Поющие в терновнике

           Atfirstopportunityhehadusedhispicktohackaholeinthechestofthetroopercommandingtheexpedition;heandtenotherconvictsmassacredfivemoretroopersbyshavingthefleshfromtheirbonesaninchatatimeuntiltheydiedscreaminginagony.Fortheyandtheirguardswerebeasts,elementalcreatureswhoseemotionshadatrophiedtothesubhuman.RoderickArmstrongcouldnomorehavegoneoffintohisescapeleavinghistormentorsintactorquicklydeadthanhecouldhavereconciledhimselftobeingaconvict.

           Withtherumandbreadandjerkytheytookfromthetroopers,theelevenmenfoughttheirwaythroughmilesoffreezingrainforestandcameoutatthewhalingstationofHobart,wheretheystolealongboatandsetoffacrosstheTasmanSeawithoutfood,waterorsails.WhenthelongboatwashedashoreonthewildwestcoastofNewZealand’sSouthIsland,RoderickArmstrongandtwoothermenwerestillalive.Heneverspokeofthatincrediblejourney,butitwaswhisperedthatthethreehadsurvivedbykillingandeatingtheirweakercompanions.

           ThatwasjustnineyearsafterhehadbeentransportedfromEngland.Hewasyetayoungman,buthelookedsixty.BythetimethefirstofficiallysanctionedsettlersarrivedinNewZealandin1840,hehadhewnlandsforhimselfintherichCanterburydistrictoftheSouthIsland,"married"aMaoriwomanandsiredabroodofthirteenhandsomehalf-Polynesianchildren.