Цветы для Элджернона

           "Don’tgoaway,"Ibegged."Don’trunawayfromme."

           Butshehadgoneinsidethevestibuleandlockedthedoor.AmomentlaterIcouldseeherpeeringatmefrombehindthesheerwhitecurtainofthedoorwindow,hereyesterrified.Behindthewindowherlipsmovedsound­lessly."Goaway!Leavemealone!"

           Why?"Whowasshetodenymethisway?Bywhatrightdidsheturnawayfromme?

           "Letmein!Iwanttotalktoyou!Letmein!"Ibangedonthedooragainsttheglasssoharditcracked,andthecrackspreadawebthatcaughtmyskinforamomentandhelditfast.ShemusthavedraughtIwasoutofmymindandhadcometoharmher.Sheletgooftheouterdoorandfleddownthehallwaythatledintotheapartment.

           Ipushedagain.Thehookgavewayand,unpreparedforthesuddenyielding,Ifellintothevestibule,offbal­ance.MyhandwasbleedingfromtheglassIhadbroken,andnotknowingwhatelsetodo,Iputmyhandintomypockettopreventthebloodfromstainingherfreshlyscrubbedlinoleum.

           Istartedin,pastthestairsIhadseensoofteninmynightmares.Ihadoftenbeenpursuedupthatlong,narrowstaircasebydemonswhograbbedatmylegsandpulledmedownintothecellarbelow,whileItriedtoscreamwithoutvoice,stranglingonmytongueandgagginginsilence.LikethesilentboysatWarren.

           Thepeoplewholivedonthesecondfloor—ourland­lordandlandlady,theMeyers—hadalwaysbeenkindtome.Theygavemesweetsandletmecometositintheirkitchenandplaywiththeirdog.