Guy--Part Twenty-Two

Splog #91

Twenty-Two

 

   A wave of organ music filled the air as the eyes opened and the line that had reminded Guy of a mouth (good guess!) started moving.

   "Dee-da-da-da! Dee-da-da-da! Dum-diddy-dum-diddy-dum-dum-dum! I thought that would be a pleasant mode of awakening for you. As soon as you're fully awake, we'll have a nutritious breakfast and embark on a rather remarkable - excuse me, why are you holding me upside down? (You should close your mouth before you start drooling.) I had rather expected to find you stretched out comfortably beside me on the sand and not standing in water up to your - Excuse me, but there's a wall of water behind you - Excuse me, but what exactly is going on here?"

   Guy still hadn't closed his mouth and was simply staring at the head in a state of astonishment.

   "Excuse me, but can you hear me? Are you awake?"

   The head paused for a moment and then began again.

   "Excuse me, if you are aware of me and of what I am saying, would you be so kind as to nod your head up and down in response to this query?"

   After a brief moment, Guy did as the head requested and brought his own head up and then down and then back to its original position.

   "Now we're getting somewhere," the head murmured in an undertone.

   By now the water was lapping at Guy's chin, though he paid it no attention in his amazement, and the head, who was obviously aware of the situation, spoke again.

   "Now, it seems to me that the most expedient thing for us to do in this exceedingly damp predicament is to combine our resources. What I require of you is to raise your hands up and turn them over and place me - rightside up - on the top of your head. Is that clearly explained and understood?"

   The head stopped speaking and awaited a response. Guy slowly lifted his arms and when his hands were high enough he rotated his wrists so that the head, which had been toward him with its face upside down, rested upon the top of his head with its face rightside up and looking in the same direction as he himself was.

   As the water was now over his chin and rising past his lips, Guy closed his mouth tightly and, without thinking about it, brought one hand down from the head and pinched his nose shut with his thumb and forefinger.

   As the realization dawned that his hands were free, he started to open his eyes wide in surprise, but immediately reclosed them and held them shut as the level of the water climbed his face. His amazement at the phenomenon of the talking head had dismissed any fear of drowning. But now that he was practically submerged, he was about to start trying to swim for the surface when a new sensation began to engulf him.

   It felt as though the object which had spoken to him was melting and spreading all over his head, on the top and down the sides and over his face. His eyes and mouth were tightly shut but he could feel something moving on his skin. It was a different temperature than the water which had encompassed his head a moment before and, even though he was holding his nose shut, he felt warmth oozing between his fingers and his nose. Now his whole head, and about halfway down his neck, was suffused with warmth.

   And then, to his surprise, his mouth opened and he said,

   "Excuse me, but you can open your eyes and mouth now and you shouldn't have any trouble breathing as long as you stay relaxed and take easy breaths."

   There was a pause.

   "Excuse me, I know I opened your mouth so I could speak to you and then I told you that you could open your mouth and that might have confused you a little. I mean, telling you that you could open your mouth with your own mouth...but you can still open your eyes and you really should breathe..."

   Guy had no choice where the last suggestion was concerned and a long uncontrolled sigh burst out of him.