Поющие в терновнике

           Feecameoutontotheveranda,whereMeggiesatwiththeletterinherhand,staringabsentlyoutacrossthebrilliantgreenofthehomesteadlawns.

           "How’sLuke?"

           "Thesameasever,Mum.Notabitchanged.Stillonaboutalittlewhilelongerinthedamnedsugar,theplacehe’sgoingtohaveonedayoutaroundKynuna."

           "Doyouthinkhe’lleveractuallydoit?"

           "Isupposeso,oneday."

           "Wouldyougotojoinhim,Meggie?"

           "Notinamillionyears."

           Feesatdowninacanechairbesideherdaughter,pullingitroundsoshecouldseeMeggieproperly.Inthedistancemenwereshouting,hammerspounded;atlonglasttheverandasandtheupper-storywindowsofthehomesteadwerebeingenclosedbyfinewiremeshtoscreenouttheflies.ForyearsFeehadheldout,obdurate.Nomatterhowmanyfliestherewere,thelinesofthehousewouldneverbespoiledbyuglynetting.Butthelongerthedroughtdraggedontheworsethefliesbecame,untiltwoweeksbeforeitendedFeehadgiveninandhiredacontractortoencloseeverybuildingonthestation,notonlythehomesteaditselfbutallthestaffhousesandbarracksaswell.

           Butelectrifyshewouldnot,thoughsince1915therehadbeena"donk,"astheshearerscalledit,tosupplypowertotheshearingshed.Droghedawithoutthegentlediffusionoflamps?Itwasn’ttobethoughtof.