Пролетая над гнездом кукушки

           Ellislooksdownatthepuddlearoundhisfeetinpuresurprise."Why,Ithankyou,"hesaysandevenmovesoffafewstepstowardthelatrinebeforethenailspullhishandsbacktothewall.

           McMurphycomesdownthelineofChronics,shakeshandswithColonelMattersonandwithRucklyandwithOldPete.HeshakesthehandsofWheelersandWalkersandVegetables,shakeshandsthathehastopickupoutoflapslikepickingupdeadbirds,mechanicalbirds,wondersoftinybonesandwiresthathaverundownandfallen.ShakeshandswitheverybodyhecomestoexceptBigGeorgethewaterfreak,whogrinsandshiesbackfromthatunsanitaryhand,soMcMurphyjustsaluteshimandsaystohisownrighthandashewalksaway,"Hand,howdoyousupposethatoldfellowknewalltheevilyoubeeninto?"

           Nobodycanmakeoutwhathe’sdrivingat,orwhyhe’smakingsuchafusswithmeetingeverybody,butit’sbetter’nmixingjigsawpuzzles.Hekeepssayingit’sanecessarythingtogetaroundandmeetthemenhe’llbedealingwith,partofagambler’sjob.Buthemustknowheain’tgoingtobedealingwithnoeighty-year-oldorganicwhocouldn’tdoanymorewithaplayingcardthanputitinhismouthandgumitawhile.Yethelookslikehe’senjoyinghimself,likehe’sthesortofguythatgetsalaughoutofpeople.

           I’mthelastone.Stillstrappedinthechairinthecorner.McMurphystopswhenhegetstomeandhookshisthumbsinhispocketsagainandleansbacktolaugh,likeheseessomethingfunnieraboutmethanaboutanybodyelse.