Таинственная история Билли Миллигана

           "Youaredyingverygracefully,"hesaid,"withgreatdignity.Iwouldhavebeenproudtohaveyouforafather.".

           Mr.Torvaldcoughedandpointedtohisemptywaterpitcher.

           Arthurwentouttofillit,andwhenhecameback,hesawMr.Torvaldstaringupwardblankly.Arthurstoodtheresilentlyforamoment,gazingatthesereneoldface.Thenhebrushedthehairoutoftheeyesandclosedthem.

           "Allen,"hewhispered,"callthenurses.TellthemMr.Torvaldisdeceased."

           Allentookthespotandpressedthebuttonoverthebed."That,"whisperedArthur,steppingback,"isproperprocedure."

           AllenthoughtforamomentthatArthur’svoicewashuskywithemotion.Butheknewthatcouldn’tbe.BeforeAllencouldquestionhim,Arthurwasgone.

           ThejobatHomesteadlastedthreeweeks.WhentheadministrationofficediscoveredMilliganwasonlysixteen,theyinformedhimhewastooyoungtoworkthenightshift,andhewasdischarged.

           Afewweeksafterthefalltermbegan,ChalmersaidBillyhadtogodowntothefarmthatSaturdaytohelpcutthegrass.TommywatchedasChalmerbackedhisnewyellowtractor-moweruptwoboardsontothebackofthetruck.

           "Whatdoyouneedmefor?"Tommyasked.

           "Don’taskdumbquestions.You’recoming.Youwannaeat,you’regonnawork.IneedsomeonetorakeuptheleavesbeforeImow.That’saboutallyou’regoodfor,anyway.