Цветы для Элджернона
PROGRESS REPORT 13
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.