Поющие в терновнике

           I’mverygratefultoyouforthinkingofit;it’sprobablywhatIneed.ButareyousureJustinewon’tbetoomuchtrouble?"

           "Lord,no!Luddie’sgotitallworkedout.AnnaMaria,whousedtoworkformebeforeyoucame,hasayoungersister,Annunziata,whowantstogonursinginTownsville.Butshewon’tbesixteenuntilMarch,andshefinishesschoolinafewdays.Sowhileyou’reawayshe’sgoingtocomehere.She’sanexpertfostermother,too.TherearehordesofbabiesintheTesorieroclan."

           "MatlockIsland.Whereisit?"

           "JustnearWhitsundayPassageontheGreatBarrierReef.It’sveryquietandprivate,mostlyahoneymoonresort,Isuppose.Youknowthesortofthing—cottagesinsteadofacentralhotel.Youwon’thavetogotodinnerinacrowdeddiningroom,orbeciviltoawholeheapofpeopleyou’drathernottalktoatall.Andatthistimeofyearit’sjustaboutdeserted,becauseofthedangerofsummercyclones.TheWetisn’taproblem,butnooneeverseemstowanttogototheReefinsummer.ProbablybecausemostofthepeoplewhogototheReefcomefromSydneyorMelbourne,andsummerdownthereislovelywithoutgoingaway.InJuneandJulyandAugustthesouthernershaveitbookedoutforthreeyearsahead."