Поющие в терновнике

           Gillycanputoutclosetofivehundredmentofightafire.Someofuswillstayheretohelp.ThankGodI’mwestofDroghedaisallIcansay."

           Bobgrinned."You’reabloodycomfort,Martin."

           Martinlookedaround."Where’syourfather,Bob?"

           "Westofthefire,likeBugela.HewasoutinWilgamusteringsomeewesforthelambing,andWilga’satleastfivemileswestofwherethefirestarted,Ireckon."

           "Noothermenyou’reworriedabout?"

           "Nottoday,thankheavens."

           Inawayitwaslikebeinginawar,Meggiethoughtassheenteredthehouse:acontrolledspeed,aconcernforfoodanddrink,thekeepingupofone’sstrengthandcourage.Andthethreatofimminentdisaster.AsmoremenarrivedtheywenttojointhosealreadyintheHomePaddock,cuttingdownthefewtreesthathadsprungupclosetothecreekbank,andclearingawayanyoverlonggrassontheperimeter.MeggierememberedthinkingwhenshefirstarrivedonDroghedahowmuchprettiertheHomePaddockmighthavebeen,forcomparedtothewealthoftimberallaroundit,itwasbareandbleak.Nowsheunderstoodwhy.TheHomePaddockwasnothinglessthanagiganticcircularfirebreak.

           EveryonetalkedofthefiresGillyhadseeninitsseventy-oddyearsofexistence.Curiouslyenough,fireswereneveramajorthreatduringprolongeddrought,becausetherewasn’tsufficientgrassthentokeepafiregoingfar.