Поющие в терновнике

           TheRatsofTobrukholedupforeightmonths,andsawactionafteractionasRommelthreweverythinghehadatthemfromtimetotime,withoutmanagingtodislodgethem.

           "Doyouseknowwhyyouseishere?"askedPrivateColStuart,lickingthepaperonhiscigaretteandrollingitshutlazily.

           SergeantBobMalloyshiftedhisDiggerhatfarenoughupwardtoseehisquestionerfromunderitsbrim."Shit,no,"hesaid,grinning;itwasanoft-askedquery.

           "Well,it’sbetterthanwhitinggaitersinthebloodyglasshouse,"saidPrivateJimsCleary,pullinghistwinbrother’sshortsdownalittlesohecouldresthisheadcomfortablyonsoftwarmbelly.

           "Yair,butintheglasshouseyousedon’tkeepgettingshotat,"objectedCol,flickinghisdeadmatchatasunbathinglizard.

           "Iknowthismuch,mate,"saidBob,rearranginghishattoshadehiseyes."I’drathergetshotatthandieoffuckin’boredom."

           Theywerecomfortablydisposedinadry,gravellydugoutjustoppositetheminesandbarbedwirewhichcutoffthesouthwestcorneroftheperimeter;ontheothersideRommelhungdoggedlyontohissinglepieceoftheTobrukterritory.Abig.50-caliberBrowningmachinegunsharedtheholewiththem,casesofammunitionneatlybesideit,butnooneseemedveryenergeticorinterestedinthepossibilityofattack.Theirrifleswereproppedagainstonewall,bayonetsglitteringinthebrilliantTobruksun.Fliesbuzzedeverywhere,butallfourwereAustralianbushmen,soTobrukandNorthAfricaheldnosurprisesinthewayofheat,dustorflies.