Поющие в терновнике

           Hewaswaitinginthecorridorwhenshecameoutsometimelater,whiteandshaking.

           "What’sthematter?Aren’tyoufeelingwell?"

           "Ihaven’tfeltwellsinceweleftGoondiwindi."

           "GoodLord!Whydidn’tyoutellme?"

           "Whydidn’tyounotice?"

           "Youlookedallrighttome."

           "Howfarisitnow?"sheasked,givingup.

           "Threetosixhours,giveortakeabit.Theydon’truntotimetableupheretoomuch.There’splentyofroomnowthoseblokesaregone;liedownandputyourtootsiesinmylap."

           "Oh,don’tbaby-talkme!"shesnappedtartly."Itwouldhavebeenalotbetterifthey’dgotofftwodaysagoinBundaberg!"

           "Comeonnow,Meghann,beagoodsport!Nearlythere.OnlyTullyandInnisfail,thenDungloe."

           Itwaslateafternoonwhentheysteppedoffthetrain,MeggieclingingdesperatelytoLuke’sarm,tooproudtoadmitshewasn’tabletowalkproperly.Heaskedthestationmasterforthenameofaworkingmen’shotel,pickeduptheircasesandwalkedoutontothestreet,Meggiebehindhimweavingdrunkenly.

           "Onlytotheendoftheblockontheothersideofthestreet,"hecomforted."Thewhitetwo-storiedjoint."

           ThoughtheirroomwassmallandfilledtooverflowingwithgreatpiecesofVictorianfurniture,itlookedlikeheaventoMeggie,collapsingontheedgeofthedoublebed.

           "Liedownforawhilebeforedinner,love.I’mgoingouttofindmylandmarks,"hesaid,saunteringfromtheroomlookingasfreshandrestedashehadontheirweddingmorning.