Цветы для Элджернона

           Everythingsuggeststhatthemanisgoingtokillhiswifebutatthelastmoment,somethingshescreamsoutinanightmaremakeshimrecallsomethingthathappenedtohimduringhischildhood.Thesuddenmemoryshowshimthathishatredisreallydirectedatade­pravedgovernesswhohadterrifiedhimwithfrighteningstoriesandleftaflawinhispersonality.Excitedatdiscover­ingthis,hecriesoutwithjoysothathiswifeawakens.Hetakesherinhisarmsandtheimplicationisthatallhisproblemshavebeensolved.Itwaspatandcheap,andImusthaveshownmyangerbecauseAlicewantedtoknowwhatwaswrong."It’salie,"Iexplained,aswewalkedoutintothelobby."Thingsjustdon’thappenthatway."

           "Ofcoursenot."Shelaughed."It’saworldofmake-believe."

           "Oh,no!That’snoanswer."Iinsisted."Evenintheworldofmake-believetherehavetoberules.Thepartshavetobeconsistentandbelongtogether.Thiskindofpictureisalie.Thingsareforcedtofitbecausethewriterorthedirectororsomebodywantedsomethinginthatdidn’tbelong.Anditdoesn’tfeelright."

           Shelookedatmethoughtfullyaswewalkedoutintothebrightdazzlingnight-lightsofTimesSquare."You’recomingalongfast."

           "I’mconfused.Idon’tknowwhatIknowanymore."

           "Nevermindthat,"sheinsisted."You’rebeginningtoseeandunderstandthings."ShewavedherhandtotakeinalloftheneonandglitteraroundusaswecrossedovertoSeventhAvenue."You’rebeginningtoseewhat’sbehindthesurfaceofthings.