Пролетая над гнездом кукушки

           Itfoughtalongtimeagainsthavingittakenaway,flailingandthrashingaroundsomuchIfinallyhadtoliefulllengthontopofitandscissorthekickinglegswithminewhileImashedthepillowintotheface.Ilaythereontopofthebodyforwhatseemeddays.Untilthethrashingstopped.Untilitwasstillawhileandhadshudderedonceandwasstillagain.ThenIrolledoff.Iliftedthepillow,andinthemoonlightIsawtheexpressionhadn’tchangedfromtheblank,dead-endlooktheleastbit,evenundersuffocation.Itookmythumbsandpushedthelidsdownandheldthemtilltheystayed.ThenIlaybackonmybed.

           Ilayforawhile,holdingthecoversovermyface,andthoughtIwasbeingprettyquiet,butScanlon’svoicehissingfromhisbedletmeknowIwasn’t.

           "Takeiteasy,Chief,"hesaid."Takeiteasy.It’sokay."

           "Shutup,"Iwhispered."Gobacktosleep."

           Itwasquietawhile;thenIheardhimhissagainandask,"Isitfinished?"

           Itoldhimyeah.

           "Christ,"hesaidthen,"she’llknow.Yourealizethat,don’tyou?Sure,nobody’llbeabletoproveanything—anybodycouldakickedoffinpost-operativelikehewas,happensallthetime—buther,she’llknow."

           Ididn’tsayanything.

           "WasIyou,Chief,I’dbreezemytailoutahere.Yessir.Itellyouwhat.Youleaveoutahere,andI’llsayIsawhimupandmovingaroundafteryouliftandcoveryouthatway.That’sthebestidea,don’tyouthink?"

           "Oh,yeah,justlikethat.Justask‘emtounlockthedoorandletmeout."

           "No.