Таинственная история Билли Миллигана

           "

           GarysawMilliganssmile,theexcitementinhiseyeshehadnotseenbefore.Hewasrelaxed,easygoing,tradingjokesinanalmostlight-heartedway.Averydifferentpersonfromthatbundleofnerveshe’dmetthefirstday.Itmightbealoteasiertodefendhimthanhe’dthought.

           "That’sit,"Garytoldhim."Keepcool."

           HeledMilliganintotheconferenceroom,wheremembersoftheAdultParoleAuthoritywerealreadypassingaroundcopiesofareportbyMilligan’sparoleofficerandtestimonyofSergeantDempseythatduringMilligan’sarresthehadfounda9-millimeterSmithandWessonanda.25-calibersemiautomaticwithaclipoffivebullets.

           "Tellme,gentlemen,"Schweickartasked,rubbinghisbeardwithhisknuckles,"havetheseweaponsbeentest-fired?""No,"saidthechairman,"butthey’regenuineguns,withclips."

           "Iftheyhavenotbeenshowncapableofpropellingballistics,whatmakesthemguns?"

           "Well,thetest-firingwon’tbedoneuntilnextweek."

           Garyslammedhisopenhandonthetable."ButIinsistyoumakeyourdecisionabouthisparolerevocationtodayorelsewaituntilafterthecourthearing.Now,isthisagunorisitatoy?Youhaven’tproventomethatthisthingisagun."Helookedaroundfromonetotheother.

           Thechairmannodded.