Пролетая над гнездом кукушки

           Harding,Mack;whydon’tyoucallmeVera?"

           TheyallthreesitbackdownonthecouchwhereHardingwassitting,andhetellshiswifeaboutMcMurphyandhowMcMurphygotthebestoftheBigNurse,andshesmilesandsaysthatitdoesn’tsurpriseherabit.WhileHarding’stellingthestoryhegetsenthusiasticandforgetsabouthishands,andtheyweavetheairinfrontofhimintoapictureclearenoughtosee,dancingthestorytothetuneofhisvoiceliketwobeautifulballetwomeninwhite.Hishandscanbeanything.Butassoonasthestory’sfinishedhenoticesMcMurphyandhiswifearewatchingthehands,andhetrapsthembetweenhisknees.Helaughsaboutthis,andhiswifesaystohim,"Dale,whenareyougoingtolearntolaughinsteadofmakingthatmousylittlesqueak?"

           It’sthesamethingthatMcMurphysaidaboutHarding’slaughonthatfirstday,butit’sdifferentsomehow;whereMcMurphysayingitcalmedHardingdown,hersayingitmakeshimmorenervousthanever.

           Sheasksforacigarette,andHardingdipshisfingersinhispocketagainandit’sempty."We’vebeenrationed,"hesays,foldinghisthinshouldersforwardlikehewastryingtohidethehalf-smokedcigarettehewasholding,"toonepackaday.Thatdoesn’tseemtoleaveamananymarginforchivalry,Veramydearest."

           "OhDale,youneverdohaveenough,doyou?"

           Hiseyestakeonthatsly,feveredskittishnessashelooksatherandsmiles.