Поющие в терновнике

           "Imustgo.GarethDaviesisgoingtoneedusonNarrengang,andunlessImissmyguesssowillAngusonRudnaHunish."

           Feewhitened."Oh,Martin!Sofaraway?"

           "Theword’sout,Fee.BoorooandBourkearerallying."

           ***

           Forthreedaysmorethefirerampagedeastwardonafrontthatkeptwideningandwidening,thencameasuddenheavyfallofrainthatlastedfornearlyfourdays,andquenchedeverylastcoal.Butithadgoneoverahundredmilesandlaidacharred,blackenedpathtwentymileswidefrommidwayoutacrossDroghedatotheboundaryofthelastpropertyintheGillanbonedistricteastward,RudnaHunish.

           UntilitbegantorainnooneexpectedtohearfromPaddy,fortheythoughthimsafelyonthefarsideoftheburnedzone,cutofffromthembyheatinthegroundandthestill-flaringtrees.Hadthefirenotbroughtthetelephonelinedown,BobthoughttheywouldhavegotacallfromMartinKing,foritwaslogicalthatPaddywouldstrikewestwardforshelteratBugelahomestead.Butwhentherainhadbeenfallingforsixhoursandtherewasstillnosignofhim,theybegantoworry.Foralmostfourdaystheyhadbeenassuringthemselvescontinuallythattherewasnoreasontobeanxious,thatofcoursehewasjustcutoff,andhaddecidedtowaituntilhecouldheadforhisownhomeratherthangotoBugela.

           "Heoughttobeinbynow,"saidBob,pacingupanddownthedrawingroomwhiletheotherswatched;theironyofitwasthattherainhadbroughtadankchillintotheair,andoncemoreabrightfireburnedinthemarblehearth.