Цветы для Элджернона

           Thiswasthedayhehadbeenwaitingfor.

           Hewasimpressiveashestoodupthereontheplat­form,and,ashespoke,Ifoundmyselfnoddingwithhim,agreeingwiththingsIknewtobetrue.Thetesting,theex­periment,thesurgery,andmysubsequentmentaldevelop­mentweredescribedatlength,andhistalkwasenlivenedbyquotationsfrommyprogressreports.MorethanonceIfoundmyselfhearingsomethingpersonalorfoolishreadtothisaudience.ThankGodIhadbeencarefultokeepmostofthedetailsaboutAliceandmyselfinmyprivatefile.

           Then,atonepointinhissummary,hesaidit:"WewhohaveworkedonthisprojectatBeekmanUniversityhavethesatisfactionofknowingwehavetakenoneofna­ture’smistakesandbyournewtechniquescreatedasupe­riorhumanbeing.WhenCharliecametoushewasoutsideofsociety,aloneinagreatcitywithoutfriendsorrelativestocareabouthim,withoutthementalequipmenttoliveanormallife.Nopast,nocontactwiththepresent,nohopeforthefuture.ItmightbesaidthatCharlieGor­dondidnotreallyexistbeforethisexperiment...."

           Idon’tknowwhyIresenteditsointenselytohavethemthinkofmeassomethingnewlymintedintheirpri­vatetreasury,butitwas—Iamcertain—echoesofthatideathathadbeensoundinginthechambersofmymindfromthetimewehadarrivedinChicago.