Пролетая над гнездом кукушки

           Notthatheeverreallyfiguredtokeepup—heknewfromthestarthecouldn’tdothat—buthehadtotrytokeepup,justtokeeptheminsight.Soforfortyyearshewasabletolive,ifnotrightintheworldofmen,atleastontheedgeofit.

           Icanseeallthat,andbehurtbyit,thewayIwashurtbyseeingthingsintheArmy,inthewar.ThewayIwashurtbyseeingwhathappenedtoPapaandthetribe.IthoughtI’dgotoverseeingthosethingsandfrettingoverthem.There’snosenseinit.There’snothingtobedone.

           "I’mtired,"iswhathesays.

           "Iknowyou’retired,Pete,butIcan’tdoyounogoodfrettingaboutit.YouknowIcan’t."

           Petefloatsonthewayoftheoldcolonel.

           HerecomesBillyBibbit,thewayPetecomeby.They’reallfilingbyforalastlook.IknowBillycan’tbemore’nafewfeetaway,buthe’ssotinyhelookslikehe’samileoff.Hisfaceisouttomelikethefaceofabeggar,needingsomuchmore’nanybodycangive.Hismouthworkslikealittledoll’smouth.

           "AndevenwhenIpr-proposed,Iflubbedit.Isaid‘Huh-honey,willyoumuh-muh-muh-muh-muh...’tillthegirlbrokeoutl-laughing."

           Nurse’svoice,Ican’tseewhereitcomesfrom:"Yourmotherhasspokentomeaboutthisgirl,Billy.Apparentlyshewasquiteabitbeneathyou.Whatwouldyouspeculateitwasaboutherthatfrightenedyouso,Billy?"

           "Iwasinluh-lovewithher."

           Ican’tdonothingforyoueither,Billy.Youknowthat.Noneofuscan.