Цветы для Элджернона

           Inplaceofafeeble-mindedshell,aburdenonthesocietythatmustfearhisirresponsiblebe­havior,wehaveamanofdignityandsensitivity,readytotakehisplaceasacontributingmemberofsociety.IshouldlikeyoualltohearafewwordsfromCharlieGordon..."

           Goddamnhim.Hedidn’tknowwhathewastalkingabout.Atthatpoint,thecompulsionoverwhelmedme.Iwatchedinfascinationasmyhandmoved,independentofmywill,topulldownthelatchofAlgernon’scage.AsIopenedithelookedupatmeandpaused.Thenheturned,dartedoutofhiscage,andscamperedacrossthelongtable.

           Atfirst,hewaslostagainstthedamasktablecloth,ablurofwhiteonwhite,untilawomanatthetablescreamed,knockingherchairbackwardsassheleapedtoherfeet.Beyondher,pitchersofwateroverturned,andthenBurtshouted."Algernon’sloose!"Algernonjumpeddownfromthetable,ontotheplatformandthentothefloor.

           "Gethim!Gethim!"Nemurscreechedastheaudience,dividedinitsaims,becameatangleofarmsandlegs.Someofthewomen(non-experimentalists?)triedtostandontheunstablefoldingchairswhileothers,tryingtohelpcornerAlgernon,knockedthemover.

           "Closethosebackdoors!"shoutedBurt,whorealizedAlgernonwassmartenoughtoheadinthatdirection.

           "Run,"Iheardmyselfshout."Thesidedoor!"

           "He’sgoneoutthesidedoor,"someoneechoed.

           "Gethim!Gethim!"beggedNemur.

           ThecrowdsurgedoutoftheGrandBallroomintothecorridor,asAlgernon,scamperingalongthemarooncar­petedhallway,ledthemamerrychase.