Пролетая над гнездом кукушки

           Hestartstotrembleagain,andhisshouldersfoldbackaroundhim.

           "No.Shedoesn’tneedtoaccuse.Shehasageniusforinsinuation.Didyoueverhearher,inthecourseofourdiscussiontoday,everoncehearheraccusemeofanything?YetitseemsIhavebeenaccusedofamultitudeofthings,ofjealousyandparanoia,ofnotbeingmanenoughtosatisfymywife,ofhavingrelationswithmalefriendsofmine,ofholdingmycigaretteinanaffectedmanner,even—itseemstome—accusedofhavingnothingbetweenmylegsbutapatchofhair—andsoftanddownyandblondhairatthat!Ball-cutter?Oh,youunderestimateher!"

           HardinghushesallofasuddenandleansforwardtotakeMcMurphy’shandinbothofhis.Hisfaceistiltedoddly,edged,jaggedpurpleandgray,abustedwinebottle.

           "Thisworld...belongstothestrong,myfriend!Theritualofourexistenceisbasedonthestronggettingstrongerbydevouringtheweak.Wemustfaceuptothis.Nomorethanrightthatitshouldbethisway.Wemustlearntoacceptitasalawofthenaturalworld.Therabbitsaccepttheirroleintheritualandrecognizethewolfasthestrong.Indefense,therabbitbecomesslyandfrightenedandelusiveandhedigsholesandhideswhenthewolfisabout.Andheendures,hegoeson.Heknowshisplace.Hemostcertainlydoesn’tchallengethewolftocombat.Now,wouldthatbewise?Wouldit?"

           HeletsgoMcMurphy’shandandleansbackandcrosseshislegs,takesanotherlongpulloffthecigarette.Hepullsthecigarettefromhisthincrackofasmile,andthelaughstartsupagain—eee-eee-eee,likeanailcomingoutofaplank.