Пролетая над гнездом кукушки

           Petehadlookedoutfirstandseer.allthedelivery-roommachinerywaitingforhimandsomehowrealizedwhathewasbeingborninto,andhadgrabbedontoeverythinghandyintheretotrytostaveoffbeingborn.Thedoctorreachedinandgothimbytheheadwithasetofdulledicetongsandjerkedhimlooseandfiguredeverythingwasallright.ButPete’sheadwasstilltoonew,andsoftasclay,andwhenitset,thosetwodentsleftbythetongsstayed.Andthismadehimsimpletowhereittookallhisstrainingeffortandconcentrationandwillpowerjusttodothetasksthatcameeasytoakidofsix.

           Butonegoodthing—beingsimplelikethatputhimoutoftheclutchoftheCombine.Theyweren’tabletomoldhimintoaslot.Sotheylethimgetasimplejobontherailroad,whereallhehadtodowassitinalittleclapboardhousewayoutinthesticksonalonelyswitchandwavearedlanternatthetrainsiftheswitchwasoneway,andagreenoneifitwastheother,andayellowoneiftherewasatrainsomeplaceupahead.Andhedidit,withmainforceandagutpowertheycouldn’tmashoutofhishead,outbyhimselfonthatswitch.Andheneverhadanycontrolsinstalled.

           That’swhytheblackboydidn’thaveanysayoverhim.Buttheblackboydidn’tthinkofthatrightoffanymorethanthenursedidwhensheorderedPeteremovedfromthedayroom.TheblackboywalkedrightupandgavePete’sarmajerktowardthedoor,justlikeyou’djerkthereinsonaplowhorsetoturnhim.

           "Tha’sright,Pete.Lessgotothedorm.Youdisturbin’ever’body."

           Peteshookhisarmloose."I’mtired,"hewarned.

           "C’mon,oldman,youmakin’afuss.Lessusgotobedandbestilllikeagoodboy."