Поющие в терновнике

           Butperhapsadozenlesspretentiousplotsringedthemausoleum,markedonlybyplainwhitewoodencrossesandwhitecroquethoopstodefinetheirneatboundaries,someofthembareevenofaname:ashearerwithnoknownrelativeswhohaddiedinabarracksbrawl;twoorthreeswaggieswhoselastearthlycallingplacehadbeenDrogheda;somesexlessandtotallyanonymousbonesfoundinoneofthepaddocks;MichaelCarson’sChinesecook,overwhoseremainsstoodaquaintscarletumbrella,whosesadsmallbellsseemedperpetuallytochimeoutthenameHeeSing,HeeSing,HeeSing;adroverwhosecrosssaidonlyTANKSTANDCHARLIEHEWASAGOODBLOKE;andmorebesides,someofthemwomen.ButsuchsimplicitywasnotforHal,theowner’snephew;theystowedhishomemadeboxonashelfinsidethevaultandclosedelaboratebronzedoorsuponit.

           ***

           AfterawhileeveryoneceasedtospeakofHalexceptinpassing.Meggie’ssorrowshekeptexclusivelytoherself;herpainhadtheunreasoningdesolationpeculiartochildren,magnifiedandmysterious,yetherveryyouthburieditbeneatheverydayevents,anddiminisheditsimportance.TheboyswerelittleaffectedsaveBob,whohadbeenoldenoughtobefondofhistinybrother.Paddygrieveddeeply,butnooneknewwhetherFeegrieved.Itseemedshegrewfurtherandfurtherawayfromhusbandandchildren,fromallfeeling.Becauseofthis,PaddywassogratefultoStuforthewayhemindedhismother,thegravetendernesswithwhichhetreatedher.