Цветы для Элджернона

           Asshemadethatprotectivegesture,Isawtheseconddoubleimage:mymother,heavywithmysister,inthedayswhenshewasholdingmeless,warmingmelesswithhervoiceandtouch,protectingmelessagainstanyonewhodaredtosayIwassubnormal.

           IthinkIgrabbedhershoulder—I’mnotsure,butthenshewasscreaming,andIwassharplybacktorealitywiththesenseofdanger.IwantedtotellherIhadmeantnoharm—Iwouldneverhurtheroranyone."Please,don’tscream!"

           Butshewasscreaming,andIheardtherunningfootstepsonthedarkenedpath.Thiswassomethingnoonewouldunderstand.Iranintothedarkness,tofindanexitfromthepark,zig-zaggingacrossonepathanddownan­other.Ididn’tknowthepark,andsuddenlyIcrashedintosomethingthatthrewmebackwards.Awire-meshfence—adeadend.ThenIsawtheswingsandslidesandrealizeditwasachildren’splaygroundlockedupforthenight.Ifol­lowedthefence,andkeptgoing,half-running,stumblingovertwistedroots.Atthelakethatcurvedaroundneartheplayground,Idoubledback,foundanotherpath,wentoverthesmallfootbridgeandthenaroundandunderit.Noexit.

           "Whatisit?Whathappened,lady?"

           "Amaniac?"

           "Youallright?"

           "Whichwaydidhego?"

           IhadcircledbacktowhereIhadstartedfrom.Islippedbehindthehugeoutcroppingofarockandascreenofbrambleanddroppedflatonmystomach.

           "Getacop.There’sneveracopwhenyouneedone."

           "Whathappened?"

           "Adegeneratetriedtorapeher."

           "Hey,someguydownthereischasinghim