Поющие в терновнике

Chapter 8

Ofcoursetherewereflieseverywhere;Meggieworeaveiloverherhat,butherbarearmswereconstantlyplagued,andthechestnutmare’stailneverstoppedswishing,itsfleshneverstoppedshiveringandcreepingforasecond.ItamazedMeggiethateventhroughthethicknessofhideandhair,ahorsecouldfeelsomethingasdelicateandairyasafly.Theydranksweat,whichwaswhytheytormentedhorsesandhumansso,buthumansneverletthemdowhatsheepdid,sotheyusedthesheepforamoreintimatepurpose,layingtheireggsaroundtherumpwool,orwhereverthewoolwasdampanddirty.

Theairwasfullofthenoiseofbees,andalivewithbrilliantquickdragonfliesseekingouttheboredrains,alivewithexquisitelycoloredbutterfliesanddaymoths.Herhorseturnedoverapieceofrottinglogwithahoof;Meggiestaredatitsunderside,herskincrawling.Therewerewitchettygrubs,fatandwhiteandloathsome,woodliceandslugs,hugecentipedesandspiders.Fromburrowsrabbitshoppedandskittled,flashedbackinsidewithwhitepowderpuffsupintheair,thenturnedtopeerout,nosestwitching.Fartheronanechidnabrokeoffitsquestafterants,panickedatherapproach.Burrowingsofastthatitsstrongclawedfeetwerehiddeninseconds,itbegantodisappearunderahugelog.Itsanticsasitdugwereamusing,thecruelspineslyingflatalloveritsbodytostreamlineitsentryintotheground,earthflyinginheaps.