Поющие в терновнике

           "Andrealgoldeyebrowsthathavethesameshapeasachurchroof,andthemostbeautifulrealgoldhair…Ialwaysexpectittobehardlikemetal,yetit’ssoftandfinelikeababy’s…Andskinyoumustusegoldpowderon,itshinesso…Andthemostbeautifulmouth,justmadeforkissing…"

           Shesatstaringathimwiththattenderpinkmouthslightlyopen,thewayithadbeenontheirfirstmeeting;hereachedoutandtooktheemptycupfromher.

           "Ithinkyouneedalittlemorechampagne,"hesaid,fillingit.

           "Imustadmitthisisnice,tostopandgiveourselvesalittlebreakfromthetrack.AndthankyouforthinkingofaskingMr.MacQueenforthesandwichesandwine."

           ThebigRollsenginetickedgentlyinthesilence,warmairpouringalmostsoundlesslythroughthevents;twoseparatekindsoflullingnoise.Lukeunknottedhistieandpulleditoff,openedhisshirtcollar.Theirjacketswereonthebackseat,toowarmforthecar.

           "Oh,thatfeelsgood!Idon’tknowwhoinventedtiesandtheninsistedamanwasonlyproperlydressedwhenheworeone,butifeverImeethim,I’llstranglehimwithhisowninvention."

           Heturnedabruptly,loweredhisfacetohers,andseemedtocatchtheroundedcurveofherlipsexactlyintohis,liketwopiecesofajigsawpuzzle;thoughhedidn’tholdherortouchherelsewhereshefeltlockedtohimandletherheadfollowasheleanedback,drawingherforwardontohischest.Hishandscameuptoclaspherhead,thebettertoworkatthatdizzying,amazinglyresponsivemouth,drainit.