Поющие в терновнике

           ThusFeekeptashotgunstandingloadedinacornerofthekitchenwherethebabiescouldn’tgettoit,andmadesureshewasclosertoitthanhervisitoruntilherexperteyeassessedhischaracter.AfterStuartwasofficiallyallottedthehouseashisdomain,Feepassedtheshotguntohimgladly.

           Notallthevisitorswereswaggies,thoughtheywereinthemajority;therewastheWatkinsmaninhisoldmodel-T,forinstance.Hecarriedeverythingfromhorselinimenttofragrantsoapunliketherock-hardstuffFeemadeinthelaundrycopperfromfatandcaustic;hehadlavenderwaterandeaudecologne,powdersandcreamsforsun-driedfaces.TherewerecertainthingsoneneverdreamedofbuyingfromanyonebuttheWatkinsman;likehisointment,betterbyfarthananydrugstoreorprescriptionsalve,capableofhealinganythingfromarentinthesideofaworkdogtoanulceronahumanshin.Thewomenwouldcrowdaroundineverykitchenhevisited,waitingeagerlyforhimtopopopenhisbigsuitcaseofwares.

           Andtherewereothersalesmen,lessregularpatrollersofthebackblocksthantheWatkinsmanbutequallywelcome,hawkingeverythingfromtailor-madecigarettesandfancypipestowholeboltsofmaterial,sometimesevenluridlyseductiveunderwearandlavishlyberibbonedstays.Theyweresostarved,thesewomenoftheOutback,limitedtomaybeoneortwotripsayearintothenearesttown,farfromthebrilliantshopsofSydney,farfromfashionsandfemininefurbelows.

           Lifeseemedmostlyfliesanddust.