Поющие в терновнике

           Blastedtreesaloneinthegrassreekedandsmoked,andtheyunderstoodatlastwhytheselonelypaddocksentinelsweredead.

           Aneerie,unearthlyglowseepedintotheair,airwhichwasnolongerinvisiblebutonfirefromwithin,fluorescingpinkandlilacandsulphuryellow,andsmellingofsomehauntinglysweet,elusiveperfumequitebeyondrecognition.Thetreesshimmered,theredClearyhairwashaloedintonguesoffire,thehairsoftheirarmsstoodoutstiffly.Andallafternoonitwenton,onlyslowlyfadingintotheeasttoreleasethemfromitsawesomespellatsunset,andtheywereexcited,onedge,unappeased.Notadropofrainhadfallen.Butitwaslikedyingandcomingbacktolifeagain,tohavesurvivedtheatmospherictantrumunscathed;itwasalltheycouldtalkaboutforaweek.

           "We’llgetalotmore,"saidMaryCarson,bored.

           Theydidgetalotmore.Theseconddrywintercameincolderthantheyhadthoughtitcouldgetwithoutsnow;frostsettledinchesthickonthegroundatnight,andthedogshuddledshiveringintheirkennels,keepingwarmbygorgingonkangaroomeatandmoundsoffatfromthehomestead’sslaughteredcattle.Atleasttheweathermeantbeefandporktoeatinsteadoftheeternalmutton.Inthehousetheybuiltgreatroaringfires,andthemenwereforcedtocomehomewhentheycould,foratnightinthepaddockstheyfroze.Buttheshearerswhentheyarrivedwereinamoodforrejoicing;theycouldgetthroughfasterandsweatless.