Поющие в терновнике

           Lukesenior,whoshoreforalivingwhenhefeltlikeit(butmostlyallhefeltlikedoingwasdrinkingOPrum),diedinafireattheBlackallpubwhenyoungLukewastwelveyearsold.SoassoonashecouldLuketookhimselfoffontheshearingcircuitasatarboy,slappingmoltentaronjaggedwoundsifashearerslippedandcutfleshaswellaswool.

           OnethingLukewasneverafraidof,andthatwashardwork;hethrivedonitthewaysomementhrivedonitsopposite,whetherbecausehisfatherhadbeenabarflyandatownjokeorbecausehehadinheritedhisGermanmother’sloveofindustrynoonehadeverbotheredtofindout.

           Ashegrewolderhegraduatedfromtarboytoshedhand,runningdowntheboardcatchingthegreatheavyfleecesastheyflewofftheboggisinonepiecebillowinguplikekites,andcarryingthemtothewool-rollingtabletobeskirted.Fromthathelearnedtoskirt,pickingthedirt-encrustededgesoffthefleecesandtransferringthemtobinsreadyfortheattentionoftheclasser,whowasshedaristocrat:themanwholikeawine-tasteroraperfume-testercannotbetrainedunlesshealsohasinstinctforthejob.AndLukedidn’thaveaclasser’sinstinct;eitherheturnedtopressingortoshearingifhewantedtoearnmoremoney,whichhecertainlydid.Hehadthestrengthtomanthepress,tampdownthegradedfleecesintomassivebales,butagunshearercouldmakemoremoney.

           BynowhewaswellknowninWesternQueenslandasagoodworker,sohehadnotroublegettinghimselfalearner’spen.