Поющие в терновнике

           Lightandemptyastheairsoalluringlyfullofmarinetangandsun-soakedvegetation,hedriftedforawhileonthewingsofadifferentkindoffreedom:thereliefofrelinquishinghismandatetofighther,thepeaceoflosingalong,incrediblybloodywarandfindingthesurrenderfarsweeterthanthebattles.Ah,butIgaveyouagoodfight,myMeggie!Yetintheenditisn’tyourfragmentsImustgluetogether,butthedismemberedchunksofmyself.

           Youwereputinmylifetoshowmehowfalse,howpresumptuousistheprideofapriestofmykind;likeLuciferIaspiredtothatwhichisGod’salone,andlikeLucifer,Ifell.Ihadthechastity,theobedience,eventhepovertybeforeMaryCarson.ButuntilthismorningIhaveneverknownhumility.DearLord,ifshemeantnothingtomeitwouldbeeasiertobear,butsometimesIthinkIloveherfarmorethanIdoThee,andthat,too,isapartofThypunishment.HerIdonotdoubt;Thou?Atrick,aphantom,ajest.HowcanIloveajest?Andyet,Ido.

           "IfIcouldgettheenergytogether,I’dgoforaswimandthenmakebreakfast,"hesaid,desperateforsomethingtosay,andfelthersmileagainsthischest.

           "Gofortheswimpart,I’llmakethebreakfast.Andthere’snoneedtoputanythingonhere.Noonecomes."

           "Trulyparadise!"Heswunghislegsoffthebed,satupandstretched."It’sabeautifulmorning.Iwonderifthat’sanomen."