Цветы для Элджернона

           ShouldIputmyarmaroundherornot?Wasshewaitingformetodoit?Wouldshegetangry?IcouldtellIwasstillbehavinglikeanado­lescentanditangeredme.

           "Here,"Ichoked,"whydon’tyoumakeyourselfmorecomfortable?Restonmyshoulder."Sheletmeputmyarmaroundher,butshedidn’tlookatme.SheseemedtobetooabsorbedinthemusictorealizewhatIwasdoing.Didshewantmetoholdherthatway,orwasshemerelytoleratingit?AsIslippedmyarmdowntoherwaist,Ifelthertremble,butstillshekeptstaringinthedirectionoftheorchestra.Shewaspretendingtobeconcentratingonthemusicsothatshewouldn’thavetorespondtome.Shedidn’twanttoknowwhatwashappening.Aslongasshelookedawayandlistened,shecouldpretendthatmycloseness,myarmsaroundher,werewithoutherknowl­edgeorconsent.Shewantedmetomakelovetoherbodywhileshekepthermindonhigherthings.Ireachedoverroughlyandturnedherchin."Whydon’tyoulookatme?AreyoupretendingIdon’texist?"

           "No,Charlie,"shewhispered."I’mpretendingIdon’texist."

           WhenItouchedhershouldershestiffenedandtrembled,butIpulledhertowardme.Thenithappened.Itstartedasahollowbuzzinginmyears...anelectricsaw...faraway.Thenthecold:armsandlegsprickly,andfingernumbing.Suddenly,IhadthefeelingIwasbeingwatched.

           Asharpswitchinperception.Isaw,fromsomepointinthedarknessbehindatree,thetwoofuslyingineachother’sarms.