Поющие в терновнике

           Stuart’shorseneighed,smellingthebeast;thepig’smassiveheadswungtowatchit,thenloweredforthecharge.WhileitsattentionwasonthehorseStuartsawhisonlychance,bentquicklyfortherifleandsnappedthebreechopen,hisotherhandinhisjacketpocketforashell.Allaroundtherainwasdroppingdown,mufflingothersoundsinitsownunchangingpatter.Butthepigheardtheboltslideback,andatthelastmomentchangedthedirectionofitschargefromthehorsetoStuart.Itwasalmostuponhimwhenhegotoneshotoffstraightintothebeast’schest,withoutslowingitdown.Thetusksslewedupandsideways,andcaughthiminthegroin.Hefell,bloodappearinglikeafaucetturnedallthewayonandsaturatinghisclothes,spurtingovertheground.

           Turningawkwardlyasitbegantofeelthebullet,thepigcamebacktogorehimagain,faltered,swayed,andtottered.Thewholeofthatfifteen-hundred-poundbulkcamedownacrosshim,andcrushedhisfaceintothetarrymud.Foramomenthishandsclawedatthegroundoneithersideinafrantic,futilestruggletobefree;thisthenwaswhathehadalwaysknown,whyhehadneverhopedordreamedorplanned,onlysatanddrunkofthelivingworldsodeeplytherehadnotbeentimetogrieveforhiswaitingfate.Hethought:Mum,Mum!Ican’tstaywithyou,Mum!,evenashisheartburstwithinhim.