Поющие в терновнике

           ButneveragainwouldMeggiemistakethem,LukeO’NeillandRalphdeBricassart.Thatwasn’tLuke;evenatthedistanceandinthefast-fadinglightshewasn’tdeceived.Shestooddumblyandwaitedwhilehewalkeddowntheroadtowardher,RalphdeBricassart.Hehaddecidedhewantedherafterall.Therecouldbenootherreasonforhisjoiningherinaplacelikethis,callinghimselfLukeO’Neill.

           Nothinginherseemedtobefunctioning,notlegsormindorheart.ThiswasRalphcometoclaimher,whycouldn’tshefeel?Whywasn’tsherunningdowntheroadtohisarms,soutterlygladtoseehimnothingelsemattered?ThiswasRalph,andhewasallshehadeverwantedoutofliving;hadn’tshejustspentmorethanaweektryingtogetthatfactoutofhermind?Goddamnhim,Goddamnhim!Whythehelldidhehavetocomewhenshewasfinallybeginningtogethimoutofherthoughts,ifnotoutofherheart?Oh,itwasallgoingtostartagain!Stunned,sweating,angry,shestoodwoodenlywaiting,watchingthatgracefulformgrowlarger.

           "Hello,Ralph,"shesaidthroughclenchedteeth,notlookingathim.

           "Hello,Meggie."

           "Bringyourcaseinside.Wouldyoulikeahotcupoftea?"Asshespokesheledthewayintothelivingroom,stillnotlookingathim.

           "Thatwouldbenice,"hesaid,asstiltedasshe.

           Hefollowedherintothekitchenandwatchedwhileshepluggedinanelectricjug,filledtheteapotfromalittlehot-watergeyseroverthesink,andbusiedherselfgettingcupsandsaucersdownfromacupboard.