Цветы для Элджернона

           "AllofusatBeekmanfeelthattheworkCharlieisdoingisoftheutmostimportance.Hisjobnowistofindthetruthwhereveritleads.Weleaveittoyourfoun­dationstohandlethepublic,toeducatesociety."

           HesmiledattheRaynorsandsteeredmeawayfromthem.

           "That,"Isaid,"isnotatallwhatIwasgoingtosay."

           "Ididn’tthinkyouwere,"hewhispered,holdingontomyelbow."ButIcouldseebythatgleaminyoureyeyouwerereadytocutthemtopieces.AndIcouldn’tallowthat,couldI?"

           "Guessnot,"Iagreed,helpingmyselftoanothermartini.

           "Isitwiseofyoutodrinksoheavily?"

           "No,butI’mtryingtorelaxandIseemtohavecometothewrongplace."

           "Well,takeiteasy,"hesaid,"andkeepoutoftroubletonight.Thesepeoplearenotfools.Theyknowthewayyoufeelaboutthem,andevenifyoudon’tneedthem,wedo."

           Iwavedasaluteathim."I’lltry,butyou’dbetterkeepMrs.Raynorawayfromme.I’mgoingtogooseherifshewigglesherfannyatmeagain."

           "Shhhh!"hehissed."She’llhearyou."

           "Shhhh!"Iechoed."Sorry.I’lljustsithereinthecor­nerandkeepoutofeveryone’sway."

           Thehazewascomingoverme,butthroughitIcouldseepeoplestaringatme.IguessIwasmutteringtomy­self—tooaudibly.Idon’trememberwhatIsaid.AlittlewhilelaterIhadthefeelingthatpeoplewereleavingunusuallyearly,butIdidn’tpaymuchattentionuntilNemurcameupandstoodinfrontofme.