Поющие в терновнике

           IwishIhadn’tcometoMatlock.Butwecan’tchangewhatweare,andperhapsit’sjustaswell.IknowthingsaboutmyselfIwouldneverhaveknownorfacedifIhadn’tcome.It’sbettertocontendwiththeknownthantheunknown.Iloveyou.Ialwayshave,andIalwayswill.Rememberit."

           ThenextdayRobappearedforthefirsttimesincehehaddroppedRalph,andwaitedpatientlywhiletheysaidtheirfarewells.Obviouslynotacoupleofnewly-weds,forhe’dcomelaterthansheandwasleavingfirst.Notillicitlovers,either.Theyweremarried;itwaswrittenalloverthem.Buttheywerefondofeachother,veryfondindeed.LikehimandhisMissus;abigdifferenceinage,andthatmadeforagoodmarriage.

           "Goodbye,Meggie."

           "Goodbye,Ralph.Takecareofyourself."

           "Iwill.Andyou."

           Hebenttokissher;inspiteofherresolutionsheclungtohim,butwhenhepluckedherhandsfromaroundhisnecksheputthemstifflybehindherandkeptthemthere.

           HegotintothecarandsatwhileRobreversed,thenstaredaheadthroughthewindscreenwithoutoncelookingbackather.Itwasararemanwhocoulddothat,Robreflected,withouteverhavingheardofOrpheus.TheydroveinsilencethroughtherainforestandcameatlasttotheseasideofMatlock,andthelongjetty.AstheyshookhandsRoblookedintohisface,wondering.Hehadneverseeneyessohuman,orsosad.ThealoofnesshaspassedfromArchbishopRalph’sgazeforever.

           ***

           WhenMeggiecamebacktoHimmelhochAnneknewatonceshewouldloseher.