Цветы для Элджернона
PROGRESS REPORT 16
Normascreamedather:"Mother!Putdownthatknife!"
SeeingRosestandingtherewiththeknifebroughtbackthepictureofthatnightshehadforcedMatttotakemeaway.Shewasrelivingthatnow.Icouldn’tspeakormove.Thenauseasweptoverme,thechokingtension,thebuzzinginmyears,mystomachknottingandstretchingasifitwantedtotearitselfoutofmybody.
Shehadaknife,andAlicehadaknife,andmyfatherhadaknife,andDr.Strausshadaknife...,
Fortunately,Normahadthepresenceofmindtotakeitawayfromher,butshecouldn’terasethefearinRose’seyesasshescreamedatme."Gethimoutofhere!He’sgotnorighttolookathissisterwithsexinhismind!"
Rosescreamedandsankbackintothechair,weeping.
Ididn’tknowwhattosay,andneitherdidNorma.Wewerebothembarrassed.NowsheknewwhyIhadbeensentaway.
IwonderedifIhadeverdoneanythingtojustifymymother’sfear.Therewerenosuchmemories,buthowcouldIbesurethereweren’thorriblethoughtsrepressedbehindthebarriersofmytorturedconscience?Inthesealed-offpassageways,beyondblindalleys,thatIwouldneversee.PossiblyIwillneverknow."Whateverthetruthis,ImustnothateRoseforprotectingNorma.Imustunderstandthewayshesawit.UnlessIforgiveher,Iwillhavenothing.
Normawastrembling.
"Takeiteasy,"Isaid."Shedoesn’tknowwhatshe’sdoing.Itwasn’tmeshewasravingat.ItwastheoldCharlie.Shewasafraidofwhathemightdotoyou.Ican’tblameherforwantingtoprotectyou.
