Поющие в терновнике

           Hewrappedhisarmsaboutherandlookeddownwitheyesfulloftearsatthestill,faintlylitface,watcheditsrosebudmouthdropopen,gasp,becomeahelplessOofastonishedpleasure.Herarmsandlegswereroundhim,livingropeswhichboundhimtoher,silkily,sleeklytormentedhim;heputhischinintohershoulderandhischeekagainstthesoftnessofhers,gavehimselfovertothemaddening,exasperatingdriveofamangrapplingwithfate.Hismindreeled,slipped,becameutterlydarkandblindinglybright;foronemomenthewaswithinthesun,thenthebrilliancefaded,grewgrey,andwentout.Thiswasbeingaman.Hecouldbenomore.Butthatwasnotthesourceofthepain.Thepainwasinthefinalmoment,thefinitemoment,theempty,desolaterealization:ecstasyisfleeting.Hecouldn’tbeartolethergo,notnowthathehadher;hehadmadeherforhimself.Soheclungtoherlikeadrowningmantoasparinalonelysea,andsoon,buoyant,risingagainonatidegrownquicklyfamiliar,hesuccumbedtotheinscrutablefatewhichisaman’s.

           ***

           Whatwassleep?Meggiewondered.Ablessing,arespitefromlife,anechoofdeath,ademandingnuisance?Whateveritwas,hehadyieldedhimselftoit,andlaywithhisarmoverherandhisheadbesidehershoulder,possessiveeveninit.Shewastired,too,butshewouldnotletherselfsleep.Somehowshefeltifsherelaxedhergrasponconsciousnesshemightnotbetherewhenshepickeditupagain.Latershecouldsleep,afterhewasawakeandthesecretive,beautifulmouthuttereditsfirstwords.