Таинственная история Билли Миллигана

           Onthewayout,heasked,"How’dyoufindoutaboutthesales?"

           "Peoplehavebeencallinghere,"thedirectorsaid."TheywantmoreofMilliganspaintings."

           Aprilpassedquickly.Astheweatherwarmed,Christeneplayedinthegarden.Davidchasedbutterflies.Ragenworkedoutinthegym.Danny,whowasstillafraidoftheoutdoorsfromhavingbeenburiedalive,stayedindoorsandpaintedstilllifes.Christopher,whowasthirteen,rodehorseback.ArthurspentmostofhistimeinthelibraryreadinglawstatutesintheOhioRevisedCode,sayinghewouldgetonahorseonlyifhewereplayingpolo.Theywereallhappytomovetozone2.

           MilliganandGordyKanewereassignedtoworkinthelaundry,whereTommyenjoyedtinkeringwiththeoldwasherandthegas-fireddryer.Hewaslookingforwardtomovingtozone3,wherehewouldbeallowedtowearhisownclothesintheevenings.

           OneafternoonFrankJordan,themuscleboundbully,walkedinwithaloadoflaundry."Iwantthesewashedrightaway.I’mexpectingcompanytomorrow.".

           "That’snice,"Tommysaid,goingonabouthisbusiness.

           "Imeanwashthemnow,"Jordansaid.

           Tommyignoredhim.

           "I’mazone-fourtrusty,youprick.Icantakeyourmeritsaway.You’llgetbumpedoutofgoingtozonethree."

           "Look,"saidTommy,"Idon’tgiveadamnifyou’reinthetwilightzone.