Пролетая над гнездом кукушки

           Hejustseestheblackface.Nobody.Thewallsarewhiteasthewhitesuits,polishedcleanasarefrigeratordoor,andtheblackfaceandhandsseemtofloatagainstitlikeaghost.

           Yearsoftraining,andallthreeblackboystuneincloserandcloserwiththeBigNurse’sfrequency.Onebyonetheyareabletodisconnectthedirectwiresandoperateonbeams.Shenevergivesordersoutloudorleaveswritteninstructionsthatmightbefoundbyavisitingwifeorschoolteacher.Doesn’tneedtoanymore.Theyareincontactonahigh-voltagewavelengthofhate,andtheblackboysareoutthereperformingherbiddingbeforesheeventhinksit.

           Soafterthenursegetsherstaff,efficiencylocksthewardlikeawatchman’sclock.Everythingtheguysthinkandsayanddoisallworkedoutmonthsinadvance,basedonthelittlenotesthenursemakesduringtheday.ThisistypedandfedintothemachineIhearhummingbehindthesteeldoorintherearoftheNurses’Station.AnumberofOrderDailyCardsarereturned,punchedwithapatternoflittlesquareholes.AtthebeginningofeachdaytheproperlydatedODcardisinsertedinaslotinthesteeldoorandthewallshumup:Lightsflashoninthedormatsix-thirty:theAcutesupoutofbedquickastheblackboyscanprodthemout,getthemtoworkbuffingthefloor,emptyingashtrays,polishingthescratchmarksoffthewallwhereoneoldfellowshortedoutadayago,wentdowninanawfultwistofsmokeandsmellofburnedrubber.TheWheelersswingdeadloglegsoutonthefloorandwaitlikeseatedstatuesforsomebodytorollchairsintothem.TheVegetablespissthebed,activatinganelectricshockandbuzzer,rollsthemoffonthetilewheretheblackboyscanhosethemdownandgetthemincleangreens....