Таинственная история Билли Миллигана

           Buttheimageinhismindwasfromanearliertime:herbeautifulfacecoveredwithblood,andabigchunkofhairrippedoutofherscalp...Thatwasthefaceheremembered,fromwhenhewasfourteen.

           WhentheycametoAIT,hewasshockedtoseehowhismotherhadaged.Herfacewaslined.Herhair,curledintotightdarkringlets,lookedlikeawig.Buttheblueeyesandthepoutinglipswerestillbeautiful.

           SheandKathyreminiscedaboutthepast,eachtryingtooutdotheotherinrecallingmomentswhichhadbeenconfusinginhischildhoodbutwhichtheycouldnowexplainashavingbeencausedbyoneoftheotherpersonalities.

           "Ialwaysknewthereweretwo,"hismothersaid."Ialways/saidtherewasmyBillyandthatotherone.Itriedtotellthemyouneededhelp,butnoonewouldlistentome.ItoldthedoctorsandItoldthatlawyerwhoplea-bargainedyouintoLebanon.Butnoonewouldlistentome."

           Kathysatbackandglaredathermother."ButsomeonewouldhavelistenedifyoutoldthemaboutChalmer."

           "Ididn’tknow,"DorothyMooresaid."Kathy,asGodismywitness,ifI’dknownwhathedidtoBilly,I’dhavecuthisheartout.I’dneverhavetakenthatknifeawayfromyou,Billy."

           Billyfrowned."Whatknife?"

           "Irememberitlikeitwasyesterday,"hismothersaid,smoothingherskirtoverherlongtannedlegs."Youwasaboutfourteen.