Пролетая над гнездом кукушки

           IstillthinkweshouldmakesomeefforttospeakwiththeChief—"

           Theoldwomaninterruptshimbytakingoneringingstepforward."No."Thisisthefirstthingshe’ssaid."No,"shesaysagaininawaythatremindsmeoftheBigNurse.Sheliftshereyebrowsandlookstheplaceover.Hereyesspringuplikethenumbersinacashregister;she’slookingatMamma’sdresseshungsocarefulontheline,andshe’snoddingherhead.

           "No.Wedon’ttalkwiththeChieftoday.Notyet.IthinkthatIagreewithBrickenridgeforonce.Onlyforadifferentreason.YourecalltherecordwehaveshowsthewifeisnotIndianbutwhite?White.Awomanfromtown.HernameisBromden.Hetookhername,notshehis.Oh,yes,Ithinkifwejustleavenowandgobackintotown,and,ofcourse,spreadthewordwiththetownspeopleaboutthegovernment’splanssotheyunderstandtheadvantagesofhavingahydroelectricdamandalakeinsteadofaclusterofshacksbesideafalls,thentypeupanoffer—andmailittothewife,yousee,bymistake?Ifeelourjobwillbeagreatdealeasier."

           Shelooksofftothemenontheancient,rickety,zigzaggingscaffoldingthathasbeengrowingandbranchingoutamongtherocksofthefallsforhundredsofyears.

           "Whereasifwemeetnowwiththehusbandandmakesomeabruptoffer,wemayrunupagainstanuntoldamountofNavahostubbornnessandloveof—Isupposewemustcallithome."

           Istarttotellthemhe’snotNavaho,butthinkwhat’stheuseiftheydon’tlisten?Theydon’tcarewhattribeheis.