Пролетая над гнездом кукушки

           ThewardhumsthewayIheardacottonmillhumoncewhenthefootballteamplayedahighschoolinCalifornia.AfteragoodseasononeyeartheboostersinthetownweresoproudandcarriedawaythattheypaidtoflyustoCaliforniatoplayachampionshiphigh-schoolteamdownthere.Whenweflewintothetownwehadtogovisitsomelocalindustry.Ourcoachwasoneforconvincingfolksthatathleticswaseducationalbecauseofthelearningaffordedbytravel,andeverytripwetookheherdedtheteamaroundtocreameriesandbeetfarmsandcanneriesbeforethegame.InCaliforniaitwasthecottonmill.Whenwewentinthemillmostoftheteamtookalookandlefttogositinthebusoverstudgamesonsuitcases,butIstayedinsideoverinacorneroutofthewayoftheNegrogirlsrunningupanddowntheaislesofmachines.Themillputmeinakindofdream,allthehummingandclickingandrattlingofpeopleandmachinery,jerkingaroundinapattern.That’swhyIstayedwhentheothersleft,that,andbecauseitremindedmesomehowofthemeninthetribewho’dleftthevillageinthelastdaystodoworkonthegravelcrusherforthedam.Thefrenziedpattern,thefaceshypnotizedbyroutine...Iwantedtogooutinthebuswiththeteam,butIcouldn’t.

           ItwasmorninginearlywinterandIstillhadonthejacketthey’dgivenuswhenwetookthechampionship—aredandgreenjacketwithleathersleevesandafootball-shapedemblemsewnonthebacktellingwhatwe’dwon—anditwasmakingalotoftheNegrogirlsstare.Itookitoff,buttheykeptstaring.Iwasawholelotbiggerinthosedays.

           Oneofthegirlslefthermachineandlookedbackandforthuptheaislestoseeiftheforemanwasaround,thencameovertowhereIwasstanding.Sheaskedifwewasgoingtoplaythehighschoolthatnightandshetoldmeshehadabrotherplayedtailbackforthem.