Цветы для Элджернона

           "Butifitisirreversible,"intrudedoneoftheotherpsychologistswhohadjoinedthelittleaudience,"howisitpossiblethatMr.Gordonhereisnolongerretarded?"

           "Ah!"crowedNemur,"Isaidthedestructiontothetissuewasirreversible,nottheprocessitself.Manyre­searchershavebeenabletoreversetheprocessthroughin­jectionsofchemicalswhichcombinewiththedefectiveenzymes,changingthemolecularshapeoftheinterferingkey,asitwere.Thisiscentraltoourowntechniqueaswell.

           Butfirst,weremovethedamagedportionsofthebrainandpermittheimplantedbraintissuewhichhasbeenchemicallyrevitalizedtoproducebrainproteinsatasuper­normalrate—"

           "Justaminute,ProfessorNemur,"Isaid,interruptinghimattheheightofhisperoration."WhataboutRahaja-mati’sworkinthatfield?"

           Helookedatmeblankly."Who?"

           "Rahajamati.HisarticleattacksTanida’stheoryofenzymefusion—theconceptofchangingthechemicalstructureoftheenzymeblockingthestepinthemetabolicpathway."

           Hefrowned."Wherewasthatarticletranslated?"

           "Ithasn’tbeentranslatedyet.IreaditintheHinduJournalofPsychopathologyjustafewdaysago."

           Helookedathisaudienceandtriedtoshrugitoff."Well,Idon’tthinkwehaveanythingtoworryabout.Ourresultsspeakforthemselves."

           "ButTanidahimselffirstpropoundedthetheoryofblockingthemaverickenzymethroughcombination,andnowhepointsoutthat—"

           "Oh,comenow,Charlie.