Поющие в терновнике

           Nevergowalkingonthecoralwithoutyourshoes."

           Yes,Meggiewasgladshewent.Butshedidn’tyearntogoagain,ormakefriendswiththecoupleRobbroughtalong.Sheimmersedherselfinthesea,andwalked,andlayinthesun.Curiouslyenough,shedidn’tevenmisshavingbookstoread,fortherealwaysseemedtobesomethinginterestingtowatch.

           ShehadtakenRob’sadviceandstoppedwearingclothes.Atfirstshehadtendedtobehavelikearabbitcatchingwhiffsofdingoonthebreeze,boltingforcoverifatwigcrackedoracoconutfelllikeacannonballfromapalm.Butafterseveraldaysofpatentsolitudeshereallybegantofeelnoonewouldcomenearher,thatindeeditwasasRobsaid,acompletelyprivatedomain.Shynesswaswasted.Andwalkingthetracks,lyinginthesand,paddlinginthatwarmsaltywater,shebegantofeellikeananimalbornandbroughtupinacage,suddenlyletlooseinagentle,sunny,spaciousandwelcomingworld.AwayfromFee,herbrothers,Luke,theunsparing,unthinkingdominationofherwholelife,Meggiediscoveredpureleisure;awholekaleidoscopeofthoughtpatternswoveandunwovenoveldesignsinhermind.Forthefirsttimeinherlifeshewasn’tkeepingherconsciousselfabsorbedinworkthoughtsofonedescriptionoranother.Surprised,sherealizedthatkeepingphysicallybusyisthemosteffectiveblockadeagainsttotallymentalactivityhumanbeingscanerect.