Поющие в терновнике

           Meggieleanedovertopeckherbrothersontheircheeksselfconsciously,thendidthesametoCormac,wholookedjustlikehisoldestbrother,Connor;Bob,JackandHughiewrungthreedifferentyounghands;Mrs.Smith,weeping,wastheonlyonewhodidthekissingandcuddlingeveryonewasdyingtodo.EdenCarmichael,hiswifeandagingbutstillhandsomedaughterwithhim,wentthroughthesameformalities.TheneveryonewasoutsideontheGillyplatform,thetrainwasjerkingagainstitsbuffersandcreepingforward.

           "Goodbye,goodbye!"everyonecalled,andwavedbigwhitehandkerchiefsuntilthetrainwasasmokystreakintheshimmeringsunsetdistance.

           Togetherastheyhadrequested,JimsandPatsyweregazettedtotheraw,half-trainedNinthAustralianDivisionandshippedtoEgyptatthebeginningof1941,justintimetobecomeapartoftheroutatBenghazi.ThenewlyarrivedGeneralErwinRommelhadputhisformidableweightontheAxisendoftheseesawandbegunthefirstreversalofdirectioninthegreatcyclingrushesbackandforthacrossNorthAfrica.And,whiletherestoftheBritishforcesretreatedignominiouslyaheadofthenewAfrikaKorpsbacktoEgypt,theNinthAustralianDivisionwasdetailedtooccupyandholdTobruk,anoutpostinAxis-heldterritory.TheonlythingwhichmadetheplanfeasiblewasthatitwasstillaccessiblebyseaandcouldbesuppliedaslongasBritishshipscouldmoveintheMediterranean.