Поющие в терновнике

           "Won’tyoureconsider,Luke?Ifyoureallywantedto,youcouldbuyyourstationnow."

           "Let’shangonabitlongerthewayweare,Meg."

           Hewouldn’tadmitit,ofcourse,butthelureofthesugarwasinhisbones,thestrangefascinationsomemenhaveforutterlydemandinglabor.Aslongashisyoungman’sstrengthheldup,Lukewouldremainfaithfultothesugar.TheonlythingMeggiecouldhopeforwastoforcehimintochanginghismindbygivinghimachild,anheirtothepropertyoutaroundKynuna.

           ***

           SoshewentbacktoHimmelhochtowaitandhope.Please,please,lettherebeababy!Ababywouldsolveeverything,sopleaselettherebeababy.Andtherewas.WhenshetoldAnneandLuddie,theywereoverjoyed.Luddieespeciallyturnedouttobeatreasure.Hedidthemostexquisitesmockingandembroidery,twocraftsMeggiehadneverhadtimetomaster,sowhilehepushedatinyneedlethroughdelicatefabricwithhishorny,magicalhands,MeggiehelpedAnnegetthenurserytogether.

           Theonlytroublewasthebabywasn’tsittingwell,whetherbecauseoftheheatorherunhappinessMeggiedidn’tknow.Themorningsicknesswasallday,andpersistedlongafteritshouldhavestopped;inspiteofherveryslightweightgainshebegantosufferbadlyfromtoomuchfluidinthetissuesofherbody,andherbloodpressurewentuptoapointatwhichDocSmithbecameapprehensive.