Пролетая над гнездом кукушки

           Shescreamsandpopsthecrossinhermouthandclincheshereyesshutlikeshe’sabouttogetsocked,standslikethat,paper-whiteexceptforthatstainwhichturnsdarkerthanever,asthoughitsuckedthebloodfromalltherestofherbody.Whenshefinallyopenshereyesagainthere’sthatcallusedhandrightinfrontofherwithmylittleredcapsulesittinginit.

           "—wastopickupyourwaterin’canyoudropped."Heholdsthatoutintheotherhand.

           Herbreathcomesoutinaloudhiss.Shetakesthecanfromhim."Thankyou.Goodnight,goodnight,"andclosesthedoorinthenextman’sface,nomorepillstonight.

           InthedormMcMurphytossesthepillonmybed."Youwantyoursourball,Chief?"

           Ishakemyheadatthepill,andheflipsitoffthebedlikeitwasabugpesteringhim.Ithopsacrossthefloorwithacricketscrabble.Hegoestogettingreadyforbed,pullingoffhisclothes.Theshortsunderhisworkpantsarecoalblacksatincoveredwithbigwhitewhaleswithredeyes.HegrinswhenheseesI’mlookingattheshorts."Fromaco-edatOregonState,Chief,aLiterarymajor."Hesnapstheelasticwithhisthumb."ShegavethemtomebecauseshesaidIwasasymbol."

           Hisarmsandneckandfacearesunburnedandbristledwithcurlyorangehairs.He’sgottattoosoneachbigshoulder;onesays"FightingLeathernecks"andhasadevilwitharedeyeandredhornsandanM-1rifle,andtheotherisapokerhandfannedoutacrosshismuscle—acesandeights.Heputshisrollofclothesonthenightstandnexttomybedandgoestopunchingathispillow.He’sbeenassignedthebedrightnexttomine.