Поющие в терновнике

           "WhatcanItellyourmother?Youmeanmoretoherthantherestofusputtogether.She’llneverforgiveme!"

           "TellherIwenttojoinJimmySharmanbecauseIwanttobesomeone.It’sthetruth."

           "WhatIsaid—itwasn’ttrue,Frank."

           Frank’salienblackeyesflashedscornfully,theeyesthepriesthadwonderedatthefirsttimehesawthem;whatweregrey-eyedFeeandblue-eyedPaddydoingwithablack-eyedson?FatherRalphknewhisMendelianlaws,anddidn’tthinkevenFee’sgreynessmadeitpossible.

           Frankpickeduphishatandcoat."Oh,itwastrue!Imustalwayshaveknownit.ThememoriesofMumplayingherspinetinaroomyoucouldneverhaveowned!Thefeelingyouhadn’talwaysbeenthere,thatyoucameafterme.Thatshewasminefirst."Helaughedsoundlessly."AndtothinkalltheseyearsI’veblamedyoufordraggingherdown,whenitwasme.Itwasme!"

           "Itwasnoone,Frank,noone!"thepriestcried,tryingtopullhimback."It’sapartofGod’sgreatunfathomableplan;thinkofitlikethat!"

           Frankshookoffthedetaininghandandwalkedtothedoorwithhislight,deadly,tiptoedgait.Hewasborntobeaboxer,thoughtFatherRalphinsomedetachedcornerofhisbrain,thatcardinal’sbrain.

           "God’sgreatunfathomableplan!"mockedtheyoungman’svoicefromthedoor.