Поющие в терновнике

           Now,seeingheratlastasshewas,hecouldpinpointtoasecondthemomentwhenshehadshedthelensesofchildhood,donnedthelensesofawoman:thatinterludeintheDroghedacemeteryafterMaryCarson’sbirthdayparty.Whenhehadexplainedtoherwhyhecouldn’tshowheranyspecialattention,becausepeoplemightdeemhiminterestedinherasaman.Shehadlookedathimwithsomethinginhereyeshehadnotunderstood,thenlookedaway,andwhensheturnedbacktheexpressionwasgone.Fromthattime,hesawnow,shehadthoughtofhiminadifferentlight;shehadn’tkissedhiminapassingweaknesswhenshehadkissedhim,thengonebacktothinkingofhimintheoldway,ashehadher.Hehadperpetuatedhisillusions,nurturedthem,tuckedthemintohisunchangingwayoflifeasbesthecould,wornthemlikeahairshirt.Whileallthetimeshehadfurnishedherloveforhimwithwoman’sobjects.

           Admitit,hehadphysicallywantedherfromthetimeoftheirfirstkiss,butthewanthadneverplaguedhimthewayhisloveforherhad;seeingthemasseparateanddistinct,notfacetsofthesamething.She,poormisunderstoodcreature,hadneversuccumbedtothisparticularfolly.

           Atthatmoment,hadtherebeenanywayhecouldhavegotoffMatlockIsland,hewouldhavefledfromherlikeOrestesfromtheEumenides.Buthecouldn’tquittheisland,andhedidhavethecouragetoremaininherpresenceratherthansenselesslywalkthenight.