Пролетая над гнездом кукушки

           Hestartedtocry.Hecouldn’tmakethewordscomeoutrightanymore;heopenedandclosedhismouthtotalkbuthecouldn’tsortthewordsintosentencesanymore.HeshookhisheadtoclearitandblinkedattheAcutes:

           "Ahhhh,I...tell...ya...Itellyou."

           Hebeganslumpingoveragain,andhisironballshrankbacktoahand.Hehelditcuppedoutinfrontofhimlikehewasofferingsomethingtothepatients.

           "Ican’thelpit.Iwasbornamiscarriage.IhadsomanyinsultsIdied.Iwasborndead.Ican’thelpit.I’mtired.I’mgiveouttrying.Yougotchances.IhadsomanyinsultsIwasborndead.Yougotiteasy.Iwasborndeadan’lifewashard.I’mtired.I’mtiredouttalkingandstandingup.Ibeendeadfifty-fiveyears."

           TheBigNursegothimclearacrosstheroom,rightthroughhisgreens.Shejumpedbackwithoutgettingtheneedlepulledoutaftertheshotandithungtherefromhispantslikealittletailofglassandsteel,oldPeteslumpingfartherandfartherforward,notfromtheshotbutfromtheeffort;thelastcoupleofminuteshadwornhimoutfinallyandcompletely,onceandforall—youcouldjustlookathimandtellhewasfinished.

           Sotherewasn’treallyanyneedfortheshot;hisheadhadalreadycommencedtowagbackandforthandhiseyesweremurky.Bythetimethenurseeasedbackintogettheneedlehewasbentsofarforwardhewascryingdirectlyonthefloorwithoutwettinghisface,tearsspottingawideareaasheswunghisheadbackandforth,spatting,spatting,inanevenpatternontheday-roomfloor,likehewassowingthem."Ahhhhh,"hesaid.Hedidn’tflinchwhenshejerkedtheneedleout.