Таинственная история Билли Миллигана

           Caulcontinued,iestartedpaintingagain.ButnowboththewriterandDr.HaulagreedthattherewasanoticeablechangeintheTeacher,iismemorywaslessaccurate.HewasbecomingasmanipulateasAllenandasantisocialasTommy,KevinandPhillip.

           TheTeachertoldthewriterthatoneday,whenhe’dbeenvorkingwithTommy’sCBequipment,he’dheardhimselfsayloud,"Hey,whatamIdoing?Broadcastingwithoutalicensesillegal."ThenwithoutswitchingtoTommy,hesaid,"WhathehelldoIcare?"

           Hewasshockedandworriedathisotvnattitude.Hehadometobelievethatthesepersonalities—astheTeacherheiowacceptedtheterm"personalities"ratherthan"people"—ladbeenpartofhim.Suddenly,forthefirsttime,withoutwitching,hefeltlikethem.This,then,wastherealfusion.

           Hewasbecomingthecommondenominatorofalltwenty-fourpersonalities,andthatmadehimnotaRobinHoodoraSuperman,butaveryordinary,antisocial,impatient,manipulative,bright,talentedyoungman.

           AsDr.GeorgeHardinghadearliersuggested,thefusedBillyMilliganwouldprobablybelessthanthesumofhisparts.

           AtaboutthistimeNormaDishong,hismorningcasemanager,feltshenolongerwantedtohandleBilly’scase.Thepressurehadgottentoher.Noneoftheothermentalhealthtechnicianswantedthecase,either.