О дивный новый мир

           Intheend,shedecidednottoruntheriskoflettingithaveaseconddose,andmoveddownthelinetothenextbottle.

           Twenty-twoyears,eightmonths,andfourdaysfromthatmoment,apromisingyoungAlpha-MinusadministratoratMwanza-Mwanzawastodieoftrypanosomiasis–thefirstcaseforoverhalfacentury.Sighing,Leninawentonwithherwork.

           Anhourlater,intheChangingRoom,Fannywasenergeticallyprotesting."Butit’sabsurdtoletyourselfgetintoastatelikethis.Simplyabsurd,"sherepeated."Andwhatabout?Aman–oneman."

           "Buthe’stheoneIwant."

           "Asthoughthereweren’tmillionsofothermenintheworld."

           "ButIdon’twantthem."

           "Howcanyouknowtillyou’vetried?"

           "Ihavetried."

           "Buthowmany?"askedFanny,shrugginghershoulderscontemptuously."One,two?"

           "Dozens.But,"shakingherhead,"itwasn’tanygood,"sheadded.

           "Well,youmustpersevere,"saidFannysententiously.Butitwasobviousthatherconfidenceinherown

           prescriptionshadbeenshaken."Nothingcanbeachievedwithoutperseverance.""Butmeanwhile...""Don’tthinkofhim.""Ican’thelpit.""Takesoma,then.""Ido."

           "Well,goon.""ButintheintervalsIstilllikehim.Ishallalwayslikehim."

           "Well,ifthat’sthecase,"saidFanny,withdecision,"whydon’tyoujustgoandtakehim.Whetherhewantsitorno."

           "Butifyouknewhowterriblyqueerhewas!""Allthemorereasonfortakingafirmline.""It’sallverywelltosaythat."