Поющие в терновнике

           "There’sonething,Father!"shoutedDominic."Wedon’thavetodiggravesinthisbloodymud!IusedtothinkoldMarywasputtingonthedogabittoomuchwhensheputamarblevaultinherbackyardforMichael,butrightatthisminuteifshewashere,I’dkissher!"

           "Tooright!"yelledFatherRalph.

           Theylashedthedrumsunderthesheetofiron,sixoneitherside,tiedthecanvasshrouddownfirmly,andswamtheexhausteddrafthorsesacrossontheropewhichwouldfinallytowtheraft.DominicandTomsatastridethegreatbeasts,andatthetopoftheDrogheda-sidebankpaused,lookingback,whilethosestillmaroonedhookedupthemakeshiftbarge,pushedittothebankandshoveditin.Thedrafthorsesbeganwalking,TomandDominiccooeeingshrillyastheraftbegantofloat.Itbobbedandwallowedbadly,butitstayedafloatlongenoughtobehauledoutsafely;ratherthanwastetimedismantlingthepontoons,thetwoimpromptupostilionsurgedtheirmountsupthetracktowardthebighouse,thesheetofironslidingalongonitsdrumsbetterthanithadwithoutthem.

           Therewasarampuptogreatdoorsatthebalingendoftheshearingshed,sotheyputtheraftanditsburdeninthehugeemptybuildingamidthereeksoftar,sweat,lanolinanddung.Muffledinoilskins,MinnieandCathadcomedownfromthebighousetotakefirstvigil,andkneltoneoneithersideoftheironbier,rosarybeadsclicking,voicesrisingandfallingincadencestoowellknowntoneedtheeffortofmemory.

           Thehousewasfillingup.