Поющие в терновнике

           Meggiewantedtowatchtheenormousfruitbatscalledflyingfoxeswheellikeprecursorsofdoominthousandsdowntowardtheplaceswheretheyfoundtheirfood.Theyweremonstrousandrepulsive,butsingularlytimid,entirelybenign.Toseethemcomeacrossamoltenskyindark,pulsatingsheetswasawesome;MeggienevermissedwatchingforthemfromtheHimmelhochveranda.

           Anditwasheaventosinkintoasoftcoolbed,nothavetoliestilluntilonespotwassweat-saturatedandthenmovecarefullytoanewspot,knowingtheoldonewouldn’tdryoutanyway.Luketookaflatbrownpacketoutofhiscase,pickedahandfulofsmallroundobjectsoutofitandlaidtheminarowonthebedsidetable.

           Meggiereachedouttotakeone,inspectit."Whatonearthisit?"sheaskedcuriously.

           "AFrenchletter."Hehadforgottenhisdecisionoftwoyearsago,nottotellherhepracticedcontraception."IputitonmyselfbeforeIgoinsideyou.OtherwiseImightstartababy,andwecan’taffordtodothatuntilwegetourplace."Hewassittingnakedonthesideofthebed,andhewasthin,ribsandhipsprotruding.Buthisblueeyesshone,hereachedouttoclaspherhandasitheldtheFrenchletter."Nearlythere,Meg,nearlythere!IreckonanotherfivethousandpoundswillbuyusthebestpropertytobehadwestofChartersTowers."

           "Thenyou’vegotit,"shesaid,hervoicequitecalm."IcanwritetoBishopdeBricassartandaskhimforaloanofthemoney.Hewon’tchargeusinterest."

           "Youmostcertainlywon’t!"hesnapped.