Поющие в терновнике

           "Whereisshe?"heaskedtheninaperfectlynormalvoice,throwingthesecondstubovertheverandarailingafterthefirst.

           Andonwhatsheanswereddependedhisdecision;itwasherturntothink.Wasonerighttopushotherhumanbeingsonacoursewhichledoneknewnotwhere,ortowhat?HerloyaltywasalltoMeggie;shedidn’thonestlycareaniotawhathappenedtothisman.InhiswayhewasnobetterthanLuke.Offaftersomemalethingwithneverthetimeortheinclinationtoputawomanaheadofit,runningandclutchingatsomedreamwhichprobablyonlyexistedinhasaddledhead.Nomoresubstancethanthesmokefromthemilldissipatingitselfintheheavy,molasses-ladenair.Butitwaswhathewanted,andhewouldspendhimselfandhislifeinchasingit.

           Hehadn’tlosthisgoodsense,nomatterwhatMeggiemeanttohim.Notevenforher—andAnnewasbeginningtobelievehelovedMeggiemorethananythingexceptthatstrangeideal—wouldhejeopardizethechanceofgraspingwhathewantedinhishandsoneday.No,notevenforher.SoifsheansweredthatMeggiewasinsomecrowdedresorthotelwherehemightberecognized,hewouldn’tgo.Nooneknewbetterthanhethathewasn’tthesortwhocouldbecomeanonymousinacrowd.Shelickedherlips,foundhervoice.

           "Meggie’sinacottageonMatlockIsland."

           "Onwhere?"

           "MatlockIsland.It’saresortjustoffWhitsundayPassage,andit’sspeciallydesignedforprivacy.Besides,atthistimeoftheyearthere’shardlyasoulonit."