Таинственная история Билли Миллигана

           Hejammedthebrakes,stoppedthetruck,jumpedoutandstartedrunningback,pickinguppiecesofmetalscatteredonthestreet.

           Tommybrokeupwithlaughter."Goddamnyou,"hesaid."Thattractor’llneverhurtDannyorDavidagain."Doublerevengewithoneblow.Hehadgottenthemachine,andatthesametimehegotChalmer.

           MostofthegradessenthomeonBilly’sreportcardswereCs,D’sandF’s.InallhisschoolyearshegotanAonlyonce:thethirdquarterintenth-gradebiology.Arthur,whohaddevelopedaninterestinthesubject,startedpayingattentioninclassanddoingthehomework.

           Knowingpeoplewouldlaughifhespoke,hehadAllenanswerforhim.Heamazedtheteacherbyhissuddenchange,hisbrilliance.ThoughArthurneverlosthisinterestinbiology,thingsathomegotsobadthatthespotkeptchanging.Muchtotheregretofthebiologyteacher,theflamediedoutandthelasttwoquarterswerefailures.Arthurdriftedofftostudyonhisown,andthefinalreportcardregisteredaD.

           Arthurwashavinghishandsfullwiththeotherscomingandgoingonandoffthespotmoreandmorefrequently.Hediagnosedthisperiodofmentalinstabilityas"amix-uptime."

           Whentheschoolhadtobeevacuatedbecauseofabombscare,everyonesuspecteditwasBillyMilligan,thoughnoonecouldproveit.Tommydeniedmakingthebomb.Itwasn’tarealoneanyway,thoughitmighthavebeeniftheliquidintheflaskhadbeennitroinsteadofwater