Поющие в терновнике

           Somethingwasalwayslackingwhichwasn’tlackinginLuke,thoughjustwhatitwasLukepossessedshedidn’tknow.AsidefromthefactthatheremindedherofFatherRalph,thatis,andsherefusedtoadmitherattractionhadnobetterbasisthanthat.

           Theytalkedalot,butalwaysaboutgeneralthings;shearing,theland,thesheep,orwhathewantedoutoflife,orperhapsabouttheplaceshehadseen,orsomepoliticalhappening.Hereadanoccasionalbookbuthewasn’taninveteratereaderlikeMeggie,andtryasshewould,shecouldn’tseemtopersuadehimtoreadthisorthatbooksimplybecauseshehadfounditinteresting.Nordidheleadtheconversationintointellectualdepths;mostinterestingandirritatingofall,heneverevincedanyinterestinherlife,oraskedherwhatshewantedfromit.Sometimesshelongedtotalkaboutmattersfarclosertoherheartthansheeporrain,butifshemadealeadingstatementhewasexpertatdeflectingherintomoreimpersonalchannels.

           ***

           LukeO’Neillwasclever,conceited,extremelyhardworkingandhungrytoenrichhimself.Hehadbeenborninawattle-and-daubshantyexactlyontheTropicofCapricorn,outsidethetownofLongreachinWesternQueensland.HisfatherwastheblacksheepofaprosperousbutunforgivingIrishfamily,hismotherwasthedaughteroftheGermanbutcherinWinton;whensheinsistedonmarryingLukesenior,shealsowasdisowned.Thereweretenchildreninthathumpy,noneofwhompossessedapairofshoes—notthatshoesmatteredmuchintorridLongreach.