Пролетая над гнездом кукушки

           Dogrunningincirclesunderneath,toomuchsmellaroundforhimtopointforsure.Thebirdsafeaslongashekeepsstill.He’sholdingoutprettygood,butthedogkeepssniffingandcircling,louderandcloser.Thenthebirdbreaks,feathersspringing,jumpsoutofthecedarintothebirdshotfromPapa’sgun.)

           TheleastblackboyandoneofthebiggeronescatchmebeforeIgettenstepsoutofthemopcloset,anddragmebacktotheshavingroom.Idon’tfightormakeanynoise.Ifyouyellit’sjusttougheronyou.Iholdbacktheyelling.Iholdbacktilltheygettomytemples.I’mnotsureit’soneofthosesubstitutemachinesandnotashavertillitgetstomytemples;thenIcan’tholdback.It’snotawill-powerthinganymorewhentheygettomytemples.It’sa...button,pushed,saysAirRaidAirRaid,turnsmeonsoloudit’slikenosound,everybodyyellingatme,handsovertheirearsfrombehindaglasswall,facesworkingaroundintalkcirclesbutnosoundfromthemouths.Mysoundsoaksupallothersound.Theystartthefogmachineagainandit’ssnowingdowncoldandwhiteallovermelikeskimmilk,sothickImightevenbeabletohideinitiftheydidn’thaveaholdonme.Ican’tseesixinchesinfrontofmethroughthefogandtheonlythingIcanhearoverthewailI’mmakingistheBigNursewhoopandchargeupthehallwhileshecrashespatientsouttaherwaywiththatwickerbag.IhearhercomingbutIstillcan’thushmyhollering.Ihollertillshegetsthere.Theyholdmedownwhileshejamswickerbagandallintomymouthandshovesitdownwithamophandle.

           (Abluetickhoundbaysoutthereinthefog,runningscaredandlostbecausehecan’tsee.Notracksonthegroundbuttheoneshe’smaking,andhesniffsineverydirectionwithhiscoldred-rubbernoseandpicksupnoscentbuthisownfear,fearburningdownintohimlikesteam.)