Поющие в терновнике

           Lukestoppedthecar,gotoutandcameroundtoopenMeggie’sdoor.Shesteppeddownbesidehim,tremblingalittle;washegoingtospoileverythingbytryingtokissher?Itwassoquiet,sofarfromanyone!

           Therewasadecayingdoglegwoodenfencewanderingofftooneside,andholdingherelbowlightlytomakesureshedidn’tstumbleinherfrivolousshoes,LukehelpedMeggieacrosstheunevenground,therabbitholes.Grippingthefencetightlyandlookingoutovertheplains,shewasspeechless;firstfromterror,then,herpanicdyingashemadenomovetotouchher,fromwonder.

           Almostasclearlyasthesuncould,themoon’sstillpalelightpickedoutvastsweepingstretchesofdistance,thegrassshimmeringandripplinglikearestlesssigh,silverandwhiteandgrey.Leavesontreessparkledsuddenlylikepointsoffirewhenthewindturnedtheirglossytopsupward,andgreatyawninggulfsofshadowsspreadundertimberstandsasmysteriouslyasmouthsoftheunderworld.Liftingherhead,shetriedtocountthestarsandcouldnot;asdelicateasdropsofdewonawheelingspider’swebthepinpointsflared,wentout,flared,wentout,inarhythmastimelessasGod.Theyseemedtohangoverherlikeanet,sobeautiful,soverysilent,sowatchfulandsearchingofthesoul,likejeweleyesofinsectsturnedbrilliantinaspotlight,blindastoexpressionandinfiniteastoseeingpower.