Таинственная история Билли Миллигана

           Sothat’swhatthosegoddamnedthingswerefor!

           Tommyfollowedthepolestoseewheretheyledto.Itwasnearlydarkwhenhefoundhimselfoutsidethebuildingwiththewirefencearounditandthesignohiopower.Okay,hethought,sowheredotheygetthestuffthatlightsthelightsandshockstheshitoutofyou?

           Backhomehegotoutthephonebook,lookedupOhioPowerandwrotedowntheaddress.Itwastoodarknow,buttomorrowmorninghewouldgothereandseewherethepowercamefrom.

           ThenextdayTommywentdowntowntoOhioPower.Hewalkedinsideandstared,dumfounded.Justalotofpeoplesittingatdesks,answeringtelephonesandtyping.Abusinessoffice!JesusChrist,struckoutagain!AshewanderedalongMainStreettryingtofigureouthowhewasgoingtofindoutwherethisjunkcamefrom,hepassedthelibrarysigninfrontoftheMunicipalBuilding.

           Okay,he’dgolookitupinthebooks.Hewentuptothesecondfloor,searchedthecardcatalogunder"power,"foundthebooksandbegantoread.Itastonishedhimtolearnaboutdams,hydroelectricpowerandtheburningofcoalandothercombustiblefuelstocreateenergytoworkmachineryandlightthelights.

           Hereaduntildark.ThenhewanderedthestreetsofLancaster,lookingatallthelightsthathadbeenturnedon,excitedthatnowheknewwherethepowerwascomingfrom.Hewasgoingtolearnallaboutthosemachinesandeverythingthathadtodowithelectricity.