Поющие в терновнике

           "There!Firstone!We’llfindthemall,youwaitandsee."

           Meggiewatchedheroldestbrotheradoringlywhilehepickedamongthegrassblades,holdingupeachpearlashefoundit;thensherememberedhowdelicateAgnes’sskinmustbe,howeasilyitmustburn,andbentherattentiononclothingthedoll.Theredidnotseemanyrealinjury.Herhairwastangledandloose,herarmsandlegsdirtywheretheboyshadpushedandpulledatthem,buteverythingstillworked.Atortoise-shellcombnestledaboveeachofMeggie’sears;shetuggedatoneuntilitcamefree,andbegantocombAgnes’shair,whichwasgenuinehumanhair,skillfullyknottedontoabaseofglueandgauze,andbleacheduntilitwasthecolorofgildedstraw.

           Shewasyankinginexpertlyatalargeknotwhenthedreadfulthinghappened.Offcamethehair,allofit,danglinginatousledclumpfromtheteethofthecomb.AboveAgnes’ssmoothbroadbrowtherewasnothing;nohead,nobaldskull.Justanawful,yawninghole.Shiveringinterror,Meggieleanedforwardtopeerinsidethedoll’scranium.Theinvertedcontoursofcheeksandchinshoweddimly,lightglitteredbetweenthepartedlipswiththeirteethablack,animalsilhouette,andaboveallthiswereAgnes’seyes,twohorribleclickingballsspearedbyawirerodthatcruellypiercedherhead.

           Meggie’sscreamwashighandthin,unchildlike;sheflungAgnesawayandwentonscreaming,handscoveringherface,shakingandshuddering.