Таинственная история Билли Миллигана

           "IfeelI’vemadesomefriends."Shesqueezedhisarm.

           "Andthosekids,"hesaid."Ijustlovethosekids."

           "You’llmakeagoodfathersomeday,Billy."

           Heshookhishead."That’sphysicallyimpossible."

           MarlenesensedachangeinBilly.Hewasadifferentpersonnow,shethought,withahardenedattitude;heseemedtodrawawayfromher,asifwantingtoavoidher.Thathurt,becauseallthetimehehadbeeninLebanon,shehadnevergoneoutwithanyoneelse,dedicatingherselftohimalone.

           Oneeveningaweekafterhisrelease,hecamebytopickherupafterwork.Heseemedhimselfagain,soft-spokenandpolite—thewayshelikedhim—andshewasglad.TheydroveouttoClearCreek,oneoftheirfavoritedrives,andthenbacktoSpringStreet.DorothyandDelwereout,andtheywenttohisroom.Itwasthefirsttimetheyhadbeenreallyalone,withoutarguing,sincehisreturn,thefirsttimetherehadbeenachancetoholdeachother.Ithadbeensolongthatshewasfrightened.

           Hemusthavefeltherfear,becausehepulledaway.

           "Whatsthematter,Billy?"

           "Whatsthematterwithyou?"

           "I’mscared,"shesaid."That’sall."

           "Whatabout?"

           "It’sbeenovertwoyearssincewe’vebeentogether."

           Hegotoutofbedanddressed.