Поющие в терновнике

           Theywerenorthwest,hewasnorth.Withoutwaitingthestipulatedfiveminutes,heputanothershellintheriflebreech,pointedthegunduesouth,andfired.Apausetoreload,thesecondshot,reload,thethirdshot.Heputtheweaponbackonthegroundandstoodlookingsouth,hisheadcocked,listening.Thistimethefirstanswerwasfromthewest,Bob’sshot,thesecondfromJackorHughie,andthethirdfromhismother.Hesighedinrelief;hedidn’twantthewomenreachinghimfirst.

           Thushedidn’tseethegreatwildpigemergefromthetreestothenorth;hesmelledit.Asbigasacow,itsmassivebulkrolledandquiveredonshort,powerfullegsasitdroveitsheaddown,rakingattheburnedwetground.Theshotshaddisturbedit,anditwasinpain.Thesparseblackhairononesideofitsbodywassingedoffandtheskinwasredlyraw;whatStuartsmelledashestaredintothesouthwasthedelectableodorofbubbledporkskin,justasitisonaroastedjointfreshfromtheovenandcrispallovertheslashedouterhusk.Surprisedoutofthecuriouslypeacefulsorrowhealwaysseemedtohaveknown,hisheadturned,evenashethoughttohimselfthathemusthavebeenherebefore,thatthissoddenblackplacehadbeenetchedintosomepartofhisbrainonthedayofhisbirth.

           Stooping,hegropedfortherifle,rememberingitwasn’tloaded.Theboarstoodperfectlystill,itslittlereddenedeyesmadwithpain,thegreatyellowtuskssharpandcurvingupwardinahalfcircle.