Поющие в терновнике

           Pausing,whilethemidwifecopedalone,tosnatchfoodandastifftotofrumandcheckthatnoneofhisotherpatientswereinconsiderateenoughtothinkofdying,DocSmithlistenedtoasmuchofthestoryasAnneandLuddiethoughtwisetotellhim.

           "You’reright,Anne,"hesaid."Allthatridingisprobablyoneofthereasonsforhertroublenow.Whenthesidesaddlewentoutitwasabadthingforwomenwhomustridealot.Astridedevelopsthewrongmuscles."

           "I’dheardthatwasanoldwives’tale,"saidtheArchbishopmildly.

           DocSmithlookedathimmaliciously.Hewasn’tfondofCatholicpriests,deemedthemasanctimoniouslotofdrivelingfools.

           "Thinkwhatyoulike,"hesaid."Buttellme,YourGrace,ifitcamedowntoachoicebetweenMeggie’slifeandthebaby’s,whatwouldyourconscienceadvise?"

           "TheChurchisadamantonthatpoint,Doctor.Nochoicemusteverbemade.Thechildcannotbedonetodeathtosavethemother,northemotherdonetodeathtosavethechild."HesmiledbackatDocSmithjustasmaliciously."Butifitshouldcometothat,Doctor,Iwon’thesitiatetotellyoutosaveMeggie,andthehellwiththebaby."

           DocSmithgasped,laughed,andclappedhimontheback."Goodforyou!Resteasy,Iwon’tbroadcastwhatyousaid.Butsofarthechild’salive,andIcan’tseewhatgoodkillingitisgoingtodo."