Цветы для Элджернона

           "Youwanttotalkaboutit?"

           Oh,howbrilliant,howsubtlehewas!WhatthehellwasIdoingthereanyway,havingmyassociationsabsorbedbylittleholesintheceilingandbigholesinmytherapist?

           "Idon’tknowifIwanttotalkaboutit,"Isaid."Ifeelunusuallyhostiletowardyoutoday."AndthenItoldhimwhatIhadbeenthinking.

           Withoutseeinghim,Icouldtellhewasnoddingtohimself.

           "Itshardtoexplain,"Isaid."AfeelingI’vehadonceortwicebefore,justbeforeIfainted.Alightheaded-ness...everythingintense...butmybodyfeelscoldandnumb..."

           "Goon."Hisvoicehadanedgeofexcitement."Whatelse?"

           "Ican’tfeelmybodyanymore.I’mnumb.IhavethefeelingthatCharlieiscloseby.Myeyesareopen—I’msureofthat—arethey?"

           "Yes,wideopen."

           "AndyetIseeablue-whiteglowfromthewallsandtheceilinggatheringintoashimmeringball.Nowit’ssus­pendedinmidair.Light...forcingitselfintomyeyes...andmybrain...Everythingintheroomisaglow...Ihavethefeelingoffloating...orratherexpandingupandout...andyetwithoutlookingdownIknowmybodyisstillhereonthecouch...."

           Isthisahallucination?

           "Charlie,areyouallright?"

           Orthethingsdescribedbythemystics?

           IhearhisvoicebutIdon’twanttoanswerhim.Itan­noysmethatheisthere.I’vegottoignorehim.Bepassiveandletthis—whateveritis—fillmewiththelightandab­sorbmeintoitself.

           "Whatdoyousee,Charlie?What’sthematter?"

           Upward,moving,likealeafinanupcurrentofwarmair.