Таинственная история Билли Миллигана

           CaulthatheandArthur,afteralongandheateddiscussion,hadagreedthatBillyshouldbetoldhewastheTeacher.Arthurhadfelt,atfirst,thattheshockwouldbetoomuchforBillytobearandthatitwoulddrivehiminsaneifhefoundout.NowbothofthemagreedthatifBillywastogetwell,itwasnecessaryforhimtoknowthetruth.

           Caulwaspleasedwiththedecision.Ragen’sreportoftheconflictbetweenhimselfandArthurandoftherebellionoftheundesirablessuggestedthatthingswerereachingacrisispoint.Thetimehadcome,hefelt,forBillytoseetheothersandtolearnthathewastheonewhohadamassedalltheknowledge,learnedalltheskillsandpassedthemon.ItwouldstrengthenhimtolearnthathewastheTeacher.

           CaulaskedtospeaktoBilly,andwhenhesawthekneesjigglingandknewwhohewasspeakingto,hetoldhimofthedecisionmadebyArthurandRagen.CaulsawthecombinationofexcitementandfearasBillynoddedandsaidhewasready?Thedoctorputthetapecartridgeintotherecorder,adjustedthesoundandthensettledbacktowatchhispatient’sreactions.

           Billy,smilingself-consciously,watchedhimselfonthemonitor.Whenhesawtheimageofhisjigglinglegsandnoticedhewasstilldoingit,heputhishandsonbothkneestostopthem.Andwhenthemonitorshowedhislipsmovingsilently,heputhishandtohismouth,eyeswide,notreallycomprehending.