Пролетая над гнездом кукушки

           Andshe’dputalltheAcutesinatrancebysittingthereinsilencefortwentyminutesafterthequestion,quietasanelectricalarmabouttogooff,waitingforsomebodytostarttellingsomethingaboutthemselves.Hereyessweptbackandforthoverthemassteadyasaturningbeacon.Thedayroomwasclampedsilentfortwentylongminutes,withallofthepatientsstunnedwheretheysat.Whentwentyminuteshadpassed,shelookedatherwatchandsaid,"AmItotakeitthatthere’snotamanamongyouthathascommittedsomeactthathehasneveradmitted?"Shereachedinthebasketforthelogbook."Mustwegooverpasthistory?"

           Thattriggeredsomething,someacousticdeviceinthewalls,riggedtoturnonatjustthesoundofthosewordscomingfromhermouth.TheAcutesstiffened.Theirmouthsopenedinunison.Hersweepingeyesstoppedonthefirstmanalongthewall.

           Hismouthworked."Irobbedacashregisterinaservicestation."

           Shemovedtothenextman.

           "Itriedtotakemylittlesistertobed."

           Hereyesclickedtothenextman;eachonejumpedlikeashooting-gallerytarget.

           "I—onetime—wantedtotakemybrothertobed."

           "IkilledmycatwhenIwassix.Oh,Godforgiveme,Istonedhertodeathandsaidmyneighbordidit."

           "Iliedabouttrying.Ididtakemysister!"

           "SodidI!SodidI!"