Таинственная история Билли Миллигана

           Fortherecord,whoamItalkingto?"

           "Billy."

           "Okay.Now,whenyoufirstmetmeinDr.Caulsoffice,hementionedsomethingabout‘thespot,’andyousaidyoudidn’tknowmewellenoughtotellmeaboutit.Howaboutnow?"Billylookeddown,embarrassed."Thatwasn’tmeyoumetthatfirstday.I’dhavebeentooshytotalktoyou."

           "Oh?Whowasit?"

           "Allen."

           Thewriterfrownedandpuffedathispipethoughtfully."Okay,"hesaid,makinganoteinhismemobook."Canyoutellmeaboutthespot?"

           "Ilearnedaboutit,asIlearnedaboutmostotherthingsinmylife,atHardingHospitalwhenIwaspartiallyfused.ThatwasArthursexplanationtotheyoungeronesaboutbeingintherealworld.’

           "Whatdoesthespotlooklike?Whatdoyouactuallysee?""It’sabigwhitespotshiningonthefloor.Everybodyisstandingarounditorlyingontheirbedsnearitinthedark,somewatching,otherssleepingorbusywiththeirowninterests.Butwhoeverstepsonthespotholdstheconsciousness.""Doallyourpersonalitiesrespondtothename‘Billy’whenspokento?"

           "WhenIwasasleepandoutsiderswerecallingforBilly,mypeoplestartedansweringtothename.AsDr.Wilburexplainedtomeonce,theothersdoeverythingtheycantoconcealthefactthatthey’reamultiple.ThetruthaboutmecameoutonlybymistakewhenDavidgotscaredandtoldDorothyTurner.