Поющие в терновнике

           OnlyPaddyknewhowFeehadlookedthedayhecamebackfromGillywithoutFrank.Therehadnotbeenaflickerofemotioninthosesoftgreyeyes,nothardeningnoraccusation,hateorsorrow.Asifshehadsimplybeenwaitingfortheblowtofalllikeacondemneddogforthekillingbullet,knowingherfateandpowerlesstoavoidit.

           "Iknewhewouldn’tcomeback,"shesaid.

           "Maybehewill,Fee,ifyouwritetohimquickly,"Paddysaid.

           Sheshookherhead,butbeingFeewentintonoexplanations.BetterthatFrankmadeanewlifeforhimselffarfromDroghedaandher.Sheknewhersonwellenoughtobeconvincedthatonewordfromherwouldbringhimback,soshemustnotutterthatword,ever.Ifthedayswerelongandbitterwithasenseoffailure,shemustbearitinsilence.Paddyhadn’tbeenthemanofherchoice,butabettermanthanPaddyneverlived.Shewasoneofthosepeoplewhosefeelingsaresointensetheybecomeunbearable,unlivable,andherlessonhadbeenaharshone.Foralmosttwenty-fiveyearsshehadbeencrushingemotionoutofexistence,andshewasconvincedthatintheendpersistencewouldsucceed.

           ***

           Lifewentonintherhythmic,endlesscycleoftheland;thefollowingsummertherainscame,notmonsoonalbutaby-productofthem,fillingthecreekandthetanks,succoringthethirstinggrassroots,spongingawaythestealthydust.Almostweepinginjoy,themenwentaboutthebusinessofthepatternedseasons,secureintheknowledgetheywouldnothavetohand-feedthesheep.