Поющие в терновнике

           PadraicClearyandhissonStuartaredead,oneburnedtodeathinthefire,onesmotheredbyaboar…Ab-o-a-rboar,YourGrace,awildpig…Yes,you’reright,onedoesspeakaslightlybizarreEnglishuphere."

           Alldownthefaintlinehecouldheargaspsfromthelisteners,andgrinnedinspiteofhimself.Onecouldn’tyellintothephonethateverybodymustgetofftheline—itwasthesoleentertainmentofamassnatureGillyhadtoofferitscontact-hungrycitizens—butiftheywouldonlygetoffthelineHisGracemightstandabetterchanceofhearing."Withyourpermission,YourGrace,I’llremaintoconductthefuneralsandmakesurethewidowandhersurvivingchildrenareallright…Yes,yourGrace,thankyou.I’llreturntoSydneyassoonasIcan."

           Switchwaslistening,too;heclickedtheleverandspokeagainimmediately."Doreen,putmebacktoBugela,please."HetalkedtoMartinKingforafewminutes,anddecidedsinceitwasAugustandwinter-coldtodelaythefuneralsuntilthedayafterthiscomingday.Manypeoplewouldwanttoattendinspiteofthemudandbepreparedtoridetogetthere,butitwasslowandarduouswork.

           Meggiecamebackwiththehorseliniment,butmadenooffertorubiton,justhandedhimthebottlesilently.SheinformedhimabruptlythatMrs.Smithwaslayinghimahotsupperinthesmalldiningroominanhour,sohewouldhavetimetobathe.