Цветы для Элджернона
PROGRESS REPORT 13
Iwantedtogetupandshoweveryonewhatafoolhewas,toshoutathim:I’mahumanbeing,aperson—withparentsandmemoriesandahistory—andIwasbeforeyoueverwheeledmeintothatoperatingroom!
AtthesametimedeepintheheatofmyangertherewasforgedanoverwhelminginsightintothethingthathaddisturbedmewhenStraussspokeandagainwhenNemuramplifiedhisdata.Theyhadmadeamistake—ofcourse!Thestatisticalevaluationofthewaitingperiodnecessarytoprovethepermanenceofthechangehadbeenbasedonearlierexperimentsinthefieldofmentaldevelopmentandlearning,onwaitingperiodswithnormallydullornormallyintelligentanimals.Butitwasobviousthatthewaitingperiodwouldhavetobeextendedinthosecaseswhereananimalsintelligencehadbeenincreasedtwoorthreetimes.
Nemur’sconclusionshadbeenpremature.ForbothAlgernonandmyself,itwouldtakemoretimetoseeifthischangewouldstickTheprofessorshadmadeamistake,andnooneelsehadcaughtit.Iwantedtojumpupandtellthem,butIcouldn’tmove.LikeAlgernon,Ifoundmyselfbehindthemeshofthecagetheyhadbuiltaroundme.
Nowtherewouldbeaquestionperiod,andbeforeIwouldbeallowedtohavemydinner,Iwouldberequiredtoperformbeforethisdistinguishedgathering.No.Ihadtogetoutofthere.
"...Inonesense,hewastheresultofmodernpsychologicalexperimentation.
