Поющие в терновнике

           Heraisedhishand,salutedit,lookedacrossthegrasstowardthebighouse.Andshewascoming,Meggie.Slim,golden,inapairofbreechesandawhiteman’sshirtexactlylikehisown,aman’sgreyfelthatonthebackofherhead,tanbootsonherfeet.Likeaboy,likeherson,whoshouldhavebeenhisson.Hewasaman,butwhenhetoolayheretherewouldbenothingleftlivingtomarkthefact.

           Shecameon,steppedoverthewhitefence,camesocloseallhecouldseewerehereyes,thosegrey,light-filledeyeswhichhadn’tlosttheirbeautyortheirholdoverhisheart.Herarmswerearoundhisneck,hisfateagainwithinhistouch,itwasasifhehadneverbeenawayfromher,thatmouthaliveunderhis,notadream;solongwanted,solong.Adifferentkindofsacrament,darkliketheearth,havingnothingtodowiththesky.

           "Meggie,Meggie,"hesaid,hisfaceinherhair,herhatonthegrass,hisarmsaroundher.

           "Itdoesn’tseemtomatter,doesit?Nothingeverchanges,"shesaid,eyesclosed.

           "No,nothingchanges,"hesaid,believingit.

           "ThisisDrogheda,Ralph.Iwarnedyou,onDroghedayou’remine,notGod’s."

           "Iknow.Iadmitit.ButIcame."Hedrewherdownontothegrass."Why,Meggie?"

           "Whywhat?"Herhandwasstrokinghishair,whiterthanFee’snow,stillthick,stillbeautiful.

           "WhydidyougobacktoLuke?Havehisson?"heaskedjealously.

           Hersoullookedoutfrombehinditslucentgreywindowsandveileditsthoughtsfromhim."Heforcedmeto,"shesaidblandly."Itwasonlyonce.