Поющие в терновнике

           "Butdon’tyousee?I’msittingup!Itdoesn’tstaythereatall,itrunsrightoutagain!Oh,Luke,please!It’ssomuchnicer,itdoesn’thurtnearlyasmuch.I’msureit’sallright,becauseIcanfeelitrunningout.Please!"

           Whathumanbeingeverlivedwhocouldresisttherepetitionofperfectpleasurewhenofferedsoplausibly?Adam-like,Lukenodded,foratthisstagehewasfarlessinformedthanMeggie.

           "Isupposethere’struthinwhatyousay,andit’smuchnicerformewhenyou’renotfightingit.Allright,Meg,we’lldoitthatwayfromnowon."

           Andinthedarknessshesmiled,content.Forithadnotallrunout.Themomentshefelthimshrinkoutofhershehaddrawnupalltheinternalmusclesintoaknot,slidoffhimontoherback,stuckhercrossedkneesintheaircasuallyandhungontowhatshehadwitheveryounceofdeterminationinher.Oho,myfinegentleman,I’llfixyouyet!Youwaitandsee,LukeO’Neill!I’llgetmybabyifitkillsme!

           AwayfromtheheatandhumidityofthecoastalplainLukemendedrapidly.Eatingwell,hebegantoputtheweightheneededbackagain,andhisskinfadedfromthesicklyyellowtoitsusualbrown.Withthelureofaneager,responsiveMeggieinhisbeditwasn’ttoodifficulttopersuadehimtoprolongtheoriginaltwoweeksintothree,andthenintofour.Butattheendofamonthherebelled.

           "There’snoexcuse,Meg.I’maswellasI’veeverbeen.We’resittinguphereontopoftheworldlikeakingandqueen,spendingmoney.Arneneedsme."