Пролетая над гнездом кукушки

           Herfaceisstillcalm,asthoughshehadacastmadeandpaintedtojustthelookshewants.Confident,patient,andunruffled.Nomorelittlejerk,justthatterriblecoldface,acalmsmilestampedoutofredplastic;aclean,smoothforehead,notalineinittoshowweaknessorworry;flat,wide,painted-ongreeneyes,paintedonwithanexpressionthatsaysIcanwait,ImightloseayardnowandthenbutIcanwait,andbepatientandcalmandconfident,becauseIknowthere’snoreallosingforme.

           IthoughtforaminutethereIsawherwhipped.MaybeIdid.ButIseenowthatitdon’tmakeanydifference.Onebyonethepatientsaresneakinglooksathertoseehowshe’stakingthewayMcMurphyisdominatingthemeeting,andtheyseethesamething.She’stoobigtobebeaten.ShecoversonewholesideoftheroomlikeaJapstatue.There’snomovingherandnohelpagainsther.She’slostalittlebattleheretoday,butit’saminorbattleinabigwarthatshe’sbeenwinningandthatshe’llgoonwinning.Wemustn’tletMcMurphygetourhopesupanydifferent,lureusintomakingsomekindofdumbplay.She’llgoonwinning,justliketheCombine,becauseshehasallthepoweroftheCombinebehindher.Shedon’tloseonherlosses,butshewinsonours.Tobeatheryoudon’thavetowhiphertwooutofthreeorthreeoutoffive,buteverytimeyoumeet.Assoonasyouletdownyourguard,assoonasyouloseonce,she’swonforgood.Andeventuallyweallgottolose.Nobodycanhelpthat