Поющие в терновнике

           "Fivetons;notbadforafirstday!"

           Itwasnotalongwalkbacktothebarracks,buttropicalnightfellsosuddenlyitwasdarkastheyarrived.Beforegoinginsidetheycollectednakedinacommunalshower,then,towelsaroundtheirwaists,theytroopedintothebarracks,wherewhichevercutteroncookdutythatweekhadmountainsofwhateverwashisspecialtyreadyonthetable.Todayitwassteakandpotatoes,damperbreadandjamroly-poly;themenfellonitandwolfedeverylastparticledown,ravenous.

           Tworowsofironpalletsfacedeachotherdowneithersideofalongroommadeofcorrugatediron;sighingandcursingthecanewithanoriginalityabullockymighthaveenvied,themenfloppednakedontopofunbleachedsheets,drewtheirmosquitonetsdownfromtheringsandwithinmomentswereasleep,vagueshapesundergauzytents.

           ArnedetainedLuke."Letmeseeyourhands."Heinspectedthebleedingcuts,theblisters,thestings."Bluebagthemfirst,thenusethisointment.Andifyoutakemyadviceyou’llrubcoconutoilintothemeverynightofyourlife.You’vegotbighands,soifyourbackcantakeityou’llmakeagoodcutter.Inaweekyou’llharden,youwon’tbesosore."

           EverymuscleinLuke’ssplendidbodyhaditsownseparateache;hewasconsciousofnothingbutavast,crucifyingpain.Handswrappedandanointed,hestretchedhimselfonhisallottedbed,pulleddownhismosquitonetandclosedhiseyesonaworldoflittlesuffocatingholes.