Таинственная история Билли Миллигана

           We’lltallyitupandcheckitwiththecalendartoseeifallthetimeisaccountedfor."

           Itwasn’t.

           Therehadtobeothers.

           Arthurspenteveryconsciousmomentworkingoutthepuzzleofthemissingtimeandsearchingforotherpeoplewhoseemedtoobesharinghismindandbody.AftermeetingTommy,onebyonehediscoveredalltheothers,atotaloftwenty-three,includinghimselfandtheonetheoutsidepeoplereferredtoasBillyorBill.Hehadlearnedthroughlogicaldeductionwhotheywere,howtheybehavedandthethingstheydid.

           OnlythechildcalledChristeneseemedtohavebeenaware,beforeArthur,oftheexistenceoftheothers.Shecould,helearned,experiencewhatwentonintheirmindswhentheywereconscious.Arthurwonderedifthatwasaskillthatcouldbedeveloped.

           HebroughtupthesubjecttotheonecalledAllen,themanipulatorwhowasalwaystheretofast-talkhimselfoutofatightsituation.

           "Allen,nexttimeyouareholdingtheconsciousness,Iwantyoutothinkrealhardandtellmeeverythingthat’sgoingonaroundyou."

           Allenagreedtotryit,andthenexttimehefoundhewasout,hetoldArthureverythinghesaw.Arthurvisualizedituntilitcameintofocus,andthen,withatremendouseffort,hewasabletoseeitthroughAllen’seyes.Hediscovered,however,thatitworkedonlywhenhepaidattentionandwhenhewasawake,eventhoughnotoutintheconsciousness.