Chapter 27

           UponDisturbedthere’saneverlastinghigh-pitchedmachine-roomclatter,aprisonmillstampingoutlicenseplates.Andtimeismeasuredoutbythedi-dock,di-dockofaPing-pongtable.Menpacingtheirpersonalrunwaysgettoawallanddipashoulderandturnandpacebacktoanotherwall,dipashoulderandturnandbackagain,fastshortsteps,wearingcrisscrossingrutsinthetilefloor,withalookofcagedthirst.There’sasingedsmellofmenscaredberserkandoutofcontrol,andinthecornersandunderthePing-pongtablethere’sthingscrouchedgnashingtheirteeththatthedoctorsandnursescan’tseeandtheaidescan’tkillwithdisinfectant.WhenthewarddooropenedIsmelledthatsingedsmellandheardthatgnashofteeth.

           Atallbonyoldguy,danglingfromawirescrewedinbetweenhisshoulderblades,metMcMurphyandmeatthedoorwhentheaidesbroughtusin.Helookedusoverwithyellow,scaledeyesandshookhishead."Iwashmyhandsofthewholedeal,"hetoldoneofthecoloredaides,andthewiredrughimoffdownthehall.

           Wefollowedhimdowntothedayroom,andMcMurphystoppedatthedoorandspreadhisfeetandtippedhisheadbacktolookthingsover:hetriedtoputhisthumbsinhispockets,butthecuffsweretootight."It’sascene,"hesaidoutofthesideofhismouth.Inoddedmyhead.I’dseenitallbefore.

           Acoupleoftheguyspacingstoppedtolookatus,andtheoldbonymancamedraggingbyagain,washinghishandsofthewholedeal.Nobodypaidusmuchmindatfirst.