Поющие в терновнике

           HadhedreamedwhathewasinforhewouldneverhavewastedhisessenceonMeggie;shehadbecomeawithered,unwantedandunwelcomeideainthebackofhismind,shelved.Heknewhewouldneverhaveanythingforherwhilehecutthecane.

           Ittookhimthepredictedweektoharden,andattaintheeight-ton-a-dayminimumArnedemandedofhisgangmembers.ThenhesettleddowntobecomingbetterthanArne.Hewantedthebiggestshareofthemoney,maybeapartnership.ButmostofallhewantedtoseethatsamelookthatcameintoeveryfaceforArnedirectedathimself;Arnewassomethingofagod,forhewasthebestcutterinQueensland,andthatprobablymeanthewasthebestcutterintheworld.WhentheywentintoatownonSaturdaynightthelocalmencouldn’tbuyArneenoughrumsandbeers,andthelocalwomenwhirredabouthimlikehummingbirds.ThereweremanysimilaritiesbetweenArneandLuke.Theywerebothvainandenjoyedevokingintensefemaleadmiration,butadmirationwasasfarasitwent.Theyhadnothingtogivetowomen;theygaveitalltothecane.

           ForLuketheworkhadabeautyandapainheseemedtohavebeenwaitingallhislifetofeel.Tobendandstraightenandbendinthatritualrhythmwastoparticipateinsomemysterybeyondthescopeofordinarymen.For,aswatchingArnetaughthim,todothissuperblywastobeatopmemberofthemostelitebandofworkingmenintheworld;hecouldbearhimselfwithpridenomatterwherehewas,knowingthatalmosteverymanhemetwouldneverlastadayinacanefield.