Цветы для Элджернона

           Thefruitofthattreewasforbiddentoman.Charlie,ifyoudoneanythingyouwasn’tsupposedto—youknow,likewiththedevilorsomething—maybeitain’ttoolatetogetoutofit.Maybeyoucouldgobacktobeingthegoodsimplemanyouwasbefore."

           "There’snogoingback,Fanny.Ihaven’tdoneany­thingwrong.I’mlikeamanbornblindwhohasbeengivenachancetoseelight.Thatcan’tbesinful.Soonthere’llbemillionslikemeallovertheworld.Sciencecandoit,Fanny."

           Shestareddownatthebrideandgroomonthewed­dingcakeshewasdecoratingandIcouldseeherlipsbarelymoveasshewhispered:"ItwasevilwhenAdamandEveatefromthetreeofknowledge.Itwasevilwhentheysawtheywasnaked,andlearnedaboutlustandshame.AndtheywasdrivenoutofParadiseandthegateswasclosedtothem.Ifnotforthatnoneofuswouldhavetogrowoldandbesickandthe."

           Therewasnothingmoretosay,toherortotherestofthem.Noneofthemwouldlookintomyeyes.Icanstillfeelthehostility.Before,theyhadlaughedatme,despisingmeformyignoranceanddullness;now,theyhatedmeformyknowledgeandunderstanding.Why?"WhatinGod’snamedidtheywantofme?

           ThisintelligencehasdrivenawedgebetweenmeandallthepeopleIknewandloved,drivenmeoutofthebak­ery.Now,I’mmorealonethaneverbefore.IwonderwhatwouldhappeniftheyputAlgernonbackinthebigcagewithsomeoftheothermice.