Пролетая над гнездом кукушки

           "WhosawBillyBibbitgo,youdamngoons?"

           ThissetpeopletorememberingjustwhereBillywas;therewerewhispersandlaughingagain.

           Theblackboywentbackintothestation,andwesawhimtellingthenurse.Shesmashedthephonedowninthecradleandcameoutthedoorwiththeblackboyhotafterher;alockofherhairhadbrokenloosefrombeneathherwhitecapandfellacrossherfacelikewetashes.Shewassweatingbetweenhereyebrowsandunderhernose.ShedemandedwetellherwheretheEloperhadgone.Shewasansweredwithachorusoflaughter,andhereyeswentaroundthemen.

           "So?He’snotgone,ishe?Harding,he’sstillhere—ontheward,isn’the?Tellme.Sefelt,tellme!"

           Shedartedtheeyesoutwitheveryword,stabbingatthemen’sfaces,butthemenwereimmunetoherpoison.Theireyesmethers;theirgrinsmockedtheoldconfidentsmileshehadlost.

           "Washington!Warren!Comewithmeforroomcheck."

           Weroseandfollowedasthethreeofthemwentalong,unlockingthelab,thetubroom,thedoctor’soffice....Scanloncoveredhisgrinwithhisknottyhandandwhispered,"Hey,ain’titgonnabesomejokeonofBilly."Weallnodded."AndBilly’snottheonlyoneit’sgonnabeajokeon,nowthatIthinkaboutit;rememberwho’sinthere?"

           ThenursereachedthedooroftheSeclusionRoomattheendofthehall.Wepushedupclosetosee,crowdingandcraningtopeepovertheBigNurseandthetwoblackboysassheunlockeditandswungitopen.Itwasdarkinthewindowlessroom.