Поющие в терновнике

           Wildasthebirdsinthesun-drenchedtrees,theirchildrenskulkedshylybehindthesulkywheelsorscuttledfortheprotectionofthewoodheapwhiletheirparentsyarnedovercupsoftea,swappedtallstoriesandbooks,promisedtopassonvaguemessagestoHoopironCollinsorBrumbyWaters,andtoldthefantastictaleofthePommyjackarooonGnarlunga.Andsomehowyoucouldbesuretheserootlesswanderershaddugagrave,buriedachildorawife,ahusbandoramate,undersomenever-to-be-forgottencoolibahonastretchoftheTSRwhichonlylookedthesametothosewhodidn’tknowhowheartscouldmarkoutassingularandspecialonetreeinawildernessoftrees.

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           Meggiewasignorantevenofthemeaningofaphraseashackneyedas"thefactsoflife,"forcircumstanceshadconspiredtoblockeveryavenuewherebyshemighthavelearned.Herfatherdrewarigidlinebetweenthemalesofthefamilyandthefemales;subjectslikebreedingormatingwereneverdiscussedinfrontofthewomen,nordidthemeneverappearinfrontofthewomenunlessfullyclothed.ThekindofbooksthatmighthavegivenheraclueneverappearedonDrogheda,andshehadnofriendsofherownagetocontributetohereducation.Herlifewasabsolutelyharnessedtotheneedsofthehouse,andaroundthehousetherewerenosexualactivitiesatall.TheHomePaddockcreatureswerealmostliterallysterile.