Пролетая над гнездом кукушки

           McMurphytiedachunkofmeattoeachendofafour-footstring,tosseditintheair,andsenttwosquawkingbirdswheelingoff,"Tilldeathdothempart."

           Thewholebackoftheboatandmostofthepeopleinitweredappledwithredandsilver.Someofustookourshirtsoffanddippedthemoverthesideandtriedtocleanthem.Wefiddledaroundthisway,fishingalittle,drinkingtheothercaseofbeer,andfeedingthebirdstillafternoon,whiletheboatrolledlazilyaroundtheswellsandthedoctorworkedwithhismonsterfromthedeep.Awindcameupandbroketheseaintogreenandsilverchunks,likeafieldofglassandchrome,andtheboatbegantorockandpitchaboutmore.Georgetoldthedoctorhe’dhavetolandhisfishorcutitloosebecausetherewasabadskycomingdownonus.Thedoctordidn’tanswer.Hejustheavedharderonthepole,bentforwardandreeledtheslack,andheavedagain.

           Billyandthegirlhadclimbedaroundtothebowandweretalkingandlookingdowninthewater.Billyholleredthathesawsomething,andweallrushedtothatside,andashapebroadandwhitewasbecomingsolidsometenorfifteenfeetdown.Itwasstrangewatchingitrise,firstjustalightcoloring,thenawhiteformlikefogunderwater,becomingsolid,alive....

           "JesusGod,"Scanloncried,"that’sthedoc’sfish!"

           Itwasonthesideoppositethedoctor,butwecouldseebythedirectionofhislinethatitledtotheshapeunderthewater.

           "We’llnevergetitintheboat,"Sefeltsaid."Andthewind’sgettingstronger."