Пролетая над гнездом кукушки

           "Whythen,I’lljustexplainittoyou."McMurphyraiseshisvoice;thoughhedoesn’tlookattheotherAcuteslisteningbehindhim,it’sthemhe’stalkingto."Theflockgetssightofaspotofbloodonsomechickenandtheyallgotopeckin’atit,see,tilltheyripthechickentoshreds,bloodandbonesandfeathers.Butusuallyacoupleoftheflockgetsspottedinthefracas,thenit’stheirturn.Andafewmoregetsspotsandgetspeckedtodeath,andmoreandmore.Oh,apeckin’partycanwipeoutthewholeflockinamatterofafewhours,buddy,Iseenit.Amightyawesomesight.Theonlywaytopreventit—withchickens—istoclipblindersonthem.So’stheycan’tsee."

           Hardinglaceshislongfingersaroundakneeanddrawsthekneetowardhim,leaningbackinthechair."Apeckingparty.Thatcertainlyisapleasantanalogy,myfriend."

           "Andthat’sjustexactlywhatthatmeetingIjustsetthroughremindedmeof,buddy,ifyouwanttoknowthedirtytruth.Itremindedmeofaflockofdirtychickens."

           "Sothatmakesmethechickenwiththespotofblood,friend?"

           "That’sright,buddy."

           They’restillgrinningateachother,buttheirvoiceshavedroppedsolowandtautIhavetosweepoverclosertothemwithmybroomtohear.TheotherAcutesaremovingupclosertoo.

           "Andyouwanttoknowsomethin’else,buddy?Youwanttoknowwhopecksthatfirstpeck?"

           Hardingwaitsforhimtogoon.