Поющие в терновнике

           Heoughttohavehisownhomenow,hisownwifeandfamily.Doyouseethat,Meggie?ThefightbetweenyourdaddyandFrankwasonlyasignofFrank’swantingtogo.Itdidn’thappenbecausetheydon’tlikeeachother.Ithappenedbecausethat’sthewayalotofyoungmenleavehome,it’sasortofexcuse.ThefightwasjustanexcuseforFranktodowhathe’sbeenwantingtodoforalongtime,anexcuseforFranktoleave.Doyouunderstandthat,myMeggie?"

           Hereyesshiftedtohisfaceandrestedthere.Theyweresoexhausted,sofullofpain,soold."Iknow,"shesaid."Iknow.FrankwantedtogoawaywhenIwasalittlegirl,andhedidn’tgo.Daddybroughthimbackandmadehimstaywithus."

           "ButthistimeDaddyisn’tgoingtobringhimback,becauseDaddycan’tmakehimstaynow.Frankhasgoneforgood,Meggie.Heisn’tcomingback."

           "Won’tIeverseehimagain?"

           "Idon’tknow,"heansweredhonestly."I’dliketosayofcourseyouwill,butnoonecanpredictthefuture,Meggie,evenpriests."Hedrewabreath."Youmustn’ttellMumtherewasafight,Meggie,doyouhearme?Itwouldupsetherverymuch,andsheisn’twell."

           "Becausethere’sgoingtobeanotherbaby?"

           "Whatdoyouknowaboutthat?"

           "Mumlikesgrowingbabies;she’sdoneitalot.Andshegrowssuchnicebabies,Father,evenwhensheisn’twell.I’mgoingtogrowonelikeHalmyself,thenIwon’tmissFranksomuch,willI?"

           "Parthenogenesis,"hesaid."Goodluck,Meggie