Dolls.
The doll.
What Ulises had in front of him was a doll.
But it wasn't like any other doll he had seen before.
For starters, it had the height of a young girl.
It was also quite authentic, her skin was neither of wood nor porcelain, and her hair seemed to be the real deal.
He got closer to her and took her right hand.
He was enthralled by the doll. She was beautiful and the attire her creator had given her was too revealing, showing her perfect figure.
He looked at her face, her eyes closed, her peaceful expression and the slightly inclined head gave the impression that in reality he was watching a sleeping girl.
Ulises had heard of the old Artesan's skill before, but that was the first time he had seen one of her works in person.
Artisan
So, what do you think?
The Artisan's voice made him jump and take a couple of steps back. He didn't notice her entering the study.
Ulises
She certainly is a work of art, Madame.
The Artisan sighed and walked to the desk where the doll was sitting.
She grabbed the doll's head with both hands and examined her face.
Artisan
The client doesn't want her, and if it failed to meet the client's demands then it's a failure.
Ulises
She looks perfect to me.
Ulises
What are you going to do with her, Madame?
The Artisan turned around and looked him in the eyes.
Artisan
You referred to it as "her".
Those words made him realize that from the very first moment he had been thinking about the doll as a human being.
Ulises
Well... She... It looks too real. Anyone could mistake her for a genuine girl.
Ulises
I mean, her skin, her hair, the weight of her hand, everything about her is extremely authentic. When I look at her I can't help but think she's just sleeping.
The Artisan extended her right hand to him.
From that day on Ulises would be working as the Artisan's assistant.
Casiane.
Ulises
I've been wondering... Why did you give her those clothes, Madame?
Ulises asked the Artisan while both were sitting in the house's kitchen enjoying a cup of coffee.
He had been working for two weeks as her assistant.
Artisan
The client requested it.
Ulises
Every detail of a doll is made at the clients request, Madame?
Artisan
The body, the clothes and the personality. All I make them with the sole purpose of satisfying my clients' wishes.
The Artisan took a sip from her cup before continuing.
Artisan
After all, they pay me good money for them.
Ulises
Madame, you mean the way they act?
Artisan
I mean the way they are.
Her answer made him more curious. He still hadn't seen one of the dolls in action, his tasks weren't involved with her boss' craft, he was there just to take care of the housework.
The Artisan's house was a three story mansion that looked pretty normal, the only out of the ordinary places were the study and the workshop.
The first time he entered the workshop he felt sick. It was a large room in the underground not too different from a dungeon with no windows. A line of ancient chandeliers hanging from the rooftop provided the necessary light to illuminate the room. Three of the four walls were occupied by countless shelves and drawers.
On the shelves there were glass bottles of all sizes stored with "parts".
In the middle a large table served as a workbench. On it there was an unfinished doll lying face down with her back wide open as if she were about to undergo some kind of surgery.
Artisan
It looks like the real deal, but it's just an imitation.
The Artisan said behind Ulises.
Ulises
Madame, what do you mean?
He asked her with his eyes wide open and fixated on the doll.
Suddenly he started to feel a bit sick, he never had the nerve for blood.
Artisan
Every single bit of that body is synthetic. A perfect copy of how the human body is constructed.
Artisan
The bone, the muscle, the skin and hair, all is trying to reproduce is the architecture that allows you and me to stand here and have this chat.
For him the body lying on the table was no different than a human's, he wasn't able to tell the difference.
Artisan
You don't have to take care of this room.
And so he didn't see her working on her craft, the doll making process remained a mystery to him.
But he couldn't help wondering how she was capable of creating such perfect replicas of the human body.
And now the Artisan told him they also had personalities. If they looked and acted like a normal person, wouldn't that make them practically human?
Ulises
Casiane... You mean the doll in the study? I didn't expect you to give them names, Madame.
Ulises
What will you do with her?
The Artisan took another sip from her cup before answering.
Artisan
I still don't know.
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