Поющие в терновнике

           Hisbarebodywascoatedadarkgoldenbrownbyperpetualexposuretothesun,histhatchofbrightyellowhaircurledalloverhishead;thefineSwedishfeaturesweresolikeLuke’sintypethatitwaseasytoseehowmuchNorsebloodhadpercolatedintotheveinsoftheScotsandIrish.

           Lukehadabandonedhismoleskinsandwhiteshirtinfavorofshorts.WithArneheclimbedintoanancient,wheezingmodel-TutilitytruckandheadedforwherethegangwascuttingoutbyGoondi.Thesecond-handbicyclehehadboughtlayintheutility’strayalongwithhiscase,andhewasdyingtobeginwork.

           Theothermenhadbeencuttingsincedawnanddidn’tlifttheirheadswhenArneappearedfromthedirectionofthebarracks,Lukeintow.Thecuttinguniformconsistedofshorts,bootswiththickwoolensocks,andcanvashats.Eyesnarrowing,Lukestaredatthetoilingmen,whowereapeculiarsight.Coal-blackdirtcoveredthemfromheadtofoot,withsweatmakingbrightpinkstreaksdownchests,arms,backs.

           "Sootandmuckfromthecane,"Arneexplained."Wehavetoburnitbeforewecancutit."

           Hebentdowntopickuptwoinstruments,gaveonetoLukeandkeptone."Thisisacaneknife,"hesaid,heftinghis."Withthisyoucutthecane.Veryeasyifyouknowhow."Hegrinned,proceedingtodemonstrateandmakingitlookfareasierthanitprobablywas.

           Lukelookedatthedeadlythinghegripped,whichwasnotatalllikeaWestIndianmachete.