Пролетая над гнездом кукушки

           Abeamlikeneonsmokecomesoutoftheblackpanelintheroom,fastensonhiscleat-markedforeheadanddragshiminlikeadogonaleash.Thebeamspinshimaroundthreetimesbeforethedoorcloses,andhisfaceisscrambledfear."Hutone,"hegrunts."Huttwo!Hutthree!"

           Ihearthemintherepryuphisforeheadlikeamanholecover,clashandsnarlofjammedcogs.

           Smokeblowsthedooropen,andaGurneycomesoutwiththefirstmanonit,andherakesmewithhiseyes.Thatface.TheGurneygoesbackinandbringsthelifeguardout.Icanheartheyell-leadersspellingouthisname.

           Thetechniciansays,"Nextgroup."

           Thefloor’scold,frosted,crackling.Upabovethelightwhines,tubelongandwhiteandicy.Cansmellthegraphitesalve,likethesmellinagarage.Cansmellacidoffear.There’sonewindow,uphigh,small,andoutsideIseethosepuffysparrowsstrunguponawirelikebrownbeads.Theirheadssunkinthefeathersagainstthecold.Somethinggoestoblowingwindovermyhollowbones,higherandhigher,airraid!airraid!

           "Don’tholler,Chief...."

           Airraid!

           "Take‘ereasy.I’llgofirst.Myskull’stoothickforthemtohurtme.Andiftheycan’thurtmetheycan’thurtyou."

           Climbsonthetablewithoutanyhelpandspreadshisarmsouttofittheshadow.Aswitchsnapstheclaspsonhiswrists,ankles,clampinghimintotheshadow.