Цветы для Элджернона

           AndAliceisapersontoo—awoman,notagoddess—andI’mtakinghertotheconcerttomorrownight.

           May17

           AlmostmorningandIcan’tfallasleep.I’vegottounderstandwhathappenedtomelastnightattheconcert.

           Theeveningstartedoutwellenough.TheMallatCentralParkhadfilledupearly,andAliceandIhadtopickourwayamongthecouplesstretchedoutonthegrass.Finally,farbackfromthepath,wefoundanunusedtreewhere—outoftherangeoflamplight—theonlyevidenceofothercoupleswastheprotestingfemalelaughterandtheglowoflitcigarettes.

           "Thiswillbefine,"shesaid."Noreasontoberightontopoftheorchestra."

           "What’sthatthey’replayingnow?"Iasked.

           "Debussy’sLaMer.Doyoulikeit?"

           Isettleddownbesideher."Idon’tknowmuchaboutthiskindofmusic.Ihavetothinkaboutit."

           "Don’tthinkaboutit,"shewhispered."Feelit.Letitsweepoveryouliketheseawithouttryingtounderstand."Shelaybackonthegrassandturnedherfaceinthedirec­tionofthemusic.

           Ihadnowayofknowingwhatsheexpectedofme.Thiswasfarfromtheclearlinesofproblem-solvingandthesystematicacquisitionofknowledge.Ikepttellingmy­selfthatthesweatingpalms,thetightnessinmychest,thedesiretoputmyarmsaroundherweremerelybiochemicalreactions.Ieventracedthepatternofstimulus-and-reactionthatcausedmynervousnessandexcitement.Yeteverythingwasfuzzyanduncertain.