Цветы для Элджернона

           "Justwhothehelldoyouthinkyouare,thatyoucanbehavethatway?Ihaveneverseensuchinsufferablerude­nessinmylife."

           Istruggledtomyfeet."Now,whatmakesyousaythat?"

           Strausstriedtorestrainhim,buthesplutteredandgaspedout:"Isayit,becauseyouhavenogratitudeorun­derstandingofthesituation.Afterall,youareindebtedtothesepeopleifnottous—inmorewaysthanone."

           "Sincewhenisaguineapigsupposedtobegrateful?"Ishouted."I’veservedyourpurposes,andnowI’mtryingtoworkoutyourmistakes,sohowthehelldoesthatmakemeindebtedtoanyone?"

           Straussstartedtomoveintobreakitup,butNemurstoppedhim."Justaminute.Iwanttohearthis.Ithinkit’stimewehadthisout."

           "He’shadtoomuchtodrink,"saidhiswife.

           "Notthatmuch,"snortedNemur."He’sspeakingprettyclearly.I’veputupwithalotfromhim.He’sendan­gered—ifnotactuallydestroyed—ourwork,andnowIwanttohearfromhisownmouthwhathethinkshisjus­tificationis."

           "Oh,forgetit,"Isaid."Youdon’treallywanttohearthetruth."

           "ButIdo,Charlie.Atleastyourversionofthetruth.Iwanttoknowifyoufeelanygratitudeforallthethingsthathavebeendoneforyou—theabilitiesyou’vedeveloped,thethingsyou’velearned,theexperiencesyou’vehad.Ordoyouthinkpossiblyyouwerebetteroffbefore?"

           "Insomeways,yes."

           Thatshockedthem.

           "I’velearnedalotinthepastfewmonths,"Isaid.