Поющие в терновнике

           ReluctanttobenearFee,heusedtheflightofstairsatthefarendofthehouse;thelampoverherdeskstillburnedandhecouldseeherbentsilhouettethere,working.PoorFee.Howmuchshemustdreadgoingtobed,thoughperhapswhenFrankcamehomeitwouldbeeasier.Perhaps.

           Atthetopofthestairssilencemethimthickly;acrystallamponanarrowhalltableshedadimpooloflightforthecomfortofnocturnalwanderers,flickeringasthenightbreezebillowedthecurtainsinwardaroundthewindownexttoit.Hepasseditby,hisfeetontheheavycarpetingmakingnosound.

           Meggie’sdoorwaswideopen,morelightwellingthroughit;blockingtheraysforamoment,heshutherdoorbehindhimandlockedit.ShehaddonnedaloosewrapperandwassittinginachairbythewindowlookingoutacrosstheinvisibleHomePaddock,butherheadturnedtowatchhimwalktothebed,sitonitsedge.Slowlyshegotupandcametohim.

           "Here,I’llhelpyougetyourbootsoff.That’sthereasonIneverwearkneeonesmyself.Ican’tgetthemoffwithoutajack,andajackruinsgoodboots."

           "Didyouwearthatcolordeliberately,Meggie?"

           "Ashesofroses?"Shesmiled."It’salwaysbeenmyfavoritecolor.Itdoesn’tclashwithmyhair."

           Heputonefootonherbacksidewhileshepulledabootoff,thenchangeditforthebarefoot.

           "WereyousosureI’dcometoyou,Meggie?"

           "Itoldyou.OnDroghedayou’remine.Hadyounotcometome,I’dhavegonetoyou,makenomistake."