Таинственная история Билли Миллигана

           "

           "Hey,coolit,bed!"

           Anotherboy,scrawnybuttallerandtwoorthreeyearsolder,pulledthelittlekidaway.

           "Backoff,Tony,"hesaid."You’velosttwomeritsalready,andnowyougottastayinyourbedfortwohours."

           Tonycalmeddownandpickeduphismattress."Hell,Gordy,Iwasn’thungryanyway."

           Inthemesshall,Tommyateinsilence.Thefoodwasn’thalfbad.Buthewasstartingtoworryabouttheplace.Iftheyletthebigboysragyouandtakeyourmeritsaway,heknewhewouldhavetobeverycarefulofhistemper.

           Backinthedorm,henoticedthatthescrawnyboycalledGordyhadthebunknexttohisandhadbroughtpartofhisdinnertothelittleone.Theyweresittingandtalking.

           Tommysatonhisbunkandwatched.Heknewoneoftheruleswasnoeatinginthedorm.Outofthecomerofhiseye,hesawMuscleboundcominginthedoor.

           "Lookout!"hewhispered."Thatbigbastardiscoming."ThekidcalledTonyslidhisplateunderthebedandleanedback.WhenMuscleboundcheckedthingsoutandwassatisfiedthatthekidwasinhisbed,heleft.

           "Thanks,"thekidsaid."I’mTonyVito.What’syourname?"Tommylookedhimintheeye."TheycallmeBillyMilligan."

           "ThishereisGordyKane,"hesaid,pointingtothescrawnyboy."He’sinforsellingpot.