Пролетая над гнездом кукушки

           WetalkedapieceaboutfootballandthelikeandInoticedhowherfacelookedblurred,liketherewasamistbetweenmeandher.Itwasthecottonfluffsiftingfromtheair.

           Itoldheraboutthefluff.SherolledhereyesandduckedhermouthtolaughinherfistwhenItoldherhowitwaslikelookingatherfaceoutonamistymorningduck-hunting.Andshesaid,"Nowwhatintheeverlovin’worldwouldyouwantwithmeoutaloneinaduckblind?"Itoldhershecouldtakecareofmygun,andthegirlsalloverthemillwenttogigglingintheirfists.Ilaughedalittlemyself,seeinghowcleverI’dbeen.Wewerestilltalkingandlaughingwhenshegrabbedbothmywristsanddugin.Thefeaturesofherfacesnappedintobrilliantfocus;Isawshewasterrifiedofsomething.

           "Do,"shesaidtomeinawhisper,"dotakeme,bigboy.Outathisheremill,outathistown,outathislife.Takemetosomeol’duckblindsomeplace.Someplaceelse.Huh,bigboy,huh?"

           Herdark,prettyfaceglitteredthereinfrontofme.Istoodwithmymouthopen,tryingtothinkofsomewaytoanswerher.Wewerelockedtogetherthiswayformaybeacoupleofseconds;thenthesoundofthemilljumpedahitch,andsomethingcommencedtodrawherbackawayfromme.AstringsomewhereIdidn’tseehookedonthatfloweredredskirtandwastuggingherback.Herfingernailspeeleddownmyhandsandassoonasshebrokecontactwithmeherfaceswitchedoutoffocusagain,becamesoftandrunnylikemeltingchocolatebehindthatblowingfogofcotton.Shelaughedandspunaroundandgavemealookofheryellowlegwhentheskirtbillowedout.Shethrewmeawinkoverhershoulderassheranbacktohermachinewhereapileoffiberwasspillingoffthetabletothefloor;shegrabbeditupandranfeather-footeddowntheaisleofmachinestodumpthefiberinahopper;thenshewasoutofsightaroundthecorner.