Пролетая над гнездом кукушки

           Theystrappedhimtothattable,andthelastanybodysawofhimforawhilewasjustbeforetheyshutthedooronhim;hewinked,justbeforethedoorclosed,andtoldtheblackboysastheybackedawayfromhim,"You’llpayforthis,youdamntarbabies."

           Andtheybroughthimbacktothewardtwoweekslater,baldandthefrontofhisfaceanoilypurplebruiseandtwolittlebutton-sizedplugsstitchedoneaboveeacheye.Youcanseebyhiseyeshowtheyburnedhimoutoverthere;hiseyesareallsmokedupandgrayanddesertedinsidelikeblownfuses.Alldaynowhewon’tdoathingbutholdanoldphotographupinfrontofthatburned-outface,turningitoverandoverinhiscoldfingers,andthepictureworegrayashiseyesonbothsideswithallhishandlingtillyoucan’ttellanymorewhatitusedtobe.

           Thestaff,now,theyconsiderRucklyoneoftheirfailures,butI’mnotsurebutwhathe’sbetteroffthaniftheinstallationhadbeenperfect.Theinstallationstheydonowadaysaregenerallysuccessful.Thetechniciansgotmoreskillandexperience.Nomoreofthebuttonholesintheforehead,nocuttingatall—theygointhroughtheeyesockets.Sometimesaguygoesoverforaninstallation,leavesthewardmeanandmadandsnappingatthewholeworldandcomesbackafewweekslaterwithblack-and-blueeyeslikehe’dbeeninafist-fight,andhe’sthesweetest,nicest,best-behavedthingyoueversaw.He’llmaybeevengohomeinamonthortwo,ahatpulledlowoverthefaceofasleepwalkerwanderingroundinasimple,happydream.Asuccess,theysay,butIsayhe’sjustanotherrobotfortheCombineandmightbebetteroffasafailure,likeRucklysittingtherefumblinganddroolingoverhispicture.Heneverdoesmuchelse.