Поющие в терновнике

           Ifhehadexpectedasudden,dazzlingblazeoflightfromoutofFee’slongdarkness,hewouldhavebeenverydisappointed;atfirstitwasnomorethanasmallflicker,andperhapsthetollofagewouldneverreallypermitittoshineatfullbrightness.ButintheeyesofFee’ssonshesawitstruemagnitude,andknewasenseofhisownpurposehehadn’tfeltsincethattimeduringthewarwhenhehadtalkedtotheyoungGermansoldierwiththeimposingname.

           "Thankyou,"saidFee.

           "WillyouwelcomehimbacktoDrogheda?"heaskedtheClearymen.

           "Thisishishome,it’swhereheoughttobe,"Bobansweredelliptically.

           EveryonenoddedagreementsaveFee,whoseemedintentonsomeprivatevision.

           "Heisn’tthesameFrank,"CardinalRalphwentongently."IvisitedhiminGoulburnGaoltotellhimthenewsbeforeIcamehere,andIhadtolethimknoweveryoneonDroghedahadalwaysbeenawarewhathadhappenedtohim.IfItellyouthathedidn’ttakeithard,itmightgiveyousomeideaofthechangeinhim.Hewassimply…grateful.Andsolookingforwardtoseeinghisfamilyagain,especiallyyou,Fee."

           "When’shebeingreleased?"Bobasked,clearinghisthroat,pleasureforhismotherclearlywarringwithfearofwhatwouldhappenwhenFrankreturned.

           "Inaweekortwo.He’llcomeuponthenightmail.Iwantedhimtofly,buthesaidhepreferredthetrain."

           "PatsyandIwillmeethim,"Jimsofferedeagerly,thenhisfacefell."Oh!Wedon’tknowwhathelookslike!"

           "No,"saidFee.