Поющие в терновнике

           Droghedaheldapartyforthem.AlastairMacQueenwasintheNinthaswellandwashome,soofcourseRudnaHunishheldaparty.DominicO’Rourke’stwoyoungestsonswereintheSixthinNewGuinea,soeventhoughtheycouldn’tbepresent,Dibban-Dibbanheldaparty.EverypropertyinthedistrictwithasoninuniformwantedtocelebratethesafereturnofthethreeNinthboys.Womenandgirlsflockedaroundthem,buttheClearyreturnedheroestriedtoescapeateveryopportunity,morescaredthantheyhadbeenonanyfieldofwar.

           Infact,JimsandPatsydidn’tseemtowanttohaveanythingtodowithwomen;itwastoBob,JackandHughietheyclung.Lateintothenightafterthewomenhadgonetobedtheysattalkingtothebrotherswhohadbeenforcedtoremainbehind,openingtheirsore,scarredhearts.AndtheyrodethepaddocksofparchedDrogheda,initsseventhyearofthedrought,gladtobeincivvies.

           Evensorackedandtortured,toJimsandPatsythelandwasineffablylovely,thesheepcomforting,thelaterosesinthegardenaperfumeofsomeheaven.Andsomehowtheyhadtodrinkofitallsodeeplythey’dneveragainforget,forthatfirstgoingawayhadbeenacarelessone;theyhadhadnoideawhatitwouldbelike.Whentheyleftthistimeitwouldbewitheverymomenthoardedtorememberandtreasure,andwithDroghedarosespressedintotheirwalletsalongwithafewbladesofscarceDroghedagrass.ToFeetheywerekindandpitying,buttoMeggie,Mrs.Smith,MinnieandCattheywereloving,verytender.Theyhadbeentherealmothers.