Цветы для Элджернона

           Sothatreallyletstheairoutofme.IlikeherevenifIdisapprove.Butinspiteofthat,ifyou’vegottodrinkwithherandspendallofyourtimewithherinnightclubsandcabaretsdancing,thenshe’sinyourway.Andthat’saproblemonlyyoucansolve."

           "Anotheroneofthose?"Ilaughed.

           "Areyouuptothisone?You’redeeplyinvolvedwithher.Icantell."

           "Notallthatdeep."

           "Haveyoutoldheraboutyourself?"

           "No."

           Imperceptibly,Icouldseeherrelax.Bykeepingthese­cretaboutmyself,IhadsomehownotcommittedmyselftoFaycompletely."Webothknewthat,wonderfulasshewas,Faywouldneverunderstand.

           "Ineededher,"Isaid,"andinawaysheneededme,andlivingrightacrossfromeachother,wellitwasjusthandy,that’sall.ButIwouldn’tcallitlove—notthesamethingthatexistsbetweenus."

           Shelookeddownatherhandsandfrowned."I’mnotsureIknowwhatdoesexistbetweenus."

           "SomethingsodeepandsignificantthatCharliein­sidemeisterrifiedwheneverthereseemstobeanychanceofmymakinglovetoyou."

           "Andnotwithher?"

           Ishrugged."That’showIknowit’snotimportantwithher.Itdoesn’tmeanenoughforCharlietopanic."

           "Great!"shelaughed."Andironicashell.Whenyoutalkabouthimthatway,Ihatehimforcomingbetweenus.Doyouthinkhe’lleverletyou...letus..."

           "Idon’tknow.Ihopeso."

           Ileftheratthedoor."Weshookhands,andyet,strangely,itwasmuchcloserandmoreintimatethananembracewouldhavebeen.

           IwenthomeandmadelovetoFay,butkeptthinkingofAlice.