Таинственная история Билли Миллигана

           Whentheelevatormaintenancemanfinallygotitmoving,andtheycameoutonthethirdfloor,thegirllookedupatBillyandsaid,"CanIhaveacanofpopnow?"

           ThefollowingSaturday,Billyroseearly.Thoughhefeltgoodabouthisartexhibit,hewasupsetabouttheDispatcharticlethatdescribedtheexhibit,rehashing—astheyalwaysdid—thetenpersonalitiesandcallinghima"multi-personalityrapist."Hehadtogetusedtohandlingmixedemotions.Itwasanewkindoffeeling—confusingbutnecessarytohismentalstability.

           ThismorninghedecidedtojogtotheOhioUniversityInn,adjacenttothehospitalgrounds,andgetapackofcigarettes.Heknewheshouldn’tbesmoking.IntheolddaysonlyAllenhadsmokedcigarettes.Butheneededit.Therewouldbetimeenoughtogiveupthehabitwhenhewascured.

           Hewalkeddownthefrontstepsofthehospitalandnoticedtwomeninacarparkedoppositetheentrance.Heassumedtheywerevisitingsomeone.Butwhenhecrossedtheroad,thecarpassedhim.Comingaroundthebuildingtoasecondaryroad,hesawitagain.

           Hecutacrossthefreshlymowedfield,walkedtowardthefootbridgeoverthecreekthatborderedthehospitalproperty,andsawthecarforthefourthtime,turningupDairyLane,theroadbetweenthecreekandtheinn,theroadhewouldhavetopassafterhecrossedthefootbridge.

           Ashesteppedonthebridge,thecarwindowrolleddown.Ahandheldagun.