Цветы для Элджернона

           Icouldhavehiredapsychiatrist,butatthepriceI’dhavetopayI’mabletohiretwopsychologists—menwhoaren’tafraidtogiveawayapartofthemselvestothesepeople."

           "Whatdoyoumeanby’apartofthemselves’?"

           Hestudiedmeforamoment,andthenthroughthetirednessflashedananger."Therearealotofpeoplewhowillgivemoneyormaterials,butveryfewwhowillgivetimeandaffection.That’swhatImean."Hisvoicegrewharsh,andhepointedtoanemptybabybottleonthebookshelfacrosstheroom.

           "Youseethatbottle?"

           ItoldhimIhadwonderedaboutitwhenwecameintohisoffice.

           "Well,howmanypeopledoyouknowwhoarepre­paredtotakeagrownmanintohisarmsandlethimnursewiththebottle?Andtakethechanceofhavingthepatienturinateordefecatealloverhim?Youlooksurprised.Youcan’tunderstandit,canyou,fromwayupthereinyourresearchivorytower?Whatdoyouknowaboutbeingshutoutfromeveryhumanexperienceasourpatientshavebeen?"

           Icouldn’trestrainasmile,andheapparentlymisun­derstood,becausehestoodupandendedtheconversationabruptly.IfIcomebackheretostay,andhefindsoutthewholestory,I’msurehe’llunderstand.He’sthekindofmanwhowould.

           AsIdroveoutofWarren,Ididn’tknowwhattothink.Thefeelingofcoldgraynesswaseverywherearoundme—asenseofresignation.Therehadbeennotalkofrehabili­tation,ofcure,ofsomedaysendingthesepeopleoutintotheworldagain.Noonehadspokenofhope.