Поющие в терновнике

           Herheadached,shecouldkeepnofooddownandtheheatwasmuch,muchworsethananythingGillyhadevercookedup.Thelovelypinksilkweddingdresswasfilthyfromsootblowinginthewindows,herskinwasclammywithasweatwhichwouldn’tevaporate,andwhatwasmoregallingthananyofherphysicaldiscomforts,shewasclosetohatingLuke.Apparentlynotintheleasttiredoroutofsortsbecauseofthejourney,hesatathiseaseyarningwithtwomengoingtoCardwell.Theonlytimesheglancedinherdirectionhealsogotup,leanedacrosshersocarelesslysheshrank,andflungarolled-upnewspaperoutthewindowtosomeevent-hungrygangoftatteredmenbesidethelinewithsteelhammersintheirhands,calling:

           "Paip!Paip!"

           "Fettlerslookingaftertherails,"heexplainedashesatdownagainthefirsttimeithappened.

           Andheseemedtoassumeshewasquiteashappyandcomfortableashewas,thatthecoastalplainflyingbywasfascinatingher.Whileshesatstaringatitandnotseeingit,hatingitbeforeshehadsomuchassetfootonit.

           AtCardwellthetwomengotoff,andLukewenttothefish-and-chipshopacrosstheroadfromthestationtobringbackanewspaper-wrappedbundle.

           "TheysayCardwellfishhastobetastedtobebelieved,Meghannlove.Thebestfishintheworld.Here,trysome.It’syourfirstbitofgenuineBananalandfood.Itellyou,there’snoplacelikeQueensland."

           Meggieglancedatthegreasypiecesofbatter-dippedfish,putherhandkerchieftohermouthandboltedforthetoilet.