Таинственная история Билли Миллигана

           Theteacherhandedoutthemimeographedarithmetictest."Whenyou’redone,"shesaid,"youmayleaveyourpapersinyourbooksandgoouttorecess.Afteryoucomeback,checkyouranswers.ThenI’llcollectthepapersandgradethem."Arthurlookedatthetestandsneeredatthemultiplicationandlong-divisionproblems.Hepickedupapencilandquicklywentdownthepaper,doingtheproblemsinhisheadandwritingintheanswers.Whenhewasdone,heputthepaperintothebook,crossedhisarmsandstaredintospace.

           Thiswasallsoveryelementary.

           Outintheschoolyardtherowdychildrenannoyedhim,andheclosedhiseyes...

           Afterrecesstheteachersaid,"Takeyourpapersoutofyourbooksnow."

           Billylookedup,startled.

           Whatwashedoinginclass?Howhadhegottenhere?Herememberedgettingupinthemorning,butnotgettingdressedorcomingtoschool.Hehadnoideawhathadhappenedbetweenwakingupathomeandnow.

           "Youmaycheckyouranswersbeforeturninginthemathpapers."

           Whatmathpapers?

           Hehadnoideawhatwasgoingon,buthedecidedifsheaskedhimwhyhedidn’thavehismath,he’dtellherheforgotitorlostitoutside.He’dhavetotellhersomething.Heopenedhisbookandstaredindisbelief.Therewasthetestpaperwithalltheanswerswrittenin—toallfiftyproblems.