Пролетая над гнездом кукушки

           Hardingandsomeoftheotherssaythattheydon’tgetit.

           "It’ssimpleenough.Thereain’tnothingnobleorcomplicatedaboutit.Iliketogamble.AndIliketowin.AndIthinkIcanwinthisgamble,okay?ItgotsoatPendletontheguyswouldn’tevenlagpennieswithmeonaccountofIwassuchawinner.Why,oneofthebigreasonsIgotmyselfsentherewasbecauseIneededsomenewsuckers.I’lltellyousomething:IfoundoutafewthingsaboutthisplacebeforeIcameouthere.Damnnearhalfofyouguysinherepullcompensation,three,fourhundredamonthandnotathingintheworldtodowithitbutletitdrawdust.IthoughtImighttakeadvantageofthisandmaybemakebothourlivesalittlemorericher.I’mstartinglevelwithyou.I’magamblerandI’mnotinthehabitoflosing.AndI’veneverseenawomanIthoughtwasmoremanthanme,Idon’tcarewhetherIcangetitupforherornot.Shemayhavetheelementoftime,butIgotaprettylongwinningstreakgoin’myself."

           Hepullsoffhiscap,spinsitonhisfinger,andcatchesitbehindhisbackinhisotherband,neatasyouplease.

           "Anotherthing:I’minthisplacebecausethat’sthewayIplannedit,pureandsimple,becauseit’sabetterplacethanaworkfarm.AsnearasIcantellI’mnoloony,orneverknewitifIwas.Yournursedon’tknowthis;she’snotgoingtobelookingoutforsomebodycomingatherwithatrigger-quickmindlikeIobviouslygot.ThesethingsgivemeanedgeIlike.SoI’msayingfivebuckstoeachofyouthatwantsitifIcan’tputabetsybugupthatnurse’sbuttwithinaweek."

           "I’mstillnotsureI—"