Поющие в терновнике

           Howcouldhepossiblyblameher,whenhehadtoldhertodoit?Heunderstoodatoncewhyshehadbeendeterminednottotellhim;shedidn’twanthimtomeethernewhusband,orbeapartofhernewlife.OfcourseinhismindhehadassumedshewouldbringwhomevershemarriedtoGillanboneifnottoDroghedaitself,thatshewouldcontinuetolivewhereheknewhertobesafe,freefromcareanddanger.Butoncehethoughtaboutit,hecouldseethiswasthelastthingshewouldwant.No,shehadbeenboundtogoaway,andsolongassheandthisLukeO’Neillweretogether,shewouldn’tcomeback.BobsaidtheyweresavingtobuyapropertyinWesternQueensland,andthatnewshadbeenthedeathknell.Meggiemeantnevertocomeback.Asfarashewasconcerned,sheintendedtobedead.

           Butareyouhappy,Meggie?Ishegoodtoyou?Doyoulovehim,thisLukeO’Neill?Whatkindofmanishe,thatyouturnedfrommetohim?Whatwasitabouthim,anordinarystockman,thatyoulikedbetterthanEnochDaviesorLiamO’RourkeorAlastairMac-Queen?WasitthatIdidn’tknowhim,thatIcouldmakenocomparisons?Didyoudoittotortureme,Meggie,topaymeback?Butwhyaretherenochildren?What’sthematterwiththeman,thatheroamsupanddownthestatelikeavagabondandputsyoutolivewithfriends?Nowonderyouhavenochild;he’snotwithyoulongenough.Meggie,why?WhydidyoumarrythisLukeO’Neill?

           Turning,hemadehiswaydownfromtheAcropolis,andwalkedthebusystreetsofAthens.