Таинственная история Билли Миллигана

           AsheapproachedthetopledgeofLoganDam,anarrowridgejustwideenoughforhiscyclewheel,heturnedhisheadlightoff;itsreflectioninthefogwouldblindhim.Withtheheadlightout,hecouldseeblackontwosidesandthelightstripoftheridgedownthemiddle.Hekepthiswheelcentered.Itwasdangerous,butheneededthedanger.Heneeded,onceagain,toconquersomething.Itdidn’thavetobesomethingillegal,buteverynowandthenhehadtodosomethingdangerous,hadtofeeltheadrenalinepumping.Heneededtobeavictor.

           Hehadneverriddenthedamridgebefore.Hedidn’tknowhowlongitwas.Hecouldn’tseethatfarahead.Butheknewhehadtogoacrossitfastenough,withhighenoughtorque,tokeepfromfallingtoeitherside.Hewasterrified,buthehadtogiveitonehellofatfy.

           Hekickedoffandroareddownthecenterofthenarrowledge.Whenhewassafelyacross,theturnedandcamebackagain.Thenhescreamedandcriedandthetearsrolleddownhischeeks,chilledbythewindinhisface.

           HewenthomeexhaustedanddreamedhewasshotanddyingonthefootbridgebecausetheTeacherhadfrozenandletthemalldown.