The image disappeared, and instead, Landskricht appeared, smiling good-naturedly.
- Well, there you go, and you were stubborn. It wasn't anything special, right? It's a direct neural connection.
- Yes, - agreed Zavirdyaev. - Maybe at first, figuratively speaking, it knocks you off your feet, but you can get used to it. In general, it's a kind of telepathy.
- That's what those who live on a collective farm might call it. It's a direct neural connection.
- As you say. A collective farm, then...
- Okay, you're now a little familiar with how it works. Now let's get to the main thing. You looked through my eyes. Now let's do everything a little differently. So that you don't have to learn anything, I'll just speak your language and convey facial expressions with your face. That's all.
- I thought you'd come up with something else later.
- I'm showing you. You don't have to close your eyes, - she grabbed his wrist again.
Zavirdyaev felt his mouth stretch into a crooked smile, but he couldn't do anything about it. And the feeling of his own facial expressions was somehow detached. His head turned towards the module with the instrument panel, into which one of the cameras was mounted. His eyes themselves stared at the lens, his head tilted slightly.
- That's how it works, - he said, without wanting to, and without any intention of saying anything.
- As you can see, there is nothing that causes any discomfort in this, - continued the speech apparatus, which had already ceased to obey and had taken on a life of its own. - Now something else will happen - I'm having fun, - Zavirdyaev felt his face begin to change.
It was as if he had gone somewhere inside his head, leaving control of his facial expressions and speech to someone else. However, it was completely clear to whom. Landskricht had not uttered a word the entire time.
- I'm scared, - continued Landskricht. - I'm angry, - she declared the next emotion.
During this time, Zavirdyaev also looked around and changed the video camera he was speaking into.
- Well, that's enough, - Landskricht's voice was finally heard, and Zavirdyaev immediately felt how his tongue and face again belonged to him.
- Wow, - muttered the stunned Zavirdyaev, who wanted to use foul language, but restrained himself, although now he was already convinced that Landskricht was well versed in all the intricacies of everyday speech.
- Well, yes, at first it was unusual, - she answered calmly.
- It was... Like a zombie... - Zavirdyaev continued. - You know, it's creepy!
- For you it's creepy, because in your life you've seen all sorts of nonsense. By the way, if you want to know, savages unfamiliar with civilization take it quite calmly, unlike you and generally other people spoiled by mass culture, including disproportionate education. Since savages are closer to nature, their reactions should be considered normal and natural. And although civilization is necessary, it can lead you wherever you want, and where you don't. For example, they gave birth to a self-sustaining War, which even the big bosses are not quite capable of coping with.
- Did you train on them, on the savages?
- Why did you train? I have no need to train.
- What is disproportionate education?
- When they teach you something unnecessary. Like your Soviet one.
- You don't have to continue, I heard all this from you back on Earth, only you didn't call it that there.
- So, - Landskricht interrupted the conversation, - now you will take your place, and then it will be up to me. But first, lunch. By the way, look at how you looked.
- Oh yeah! - I forgot that I was looking at the cameras, - Zavirdyaev remembered, who was still not in the mood for serious opposition.
- The first time he watched it, Zavirdyaev couldn't swallow a bite, but Landskricht didn't calm down and started replaying the recording, stopping it every now and then and commenting on the most expressive moments, pushing new and different food at him.
Zavirdyaev had already caught himself thinking, not for the first time, that there was some similarity to how they appease or encourage some dog after it has finally performed the trick or command expected of it. However, such an analogy was more the lot of some evil tongue, albeit an internal one, than an obvious tendency.
- The monitors will need to be rolled up, - Landskricht nodded at Zavirdyaev's instrument panel. - It will shake a little.
- I know. When I was descending, it shook a little, - he answered.
- How... sloppy you are. The screen could come off and then fly around the cabin. Okay, we're getting closer to Earth, - she nodded towards the chair. - Take your place.