Цветы для Элджернона

           Whenthetractorstartedforwardagain,Icouldseeintherearviewmirrorthathewaslookingafterme,curiously.Itupsetme...becauseheremindedmeofCharlie.

           Iwasstartledtofindtheheadpsychologistsoyoung,atall,leanmanwithatiredlookonhisface.Buthissteadyblueeyessuggestedastrengthbehindtheyouthfulexpression.

           Hedrovemearoundthegroundsinhisowncar,anapointedouttherecreationhall,hospital,school,administrativeoffices,andthetwo-storybrickbuildingshecalledcottageswherethepatientslived.

           "Ididn’tnoticeafencearoundWarren,"Isaid.

           "No,onlyagateattheentranceandhedgestokeepoutcuriosityseekers."

           "Buthowdoyoukeep...them...fromwanderingoff...fromleavingthegrounds?"

           Heshruggedandsmiled."Wecan’t,really.Someofthemdowanderoff,butmostofthemreturn."

           "Don’tyougoafterthem?"

           Helookedatmeasiftryingtoguesswhatwasbehindmyquestion."No.Iftheygetintotrouble,wesoonknowaboutitfromthepeopleintown—orthepolicebringthemback."

           "Andifnot?"

           "Ifwedon’thearaboutthem,orfromthem,weassumethey’vemadesomesatisfactoryadjustmentontheoutside.You’vegottounderstand,Mr.Gordon,thisisn’taprison.Wearerequiredbythestatetomakeallreasonableeffortstogetourpatientsback,butwe’renotequippedtocloselysu­pervisefourthousandpeopleatalltimes.Theoneswhomanagetoleaveareallhigh-morontypes—notthatwe’regettingmanyofthoseanymore.