Chapter 23

           Crossingthegroundsbacktotheward,McMurphylaggedbackatthetailendofthebunchwithhishandsinthepocketsofhisgreensandhiscaptuggedlowonhishead,broodingoveracoldcigarette.Everybodywaskeepingprettyquiet.They’dgotBillycalmeddown,andhewaswalkingatthefrontofthegroupwithablackboyononesideandthatwhiteboyfromtheShockShopontheotherside.

           IdroppedbacktillIwaswalkingbesideMcMurphyandIwantedtotellhimnottofretaboutit,thatnothingcouldbedone,becauseIcouldseethattherewassomethoughthewasworryingoverinhismindlikeadogworriesataholehedon’tknowwhat’sdown,onevoicesaying,Dog,thatholeisnoneofyouraffair—it’stoobigandtooblackandthere’saspoorallovertheplacesaysbearsorsomethingjustasbad.Andsomeothervoicecominglikeasharpwhisperoutofwaybackinhisbreed,notasmartvoice,nothingcageyaboutit,saying,Sic‘im,dog,sic‘im!

           Iwantedtotellhimnottofretaboutit,andIwasjustabouttocomeoutandsayitwhenheraisedhisheadandshovedhishatbackandspeededuptowheretheleastblackboywaswalkingandslappedhimontheshoulderandaskedhim,"Sam,whatsaywestopbythecanteenhereasecondsoIcanpickmeupacartonortwoofcigarettes."

           Ihadtohurrytocatchup,andtherunmademyheartringahigh,excitedpitchinmyhead.EveninthecanteenIstillheardthatsoundmyhearthadknockedringinginmyhead,thoughmyhearthadslowedbacktonormal.