Поющие в терновнике

           "Allyouwereafterwasanotherbloodybaby,wasn’tit?That’swhyyoucamedownhere—aswansong,alittlepresentfrommeforyoutotakebacktoDroghedawithyou!Anotherbloodybaby,notme!Itneverwasme,wasit?ToyouI’mjustabreeder!Christ,whatahave!"

           "That’sallmostmenaretomostwomen,"shesaidmaliciously."Youbringouttheworstinme,Luke,inmorewaysthanyou’lleverunderstand.Beofgoodcheer!I’veearnedyoumoremoneyinthelastthreeandahalfyearsthanthesugarhas.Ifthereisanotherchild,it’snoneofyourconcern.AsofthisminuteIneverwanttoseeyouagain,notaslongasIlive."

           Shewasintoherclothes.Asshepickedupherhandbagandthelittlecasebythedoorsheturnedback,herhandontheknob.

           "Letmegiveyoualittlewordofadvice,Luke.Incaseyouevergetyourselfanotherwoman,whenyou’retoooldandtootiredtogiveyourselftothecaneanymore.Youcan’tkissfortoffee.Youopenyourmouthtoowide,youswallowawomanwholelikeapython.Saliva’sfine,butnotadelugeofit."Shewipedherhandviciouslyacrosshermouth."Youmakemewanttobesick!LukeO’Neill,thegreatI-am!You’reanothing!"

           Aftershehadgonehesatontheedgeofthebedstaringatthecloseddoorforalongwhile.Thenheshruggedandstartedtodress.Notalongprocedure,inNorthQueensland.Justapairofshorts.IfhehurriedhecouldgetaridebacktothebarrackswithArneandtheblokes.GoodoldArne.Dearoldmate.Amanwasafool