Поющие в терновнике

           "Hereitis,gents,JimmySharman’sfamousboxingtroupe!Eightoftheworld’sgreatestprizefighters,andapursetobewonbyanychapgametohaveago!"

           Womenandgirlsweretricklingoutoftheaudienceasfastasmenandboyscamefromeverydirectiontoswellit,clusteringthicklybeneaththeboardwalk.AssolemnlyasgladiatorsparadingattheCircusMaximus,eightmenfiledontothebridgeandstood,bandagedhandsonhips,legsapart,swaggeringattheadmiringoohsofthecrowd.Meggiethoughttheywerewearingunderclothes,fortheywerecladinlongblacktightsandvestswithcloselyfittinggreytrunksfromwaiststomidthighs.Ontheirchests,bigwhiteRomancapitalssaidJIMMYSHARMAN’STROUPE.Notwowerethesamesize,somebig,somesmall,someinbetween,buttheywereallofparticularlyfinephysique.Chattingandlaughingtoeachotherinanoffhandmannerthatsuggestedthiswasaneverydayoccurrence,theyflexedtheirmusclesandtriedtopretendtheyweren’tenjoyingstrutting.

           "Comeon,chaps,who’lltakeaglove?"thespruikerwasbraying."Whowantstohaveago?Takeaglove,winafiver!"hekeptyellingbetweentheboomsofabassdrum.

           "Iwill!"Frankshouted."Iwill,Iwill!"

           HeshookoffFatherRalph’srestraininghandasthosearoundtheminthethrongwhocouldseeFrank’sdiminutivesizebegantolaughandgood-naturedlypushhimtothefront.