Поющие в терновнике

           ThiswouldbringthemtoBrisonMondayintimetocatchtheCairnsexpress.

           TheGoondiwinditrainwascrowded.Theyhadnoprivacyandsatupallnightbecauseitcarriednosleepingcars.Hourafterhourittrundleditserratic,grumpywaynortheast,stoppinginterminablyeverytimetheenginedriverfeltlikebrewingabillyofteaforhimself,ortoletamobofsheepwanderalongtherails,ortohaveayarnwithadrover.

           "IwonderwhytheypronounceGoondiwindiGundiwindiiftheydon’twanttospellitthatway?"MeggieaskedidlyastheywaitedintheonlyplaceopeninGoondiwindionaSunday,theawfulinstitutional-greenstationwaitingroomwithitshardblackwoodenbenches.PoorMeggie,shewasnervousandillatease.

           "HowdoIknow?"sighedLuke,whodidn’tfeelliketalkingandwasstarvingintothebargain.SinceitwasSundaytheycouldn’tevengetacupoftea;notuntiltheMonday-morningbreakfaststopontheBrisbanemaildidtheygetanopportunitytofilltheiremptystomachsandslaketheirthirst.ThenBrisbane,intoSouthBrisstation,thetrekacrossthecitytoRomaStreetStationandtheCairnstrain.HereMeggiediscoveredLukehadbookedthemtwosecond-classuprightseats.

           "Luke,we’renotshortofmoney!"shesaid,tiredandexasperated."Ifyouforgottogotothebank,I’vegotahundredpoundsBobgavemehereinmypurse.Whydidn’tyougetusafirst-classsleepingcompartment?"

           Hestareddownather,astounded.