Таинственная история Билли Миллигана

           "

           "Didyoureadhissuicidenote?IheardfromGarySchweickartthatithadallthenamesofthepeople—"

           "Therewerenamesofsomeofthepeopleheowedmoneyto.NotanyoftheShylocks;hedidn’tnamethem.ButIknewtheywerethere,becauseI’dgowithhim—Isatinthecarwhenhewenttopaythemoff—andeachtimeitwasadifferentplace.Hehadtopayoffgamblingdebts.AtfirstIthoughtIwasaccountableforthosegamblingdebts,butIwasn’tgonna

           paythem.Ididn’tmakethedamneddebts.IhelpedoutasmuchasIcould,butIcouldn’ttakeitawayfromyoukids.""Well,"Billysnickered,"wehadacanoftunaandaboxofmacaroni."

           "Iwentbacktowork,"Dorothycontinued,"andthenwehadalittlebitmore.Iboughtthegroceriesbythattime,andIkeptonworkingandsupplyingthehome.ThatwaswhenIcutoffgivinghimmysalary.I’dgivehimthemoneyfortherent,andhe’dgooffandpayonlyhalfofit."

           "Andgambledawaytheotherhalf?"

           "That,orpaidofftheShylocks.Idon’tknowwhathedidwithit.Confrontinghimwithit,‘Inevergotthestraight,honesttruth.Onedaytheloancompanywasgoingtotakethefurniture.Itold’em,‘Goaheadandtakeit.’Buttheguycouldn’tdoitbecauseIwascrying,andhereIwaspregnantwithKathy."

           "Itwasn’tveryniceofJohnny."

           "Hey,"Dorothysaid,"that’sit.