Пролетая над гнездом кукушки

           "Notoureyes?"hesays."Pray,then,whereisMissRatchedpecking,myfriend?"

           McMurphygrinned."Why,don’tyouknow,buddy?"

           "No,ofcourseIdon’tknow!Imean,ifyouinsi—"

           "Atyourballs,buddy,atyoureverlovin’balls."

           Thespidersreachthejoiningatthetrunkandsettlethere,twitching.Hardingtriestogrin,buthisfaceandlipsaresowhitethegrinislost.HestaresatMcMurphy.McMurphytakesthecigaretteoutofhismouthandrepeatswhathesaid.

           "Rightatyourballs.No,thatnurseain’tsomekindamonsterchicken,buddy,whatsheisisaball-cutter.I’veseenathousandof‘em,oldandyoung,menandwomen.Seen‘emalloverthecountryandinthehomes—peoplewhotrytomakeyouweaksotheycangetyoutotoetheline,tofollowtheirrules,toliveliketheywantyouto.Andthebestwaytodothis,togetyoutoknuckleunder,istoweakenyoubygettin’youwhereithurtstheworst.Youeverbeenkneedinthenutsinabrawl,buddy?Stopsyoucold,don’tit?There’snothingworse.Itmakesyousick,itsapseverybitofstrengthyougot.Ifyou’reupagainstaguywhowantstowinbymakingyouweakerinsteadofmakinghimselfstronger,thenwatchforhisknee,he’sgonnagoforyourvitals.Andthat’swhatthatoldbuzzardisdoing,goingforyourvitals."

           Harding’sfaceisstillcolorless,buthe’sgotcontrolofhishandsagain;theyfliplooselybeforehim,tryingtotossoffwhatMcMurphyhasbeensaying:

           "OurdearMissRatched?Oursweet,smiling,tenderangelofmercy,MotherRatched,aball-cutter?Why,friend,that’smostunlikely."