Цветы для Элджернона

           ThelargewhiteroomintowhichGuarinoushersthemsmellsrecentlypainted,anditisalmostbare—twodesksononesideoftheroom,andontheother,ahugemachinewithrowsofdialsandfourlongarmslikeden­tist’sdrills.Nearbyisablackleatherexaminationtablewiththick,webbed,restrainingstraps.

           "Well,well,well,"saysGuarino,raisinghiseyebrows,"sothisisCharlie."Hegripstheboy’sshouldersfirmly."We’regoingtobefriends."

           "Canyoureallydoanythingforhim,Dr.Guarino?"saysMatt."Haveyouevertreatedthiskindofthingbe­fore?Wedon’thavemuchmoney."

           TheeyebrowscomedownlikeshuttersasGuarinofrowns."Mr.Gordon,haveIsaidanythingyetaboutwhatIcoulddo?Don’tIhavetoexaminehimfirst?Maybesomethingcanbedone,maybenot.Firsttherewillhavetobephysicalandmentalteststodeterminethecausesofthepathology.Therewillbeenoughtimelatertotalkofprog­nosis.Actually,I’mverybusythesedays.IonlyagreedtolookintothiscasebecauseI’mdoingaspecialstudyofthistypeofneuralretardation.Ofcourse,ifyouhavequalms,thenperhaps..."

           Hisvoicetrailsoffsadly,andheturnsaway,butRoseGordonjabsatMattwithherelbow."Myhusbanddoesn’tmeanthatatall,Dr.Guarino.Hetalkstoomuch."SheglaresatMattagaintowarnhimtoapologize.

           Mattsighs."IfthereisanywayyoucanhelpCharlie,we’lldoanythingyouask.Thingsareslowthesedays.