Поющие в терновнике

           "ButLuke,youalreadyhaveagoodjobhere!"

           "Amandoesn’tfeelright,batteningonhisin-laws.IwanttogetusthemoneytobuyaplaceoutinWesternQueensland,andIwantitbeforeI’mtoooldtoworkit.Amanwithnoeducationfindsithardtogethigh-payingworkinthisDepression,butthere’sashortageofmeninNorthQueensland,andthemoney’satleasttentimeswhatIearnasastockmanonDrogheda."

           "Doingwhat?"

           "Cuttingsugarcane."

           "Cuttingsugarcane?That’scoolielabor!"

           "No,you’rewrong.Cooliesaren’tbigenoughtodoitaswellasthewhitecutters,andbesides,youknowaswellasIdothatAustralianlawforbidstheimportationofblackoryellowmentodoslavelabororworkforwageslowerthanawhiteman’s,takethebreadoutofawhiteAustralian’smouth.There’s,ashortageofcuttersandthemoney’sterrific.Nottoomanyblokesarebigenoughorstrongenoughtocutcane.ButIam.Itwon’tbeatme!"

           "Doesthismeanyou’rethinkingofmakingourhomeinNorthQueensland,Luke?"

           "Yes."

           ShestaredpasthisshoulderthroughthegreatbankofwindowsatDrogheda:theghostgums,theHomePaddock,thestretchoftreesbeyond.NottoliveonDrogheda!TobesomewhereBishopRalphcouldneverfindher,tolivewithouteverseeinghimagain,tocleavetothisstrangersittingfacinghersoirrevocablytherecouldbenogoingback…ThegreyeyesrestedonLuke’svivid,impatientfaceandgrewmorebeautiful,butunmistakablysadder.