Поющие в терновнике

           Thereonlyinbody,Meggieenduredit;atleasthedidn’tputhimselfinsideher,soitdidn’thurtanymorethansimplymovingdid.Whatstrangecreaturesmenwere,togoatthisasifitwasthemostpleasurablethingintheworld.Itwasdisgusting,amockeryoflove.Haditnotbeenforherhopethatitwouldculminateinababy,Meggiewouldhaverefusedflatlytohaveanythingmoretodowithit.

           ***

           "I’vegotyouajob,"Lukesaidoverbreakfastinthehoteldiningroom.

           "What?BeforeI’vehadachancetomakeourhomenice,Luke?Beforewe’veevengotahome?"

           "There’snopointinourrentingahouse,Meg.I’mgoingtocutcane;it’sallarranged.ThebestgangofcuttersinQueenslandisagangofSwedes,PolesandIrishledbyablokecalledArneSwenson,andwhileyouweresleepingoffthejourneyIwenttoseehim.He’samanshortandhe’swillingtogivemeatrial.ThatmeansI’llbelivinginbarrackswiththem.Wecutsixdaysaweek,sunrisetosunset.Notonlythat,butwemovearoundupanddownthecoast,whereverthenextjobtakesus.HowmuchIearndependsonhowmuchsugarIcut,andifI’mgoodenoughtocutwithArne’sgangI’llbepullinginmorethantwentyquidaweek.Twentyquidaweek!Canyouimaginethat?"

           "Areyoutryingtotellmewewon’tbelivingtogther,Luke?"

           "Wecan’t,Meg!Themenwon’thaveawomaninthebarracks,andwhat’stheuseofyourlivingaloneinahouse?Youmayaswellwork,too;it’sallmoneytowardourstation."