Поющие в терновнике

           Becausesometimestherewasnograss,justaflatdesertofcracked,pantingblacksoil.Thegrass,thesun,theheatandtheflies;toeachmanhisownkindofheaven,andthiswasLukeO’Neill’s.

           HehadprisedtherestoftheDroghedastoryoutofJimmyStrong,theAML&Fstock-and-stationagentwhodrovehimoutthatfirstday,andithadbeenabitterblowtodiscovertheCatholicChurchownedDrogheda.However,hehadlearnedhowfewandfarbetweenfemaleheirstopropertieswere;whenJimmyStrongwentontosaythattheonlydaughterhadanicelittlecashsumofherownandmanydotingbrothers,hedecidedtocarryonasplanned.

           ButthoughLukehadlongdecidedhislife’sobjectivelayin100,000acresoutaroundKynunaorWinton,andworkedtowarditwithsingle-mindedzeal,thetruthwasthatathearthelovedhardcashfarmorethanwhatitmighteventuallybuyhim;notthepossessionofland,noritsinherentpower,buttheprospectofstockpilingrowsofneatfiguresinhisbankbook,inhisname.Ithad’tbeenGnarlungaorBingellyhehadwantedsodesperately,buttheirvalueinhardcash.AmanwhogenuinelywantedtobethebosscockywouldneverhavesettledforlandlessMeggieCleary.NorwouldhehavelovedthephysicalactofworkinghardasdidLukeO’Neill.

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           ThedanceattheHolyCrosshallinGillywasthethirteenthdanceLukehadtakenMeggietoinasmanyweeks.