Цветы для Элджернона

           Aswithsomanyotherthings,timeisthekeyfactor—speedindiscoveringthedeficiency,andspeedinadministeringhormonalsubstitutes.Iwouldliketohelpinthatareaofresearch,andinthesearchforradioisotopesthatmaybeusedinlocalcorticalcontrol,butIknownowthatIwon’thavethetime.

           September17

           Becomingabsentminded.Putthingsawayonmydeskorinthedrawersofthelabtables,andwhenIcan’tfindthemIlosemytemperandflareupateveryone.Firstsigns?

           Algernondiedtwodaysago.IfoundhimatfourthirtyinthemorningwhenIcamebacktothelabafterwanderingarounddownatthewaterfront—onhisside,stretchedoutinthecornerofhiscage.Asifhewererun­ninginhissleep.

           Dissectionshowsthatmypredictionswereright.Comparedtothenormalbrain,Algernon’shaddecreasedinweightandtherewasageneralsmoothingoutofthecerebralconvolutionsaswellasadeepeningandbroaden­ingofbrainfissures.

           It’sfrighteningtothinkthatthesamethingmightbehappeningtomerightnow.SeeingithappentoAlgernonmakesitreal.Forthefirsttime,I’mafraidofthefuture.

           IputAlgernon’sbodyintoasmallmetalcontainerandtookhimhomewithme.Iwasn’tgoingtoletthemdumphimintotheincinerator.It’sfoolishandsentimental,butlatelastnightIburiedhiminthebackyard.IweptasIputabunchofwildflowersonthegrave.

           September21

           I’mgoingtoMarksStreettovisitmymothertomorrow.