Пролетая над гнездом кукушки

           He’sstillgothiscapon,jammedtightdownonhisredheadlikehe’samotorcycleracer.Adeckofcardsinhislapopensforaone-handedcut,thenclacksshutwithasoundblownuploudbythesilence.Thenurse’sswingingeyeshangonhimforasecond.She’sbeenwatchinghimplaypokerallmorningandthoughshehasn’tseenanymoneypasshandsshesuspectshe’snotexactlythetypethatisgoingtobehappywiththewardruleofgamblingformatchesonly.Thedeckwhispersopenandclacksshutagainandthendisappearssomewhereinoneofthosebigpalms.

           Thenurselooksatherwatchagainandpullsaslipofpaperoutofthefoldershe’sholding,looksatit,andreturnsittothefolder.Sheputsthefolderdownandpicksupthelogbook.Elliscoughsfromhisplaceonthewall;shewaitsuntilhestops.

           "Now.AtthecloseofFriday’smeeting...wewerediscussingMr.Harding’sproblem...concerninghisyoungwife.Hehadstatedthathiswifewasextremelywellendowedinthebosomandthatthismadehimuneasybecauseshedrewstaresfrommenonthestreet."Shestartsopeningtoplacesinthelogbook;littleslipsofpaperstickoutofthetopofthebooktomarkthepages."Accordingtothenoteslistedbyvariouspatientsinthelog,Mr.Hardinghasbeenheardtosaythatshe‘damnwellgivesthebastardsreasontostare.’Hehasalsobeenheardtosaythathemaygiveherreasontoseekfurthersexualattention.Hehasbeenheardtosay,‘Mydearsweetbutilliteratewifethinksanywordorgesturethatdoesnotsmackofbrickyardbrawnandbrutalityisawordorgestureofweakdandyism.’"

           Shecontinuesreadingsilentlyfromthebookforawhile,thenclosesit.

           "Hehasalsostatedthathiswife’samplebosomattimesgiveshimafeelingofinferiority.So.Doesanyonecaretotouchuponthissubjectfurther?"