Таинственная история Билли Миллигана

           Caulbroughthimbacktotheward,showedhimhisroomandintroducedhimonceagaintohiscasemanagerandsomeoftheotherpeopleontheward.

           "Norma,thisisBilly,’Caulsaid."He’snewhere.WeoughttogetsomeonetoshowhimaroundAIT."

           "Ofcourse,Dr.Caul."

           Butwhenshewalkedhimbacktohisroom,shelookedathimsteadily."Youknowyourwayaroundherebynow,Billy,sowewon’thavetogothroughthatagain."

           "What’sAIT?"heasked.

           Sheledhimtothemainentrancetothewardandopenedtheheavydoor,pointingtothesign:"AdmissionsandIntensiveTreatment.WecallitAITforshort."Thensheturnedandleft.

           Billywonderedwhathehaddonetomakehersocurtwithhim,buttryashemight,hecouldn’tfigureitout.Whenhelearnedthathissisterandmotherwerecomingtovisitthatevening,hebecametense.HehadseenKathy,hissister,atthetrial,andassoonashehadgottenovertheshockofseeinghisfourteen-year-oldsistertransformedintoanattractivetwenty-one-year-oldwoman,hefeltcomfortablewithher.Buthismotherhadn’tbeenatthetrial,athisowninsistence.ThoughKathyhadassuredhimthathismotherhadvisitedhimoftenatHardingHospital,andbeforethatatLebanonprison,hehadnorecollectionofanyofit.

           Thelasttimehe’dseenMomwaswhenhewassixteen,beforethey’dputhimtosleep.