Таинственная история Билли Миллигана

           "Ifyou’regoingtoslaveoverahotstoveallday,"hesaid,"youmightaswellbechainedtoit."Shelaughed.

           HestayedatthefairwithKathyuntilitclosed;thenAllendrovebacktoChanningway.

           ArthurspentaquietSundayreadinghismedicalbooks,andMondaymorningAllensetouttolookforanewjob.Hemadephonecallsandfilledoutjobapplicationsfortherestoftheweek,butnoonewashiring.

           Fridayevening,Ragenjumpedoutofbed,thinkinghehadjustgonetosleep.Hewenttothedresser.Themoney—moneyhedidn’tevenrememberstealing—wasgone.Herantothecloset,pulledouta.25-caliberautomaticandsearchedtheapartment,kickingopendoors,lookingfortheburglarwhohadbrokeninwhilehewasasleep.Buttheapartmentwasempty.HetriedtoreachArthur.Whenhegotnoresponse,heangrilybrokeopenthepiggybank,tookouttwelvedollarsandlefttobuyabottleofvodka.Hecameback,drankandsmokedajoint.Stillworriedaboutthebills,herealizedthatwhateverhehaddonetogetthatmoney,hehadtodoitagain.

           Ragentookafewamphetamines,strappedonhisgun,putonhisjoggingtopandawindbreaker.Againhejoggedwestto

           Columbus,reachingtheOhioStateUniversityWisemanparkinglotataboutseven-thirtyinthemorning.Offinthedistance,herecognizedthehoreshoe-shapedfootballstadiumoftheBuckeyes.Behindhim,henoticedthesignonthemodemconcrete-and-glassbuildingoppositethelot—uphamhall.