Поющие в терновнике

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           ItwasalmostayearbeforethewarintrudeduponthelittleDroghedauniverse,ayearduringwhichonebyonethestockmenleft,therabbitscontinuedtomultiply,andBobbattledvaliantlytokeepthestationbookslookingworthyofawartimeeffort.ButatthebeginningofJune1940camethenewsthattheBritishExpeditionaryForcehadbeenevacuatedfromtheEuropeanmainlandatDunkirk;volunteersforthesecondAustralianImperialForcepouredinthousandsintotherecruitingcenters,JimsandPatsyamongthem.

           Fouryearsofridingthepaddocksinallweathershadpassedthetwins’facesandbodiesbeyondyouth,tothatagelesscalmofcreasesattheoutercornersoftheeyes,linesdownthenosetothemouth.Theypresentedtheirlettersandwereacceptedwithoutcomment.Bushmenwerepopular.Theycouldusuallyshootwell,knewthevalueofobeyinganorder,andtheyweretough.

           JimsandPatsyhadenlistedinDubbo,butcampwastobeIngleburn,outsideSydney,soeveryonesawthemoffonthenightmail.CormacCarmichael,Eden’syoungestson,wasonthesametrainforthesamereason,goingtothesamecampasitturnedout.Sothetwofamiliespackedtheirboyscomfortablyintoafirstclasscompartmentandstoodaroundawkwardly,achingtoweepandkissandhavesomethingwarmingtoremember,butstifledbytheirpeculiarBritishmistrustofdemonstrativeness.ThebigC-36steamlocomotivehowledmournfully,thestationmasterbeganblowinghiswhistle.