Цветы для Элджернона

           TheargumentwentonthatwaywithStrausssayingthatNemurhadhiseyeontheChairofPsychologyatHallston,andNemursayingthatStrausswasridingonthecoattailsofhispsychologicalresearch.ThenStrausssaidthattheprojecthadasmuchtodowithhistechniquesinpsychosurgeryandenzyme-injectionpatterns,aswithNemur’stheories,andthatsomedaythousandsofneuro-surgeonsallovertheworldwouldbeusinghismethods,butatthispointNemurremindedhimthatthosenewtechniqueswouldneverhavecomeaboutifnotforhisoriginaltheory.

           Theycalledeachothernames—opportunist,cynic,pes­simist—andIfoundmyselffrightened.Suddenly,Ireal­izedInolongerhadtherighttostandthereoutsidetheofficeandlistentothemwithouttheirknowingit.TheymightnothavecaredwhenIwastoofeeble-mindedtoknowwhatwasgoingon,butnowthatIcouldunderstandtheywouldn’twantmetohearit.Ileftwithoutwaitingfortheoutcome.

           Itwasdark,andIwalkedforalongtimetryingtofig­ureoutwhyIwassofrightened.Iwasseeingthemclearlyforthefirsttime—notgodsorevenheroes,butjusttwomenworriedaboutgettingsomethingoutoftheirworkYet,ifNemurisrightandtheexperimentisasuccess,whatdoesitmatter?Theressomuchtodo,somanyplanstomake.

           I’llwaituntiltomorrowtoaskthemabouttakingMissKinniantoamovietocelebratemyraise.