Цветы для Элджернона

           Iaskedhimwhathethoughtofthesuggestionbysomesenatorsthatwebeginusingsuchtacticsas"black­listing"andreinforcementofthenavicertcontrolsthathadbeenusedinWorldWarsIandII,againstsomeofthesmallernationswhichnowopposeus.

           Helistenedquietly,staringoffintospace,andIas­sumedhewascollectinghisthoughtsforananswer,butafewminuteslaterheclearedhisthroatandshookhishead.That,heexplainedapologetically,wasoutsidehisareaofspecialization.Hisinterestwasininterestrates,andhehadn’tgivenmilitaryeconomicsmuchthought.HesuggestedIseeDr.Wessey,whooncedidapaperonWarTradeAgreementsduring"WorldWarII.Hemightbeabletohelpme.

           BeforeIcouldsayanythingelse,hegrabbedmyhandandshookit.Hehadbeengladtomeetme,butthereweresomenoteshehadtoassembleforalecture.Andthenhewasgone.

           ThesamethinghappenedwhenItriedtodiscussChaucerwithanAmericanliteraturespecialist,questionedanOrientalistabouttheTrobriandIslanders,andtriedtofocusontheproblemsofautomation-causedunemploy­mentwithasocialpsychologistwhospecializedinpublicopinionpollsonadolescentbehavior.Theywouldalwaysfindexcusestoslipaway,afraidtorevealthenarrownessoftheirknowledge.

           Howdifferenttheyseemtobenow.AndhowfoolishIwasevertohavethoughtthatprofessorswereintellectualgiants.They’repeople—andafraidtherestoftheworldwillfindout.