Пролетая над гнездом кукушки

           Hepaysoutthelastcoupleofcigarettesandlaysdownthedeckandleansbackwithasighandshovesthecapoutofhiseyes,andthegameisdone.

           "Well,sir,winafew,losetherestiswhatIsay."Heshakeshisheadsoforlorn."Idon’tknow—Iwasalwaysaprettyshrewdcustomerattwenty-one,butyoubirdsmayjustbetootoughforme.Yougotsomekindauncannyknack,makesamanleeryofplayingagainstsuchsharpiesforrealmoneytomorrow."

           Heisn’tevenkiddinghimselfintothinkingtheyfallforthat.Heletthemwin,andeveryoneofuswatchingthegameknowsit.Sodotheplayers.Buttherestillisn’tamanrakinghispileofcigarettes—cigaretteshedidn’treallywinbutonlywonbackbecausetheywerehisinthefirstplace—thatdoesn’thaveasmirkonhisfacelikehe’sthetoughestgambleronthewholeMississippi.

           ThefatblackboyandablackboynamedGeeverrunusoutofthedayroomandcommenceturninglightsoffwithalittlekeyonachain,andasthewardgetsdimmeranddarkertheeyesofthelittlebirthmarkednurseinthestationgetbiggerandbrighter.She’satthedooroftheglassstation,issuingnighttimepillstothementhatshufflepastherinaline,andshe’shavingahardtimekeepingstraightwhogetspoisonedwithwhattonight.She’snotevenwatchingwhereshepoursthewater.Whathasdistractedherattentionthiswayisthatbigredheadedmanwiththedreadfulcapandthehorrible-lookingscar,comingherway.She’swatchingMcMurphywalkawayfromthecardtableinthedarkdayroom,hisonehornyhandtwistingtheredtuftofhairthatsticksoutofthelittlecupatthethroatofhiswork-farmshirt,andIfigurebythewaysherearsbackwhenhereachesthedoorofthestationthatshe’sprobablybeenwarnedabouthimbeforehandbytheBigNurse.