Таинственная история Билли Миллигана

           Hestoppedinfrontofastorewindowandlookedatthedisplayofelectronicequipment.AcrowdhadgatheredaroundtheTVsetsinthewindow,andtheywerewatchingthemaninaspacesuitclimbdownaladder.

           "Canyoubelieveit?"someonesaid."Seeingthisallthewayfromthemoon?"

           "...onegiantstepformankind,"thevoicefromtheTVwassaying.

           TommylookedupatthemoonandthenbackattheTVscreen.Thatwassomethingelsehehadtolearnabout.

           Thenhesawawomansreflectioninthewindow.

           Dorothysaid,"Billy,you’dbettercomeonhomenow."

           HelookedupatBilly’sprettymotherandstartedtotellherthathisnamewasTommy,butsheputherhandonhisshoulderandledhimtothecar.

           "Yougottostopthiswanderingarounddowntown,Billy.YougottobehomebeforeChalgetsbackfromworkoryouknowwhat’llhappen."

           AllthewaybackinthecarDorothykeptlookingathimsideways,asiftryingtosizehimup,buthekeptquiet.

           ShegaveTommysomethingtoeat,andthenshesaid,"Whydon’tyoujustgoinanddosomepainting,Billy?Youknowthatalwayssettlesyoudown.Youlooksoedgy."

           Heshruggedandwentintotheroomwheretheartsupplieswere.Withquickstrokes,hepaintedanightsceneofaroadwithtelephonepoles.Whenhewasdone,hestoodbackandlookedatit.Prettydamnedgoodforabeginner.