Chapter 5

           Beforenoontimethey’reatthefogmachineagainbuttheyhaven’tgotitturnedupfull;it’snotsothickbutwhatIcanseeifIstrainrealhard.OneofthesedaysI’llquitstrainingandletmyselfgocompletely,losemyselfinthefogthewaysomeoftheotherChronicshave,butforthetimebeingI’minterestedinthisnewman—IwanttoseehowhetakestotheGroupMeetingcomingup.

           TenminutestoonethefogdissolvescompletelyandtheblackboysaretellingAcutestoclearthefloorforthemeeting.Allthetablesarecarriedoutofthedayroomtothetubroomacrossthehall—leavesthefloor,McMurphysays,likewewasaimingtohaveusalittledance.

           TheBigNursewatchesallthisthroughherwindow.Shehasn’tmovedfromherspotinfrontofthatonewindowforthreesolidhours,notevenforlunch.Theday-roomfloorgetsclearedoftables,andatoneo’clockthedoctorcomesoutofhisofficedownthehall,nodsonceatthenurseashegoespastwhereshe’swatchingoutherwindow,andsitsinhischairjusttotheleftofthedoor.Thepatientssitdownwhenhedoes;thenthelittlenursesandtheresidentsstragglein.Wheneverybody’sdown,theBigNursegetsupfrombehindherwindowandgoesbacktotherearoftheNurses’Stationtothatsteelpanelwithdialsandbuttonsonit,setssomekindofautomaticpilottorunthingswhileshe’saway,andcomesoutintothedayroom,carryingthelogbookandabasketfulofnotes.Heruniform,evenaftershe’sbeenherehalfaday,isstillstarchedsostiffitdon’texactlybendanyplace;itcrackssharpatthejointswithasoundlikeafrozencanvasbeingfolded.

           Shesitsjusttotherightofthedoor.