Поющие в терновнике

           ItwasfivemilesfromtheClearyhousetoWahine,andbythetimeMeggiesawtelegraphpolesinthedistanceherlegsweretremblingandhersockswerefallingdown.Earstunedfortheassemblybell,Bobglancedatherimpatientlyasshetoiledalong,hitchingatherdrawersandgivinganoccasionalgaspofdistress.Herfaceunderthemassofhairwaspinkandyetcuriouslypallid.Sighing,BobpassedhissatcheltoJackandranhishandsdownthesidesofhisknickers.

           "Comeon,Meggie,I’llpiggybackyoutherestoftheway,"hesaidgruffly,glaringathisbrothersincasetheyhadthemistakenideathathewasgoingsoft.

           Meggiescrambledontohisback,heavedherselfupenoughtolockherlegsaroundhiswaist,andpillowedherheadonhisskinnyshoulderblissfully.NowshecouldviewWahineincomfort.

           Therewasnotmuchtosee.Littlemorethanabigvillage,Wahinestraggleddowneachsideofatar-centeredroad.Thebiggestbuildingwasthelocalhotel,oftwostories,withanawningshadingthefootpathfromthesunandpostssupportingtheawningallalongthegutter.Thegeneralstorewasthenext-biggestbuilding,alsoboastingashelteringawning,andtwolongwoodenbenchesunderitsclutteredwindowsforpassers-bytorestupon.TherewasaflagpoleinfrontoftheMasonichall;fromitstopatatteredUnionJackflutteredfadedinthestiffbreeze.