Таинственная история Билли Миллигана

           "

           "Where?"Shestoodontiptoe,stretchinghershort,stockyframe,butallshecouldseethroughtherain-streakedwindowwasacarparkedonthebridge.Thedrivergotout,lookedoverthesideofthebridgewall,wentbacktohiscarandthentothewall,lookingdownasifwatchingsomethingorsomeonebelow.

           Wandahadanoddsinkingfeeling."I’dbettergocheckwhereBillyis."

           Shewentupanddowntheward,askingstaffandpatients,butnoonehadseenhim.Shecheckedhisroom.Histantrenchcoatwasgonefromhiscloset.

           CharlotteJohnson,theunitsupervisor,cametothenurses’stationtosayshe’dbeentoldonthephonethatanotheremployee,who’dbeenuptown,hadseenBillyonRichlandAvenue.Dr.Caulemergedfromhisoffice;he’dgottenacallaboutBillybeingonthebridge.

           Everyonebeganshoutingatonce.Theydidn’twantSecuritytogoafterhimbecausetheyknewtheuniformswouldupsethim.

           "I’llgo,"Wandasaid,grabbinghercoat.

           ClydeBarnhartofSecuritydroveherouttotheRichlandBridge.Sheclimbeddownandlookedunderthebridgeamongthepipes.Thenshewalkedalongtheriverbank,peeringinalldirections.Nothing.Whenshecameback,shesawthedriveroftheparkedcarandwassurprisedhewasstillthere.

           "Didyouseeaguyinatantrenchcoat?"sheasked.

           HepointedtothenearbyuniversityConvocationCenter.