Поющие в терновнике

           Hewasn’tstoopedorill-looking,buthestoodhelplesslytwistingthathatbetweenhishandsandseemednottoexpectanyonetomeethim,nortoknowwhatnextheoughttodo.

           Fee,controlled,walkedbrisklydowntheplatform.

           "Hello,Frank,"shesaid.

           Heliftedtheeyeswhichusedtoflashandsparkleso,setnowinthefaceofanagingman.NotFrank’seyesatall.Exhausted,patient,intenselyweary.ButastheyabsorbedthesightofFeeanextraordinaryexpressioncameintothem,wounded,utterlydefenseless,filledwiththeappealofadyingman.

           "Oh,Frank!"shesaid,andtookhiminherarms,rockinghisheadonhershoulder."It’sallright,it’sallright,"shecrooned,andsofterstill,"It’sallright!"

           ***

           Hesatslumpedandsilentinthecaratfirst,butastheRollspickedupspeedandheadedoutoftownhebegantotakeaninterestinhissurroundings,andglancedoutofthewindow.

           "Itlooksexactlythesame,"hewhispered.

           "Iimagineitdoes.Timemovesslowlyouthere."

           Theycrossedtherumblingwooden-plankedbridgeoverthethin,muddyriverlinedwithweepingwillows,mostofitsbedexposedinatangleofrootsandgravel,poolslyinginstillbrownpatches,gumtreesgrowingeverywhereinthestonywastes.

           "TheBarwon,"hesaid."IneverthoughtI’dseeitagain."

           Behindthemroseanenormouscloudofdust,infrontofthemtheroadspedstraightasaperspectiveexerciseacrossagreatgrassyplaindevoidoftrees.