Поющие в терновнике

           "Isthephoneworking?"hemanagedtosay.

           "Yes.Theystrungatemporarylineonthetreesandreconnectedusacoupleofhoursago."

           ButitwassomeminutesaftershelefthimbeforehecouldcomposehimselfsufficientlytoseathimselfatFee’sescritoire.

           "Givemetrunks,please,switch.ThisisFatherdeBricassartatDrogheda—Oh,hello,Doreen;stillontheswitch,Isee.Nicetohearyourvoice,too.OneneverknowswhoswitchisinSydney;she’sjustaboredvoice.IwanttoputanurgentcallthroughtoHisGracetheArchbishopPapalLegateinSydney.HisnumberisXX-2324.AndwhileI’mwaitingforSydney,putmethroughtoBugela,Doreen."

           TherewasbarelytimetotellMartinKingwhathadhappenedbeforeSydneywasontheline,butonewordtoBugelawasenough.Gillywouldknowfromhimandtheeavesdroppersonthepartyline,andthosewhowishedtobravearidethroughGillymudwouldbeatthefunerals.

           "YourGrace?ThisisFatherdeBricassart…Yes,thankyou,Iarrivedsafely,buttheplane’sboggedtoitsfuselageinmudandI’llhavetocomebackbytrain…Mud,YourGrace,m-u-dmud!No,YourGrace,everythingupherebecomesimpassablewhenitrains.IhadtoridefromGillanbonetoDroghedaonhorseback;that’stheonlywayonecaneventryinrain…That’swhyI’mphoning,YourGrace.ItwasaswellIcame.IsupposeImusthavehadsomesortofpremonition…Yes,thingsarebad,verybad.