Поющие в терновнике

           "Jims!Look!AdinkumDroghedabudgie!"saidPatsy,shockedintospeaking.

           PerhapsbudgerigarswerenativesoftheLaecountry,too,butthemoodofthedayandthisquiteunexpectedreminderofhomesuddenlytriggeredawildelationinPatsy.Laughing,feelingthegrassticklinghisbarelegs,hetookoffafterit,snatchinghisbatteredslouchhatfromhisheadandholdingitoutasifhetrulybelievedhecouldsnarethevanishingbird.Smiling,Jimsstoodwatchinghim.

           Hewasperhapstwentyyardsawaywhenthemachinegunrippedthegrasstoflyingshredsaroundhim;Jimssawhisarmsgoup,hisbodyspinroundsothatthearmsseemedstretchedoutinsupplication.Fromwaisttokneeshewasbrilliantblood,life’sblood.

           "Patsy,Patsy!"Jimsscreamed;ineverycellofhisownbodyhefeltthebullets,felthimselfebbing,dying.

           Hislegsopenedinahugestride,hegainedmomentumtorun,thenhismilitarycautionasserteditselfandhedivedheadlongintothegrassjustasthemachinegunopenedupagain.

           "Patsy,Patsy,areyouallright?"hecriedstupidly,havingseenthatblood.

           Yetincredibly,"Yair,"cameafaintanswer.

           InchbyinchJimsdraggedhimselfforwardthroughthefragrantgrass,listeningtothewind,therustlingsofhisownprogress.

           Whenhereachedhisbrotherheputhisheadagainstthenakedshoulder,andwept.

           "Breakitdown,"saidPatsy."I’mnotdeadyet."

           "Howbadisit?"Jimsasked,pullingdownthebloodsoakedshortstoseeblood-soakedflesh,shivering.

           "Doesn’tfeelasifI’mgoingtodie,anyway."