Поющие в терновнике

           Indistantvistastheseawasagreenish-huedaquamarine,splotchedwithwine-darkstainswhereweedorcoralcoveredthefloor,andonallsidesitseemedislandswithpalmyshoresofbrilliantwhitesandjustgrewoutofitspontaneouslylikecrystalsinsilica—jungle-cladandmountainousislandsorflat,bushyislandsnotmuchhigherthanthewater.

           "Theflatonesarethetruecoralislands,"explainedacrewman."Ifthey’rering-shapedandenclosealagoonthey’recalledatolls,butifthey’rejustalumpofreefrisenabovetheseathey’recalledcays.Thehillyislandsarethetopsofmountains,butthey’restillsurroundedbycoralreefs,andtheyhavelagoons."

           "Where’sMatlockIsland?"Meggieasked.

           Helookedathercuriously;alonewomangoingonholidaytoahoneymoonislandlikeMatlockwasacontradictioninterms."We’resailingdownWhitsundayPassagenow,thenweheadouttothePacificedgeofthereef.Matlock’soceansideispoundedbythebigbreakersthatcomeinforahundredmilesoffthedeepPacificlikeexpresstrains,roaringsoyoucan’thearyourselfthink.Canyouimagineridingthesamewaveforahundredmiles?"Hesighedwistfully."We’llbeatMatlockbeforesundown,madam."

           Andanhourbeforesundownthelittleshipheaveditswaythroughthebackwashofthesurfwhosespumeroselikeatoweringmistywallintotheeasternsky.