308. The Fifth Comb

308. The Fifth Comb

Rosendo opened the package that Teddy Theodore had delivered. He undid the cobalt blue ribbon round it and removed the golden paper. And what he had before him was a leather case with embossed reddish-pink roses and green leaves. Very pretty the case was.

“Shall we open it?” the great grandmother asked her great grandson. “Open it yourself, darling. You know it is for you.”

Rosendo zipped the case open. Within it were nine moonstone combs.

“Combs! And how lovely they are!”

“No, dear. Only one. Don’t be surprised. All the combs are for you. But the gift I am truly giving you is just one of these. The rest are there to camouflage the special comb. You are going to have to learn how to go unnoticed when you use it. Yes, one of these combs is special.But no one must be aware of this. Or they will want to steal it from you.”

 “Ah!” said Rosendo, studying the combs to see if one stood out.

“It is the fifth comb. It could have been the third. Three is a very magical number. Ot the seventh. Seven is the lucky number by excellence. But to go unnoticed, it is the fifth, A less notorious number.

“Ah!”

“Draw it out. The fifth comb. You must know how to distinguish it from the rest. You, yes.”

“By its size,” said Rosendo.

“When it is among the others, yes. Because all have different sizes. But when by itself, it won’t be that easy.”

“Here, in this corner, there seems to be a little blue face. “

“Well, that too. Listen, this comb is a genuine replica of the one I just used to put AEternus to sleep. He’ll wake up any minute now. Very relaxed at first, and if we are lucky, and he is too, he’ll take the little girls to pick flowers for their may baskets. But it is likely he will soon start to growl if someone reminds him of Brushland and the thieving bird and the inhabitted big wig.”

“Ah, the girls will tell him that! How the wig is infested with nests…”

 “Then we have no time to lose. I have to charge the comb. Where is there water? All that is needed to make the comb work its magic is a bit of local water. Whenever you have used it, you must wash it with local water and that’s that. Ready to work again.”

“There is a fountain right here,”said Rosendo, “but will this water do?”

“Yes, if ´tis blessed island water. Now we´ll know.”

The greatmother and her great grandson walked up to one of the many fountains there are all over the island, placed there so anyone who is thirsty or wishes to refresh himself can do so. The water that springs from these fountains is of the purest, musical and crystalline, with light blue reflections. Divina washed the fifth comb in such water.

“Enjoy me and my powers,” said the water, as it dropped tinkling like a silver bell. The water of the fountains of Apple Island can speak, or rather sing, with a heavenly voice, inviting you to use it well.

“Done,” said Divina, after havingthanked the water for its service. “No need to leave the comb under the light of the moon or any of that. With a little bath, we´ve enough. Now you can tranquilize anyone who allows himself to be combed. In your case, first to be calmed shall be Brushland.”

“Oh!” said Rosendo.

“Look, I am going to hand you a brochure with instructions on how to use the comb. Read it as quickly and thoroughly as you can, and try to interiorize all they say, because the brochure will destroy itself quite quickly. You understand that this gift I am giving you is very important and one must be very careful with it? It can knock anyone out.”

“Yes, Great Gran.”

The brochure Divina made appear said: Firstly, never raise suspicion. Wash after use. Wash all the combs at the same time whenever possible, if it doesn’t look odd. Thirdly, Massage the patient’s head before using the comb so that everyone will think the massage is what conks the patient out. Tell the patient he must keep his eyes shut while you massage his head so he can relax better. This should make observers fail to notice exactly when the patient conks out. Fourthly, pass the comb as soon as you are done massaging. It must look as if you are doing this so as not to leave the patient’s hair looking messy. As soon as the comb grazes the patient’s head, he or she will fall fast asleep. Pass the comb thrice through his locks and that will be enough to leave him slumbering for an hour. The more you use the comb on a patient, the longer he will remain asleep. The peace the patient shall feel when he wakes will last for seventy-two hours if he has slept for a whole hour. Unless someone makes him hysterical. But even thus, whatever he does, he will do with serenity and better judgement than usual. Lastly, do not use the comb  on just anyone. And don’t be stupid enough to try it on yourself. It is a  highly dangerous weapon you are being trusted with.

As for Brushland: Speak first with Henny Parry, the apothecary. He can be trusted. Between you both you should be able to convince the lunatic that he has to submit to a daily treatment if he wants to get rid of his mad ideas.Once convinced, and I hope he will be easily, tell him he must drop by Malvinio's beauty salon every day as soon as it opens. That is all the madman has to do, show up and put himself in your hands.Then you must massage his head to conceal what you are really doing. For five minutes or so. Then immediately pass the comb through his hair. The minute it grazes his head, he will conk out. This will look like the result of the massage. You comb Brushland a bit as if you don’t want him to have messy hair and then you wash the comb and keep it while he sleeps. Do this without raising suspicion. Be very natural.When Brushland wakes, even though the effect will last seventy two hours, remind him that this is a daily treatment and he must return the next morning. He’ll do this. He is desperate.

The brochure destroyed itself as soon as Rosendo had read it and said he had understood everything and knew what to do and would remember all the instructions. I, Little Dolphus, had read it too, so I could be of aid to Rosendo should he forget something. My memory is both photographic and infallible.

“One last bit of advice,” Great Gran Divina said to Rosendo. “It is possible that Brushland will want to move to the beauty parlour and live there to make sure he gets there at the appointed time every day. You must discuss this with Malvinio. No, I myself will. Yes, I myself and right now. Don’t worry about this detail. I will make it my business to convince Malvinio.”