Поющие в терновнике

           "Andthat’sthetruthatlast,isn’tit?Whydon’tyouadmitit,Luke?Youdon’twanttobemarried,you’dratherlivethewayyouareatthemoment,hard,amongmen,workingyourinnardsout,justlikeoneoutofeverytwoAustralianmenI’veeverknown!Whatisitaboutthisfriggingcountry,thatitsmenpreferbeingwithothermentohavingahomelifewiththeirwivesandchildren?Ifthebachelor’slifeiswhattheytrulywant,whyonearthdotheytrymarriageatall?DoyouknowhowmanydesertedwivesthereareinDunnyalone,scrapinganexistenceandtryingtoreartheirchildrenwithoutfathers?Oh,he’sjustoffinthesugar,he’llbeback,youknow,it’sonlyforalittlewhile.Hah!Andeverymailthey’retherehangingoverthefrontgatewaitingforthepostie,hopingthebastard’ssentthemalittlemoney.Andmostlyhehasn’t,sometimeshehas—notenough,butsomethingtokeepthingsgoing!"

           Shewastremblingwithrage,hergentlebrowneyessparking."Youknow,IreadintheBrisbaneMailthatAustraliahasthehighestpercentageofdesertedwivesinthecivilizedworld?It’stheonlythingwebeateveryothercountryat—isn’tthatarecordtobeproudof!"

           "Goeasy,Anne!Ihaven’tdesertedMeg;she’ssafeandshe’snotstarving.