Поющие в терновнике

           Withoutahopeofunderstandingdifferently,heassumedhehadthelion’sshareoflovebecauseofhisbeauty,hismoretractablenature,hisabilitytocommunicatewithhismotherandtheotherDroghedapeople.Andbecausehewasmale.Verylittleescapedhimbeyondwhathesimplycouldn’tknow,andhehadhadJustine’sconfidenceandcompanionshipinwaysnooneelseeverhad.MummatteredtoJustinefarmorethanshewouldadmit.

           ButIwillatone,hethought.I’vehadeverything.SomehowI’vegottopayitback,makeituptoher.

           Suddenlyhechancedtoseehiswatch,cametohisfeetbonelessly;hugethoughheadmittedhisdebttohissisterwas,toSomeoneelseheowedevenmore.

           "I’vegottogo,Jus."

           "YouandyourbloodyChurch!Whenareyougoingtogrowoutofit?"

           "Never,Ihope."

           "WhenwillIseeyou?"

           "Well,sincetoday’sFriday,tomorrowofcourse,eleveno’clock,here."

           "Okay.Beagoodboy."

           Hewasalreadyseveralyardsaway,Riverviewboaterbackonhishead,butheturnedtosmileather."AmIeveranythingelse?"

           Shegrinned."Blessyou,no.You’retoogoodtobetrue;I’mtheonealwaysintrouble.Seeyoutomorrow."

           TherewerehugepaddedredleatherdoorsinsidethevestibuleofSaintMary’s;Danepokedoneopenandslippedinside.HehadleftJustinealittleearlierthanwasstrictlynecessary,buthealwayslikedtogetintoachurchbeforeitfilled,becameashiftingfocusofsighs,coughs,rustles,whispers.Whenhewasaloneitwassomuchbetter.