Таинственная история Билли Миллигана

           WilltheTeacherbethere?"

           "Idon’tknow,"Arthursaid."TheTeacherisgone.Ibelievehe’sashamedoffreezingonthebridge."

           "SowhatdoItellthewriter?"

           "Youaregoodtalker,"Ragensaid."PretendyouareTeacher."

           "He’llknow."

           "Notifyoutellhimyou’retheTeacher,"Arthursaid."He’llbelieveyou."

           "Youmeanlie?"

           "ItwillupsetthemanifheknowstheTeacherhasunfusedanddisappeared.They’vebecomefriends.Wecannottakeachanceofjeopardizingthebook.EverythingmustgoforwardjustasbeforethisattemptonBilly’slife."

           Allenshookhishead."Ineverthoughtyou’dtellmetolie.""Ifit’sdoneinagoodcause,"Arthursaid,"tokeepsomeonefrombeinghurt,it’snotreallyalie."

           ***

           Butduringthemeeting,thewriterfoundhimselfuncomfortablewithBilly’sattitudesandactions.Heseemedtooarrogant,toomanipulativeanddemanding.Hehadalwaysbeentaughttolookfortheworst,Billysaid,andhopeforthebest.Nowhishopeshadbeenturnedaround.Hewassurehe’dbesentbacktoprison.

           ThewriterfeltthiswasnottheTeacher,buthecouldn’tbesure.