representative has risen before William and, diligently restraining in expressions, he declared, that and, naturally grandmother, are removed from flight. Has informed, that owing to difficult circumstances at the airport and thanks to that nobody has suffered, police, well, will not involve. But the decision needs to be accepted. Or William as it is necessary, pays «cargo 200» and flies following flight – its family on a place will wait. Or it is immediately cleaned from the airport and does not dare to show any claims and to demand the refund for the ticket. Or the police about all will be immediately informed.
William would be glad to agree on the first variant, but than money for transportation payment «cargo 200» which cost is not ten times more expensive almost, than the usual ticket of economy class, at it was not. It and so has collected everything, that could to take off with a family home mothers. The numerous relatives that with honours to betray its body to the earth near to the father there should meet. «And why only the dead stand more expensively the live?» — he has inertly thought. Has risen, has politely said goodbye, has apologised for the caused inconveniences and left, rolling mum ahead of itself, for a door. William fine understood, that if not a fog and not Christmas so simply to get out to it it was not possible. Therefore has decided not to test destiny. It has dialled number of the wife. Ordered to act in film from flight, to receive back luggage and to come back to the car. It has gone together with mum at once on parking where waited correct family for "penalties". «Ah, mum, mum – he talked to it on road – what for you have died?». Mum in the answer was silent. « Excuse, that could not execute your will – to return you to parents and to the husband. But I will think up something. You will necessarily lay in the native earth. »
William sat in the car and waited a family. Outside suddenly, as if on magic, has tumbled down snow. The fog was again condensed. William did not know, how it is pleasant to mum, and to receive its answer could not any more, but has decided, that it will be better, if it cremate, and it will transport ashes where it is necessary, to ancestors. With an urn it is easier. Start up in salon. The truth the magnificent funeral appointed for tomorrow, it is necessary to cancel and it is not clear, whether they will take place then. On a shower at William it was not clear and heavy. And more terribly annoyingly on themselves that all plans so suddenly were scattered and have failed. He looked in the wrinkled person of mother and sighed. Sometimes it seemed to it, that she reproachfully sighs together with it.
Lajzu chided in an office of the chief of service of transportations of the airport. Meticulously enquired. Found out. She felt herself disgustingly. Of the Christmas award because of a negligence and its inattention have already deprived.
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