Таинственная история Билли Миллигана

           Becauseyou’reveryscared,aren’tyou?"

           "Yes,"hesaid,tearsforminginhiseyes.

           "It’simportantforyoutotrustme,David.You’vegottoletmeknowwhat’sgoingonsoIcanhelp."

           Hethoughtaboutitlongandhard,andfinallyheshrugged."Well,I’lltellyaononecondition.Yougottopromiseyouwon’tnevertellthesecrettonobodyinthewholeworld.Nobody.Never.Never.Never."

           "Yes,"shesaid."Ipromise."

           "Inyourwholelife?"

           Shenodded.

           "Sayyoupromise."

           "Ipromise."

           "Okay,"hesaid."I’lltellya.Idon’tknoweverything.OnlyArthurdoes.Likeyousaid,I’mscared,becausealotoftimesIdon’tknowwhat’sgoingon."

           "Howoldareyou,David?"

           "Eight,goingonnine."

           "Andwhyareyoutheonewhocametotalktome?"

           "Ididn’tevenknowIwascomingonthespot.SomebodygothurtinthejailandIcametotakethepain."

           "Wouldyouexplainthat?"

           "ArthursaysI’mthekeeperofthepain.Whenthere’shurt,I’mtheonewhotakesthespotandfeelsit."

           "Thatmustbeawful."

           Tearsbrimmedinhiseyesashenodded."It’snotfair.""What’s‘thespot,’David?"

           "That’swhatArthurcallsit.