Поющие в терновнике

Chapter 9

Asheshovedthetruckdownintobottomgeartogrindupthefarcreekbankhelookedbackforamomentattheemptyheadstockman’shouse,thetwovacanthousesbeyondit;therewasthehomestead’ssoftunderbelly,theonlyplacewhereflammablethingscamecloseenoughtothetreesonthefarsideofthecreektocatch.OldTomlookedwestward,shookhisheadinsuddendecision,andmanagedtogetthetruckbackacrossthecreekandupthenearbankinreverse.They’dneverstopthatfireoutinthepaddocks;they’dreturn.Ontopofthegullyandjustbesidetheheadstockman’shouse,inwhichhehadbeencamping,heattachedthehosetothetankandbegansaturatingthebuilding,thenpassedbeyondittothetwosmallerdwellings,hosedthemdown.Thiswaswherehecouldhelpthemost;keepthosethreehomessowetthey’dnevercatch.

AsMeggierodebesideFeetheominouscloudinthewestgrew,andstrongerandstrongeronthewindcamethesmellofburning.Itwasgrowingdark;creaturesfleeingfromthewestcamethickerandthickeracrossthepaddock,kangaroosandwildpigs,frightenedsheepandcattle,emusandgoannas,rabbitsbythethousands.Bobwasleavingthegatesopen,shenoticedassherodefromBoreheadintoBilla-Billa;everypaddockonDroghedahadaname.Butsheepweresostupidtheywouldblunderintoafenceandstopthreefeetfromanopengate,neverseeit.